NFL Week One San Francisco 49ers, 28 – Dallas Cowboys, 17
THE FIRST QUARTER
Now hold on just one minute…or don’t (as in the case of Dallas’ DeMarco Murray) as SF Linebacker Dan Skuta tackled…then forced a fumble…which was picked up Niner defensive back by Chris Culliver who scampered into the end zone after only 54 seconds of play. With the dependable Phil Dawson’s contribution, the score was SF,7- Dallas,0.
Dallas came back with a 69-yard drive which reached the San Francisco 2-yard line…until defensive end Justin Smith sacked the Cowboy’s quarterback, Tony Romo, for nine and pushed them back to the 11. After an incomplete on third down, Dallas opted to settle for a Dan Bailey field goal to make the score 7-3.
Stirrings of the elite offense were seen on the following 80-yard, four play drive which featured Niner QB Colin Kaepernick picking apart the Cowboy’s secondary with passes to Anquan Boldin twice, Michael Crabtree and finally Vernon Davis for the 29-yard touchdown. With Dawson’s extra point; 14-3.
Dallas intended to respond, but it was unintended receiver and veteran SF defensive back Eric Reid who caught Tony Romo’s pass, returning it to the Dallas 2-yard line. The Kaepernick-Davis connection was magic yet again and with Dawson’s contribution, the score was pushed to 21-3.
THE SECOND QUARTER
The Cowboys, continuing with a drive that began in the first quarter, seized the momentum and fought all the way to the San Francisco 5-yard line. But on first and five, a Tony Romo pass to the end zone instead found an appreciative red and gold clad Patrick Willis waiting there – the second costly interception on the day.
Late in the second, the Niners put together a nice 64-yard drive starting at their 36 and culminating in a Carlos Hyde 4-yard rush up the middle for a touchdown. Of course the extra point (by Phil Dependable) was good. With the score 28-3, San Francisco retired to the halftime locker room with much to be pleased about both on offense and defense.
THE THIRD QUARTER
It was Dallas’ turn to come back, but San Francisco’s defense provided stiff resistance. The Cowboys did put together a 14 play drive late in the quarter which capped with DeMarco Murray’s 2-yard run up the middle and Dan Bailey’s extra point to bring the score up to 28-10…but time was quickly running out.
THE FOURTH QUARTER
San Francisco proceeded to chew up 4:47 of the clock before handing it back to Dallas who could only manage a four and out. The Niner’s second drive used up 4:16 and placed them in field goal range…but incredulously, Dawson’s kick sailed wide left (we blame this on the ball).
With 5:37 remaining, Dallas was against the wall. Their 11 play, 73-yard drive which ended in a Tony Romo to Terrance Williams touchdown pass plus Dan Bailey extra point brought them to 28-17. Only 1:52 remained. The onside kick play – #fail. The Niners went with star running back Frank Gore, bled Dallas of their remaining time outs, got the necessary first down and kneed-out the remainder – #win.
