They are the lower-seeded underdogs who must start the postseason on the road against a division champion after barely making the playoffs.
And yet it’s the 49ers (10-7) who sound like the baddest guys on the block entering Sunday’s wild-card meeting against the Cowboys (12-5).
The 49ers’ seven losses match the second-most among the NFL’s 14 playoff teams. But their seventh-ranked rushing attack gives them a chance to turn back the clock to the 2019 playoffs and play “bully ball” against Dallas.
Bully ball? The phrase got the attention of Cowboys rookie linebacker Micah Parsons when used by a Dallas-area reporter this week to reference the 49ers offense.
“I’m from Harrisburg (Pa.), where the bullies get bullied,” Parsons said. “At some point, it’s going to take someone to stand up and fight. I never backed down from a challenge. I would never say you can bully a lion. Ever.”
The 49ers ran to the Super Bowl two seasons ago, gaining 471 yards on 89 carries and throwing just 27 passes in romps over the Vikings and Packers. And the pieces are in place to begin their latest title quest with the same formula Sunday.
The Cowboys have a meh run defense that ranked 16th in the NFL (112.8 yards per game) and are stellar in other areas. They ranked first in the NFL in interceptions (26), led by the league’s leader in that category, cornerback Trevon Diggs (11).
Many of their takeaways — they also rank fifth in the league in forced fumbles (16) — were a product of their pressure. They rank third in quarterback hits (115) and 13th in sacks (41), led by three dangerous pass rushers: Parsons (13 sacks), the presumptive Defensive Rookie of the Year; DeMarcus Lawrence, a two-time Pro Bowl selection; and Randy Gregory (six sacks in 11 games).
“They are three of the best in the league when you look at a group,” 49ers Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams said. “I think that makes that defense go. When you look at them throughout the year, it all starts up front.”
Meanwhile, the 49ers have quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who ranks 22nd in the NFL in interception percentage (2.7) and has thrown three picks in six quarters since tearing a ligament and suffering a fracture in his right thumb. In addition, his blind-side protector, Williams (sprained elbow), likely won’t be at full strength after he returned to practice Thursday for the first time since he was injured Jan. 2.
The Cowboys aren’t making their game plan a secret: Force Garoppolo to throw, under pressure, into their opportunistic secondary.
|
Category |
49ers |
Cowboys |
|
Points |
25.1 (13) |
31.2 (1) |
|
Total Offense |
375.7 (7) |
407.0 (1) |
|
Rush Offense |
127.4 (7) |
124.6 (9) |
|
Pass Offense |
248.3 (12) |
282.4 (T2) |
|
Points Allowed |
21.5 (T9) |
21.1 (7) |
|
Total Defense |
310.0 (3) |
351.0 (19) |
|
Rush Defense |
103.5 (7) |
112.8 (16) |
|
Pass Defense |
206.5 (6) |
238.2 (20) |
|
Sacks |
48 (T5) |
41 (T13) |
|
Interceptions |
9 (T26) |
26 (1) |
|
Punt Avg. |
45.0 (19) |
48.4 (4) |
|
TO margin |
-4 (T22) |
+14 (T1) |
“Our key is to stop the run and then let the monsters eat on third down,” Parsons said. “We’ve got to win the first and second down.”
Can the Cowboys do that? Their defensive personnel is similar to that of the Rams, who have an elite cornerback (Jalen Ramsey) and three top-end pass rushers (Aaron, Donald, Von Miller and Leonard Floyd).
The 49ers, who have won six straight against the Rams, beat their NFC West rivals, 31-10, in November with 44 rushing attempts, their most in the regular season since 2012. Why the run-heavy attack? Head coach Kyle Shanahan’s answer after that game is relevant with the Cowboys coming up.
“That’s the best way to avoid negative plays,” Shanahan said. “A lot of bad stuff happens when you’ve got to throw it too much.”
The 49ers couldn’t replicate that game plan in Sunday’s 27-24 overtime win over the Rams because they fell behind 17-0 in the second quarter.
However, they still flexed the potency and physicality of a rushing attack that’s reached another level since tackle-busting wide receiver Deebo Samuel began regularly taking carries in the backfield. The 49ers tied the score in the third quarter on an 11-play drive that began with 10 runs (nine up the middle), eight between Samuel and rookie running back Elijah Mitchell.
Asked about that smash-mouth drive, Garoppolo mentioned the offensive line “getting off the ball,” running backs “finishing runs” and receivers “finishing blocks.”
“All that stuff tied together,” he said, “it makes it hard on defenses to stay with us for 60 minutes.”
The 49ers ideally want to wear the Cowboys down and control the clock with a run-dominated attack that would provide another benefit: It would keep quarterback Dak Prescott, the leader of the NFL’s top-ranked offense, off the field.
As for Garoppolo, 49ers tight end George Kittle pointed the Cowboys’ NFL-high 34 takeaways as the reason their pass protection would be of paramount importance.
Those takeaways are “because that D-line just adds all that pressure and the QB has to get rid of it so fast,” Kittle said. “You just have to really account for those guys and give Jimmy some time in there and he’ll be able to drop some dimes.”
But Garoppolo could be a bit player. After all, he threw eight passes in an NFC Championship Game win two seasons ago as the 49ers ran their way to a title game.
He’ll almost certainly be required to do more Sunday. But it will likely be the 49ers’ ability to play bully ball — not how Garoppolo throws the ball — that will determine whether they advance.
Eric Branch covers the 49ers for The San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ebranch@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Eric_Branch
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Throw the ball? OK, but 49ers figure to lean on ‘bully ball’ vs. Cowboys defense - San Francisco Chronicle
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