Two NFC contenders clash on Sunday night when the San Francisco 49ers host the Dallas Cowboys in a premier NFL Week 5 matchup. The 49ers opened as (-3) favorites on the point spread and now have a hook of (-3.5) points after seeing some early action at sportsbooks.
Below, we take a closer look at Sunday’s 49ers vs. Cowboys matchup with info on the odds, betting lines, and player props for the Week 5 game.
Cowboys looking to make an early-season NFC statement
These franchises have a lot of history in the NFC postseason, with the Niners getting the best of those matchups in recent years. San Francisco has knocked Dallas out of the playoffs in each of the past two postseasons, but Dallas won three consecutive regular season meetings over San Francisco between 2016 and 2020.
The Niners are NFC favorites with the shortest odds to win the Super Bowl after their 4-0 start. The Cowboys are also among the favorites to win the NFC after starting 3-1, with a surprising loss at Arizona sandwiched among a trio of dominant wins.
Cowboys defensive front versus 49ers offensive line
Led by Defensive Player of the Year candidate Micah Parsons, the Cowboys have an elite pass rush that will aim to generate pressure on 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. San Francisco’s left tackle, Trent Williams, is one of the best pass protectors in the game, but the 49ers are more vulnerable on the right side of their line. Dallas will also have to account for the run game and NFL MVP candidate Christian McCaffrey, who is averaging 114.8 rushing yards per game at a clip of 5.7 yards per carry this season.
49ers red zone defense versus Cowboys offense
The Cowboys have the third-lowest touchdown conversion rate (36.8%) in the red zone this season with head coach Mike McCarthy taking over play-calling duties. The Niners have allowed opponents to convert on two-thirds of their red zone possessions in a small sample of just nine scoring opportunities through their first four games. Tony Pollard leads the NFL in red zone touches (31), but he has not found the end zone since the Cowboys beat the Giants by a score of 40-0 in Week 1.
Cowboys vs. 49ers odds and betting lines for Week 5
The 49ers currently sit as a point favorite at most sportsbooks. The over/under line is at points. Here is a full list of odds for the Cowboys vs. 49ers matchup.
Cowboys vs. 49ers player props for Week 5
Neither of these teams has faced top-notch competition through four weeks. Here is a look at a couple of options:
Anytime touchdown scorer
Christian McCaffrey is coming off a four-touchdown performance, with Caesars giving him odds to find the end zone and odds to score multiple TDs in this game. McCaffrey has scored 17 times over his last 14 regular season games with the 49ers.
Tony Pollard is close to even money to score a TD, and he’s getting odds at Caesars to score the first TD of the game. As mentioned above, Pollard has handled a league-high 31 touches in the red zone this year. Last season, he scored 12 touchdowns over 16 appearances and averaged 5.2 yards per carry.
Receiving yards
CeeDee Lamb is the unquestioned top receiver for the Cowboys, with 30 targets through four games. The Cowboys have rarely played from behind this season, and Lamb has a line of receiving yards at most books.
Brandon Aiyuk is averaging 4.7 receptions for 70.3 yards over 12 career appearances with Purdy at quarterback. In his last six regular season games, Aiyuk is averaging 93.5 receiving yards. His line is at receiving yards against the Cowboys secondary.
Cowboys vs. 49ers injury report
The Cowboys lost cornerback Trevon Diggs to a season-ending ACL injury prior to Week 3. Dallas has dealt with some injuries across the offensive line, with left tackle Tyron Smith (knee) potentially missing a third straight game and guard Zack Martin (quad) possibly playing through injury. Safety Malik Hooker (shoulder) has been limited in practice.
For the 49ers, DeeboSamuel (rib, knee) is playing through injury, and backup running back ElijahMitchell (knee) is questionable after missing Week 4. Starting guard JonFeliciano is in concussion protocol. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw (ankle) and cornerback Charvarius Ward (heel) could end up playing through their respective injuries.
