The start of the NFC wild-card game between the Dalas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers is the stuff that San Francisco fans could only dream of when they went to bed last night.
After putting together a touchdown drive of their own on the first possession of the game, the San Francisco defense got a chance to take the field for the first time with the 49ers already holding a 7-0 lead.
Three plays later, the Dallas punt team was on the field.
The big play on the three-and-out came on third down. After Dak Prescott’s throw on first down fell incomplete, and linebacker Dre Greenlaw stopping running back Ezekiel Elliott for a loss of three on second down, the Cowboys again looked to the air on third-and-long.
Enter Nick Bosa.
Nick Bosa coming through! #FTTB #SuperWildCard
📺: #SFvsDAL on CBS/NICK/Prime Video
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/ecWD0A4GYL— NFL (@NFL) January 16, 2022
The 49ers run a “T/E O” stunt with Bosa. The pass rusher aligns outside the right tackle, but loops behind both defensive tackles and into the opposite A-Gap. The sea parts for him, and Bosa has a clean shot at Prescott for the sack.
Dallas has struggled at times this season to protect Prescott. The Cowboys passer has been pressured on 197 plays this year according to charting data from Pro Football Focus, which is tied for 11th-most in the league. If Dallas is going to move on to the divisional round, they will need to shore up the protection in front of their quarterback in a hurry.
