2 min read • January 15, 2022
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Injury Advantage: Cowboys Run Offense
Dallas enters the postseason with the highest team SIC score of any playoff team.
Running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard have battled through injuries this season, but both should be ready for their usual roles against the 49ers.
Pollard’s partially torn plantar fascia is an issue he can play through with a numbing injection, while Elliott is off the injury report after dealing with a right knee bone bruise earlier this season.
Tyron Smith, the Cowboys star left tackle, missed several stretches this season with issues in both ankles. The only issue remaining could be bone spurs in his right ankle, but the Cowboys have an otherwise healthy offensive line.
The 49ers lost Javon Kinlaw to season-ending knee surgery earlier this year, but may get key linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair back this week from a knee sprain that kept him out the last two weeks.
The 49ers gave up the seventh least rushing yards this season, while the Cowboys ranked ninth in rushing yards.
Secondary Advantage: Cowboys Pass Defense
The entire Cowboys secondary is healthy, including Pro Bowl second-year cornerback Trevon Diggs. He led the league with 11 interceptions this year.
However, the biggest advantage for Dallas is quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s injured throwing thumb.
Garoppolo completed 23 of 32 passes for 316 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in last week’s overtime win against the Rams.
He was noticeably better in the second half after taking a numbing injection at halftime. The 30-year-old completed 14 of his 22 second-half passes for 236 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
The ProFootballDocs expect Garoppolo to opt for the numbing injection before the game and another one at halftime to deal with the pain of throwing with a torn UCL.
The throws he missed last week were noticeably behind his targets, but his thumb will be slightly better this Sunday. The Cowboys led the league with 26 interceptions this season and an errant Garoppolo throw could be easy pickings.
Also, star left tackle Trent Williams missed last week with an elbow injury that he will play through this week.
Dallas, meanwhile, has its starting defensive line and key pass rusher Micah Parsons healthy for the contest.
Check out the matchup fieldview at:
https://sicscore.com/nfl/games/san-francisco-49ers-vs-dallas-cowboys
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