San Francisco 49ers Week 8 playbook: What to know ahead of Cowboys matchup

26 October 2024Last Update :
San Francisco 49ers Week 8 playbook: What to know ahead of Cowboys matchup

With a 3-4 record and only Sunday night’s clash with the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium remaining before the bye week that splits their season, the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers are experiencing a bit of a rough patch. Their collective headspace, however, remains resolute and upbeat.

They’ve been here before. And they’ve overcome worse. Read more from Mike Silver

Week 8 vs. Dallas Cowboys, 5:20 p.m. PT (NBC)

Catch up on what you need to know from this week on the 49ers:

Deebo Samuel and George Kittle questionable, Jauan Jennings out
Samuel spent two nights in the hospital after coming down with a case of pneumonia, but said he is feeling much better.

49ers’ best fits at trade deadline
Za’Darius Smith? Azeez Ojulari? Arden Key? There seems to be an intersection of need and availability at defensive end.

Where have all the screen passes gone?
The 49ers are attempting 1.6 screens per game after attempting 3.1 a game last season.

Jordan Mason facing loaded boxes
According to Next Gen Stats, Mason faced an eight-man box on 35.71 percent of his carries Sunday.

Brandon Aiyuk out for year
Tests confirmed that Aiyuk suffered a torn right ACL and MCL in the second quarter of the 49ers’ loss to the Chiefs.

49ers need Brock Purdy to level up now more than ever
This season, the 49ers need their quarterback to be borderline heroic.

Scouting the Cowboys

Jerry Jones on Derrick Henry ‘fit,’ Troy Aikman criticisms
“In my mind, we’re not playing very good football right now at all, and it’s beyond whether or not we have Derrick Henry.”

Why a midseason coaching change is unlikely
Jones said he has regrets over firing Wade Phillips midway through the 2010 season, which could make the bar extremely high for Mike McCarthy to lose his job in the middle of the season.

How good are the 49ers?

Check out Austin Mock’s 2024 NFL projections, where you will find each team’s probability of conquering its division, advancing through the playoffs and winning the Super Bowl. The projections are based on 100,000 simulations of the remainder of the season, which factors in each team’s projected strength, current health as well as its remaining schedule.

(Top photo of Deebo Samuel: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)