Dallas Cowboys: Don't Sleep on the 49ers

The Dallas Cowboys picked up a huge win in front of over 90,000 rabid Redskins fans who wanted nothing more than to deliver a fatal blow to the Cowboys' playoff hopes last Sunday night.

It wasn't perfect, but the Cowboys showed signs of their former selves in this game. Despite only scoring 14 points, the Cowboys actually moved the ball quite well, gaining 315 yards.

The defense played well, too, allowing only 228 yards and holding the Redskins to just one touchdown, which was scored on their first drive of the game. Dallas also had an interception and registered three sacks, two by Jay Ratliff and the other by DeMarcus Ware.

The story of this game was the emergence of Marion Barber as not only a great running back, but an elite one. He ran for 114 yards on 24 carries with a touchdown. He also caught six passes for 39 yards. He sealed the game with a first down run on fourth-and-two with under a minute to go.

The return of Romo seemed to give a swagger back to the Cowboys, and wide receiver Roy Williams is starting to show signs of being a play maker. Williams is going to have to make some big plays as teams continue to double and triple-team Terrell Owens.

A huge win for the Cowboys, perhaps a season saver. Now it's time to look forward to a potential sleeper: the San Francisco 49ers.

The 49ers come into this game 3-7. With another loss they would be eliminated from playoff contention. This team, however, has shown signs of life under Mike Singletary. The 49ers crushed the Rams, 35-16, last week.

The Rams certainly are no powerhouse at all, but the 49ers hung with a tough Cardinals team on the road. They probably would have won, had it not been for terrible clock management and stupid play calling at the goal line at the end of the game.

Are the 49ers a sleeper?

Yes, but do they have enough to beat the Cowboys who know they have to win just about every game to be in contention in the NFC East?

The 49ers come into this game minus-12 in the turnover margin. Dallas thrives against teams that turn the ball over. If the 49ers make too many mistakes and give time to the Dallas offense to gel, it could be a very, very long day for the 49ers.

San Francisco also plays poorly on third down, only converting 35 percent of the time.

Lastly—and this is perhaps the most daunting fact for the 49ers—they have allowed 36 sacks. That's about three per game. Demarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff will tear up the 49ers' offensive line if they don't play their top game.

As Tony Romo said, "It's all about how you finish. It's not about the beginning of the season or the middle. It's how you finish."

The Cowboys haven't posted a winning record in December since 1993! That's right, 1993. In 1994 and 1995, the Cowboys posted 2-2 records.

There have been plenty of teams who started the season slowly and later went to the Super Bowl, such as Pittsburgh and last year's Giants.

It may be too early to even think about the Super Bowl, but the Cowboys need to take things one game at a time. If they play to their capabilities, good things will happen.