Maybe it was the weight of all those close losses. Maybe it was the newness of trying to establish new leaders on offense and defense. Whatever it was, the 49ers were finally blown out on their home field by their reviled rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, 40-10.
It wasn’t the debut the 49ers wanted for rookie quarterback C.J. Beathard or rookie linebacker Reuben Foster. Both played gamely, but unevenly in the loss and Foster exited in the third quarter with what looked like a lower back injury.
Beathard finished completing 22 of 38 passes for 235 yards
Offensively, every time the 49ers tried to inch closer to Dallas, the team would suffer a disastrous reversal. For example, down 20-3 at the close of the half, the 49ers reached the Cowboys’ 5-yard line with 46 seconds left. Beathard set up in the pocket to throw and was then blind-sided by defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. Beathard fumbled and Lawrence recovered ending the 49ers opportunity to slice into the lead.
The team tried to close the gap again in the third quarter and went for it on fourth down. After failing to convert, Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott caught a short pass from Dak Prescott, broke a few tackles, and sped down the sideline for a deciding 72-yard touchdown.
The 49ers trailed 27-3 at that point, and any efforts to climb back into the game were thwarted with more pressure on Beathard. While the offense continued to sputter despite some noteworthy, tackle-busting plays from Carlos Hyde, the 49ers couldn’t stop the Cowboys from embarking on long, time-consuming drives that ended in touchdowns.
After a 2-yard touchdown toss from Prescott to Dez Bryant, the Cowboys built a 40-3 lead, and 49ers fans started hunt for the exits on a day that honored former wide receiver Dwight Clark.
This game was, by far, the worst of the Kyle Shanahan era and the beat down brought back shuddering memories of the Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly efforts of the last two seasons.
It was a forgettable day for the 49ers on the injury front as well. They lost rookie linebacker Reuben Foster once again. With seven minutes left in the third quarter, Foster tackled Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot and as he got up, he clutched his lower back and went down to the turf again.
He stayed down for several moments and was then helped to the sidelines.
Foster exited the opener after 11 plays with a high ankle sprain and returned for the first time against the Cowboys. Foster’s return was one reason the team released veteran NaVorro Bowman, who was later signed by Oakland.
Foster came back later in the third quarter, but needed help from the field a second time with 43 seconds left. Foster chased Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott as he wove past him on a 2-yard quarterback draw for a touchdown. He hit the turf hard after missing Prescott and was again helped from the field.
Earlier in the game, the team also lost right tackle Trent Brown with a concussion.