SANTA CLARA — The only thing standing between NFL sack king Nick Bosa and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott apparently will be a rookie left tackle Sunday when the 49ers host their divisional playoff game.
The Cowboys ruled out only one player, albeit an important one: left tackle Jason Peters, who exited Monday’s wild-card win at Tampa because of a hip injury.
Rookie Tyler Smith shifted over from left guard to replace Peters in that game and is expected to remain in that role against the 49ers, with Connor McGovern taking over at left guard.
“He’s done a hell of a job this year, especially it being his first year in the league,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said of Smith. “He played at a high level, and that’s where he’s been most of the year, so he’s right back there. It’ll be a good matchup to watch.”
Bosa did not have a sack or quarterback hit in the 49ers’ wild-card win against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, but he played 40 of 68 snaps and made a definite impact, including pressuring the Seahawks’ Geno Smith on a strip-sack fumble credited to Charles Omenihu.
Bosa shared a sack in last year’s wild-card win over the host Cowboys, then a concussion forced him out before halftime. He’s excited for this Sunday’s rematch.
“Whenever you play the Cowboys, just because of the hype that they get – maybe they don’t even want that much hype, but they get it anyway – because of the team they are and the talent they have,” Bosa said Wednesday. “It’s playoff football either way so it’s going to be a big deal. But the past definitely makes it even bigger.”
GAROPPOLO’S PROGRESS
OLD-SCHOOL FILM REVIEW
Shanahan schooled up his team on what the 49ers-Cowboys history “means to people,” and he did so by showing highlights of past playoff tilts, from the 1981 season’s NFC Championship Game and “The Catch,” to the 1992-94 conference finals, and ultimately last season’s wild-card win at Dallas.
“When I moved here in ’92, I didn’t really know, I just knew the Niners were the team of the 80s and I felt they were the Yankees of football,” Shanahan said. “I was in the sixth grade. All I heard about was this big rivalry with Dallas, that I guess was from ’82 and I was too young to know that. Then I know all about the rivalry because I was here ’92, ’93, ’94. It was cool this year to go back and show everything. We finished with the game last year to show they’re part of it. … The film changes but it’s all really the same.”
The Cowboys’ last playoff visit came in the 1994 season’s NFC Championship Game, when Steve Young and the 49ers knocked off the two-time reigning champions en route to the Lombardi Trophy. “It was cool to show them Steve and all the pressure on him in ’92, then to try again in ’93 with even more pressure, then to come back in ’94 and see how much it means to people to fight for something. That was cool stuff to watch.”
ROAD DOGS
This will be the Cowboys’ fourth straight road game, but coach Mike McCarthy does not view that as a pitfall for the 4-point underdogs.
“We’re in a position now where this is a normal Friday for us. We’re recovered,” McCarthy told Dallas reporters Friday. “Our schedule vs. their schedule will play no bearing on this game.”
A year ago, the 49ers’ season ended with a fourth straight road game, as they ran out of gas in the NFC Championship Game at the Los Angeles Rams. Earlier this season, McCarthy coined the phrase: “We’re nobody’s underdogs.” He’s sticking to that this week.
“We all like the fact people are doubting you,” McCarthy added. “We’re clearly going there expecting to win, so make no bones about that. we know the type of environment we’re going into. It’s going to be a great environment and a huge challenge. we’re counting on the Dallas Cowboys fans to show up and we know they will. We’re playing a tremendous football team and we’re in tune with that. We know what we need to do to win the game.”
PRAISE FOR BURFORD
Right guard Spencer Burford, a fourth-round draft pick last spring, is coming off what Shanahan called the best game of his rookie season. Burford did not dispute that but added “I left a lot on the table.”
“He had a lot of talent but we didn’t know if he’d be ready right away. We thought may have to develop him,” Shanahan said of Burford’s selection. “For him to come in (this spring) and hold that spot down, he’s done a great job. Last game was his best of the year. He’s gotten better each game and has a chance to help us through the next few years.”
OTHER STATUS UPDATES
Cornerback Ambry Thomas (ankle) was ruled out a third straight game. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings (ankle) and defensive linemen Samson Ebukam (ankle) and Javon Kinlaw (knee) were fully cleared and off the injury report after participating in practice all week.
The Cowboys listed safety Jayron Kearse (knee) as questionable. He and Peters are the only players left on their injury report. The Cowboys like to use Kearse with two other safeties: Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson. Cleared for full participation are offensive tackle Tyron Smith (knee), defensive end Demarcus Lawrence (foot), defensive tackle Quinton Bohanna (knee), and cornerbacks Trayvon Mullin (illness) and Israel Mukuamu (hamstring).
KICKER CHANGE?
Brett Maher missed four point-after kicks in the Cowboys’ win Monday but did not lose his job, although Tristan Vizcaino was signed to the practice squad as an option. “Brett has the ball. We’re ready to go,” McCarthy said.
Source: www.mercurynews.com