After Dak Prescott’s seventh INT of 2024, 49ers defenders tackled KaVontae Turpin, which initiated a bad skirmish between the two teams.
Nick Bosa and Fred Warner get into a fight with Cowboys players (Image via IMAGO/ X)
A lot happened in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadiu between the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys. Dak Prescott continued his streak of throwing picks, and Nick Bosa lodged multiple sacks, but the highlight of the initial 15 minutes of football during Sunday’s late kickoff was undeniably the fight between the two sides.
With the clock ticking toward the two-minute mark, Prescott handed the ball off to KaVontae Turpin, who tried his best to slice through the queue of 49ers’ defense. He was met with a brutal reality check.
Two 49ers’ linebackers, #45 Demetrius Flannigan-Fowlers and then #53 Dee Winters, pounced on the Cowboys receiver from both directions. Flannigan-Fowlers grabbed his foot while Winters smashed into Turpin’s back, almost slicing him in half.
The tag team tackle from the 49ers defense did not sit well with the Cowboys players, and both sides started arguing with each other. 49ers star defensive end Fred Warner exchanged blows with some of the Cowboys’ players before the referee threw multiple flags.
Small scuffle after the kickoff return! Looks like Dee Winters of the #49ers may have initiated it. pic.twitter.com/O8lMEkNPej
— Tanner Phifer (@TannerPhifer) October 28, 2024
After the situation calmed down a little, the officials sounded their verdict. They penalized Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb with a personal foul, and Warner also received the same, which was later rescinded.
A messy start in a must-win game for both the Cowboys and the 49ers
For once, neither the Cowboys nor the Cowboys nor the 49ers had the clear upper hand coming into the week eight fixture. Both suffered heavy defeats in their previous games and badly required the win to keep their playoff chances alive.
The game’s first drive ended with an Anders Carlson field goal conversion. It was followed by Dak Prescott’s seventh interception of the year as 49ers Ji’ayir Brown picked him off right before the pass reached Turpin just moments before the fight broke out.
Bosa gets the pressure. Brown gets the pick. @49ers ball!
📺: #DALvsSF on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/krcyeDf5RB— NFL (@NFL) October 28, 2024
Fans didn’t get to celebrate a touchdown until five minutes into the second quarter. However, it was the fans with the stars who were up on their feet celebrating after running back Ezekiel Elliott walked in from a yard following Prescott’s layoff.
Zeke wants to eat. He has reservations for 6️⃣
📺: #DALvsSF on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/SvyDUyz3MT— NFL (@NFL) October 28, 2024
Kicker Brandon Aubrey then converted from 29 yards to extend the Cowboys’ lead to seven points, which was then cut short by 49ers Anders Carlson after he scored from 44 yards.
Prescott in the first half completed 14 of 18 for 110 yards and one interception. Elliott carried the ball six times for 29 yards, while debutant Dalvin Cook had four for seven yards. Lamb caught seven passes for 48 yards.
49ers quarterback Brock Purdy completed 10 of 16 for 151 yards, while Jordan Mason ran 6 times for 18 yards with the ball. Rookie Rickey Pearsall led the 49ers receivers with 4 catches for 48 yards at halftime.
