San Francisco cornerback Chris Culliver (29) returns a fumble for a score against Dallas. (Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)
ARLINGTON, Texas — Fueled by critics writing off the team as a contender because of a supbar preseason, the San Francisco 49ers made an emphatic statement to the contrary, whipping the Dallas Cowboys 28-17 Sunday afternoon at AT&T Stadium.
San Francisco’s ball-hawking defense coupled with quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s precision proved the perfect recipe on opening day. The 49ers turned four Dallas turnovers into three touchdowns, and Kaepernick threw for two scores — both to tight end Vernon Davis — and 201 yards.
“Everyone was ready to get to the season, ready to play and ready to start trying to put these wins together,” Kaepernick said after completing 16 of 26 passes.
The outcome wasn’t too surprising considering the recent history of these glamour franchises. San Francisco has been to three consecutive NFC Championship games, while the Cowboys have posted three straight 8-8 seasons.
The 49ers (1-0) needed just 54 seconds to take the lead and never looked back in building as much as a 25-point lead. San Francisco running back Frank Gore also became the 29th player in NFL history to surpass 10,000 yards rushing.
“Lot of great play,” said 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, who improved to 4-0 in season openers. “Lot of great team play and individual play. Guys looked around the locker room after the game and realized all the young guys that stepped up in this game and then all the veteran players, the guys that have been there before and have the battle scars, they led the way.”
What the Cowboys said:
“It comes down to two or three throws, and at the quarterback position, you can be exact on 15 throws and if the 16th is bad, you probably didn’t play well.” — QB Tony Romo, on his performance, which included three interceptions.
What the 49ers said:
“It’s very encouraging. There’s been a lot of rhetoric on a lot of different topics and a lot of opinion, and I think this game was about steel in the spine. When it comes to 49er players, that’s where they excel. They have titanium in the spine.” — Coach Jim Harbaugh, on starting the season with a win after an offseason of distractions.
What we learned about the Cowboys:
1. They’re not good enough defensively to overcome one or two turnovers, much less four. Tony Romo’s gun-slinging ways continue to lead to more mistakes than big plays in recent years. His three interceptions included one in the end zone, one into double-coverage and another jump ball.
2. There did seem to be an emphasis on running the ball, even after falling behind big early. The offensive coaches didn’t lose any trust in DeMarco Murray after his early fumble, and he responded with 118 yards rushing and a touchdown.
–WR Dez Bryant left for part of the second half after dealing with cramps in his back. He returned, but wasn’t much of a factor with 55 yards on four catches. “They doubled,” he said. “We went into the game expecting that. We’re just going to go back to the drawing board and see what we can do different.”
–QB Tony Romo was anything but sharp in his first game since back surgery last December. He had three interceptions — all in the first half. “Our team played well enough to win and I just need to play at a higher level,” he said. “And I’ll do that going forward. I just didn’t perform up to my standards tonight. That’s disappointing.”
–RB DeMarco Murray recovered from a fumble on his first carry to finish with 118 yards rushing and a touchdown. Despite the solid outing, the opening mistake stuck with him. “I can’t let that happen,” Murray said. “It gave them a huge spark and you can’t start the game off like that. It was all me.”
What we learned about the 49ers:
1. Several players, including S Dontae Johnson and CB Perrish Cox, stepped up for a defensive unit hit hard by injuries. They forced four turnovers, three leading to touchdowns, and sacked Romo three times. Such a solid defensive start is a big confidence boost for the team going forward.
2. There are plenty of new guys ready to play. Jim Harbaugh estimated that eight rookies played, including Johnson and RB Carlos Hyde. “Lot of great play,” Harbaugh said. “Lot of great team play and individual play. Guys looked around the locker room after the game and realized all the young guys that stepped up in this game.”
–RB Frank Gore became the 29th player in NFL history to surpass 10,000 yards rushing on a 4-yard run in the third quarter. The 10-year veteran has played his entire career for San Francisco. “It’s a blessing, hard work,” said Gore, who finished with 58 yards. “I have to say thanks to the organization for allowing me to be here so long. Thanks to the o-line.”
–CB Chris Culliver suffered a concussion in the first half and didn’t return. He scored the first touchdown of the game on a 35-yard fumble return.
–DE Justin Smith sacked Tony Romo in the first quarter after the Cowboys reached the 2-yard line. The play helped hold Dallas to a field goal instead of a game-tying touchdown. Smith finished with six tackles and two sacks.
