The San Francisco 49ers extended their streak of success when leading by 17-plus points into the fourth quarter, securing a hard-fought 30-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. Entering the game, the 49ers had won 72 consecutive games under these conditions, but what seemed to be a comfortable lead almost slipped away, raising concerns about their ability to close out games after previously losing double-digit leads to both the Cardinals and Rams this season.

“I was frustrated,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “We made it a game when it didn’t need to be, especially defensively. Freebies, you know, where they didn’t have to earn it. … We can’t let it happen, so we put ourselves in that situation so we had to get ourselves out. It was about going out there and finishing the game.”

Defensive Stand Seals the Win

The Cowboys cut the Niners’ lead from 27-10 to 30-24 in less than five minutes. Following a three-and-out by the 49ers offense, Dallas had a chance to win with just over three minutes remaining. On the sideline, Warner made it clear to his teammates that they couldn’t afford another defensive lapse like in previous games. With the game on the line, the defense stepped up, forcing Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott into four straight incompletions to secure the victory.

“Really, our captain [Warner], he was just expressing to us this is not fixing to happen again and we are going to win this game on defense,” cornerback Deommodore Lenoir said. “That was a big testimony to us finishing. What we’ve needed to do this whole season.”

Kittle’s Big Night Amid Injury Challenges

The 49ers’ offense faced additional pressure to perform without several injured stars, including running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles), wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (ACL/MCL tear), and receiver Jauan Jennings (hip). Injuries during the game also sidelined running back Jordan Mason (shoulder) and receiver Deebo Samuel (ribs). This left tight end George Kittle, who had been nursing a sprained foot, as the team’s primary weapon.

Kittle came through in a big way, catching six passes for 128 yards and a touchdown, hitting the 100-yard mark for the 18th time in his career—the third-most 100-yard games in franchise history. He also reached a milestone with his 500th career catch, placing him fifth in team history, and he moved to third in receiving yards (6,777), trailing only legends Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens.

Kittle’s performance helped the 49ers even their record at 4-4. Reflecting on his career with the franchise, Kittle expressed gratitude, saying, “[I’m] just thankful that I got to be a part of an organization with a very high standard in how they play football. “Thankful that they’ve kept me around for a long time and just every single day striving to be better than I was the before and continually prove that I need to be on the San Francisco 49ers roster.”

Looking Ahead: Bye Week and Trade Options

The win over Dallas was the 49ers’ fourth straight victory against the Cowboys, marking their longest streak since 1981-1990. Now, the Niners look forward to a bye week, hoping it will give key players like McCaffrey, Jennings, and kicker Jake Moody (ankle sprain) a chance to return in time for their next game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Nov. 10.

The time off could also aid players injured in Sunday’s game, including Mason, Samuel, cornerback Renardo Green (ankle), and linebacker Dee Winters (concussion).

Additionally, with the trade deadline approaching on Nov. 5, the 49ers may look for reinforcements, particularly along the defensive line, as head coach Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch have made at least one trade each season since taking charge in 2017, except in 2018.

“We can be whoever we want,” Warner said. “Honestly, I think it’s after the bye, it’s 0-0. We’re at .500 right now. I think we’re a game back from being first in the division … but we have everything ahead of us.”