Preview: Preseason Week 1 Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers

Fans of America’s Team will finally get to see their team play America’s Game tonight as the Dallas Cowboys open the 2018 Preseason on the road against the San Francisco 49ers. After a dramatic 2017 campaign and a turbulent offseason, the Cowboys look ready to start fresh in 2018. The biggest difference going into the season is how young this team has gotten and whether or not that will be a problem this year.  As it is every season, the first preseason game doesn’t really give you much but it is Cowboys football and you will take it. Here are a few things to watch for tonight:

First-Team Offense Struggling:

You won’t see much of Dak Prescott and the first-team offense on the field tonight, maybe just for a series and a half at best. Yet, it is going to be interesting still to watch them perform against someone other than their own defense. All camp long we have seen the Cowboys defense win against the offense over and over again. Receivers can’t get open and Dak has looked very uneven since camp began.  Some bring up the fact that Prescott has never been a good practice player but rather shines in game moments.  Let’s hope that is the case and see if maybe they can put some doubts to rest in their short time against the 49ers.

Veterans that Could Play More Than A Series:

While traditionally starters usually sit out once the first series is over, there might be some changes to that rule this season. This is the first time in awhile that there has been major turnover at key positions across the team and a lot of starters aren’t really established yet. It could be a good thing to allow them to play a few extra snaps than they normally would. Such players that could benefit from this are linebacker Jaylon Smith, receivers like Allen Hurns and Tavon Austin.  Smith would benefit from the extra playing to see if his knee is ready to withstand the rigors of extended playing time. Hurns and Austin need more time to gel in a position group that struggles to get anything going on a daily basis.  It will be interesting to see if the coaching staff will alter their plans or just play it conservative like always.

Young Player to Watch:

Look for Lance Lenoir to make some magic tonight. So far in camp, he is the one receiver that has consistently been making plays and showing effort. He’s made an impression on the media covering the team in Oxnard, always being mentioned in a positive light. Lenoir has a legitimate shot to make the roster this season thanks to injuries at the position. Tonight is his first step at trying to lock it up. Look for him and fellow receiver Noah Brown to battle it out against the 49ers.

Summary:

This game again really has no meaning other than to evaluate some players and just to sit back and watch the Cowboys finally play football again. If you’re a true football fan, then there is no better option than Cowboys vs.  the 49ers!  Kickoff is 9 PM CST on the NFL Network and locally on CBS 11.