The Dallas Cowboys will face a familiar offensive threat for the second consecutive Sunday as veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen arrives in Arlington wearing San Francisco 49ers colors. After the NFL trade deadline, Allen moved from Indianapolis to San Francisco, forcing the Cowboys secondary to prepare for a player they just successfully limited in Week 9. In that matchup, Dallas held Allen to four receptions for 26 yards on eight targets, a defensive performance that now serves as a blueprint for their upcoming clash.
Dallas must shut down the 6-time Pro Bowler to protect their home turf.
Allen’s arrival in the Bay Area comes at a critical juncture for the 49ers, whose passing game has been severely hampered by injuries to Christian Kirk, Deebo Samuel, and Mike Evans, alongside ongoing tensions with Brandon Aiyuk. The 34-year-old receiver enters Week 10 with significant historical momentum, moving into eighth place on the NFL’s all-time receptions list with his 1,095th catch against Dallas. He needs just seven more receptions to surpass Cris Carter and only one more to pass Marvin Harrison, making his performance in Arlington potentially historic.
Defensively, the Cowboys are poised to deploy cornerback Joey Porter Jr. against Allen, provided his nagging ankle injury clears him for action. Owner Jerry Jones has previously labeled Porter Jr. a “shutdown corner,” highlighting the high stakes of this matchup. With Allen seeking to capitalize on a depleted 49ers receiving corps and chase all-time records, the Cowboys’ secondary must replicate their Week 9 discipline to prevent the veteran from extending his career milestones on their home field.
Source: Yahoo Sports
