The Dallas Cowboys are set to square off against the San Francisco 49ers on Wild Card weekend. It’s a game that many have already been convinced that the Cowboys will end up winning. However, the 49ers have other plans and top wide receiver Deebo Samuel will be a big part of those plans.
Mike McCarthy and company will need to come in with a solid game plan to defend Samuel. He is the kind of playmaker that can change the game anytime he touches the football.
Multiple media outlets have been taking a look at how the Cowboys can slow down Samuel. Bleacher Report took a look at a three-point system of slowing Samuel down and it will certainly play a big factor in this game.
Throughout the course of the 2021 NFL season, Samuel ended up catching 77 passes for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns. He also ended up with 59 carries for 365 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. Finally, he threw for 24 years and a touchdown as well.
Those numbers show how Samuel can impact the game in every single way. If the Cowboys aren’t ready for him, he could end up being the reason the 49ers pull off a massive Wild Card upset.
With all of that being said, the Cowboys need to make Samuel the focal point of their defense. They need to have someone watching him at all times. Thankfully, their defense has been much better this season than it was last year and they do have the talent necessary to cover Samuel.
If the Cowboys can prevent the big play, they have a good chance to keep the 49ers’ offense in check. Forcing San Francisco to create long drives is a must. That is something that the 49ers have not been able to do consistently all season long.
Granted, stopping a talent like Deebo Samuel is much easier said than done. It’s easy to write about keys to slow him down, but actually doing that is a major task. Kyle Shanahan is one of the best offensive minds in the NFL and will be coming into this game with ideas of how to get Samuel the ball in space.
Expect to see the Dallas defense do everything they can to keep Samuel in check. Whether or not they are able to accomplish that goal could be the deciding factor in this game.
