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The 49ers will win if...

The scrappy bunch that demolished St. Louis arrives at Texas Stadium ready to upset the Cowboys. Interim coach Mike Singletary has done some imaginative things to motivate his players. He kicked Vernon Davis off the sideline and pulled down his pants during a halftime speech. Here's something to think about: The 49ers have won six of the last nine games against the Cowboys dating to 1994.

The Cowboys will win if...

The players act as if this as a must-win game. Several Cowboys said they treated last week's game against Washington like a playoff game. They knew the playoffs might slip out of reach had they lost in Tony Romo's first game back since breaking a finger. Former coach Bill Parcells felt that teams must string victories together if they hoped to reach their goals. A second straight win would give the Cowboys momentum.

KEY MATCHUP

San Francisco linebacker Patrick Willis

vs. Cowboys' interior linemen

Last season, Cincinnati's Chad Johnson blurted out to reporters, "Who the heck is No. 52? Oh, my God."

No. 52 is one of the best up-and-coming defensive players in the NFL.

Willis was the 11th overall pick in the 2007 draft, and he went on to become the defensive rookie of the year. On Oct. 5 against New England, press box statisticians credited Willis with 18 tackles, which tied his own mark for the second-most stops in franchise history.

Willis also showed off his speed against Seattle. He intercepted a Matt Hasselbeck pass and returned it 86 yards for a score. It was the longest interception return by a 49ers linebacker. The previous record was a 56-yarder by John Johnson in 1992.

Cowboys center Andre Gurode and guards Leonard Davis and Kyle Kosier must keep track of Willis at all times. If they can block Willis, Marion Barber will have an easier time getting to the second level of the 49ers' run defense.

EDGE: Cowboys

HOW THEY MATCH UP

When the Cowboys run

The Washington game was a return to form for the Cowboys' running game. The offensive line dominated the Redskins up front. Marion Barber had a field day, piling up 114 yards. It's all on his shoulders now that Felix Jones is on injured reserve.

When the Cowboys pass

Tony Romo still wore a protective splint in practice last week. However, Romo said he's feeling more comfortable each day. The broken right pinkie isn't an issue anymore. The 49ers' pass defense ranks 25th in the NFL.

When the 49ers run

The Redskins gashed the Cowboys in September. In last week's rematch, a hobbled Clinton Portis never got much going against the run defense in a close game. Frank Gore is a different runner. This will be a test of the Cowboys' tackling ability.

When the 49ers pass

When Mike Singletary changed quarterbacks, it gave the offense a spark. Shaun Hill was 15-of-20 for 213 yards and threw two touchdowns last week against St. Louis. Terence Newman may have reinjured his groin and is listed as questionable.

Special teams

It's been 15 years since Allen Rossum set the track world on fire at Skyline. He ran the 100 meters in 10.02 seconds before starring at Notre Dame as a punt returner. Even at 33, Rossum's still got it. He's averaging 16.9 yards per punt return.

Intangibles

The Washington win may have given the Cowboys a false sense of security. Many people expect them to beat up San Francisco and Seattle in the next two games and head into December with an 8-4 record. The 49ers can only be spoilers at this point.

LINEUP TWIST

Enough healthy hands despite aches and pains

The Cowboys' receiving corps had an odd week.

It was revealed Tuesday that No. 3 receiver Miles Austin would miss two to four weeks with a sprained ligament in his right knee. He suffered the injury against Washington after an 8-yard catch in the fourth quarter.

Then, Terrell Owens missed Wednesday's practice with flu-like symptoms. That meant Roy Williams and Patrick Crayton worked with the first team. Owens returned Thursday but did not speak to the media.

Receiver Isaiah Stanback aggravated his shoulder injury in practice before the Washington game. He'll have shoulder surgery this off-season. Instead of calling up a receiver off the practice squad, the Cowboys need Stanback to return kickoffs now that Austin is hurt.

The Cowboys should have Owens, Williams and Crayton ready against the 49ers. Mix in Jason Witten, and the offense should have plenty of weapons.

FOUR DOWNS KEYS TO TODAY'S GAME

1.

Clawing back

Ever since Mike Singletary took over as interim coach, the 49ers have responded by playing hard-nosed Football. They've become a scrappy team, despite what a 3-7 record may indicate. Several Cowboys said last week that the 49ers are more dangerous than people think. The Cowboys can't let Singletary's bunch set a trap at Texas Stadium. Tony Romo, Marion Barber and the Cowboys' defense must get off to a fast start to quell any hopes of an upset. Even at 6-4, the Cowboys are in the same position as a week ago. They must win to keep their playoff hopes alive going into Thanksgiving week.

2.

Look out for Gore

Frank Gore was a dynamic do-it-all running back at the University of Miami. He's proved just as versatile in the NFL. This season, Gore has rushed for 834 yards and six touchdowns. Through check-down passes and dump-offs over the middle, Gore is the 49ers' leading receiver, too. He has made 35 catches for 325 yards. If the Cowboys can bottle up the 5-9 Gore, their chances of winning skyrocket. The defensive line must jam things up at the line of scrimmage, and linebackers Bradie James and Zach Thomas must be watchful when Gore sneaks into the middle of the field.

3.

Stronger line

The Cowboys' offensive line played one of its best games of the year last week against Washington. Tony Romo was not sacked, and Marion Barber ate up the final 6:40 to clinch the victory. "We felt like at times we could do anything," right tackle Marc Colombo said. "But we've got a lot more work to do. We need to play better than that." You get mixed signals from different players when asked whether Kyle Kosier's return made that much of a difference. Whether it did or not, the linemen feel they have their swagger back. The 49ers have just 17 sacks, but defensive end Justin Smith can get in the backfield.

4.

Jenkins' time

Last week against Washington, the Cowboys realized how much they had missed cornerback Terence Newman. He shut down Santana Moss, made an acrobatic interception and batted down a key pass on fourth-and-4 in the fourth quarter. Now that Adam Jones is scheduled to return against Pittsburgh on Dec. 7, it's important that Mike Jenkins show the team his skills. No more getting beat deep or pulling up short when running backs are headed to the end zone. The coaches like Orlando Scandrick. Jenkins must show the coaches that he's worthy of staying on the field and that Jones should stay on the bench.

FOLLOW ALONG ON THE BLOG as dallasnews.com's Tim MacMahon writes live from today's game.

CHECK IN AFTER THE GAME for expanded photo coverage with our photographers' slideshows.

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