Monday 8 September 2014 11:06, UK
The Dallas Cowboys had a nightmare start to the new season with turnovers galore helping the San Francisco 49ers power away to a comfortable 28-17 victory in Texas.
All the damage was done in the first half with an early fumble being returned for a touchdown by Chris Culliver on just the third play of the game, before much-maligned Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo threw interceptions on three consecutive possessions.
San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick, by contrast, was calm, assured, lively and accurate, hitting Vernon Davis for two quick touchdown strikes within two minutes as the 49ers opened up an 18-point lead despite running just four offensive plays.
Romo was also sacked three times but Dallas did manage to move the ball against the 49ers defence, especially through running back DeMarco Murray who managed 118 yards rushing, but with San Francisco picking up 21 points off turnovers that’s always a hard statistic to overcome.
Kaepernick ended up with 201 yards and his two TDs but the manner of his performance was more impressive, as was Anquan Boldin’s 99-yard receiving day, which was again full of tough catches, but as the boos rang out from the Dallas fans indicated the Cowboys have a lot to do.
It was a woeful start for the Cowboys, with DeMarco Murray fumbling the ball on just the third play of the game and Culliver picking the ball up and running it back 36 yards for San Francisco’s opening touchdown.
Romo and the Cowboys managed to move the ball on the 49ers but after a six-minute, 44-second drive they only had a Dan Bailey field goal to show for it.
By contrast, the 49ers struck quickly again with another TD instantly with Kaepernick using his feet well to keep the play alive and hit Boldin for a big gain before connecting with Davis for a 29-yard score.
Romo then tried to force a pass to Dez Bryant which was intercepted by Eric Reid and returned all the way to the Dallas two-yard line, where Kaepernick stepped up and hit Davis again for a second touchdown on the very next play.
San Francisco then led 21-3 despite their offence running just four plays, and it got no better for the home crowd as Romo was intercepted again on the very next drive as Patrick Willis grabbed a Romo pass into the end zone looking for Jason Witten.
Dallas got the ball back without further damage, but amazingly for a third drive in a row Romo threw an interception, and it was a similar story as he tried to find Bryant in traffic and this time Perrish Cox came up with the ball for San Francisco.
Once again, San Francisco also made the most of the turnover with rookie running back Carlos Hyde, who made an impressive NFL debut powered in from four yards having set the score up himself with a fine run.
Dallas finally got into the end zone in the third quarter, but only after Romo had thrown a desperate 56-yard pass to Dwayne Harris – which then allowed Murray, Dallas’ best player in the game, to dive over from two yards.
Romo eventually find the end zone as he connected with Terrance Williams with a two-yard touchdown throw just inside the final two minutes, but the following onside kick was picked up by Anquan Boldin.
The score made the game look a lot closer but the 49ers were comfortable enough throughout the second half despite not adding to the scoreboard as they again made a winning start under Jim Harbaugh.
