With the short practice week already nearing an end, the Cowboys are full-on sprinting toward Sunday’s showdown with San Francisco. They hope to be doing more of it at Levi’s Stadium, as Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott look to run on the Niners in a way they couldn’t in last year’s wild-card round. We’re also charting the re-emergence of Michael Gallup, wondering about the offensive line configuration, checking on Brett Maher’s yips, and trying to decode the 49ers’ so-called “death lineup” before it does damage against Dallas.
Meanwhile, Micah Parsons loves being the underdog, we’re laying out what the Cowboys must do in Santa Clara, we’re welcoming two back to practice, and we’re keeping an eye on “Playoff Deebo.” All that, plus thinking ahead to a possible overseas trip next season, the collapse against the Cowboys was the last straw for Byron Leftwich in Tampa, Sam Williams takes care of his warrant, Dak gets a pizza named after him, and the league is cracking down on an obscure rule that affects placeholders on kicks. That and more, in News and Notes.