Cowboys defense shows real progress at Indianapolis before 49ers test

The Dallas Cowboys defense, a liability for most of the first half of the season, finally gave the team a performance to build on. ESPN singled out the unit's improvement this week after Sunday's 27-23 win at Indianapolis, and the numbers support that.

Dallas held the Colts to 271 total yards, the first time this season it kept an opponent under 300, Athlon Sports reported. ESPN's Todd Archer pointed out that Indianapolis managed only 79 first-half yards, the fewest Dallas has allowed in a first half since Week 18 of 2024, according to The Sporting News. The Colts went 3-for-13 on third down, and Blogging The Boys called it the defense's best game of the year.

The defensive front did most of the work. Quinnen Williams had seven tackles, three for loss and a forced fumble that ended an Indianapolis drive in the fourth quarter. Rookie safety Caleb Downs added a sack and two pass breakups, then intercepted a pass with 35 seconds left to seal the win. Rashan Gary also had a sack.

The second half was less convincing. The Colts scored 13 straight points to take a 23-20 lead with 1:37 left, and Dallas needed a four-play, 65-yard drive capped by a Javonte Williams touchdown to retake the lead. The Sports Animal noted that Indianapolis' first touchdown came on a 19-yard drive after a Dak Prescott fumble and described the group as still "a long way away from being a group that you can count on." The Colts are 2-7, so the next opponent will be a much harder test.

What it means against San Francisco

That test arrives Sunday, when the 49ers visit on Fox. San Francisco is 7-1, leads the NFC and is coming off a 38-17 win over the Raiders. Yahoo Sports has the 49ers scoring 29.4 points per game and allowing 19.5.

Dallas is 4-5 and has alternated wins and losses for six straight games. The Cowboys score 27.3 points per game but allow 26.2, and they have held only two of nine opponents under 23 points. Home has been a problem: Dallas is 1-3 at home, with the only win coming against Washington, and the last two home games ended in a 30-33 loss to Arizona and a 16-24 loss to Tampa Bay. The Cowboys are 3-2 on the road.

The board on our game page has San Francisco favored across 12 venues. Novig lists the 49ers at -199 and Dallas at +194, and has San Francisco giving 3.5 points. Novig's price on the Cowboys at +3.5 is +104. The best number anywhere for Dallas is BetMGM's +4.5 at -110, a full point more than Novig's line at a shorter price. Sportsbook hold on the moneyline ranges from 3.2% to 5.3%.

The total is 55.5 at Novig, with the over at even money, and BetMGM's highest number is 56. That total suggests the market still has doubts about the Dallas defense. Holding a 2-7 Colts team in check was a start. Doing the same against the NFC's best record would show the improvement is real.

The following week, Dallas hosts Tennessee and is favored at -471 on Novig, giving 7.5 points.