'Disappointed' Cowboys fall to 3-4 after loss to 49ers - ESPN

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — When the season started, the Dallas Cowboys never believed they would be in such a predicament after seven games.

With Sunday's 30-24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Cowboys are 3-4 and closer to the bottom of the NFC than a Super Bowl contender at the moment.

«We're disappointed,» coach Mike McCarthy said. «Our men really had a good week of preparation. I thought there were areas of improvement. But still, we have a ton to work on.»

The last time the Cowboys had a 3-4 record with a healthy Dak Prescott at quarterback was 2018. In 2020, the Cowboys were 2-5 on their way to 2-7, but Prescott suffered a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle in the fifth game of the season.

The 2018 Cowboys were jump-started by a midseason trade for wide receiver Amari Cooper and finished the campaign with a 10-6 record, winning the NFC East and a playoff game. Only five players active on Sunday remain from the 2018 roster — Prescott, running back Ezekiel Elliott, right guard Zack Martin, cornerback Jourdan Lewis and special-teamer C.J. Goodwin.

The Cowboys will play at the Atlanta Falcons, leaders of the NFC South, next week.

«We know what it takes in this league,» Prescott said. «You got hot, you get rolling, that's all you're looking to do. That's my point, that this is frustrating but nobody is giving up. Nobody is shook, as you can say, from where we're at. We just got to focus up, get ready to go on the road and got another good team coming up and do whatever we can do make sure we come out with a victory. Get even. Then worry about after that after this next road game.»

The Cowboys' next four opponents — the Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans and Washington Commanders — are a