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FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Wednesday that a win over the San Francisco 49ers would be “a huge step,” a day after Dallas made no trades at the NFL trade deadline.
The Cowboys are 4-5 after Sunday’s 27-23 win over the Indianapolis Colts. The 49ers are 7-1, the best record in the NFC, and have won the last four meetings between the teams, including playoff wins after the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Dallas added former New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller to the practice squad Wednesday.
Schottenheimer opened his availability before practice Wednesday at The Star with the deadline.
“No, I think at the end of the day it shows you that we’re confident in our roster and the fact that our best football is still ahead,” Schottenheimer said.
Brian Schottenheimer On A Potential Signature Win
The stakes of Sunday’s game came up twice more during the same availability.
“I mean, they’re a great football team,” Schottenheimer explained. “We know that. You look at them really in all three phases. We are embracing the challenge of playing a great team, but like, it’s going to come down to us taking a step today and having a really good day, and then putting together another good week.”
“But anytime you win a game in this league, certainly against a great opponent like San Francisco, it’d be a huge step,” Schottenheimer continued.
“Huge, yeah, huge,” Schottenheimer said later. “Again, won’t be easy. They’re a really good team, but yeah, those are big, big, big momentum boosts and, again, one that we’re preparing very diligently for, and we’ll see the first-, second-down plan today.”
“But you look at these guys across the board, really on offense and defense, they’re top five or six in every category,” Schottenheimer continued. “Got some really good players, so we’ll have to play very, very well.”
Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams spoke at his locker later Wednesday.
“Any win is going to be big right now,” Williams said. “If you’re a competitor, if you’re a player in this league, you want to win every single game. So that’s the main thing we focus on, not beating ourselves and executing and trying to pull out a win.”
Underdog Talk And 49ers Fans At AT&T Stadium
Schottenheimer faced San Francisco twice a year as the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive coordinator from 2018 to 2020. Dallas’ status as the underdog came up next.
“That’s for you guys to decide,” Schottenheimer said. “Our guys are excited about embracing the challenge against a really good football team. Played against this team a lot, being in the division out in Seattle. Ultimate respect for Fred Warner and those guys, Greenlaw, Bosa. So our guys will be ready.”
The 49ers’ traveling fan base came up near the end of the availability.
“No,” Schottenheimer said. “I mean, I know they travel well. I mean, I’ve played in a lot of different spots in Seattle and New York, Kansas City. They travel well for sure. But at the end of the day, it’s going to come down to the guys on the field playing, and I’m sure there’ll be some red there.”
The Cowboys host the 49ers on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:25 p.m. CT on Fox.
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