The San Francisco 49ers are hitting the road for a long stretch that could define their season. Six of their final nine games will happen away from Levi’s Stadium, starting with a trip to AT&T Stadium in Dallas. The team has to win on the road to secure the top seed in the NFC and earn a bye in the playoffs. This trip is just the start of a grueling schedule that includes stops in Mexico City, New York, and Kansas City.
Coach Kyle Shanahan knows the toll travel takes on a team. He noted that the routine of being away from families gets tough after a while. “Just being away for a while, I think adds up,” Shanahan said. He added that “Just guys being away from the routine of their families and things like that, so that usually gets old by the end and everyone’s screaming to get back.” The team is trying to use the travel to their advantage by acclimating to different environments before big games.
Travel Schedule and Altitude Prep
The 49ers have a unique plan to handle the physical demands of the season. They will spend eight nights in strange beds across three cities. The team is using a trip to Colorado to get ready for a game in Mexico City, where the altitude is 7,350 feet. Shanahan believes this preparation helps the team during the actual games. “It’s things that we feel helps us a little bit during the game which makes it worth it, but it does get old to be away for that long,” he said.
This strategy worked before when the team flew to Australia for their season opener against the Rams. The time difference and travel helped them get ready for the start of the season. Now they face a similar challenge with less time to rest. The team will go to Mexico City, then back to Santa Clara, then to New York, and back home again before heading to Los Angeles and Kansas City. It is a non-stop run that requires focus.
Brock Purdy and the Injury List
Quarterback Brock Purdy has been the key to the team’s success this year. He has thrown 17 touchdowns against only five interceptions, leading the league in red zone efficiency. The 49ers rank second in the league in point differential, showing they win games in multiple ways. However, the team faces some injury concerns heading into the Dallas game. Per Fox Sports, left tackle Trent Williams is listed as questionable with a shoulder injury, while linebacker Dre Greenlaw is also questionable with a knee issue.
The Dallas Cowboys have their own injury problems that could hurt their defense. They are missing safety P.J. Locke and tight end Jake Ferguson, both of whom are out for the game. The Cowboys have allowed 26.2 points per game this season, which is a bad matchup against San Francisco’s offense. Christian McCaffrey has nine rushing touchdowns and could exploit the weak run defense. The 49ers have won the last four meetings against Dallas, showing they have the upper hand in this rivalry.
What the Players Are Saying
Linebacker Fred Warner understands the mental challenge of this long road trip. He knows the team must stay focused on the game at hand and not worry about the future. “I think the challenge is how present can you be in the moment?” Warner said. He emphasized the importance of blocking out the noise and the travel fatigue. “To me, there is no tomorrow after the Dallas game,” Warner said, highlighting the team’s all-or-nothing mindset for Sunday.
The 49ers have proven they can win on the road before, but this stretch is the toughest test of the season. They need to stay healthy and keep their focus sharp. The team will wrap up the regular season in Arizona after this long run of away games.
