Pollard ran for two touchdowns with Elliott sidelined by a calf issue he's been battling for weeks, and the Cowboys kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 41-33 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Beathard handled the last two possessions and threw a 49-yard Hail Mary touchdown to Kendrick Bourne on the final play. The obvious reaction was that the rookie receiver should have gone to the ground to let Dallas run out the clock. ... WR Michael Gallup, who had a first-half touchdown catch, injured a hip in the second half and didn't return. UP NEXT49ers: At Arizona in an actual road game Saturday in the stadium that has become San Francisco's temporary home.

Mike McCarthy lost his debut as coach of the Dallas Cowboys in part because of a curious fourth-down decision that didn’t work. Now the Cowboys (0-1) will see whether a short-term loss can turn into a long-term gain, starting Sunday in their home opener against Atlanta (0-1). WHAT NEEDS HELPThe Cowboys played from behind almost all of the first half because they couldn't defend the screen pass. Vander Esch's injury raises serious questions for the linebackers when the secondary was already the weakest link on the team. The scoreboard didn't show it, but Dallas appears capable of having an offense as productive as last season's top-ranked unit.

FRISCO, Texas Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is out for the season after tearing the quadriceps tendon in his right leg in the first padded practice of training camp Monday. Executive vice president of personnel Stephen Jones said McCoy would have surgery soon. Jones said McCoy was working against Antwaun Woods in individual drills when Woods stepped on his foot. McCoy was the first of four significant additions on the defensive line in free agency. Hill couldn't really break the rotation for the defensive line during a rough rookie season.