Fred Warner owned the Dallas Cowboys in a dominant San Francisco 49ers win
Fred Warner is already known as one of the premier defenders in the NFL.
On Sunday night, though, the San Francisco 49ers’ All-Pro linebacker played a starring role in a 42-10 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in primetime.
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Warner, the sixth-year pro out of BYU, had a team-high eight tackles and made contributions across the stat sheet for San Francisco.
He finished with one sack (for a 6-yard loss), a quarterback hurry, one tackle for loss, one pass deflection and caused two turnovers — one an interception, the other a forced fumble.
Fred Warner’s been wanting that interception for a long time! pic.twitter.com/eLFlK7xiyN
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) October 9, 2023
Warner had a direct message about what the victory said about the 49ers, who improved to 5-0 on the year and are one of just two teams — the Philadelphia Eagles being the other — who are still unbeaten.
“That we’re dangerous. It’s not even about the other teams to us, it’s about us. Every single game, it’s all about us,” he told reporters. “We understand the opportunity that we have and it’s just about taking it one week at a time, regardless of who we’re playing.
“We’ve got to uphold the standard and play to the best of our ability every single game. If we do that, we’ll like the result.”
What did Fred Warner and the 49ers learn from tonight's victory vs. Dallas?
"That we're dangerous." pic.twitter.com/SmsrR9JSaC— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) October 9, 2023
Warner’s first big impact play of the night came late in the first quarter, when he punched the ball loose from Dallas running back Tony Pollard deep in Cowboys territory, and 49ers teammate Kevin Givens recovered the ball near the sideline.
Fred Warner knocks it free and the @49ers recover it! 💯
📺: #DALvsSF on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/gzzkvIRUdj pic.twitter.com/GP4jQbWhhJ— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2023
On the Cowboys’ next possession, Warner sacked Dallas quarterback Dax Prescott for a 6-yard yard loss at the Cowboys 4-yard line on a third-and-2 play, forcing a punt. On the first play of the 49ers’ ensuing possession, San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy hit George Kittle for a 38-yard touchdown pass to give the 49ers a 14-0 lead.
Fred Warner is EVERYWHERE ‼️ @fred_warner
📺: #DALvsSF on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/gzzkvIRUdj pic.twitter.com/1DMxBIW28G— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2023
Early in the fourth quarter, Warner had another momentum-swinging play in Dallas territory. This time, he intercepted a tipped Prescott pass at the Cowboys 38 and returned the pick 12 yards. That set up the final score of the night — a 26-yard touchdown run from Jordan Mason.
Fred Warner makes ANOTHER big play ‼️ @fred_warner
📺: #DALvsSF on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/gzzkvIRUdj pic.twitter.com/6aeSBCed3j— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2023
Another former BYU linebacker, Kyle Van Noy, who’s now playing for the Baltimore Ravens, gave a shoutout to Warner, one of several noteworthy responses on social media to Warner’s masterful night.
All pro Fred!!! You elite my boy !! @fred_warner
— Kyle Van Noy (@KVN_03) October 9, 2023
FRED WARNER.
The best linebacker in football. I won’t debate. I won’t engage. I won’t discuss. I won’t dialogue.
I will tell you the truth, and the truth shall set you free. #49ers— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) October 9, 2023
NOBODY better than @fred_warner 💪
📺: https://t.co/SHhN01CWjk pic.twitter.com/do3AWydFW5— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) October 9, 2023
Fred Warner running in stride with one of the faster receivers in Brandin Cooks is insane
54’s a cheat code pic.twitter.com/1likOwdchs— Akash Anavarathan (@akashanav) October 9, 2023
It's possible the three most talked about NFL players in the league right now are:
Zach wilson
Fred warner
Puka Nakua#BYU— Teeps (@SportsGuyRyan) October 9, 2023
Fred Warner:
Sack
Forced Fumble
INT
He does it all 💪— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) October 9, 2023
Another big game from these two 🙌@CMC_22 | @fred_warner pic.twitter.com/Sf4qrDLFn0
— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2023