After a 3-1 start against a slate featuring the New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots and Aaron Rodgers-less New York Jets (combined record through Week 5: 5-15), the Cowboys were anointed as the championship contenders so many in football want them to be, a recurring theme whenever "America's Team" shows signs of life.
On Sunday, they met an actual contender in the San Francisco 49ers. It did not go well. San Francisco jumped out to a 21-7 halftime lead then landed the finishing blow in the second half of a 42-10 victory.