SANTA CLARA, California. – After seemingly outscoring the 49ers in the first half and holding a slim lead at halftime, the Cowboys saw the bottom fall out in the third quarter.

The 49ers dominated to start the second half, outscoring Dallas 21-0 to take control of the game. The Cowboys had their chances and almost came all the way back in the fourth, but fell short.

Here are five hidden actions that could have changed the outcome.

Early mismatch for Samuel’s big win – The Cowboys had a chance to get off the field early in the game on the 49ers’ first possession. But on third-and-6 at their own 17-yard line, the 49ers got Deebo Samuel to line up with linebacker Eric Kendricks and connect with the versatile receiver for a 36-yard gain down the right sideline. Not only did that change the field and lead to a San Francisco field goal, but it also set the tone for several plays in which Samuel went wild in the open field for big gains.

Aubrey’s short kickoff sets up 49ers – It’s not like the 49ers need a lot of help moving the ball, but in the first half they struggled to complete their drives and only managed two field goals. So Brandon Aubrey’s gift on the second half kickoff, dribbling the kick to the 22-yard line, served as a penalty and a boost for the 49ers, who started the third quarter at the 40-yard line. It didn’t take long for them to reach the end zone and take a 13-10 lead.

Turpin’s illegal forward pass – After the 49ers marched for a rushing touchdown in the third quarter, the Cowboys tried a little trickery on special teams, but it backfired. Over the last two games, Turpin has faked a reverse handoff upon his return, including once already on Sunday night. But on this play, he threw the ball to C.J. Goodwin, who returned it past the 30-yard line. However, Turpin threw the ball forward to Goodwin, negating the play and pushing the attack back to their own 11. The Cowboys didn’t move the ball and had to punt, which led to another score for the 49ers midway through the third quarter.

Pick play picked up – The 49ers came up with a perfectly designed pick play on the goal line to set up George Kittle for a touchdown. Initially, two officials saw the same thing: Donovan Wilson was run over by 49ers receiver Chris Conley. But after a discussion, the officials decided not to call offensive pass interference and let the touchdown stand, giving the 49ers a commanding 10-point lead.

Cowboys don’t get a garden – The Cowboys miraculously had a chance to win the game in the final three minutes. But they never gained a yard, so take your pick of the action that could have changed this. On the second and 10 attempts, Prescott seemingly had some room to scramble and run, making the third and fourth deficits more manageable. Regardless, the Cowboys couldn’t even spark a drive with a single yard and therefore saw the comeback bid fall short.