Pollard scores 2 with Elliott on the shelf with injury, Cowboys beat 49ers

ARLINGTON, TEXAS » Tony Pollard and the Dallas Cowboys gave Ezekiel Elliott a reason to come back next week after the two-time rushing champion missed a game because of injury for the first time in his career.

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.

Four of the seven Dallas scores were set up by turnovers from the 49ers (5-9), who became the second Super Bowl runner-up in the past 13 seasons to finish with a losing record the next year. San Francisco was eliminated from playoff contention with the loss and Arizona’s win later in the day.

The Cowboys a game back in (5-9) are the NFC

East with two games remaining but have to win both against Philadelphia and the New York Giants while Washington loses twice.

Dallas won consecutive games for the first time in coach Mike McCarthy’s first season by holding off an old playoff rival in a matchup that was moved out of prime time with both teams starting the day in last place in their divisions.

“If we don’t take care of our own business, nothing else matters,” McCarthy said. “We’re clearly focused on what’s in front of us. We really want to finish strong with these two division games. That’s clearly my focus.”

Andy Dalton threw for two touchdowns, and Greg Zuerlein kicked a tiebreaking field goal early in the fourth quarter after the second interception by Nick Mullens, who was replaced by C.J. Beathard after losing feeling in his elbow.