SANTA CLARA — It was a nearly perfect game for the 49ers.

It was a performance so dominant, it allowed those poor souls on the East Coast — subject to an 8:20 p.m. kickoff time — to go to sleep at a reasonable hour.

It was perhaps the single best game the 49ers have played under head coach Kyle Shanahan.

The 49ers’ 42-10 win over the Cowboys was so dominant that it feels ridiculous to declare studs and duds — the 49ers were the former, the Cowboys, the latter — but we endeavor, nevertheless:

STUDS

Fred Warner LB

Warner’s forced fumble of Cowboys running back Tony Pollard at the end of the first quarter was the kind of impact play that few NFL defenders can produce. It should have been a turning point in the contest, but Christian McCaffrey’s fumble at the 2-yard line gave the ball right back to Dallas.

Warner, of course, ended that subsequent Dallas drive with a sack of Dak Prescott in the open field.

He had eight tackles, that sack, and a fourth-quarter interception.

I talked up Warner as the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year last month.

If the national media doesn’t catch on to this campaign after this dominant game, they’re willfully ignorant.

But here’s the thing: Warner might have been the second-best linebacker on the field Sunday.

And no, No. 1 was certainly not Dallas’ Micah Parsons, who clearly has his ghost costume ready for Halloween.

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Dre Greenlaw LB

I’m referring to Greenlaw — who was everywhere against Dallas

And he was hitting Cowboys with a ferocity that I know no one else in the NFL possesses.

The 49ers have the best two starting linebackers in the NFL, and Sunday was the only game you needed to watch to know that.

Greenlaw will be in the nightmares of Dallas offensive players for weeks.

George Kittle TE

So much for the Niners not throwing it to Kittle. The tight end scored three touchdowns for the first time in his NFL career and provided his typical elite blocking. He never lost the title, but it was a reminder that he’s still the best all-around tight end in the game.

Colton McKivitz OL

Coming into the game, the most dangerous matchup for the 49ers was McKivitz, the right tackle, against Parsons.

Not only did McKivitz win snap after snap, he was so good the 49ers decided to run it to the right, on occasion.

The 49ers’ belief in McKivitz has been steadfast this season. Sunday showed how justified that belief was.

Nick Bosa DE, Javon Hargrave DT

Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott was flustered from the opening snap of the game, and while the entire Niners’ defensive line — no, the entire defense — deserves praise for that, it was Bosa and Hargrave who were anchoring the unit. Both were dominant on Sunday.

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Brock Purdy QB

His reverse-flea flicker touchdown throw showed not only incredible field vision, but serious toughness as well. Finding Kittle amid all that movement was impressive enough. To deliver the football to him, while Osa Odighizuwa — all 300 pounds of him — bore down on him, is an entirely different thing. Big-time throw from a player who had a big-time game – four passing touchdowns — on the biggest stage. How are there still questions about his ability?

Christian McCaffrey RB

His fumble on the 2-yard line notwithstanding, McCaffrey was the engine of the 49ers’ offensive machine Sunday, taking hit after hit, but picking up key yards up and down the field. It was a power-back performance by a player not viewed, typically, in that light.

I could continue with more studs — Jordan Mason, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Trent Williams, Charvarius Ward, Tashaun Gipson — but at a certain point, it’s overkill, no?

DUDS

Isaiah Oliver DB

I feel bad for this. I really do, but Oliver gave a five-yard cushion to KaVontae Turpin on a critical third and 5 in the second quarter (Niners up 14-0), and never came close to covering him, as the Cowboys receiver scored a 26-yard touchdown. That wasn’t good!

But that’s it, that’s all the duds.