The Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers will renew their longstanding competition beneath the glorious lighting fixtures of Levi’s Stadium on “Sunday Night Football.”
San Francisco leads the all time layout in opposition to Dallas 20-19-1, together with playoffs, and has received the year 3 conferences. A win would give the 49ers their longest win streak in opposition to the Cowboys since profitable six directly from 1981-1990.
That is the second one consecutive season the groups will meet in top future (49ers received 42-10 endmost season) and the 5th prime-time matchup for the reason that 1970 merger, with the 49ers profitable 3 of the former 4. They’ve additionally eradicated Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys within the 2021 wild-card and 2022 divisional rounds of the playoffs.
Niners trainer Kyle Shanahan has enough quantity of reminiscences of Cowboys-49ers conferences as his father, Mike Shanahan, labored because the Niners offensive coordinator in the ones 1992 to 1994 contests. He believes the new contests between the groups has reignited the competition.
“Anytime you play each other in the playoffs, it’s always usually a bit bigger the next year,” Shanahan stated. “And with that being back-to-back, it was huge. That’s what I always remembered growing up. … They played in the NFC Championship all three years that I lived here. So just playing them in the playoffs two years ago kind of was reminiscent of that. … Those histories stack up.”
Dallas trainer Mike McCarthy has additionally perceivable the competition up related from his future as Niners offensive coordinator in 2005. He’s known as “The Catch” his first reminiscence of it.
“You can only achieve one win out of this game,” McCarthy stated. “We understand that. … We know who we’re playing, and we have a good understanding of how they want to play. That’s why you get to kick it off on ‘Sunday Night Football.'”
Listed below are one of the vital govern moments that made 49ers-Cowboys some of the biggest nondivision rivalries in NFL historical past, decided on via NFL Community journalists Nick Wagoner and Todd Archer.
Contention renewed
Playoff pain has change into a development for the Cowboys and 2021’s wild-card loss to the 49ers joined Tony Romo’s bobbled snap in opposition to Seattle in 2006 and Dez Bryant’s overturned catch in opposition to Inexperienced Bay in 2014.
With 14 seconds left, Dak Prescott had a 17-yard run to the San Francisco 24. With no timeout, the Cowboys moved quickly to the order of scrimmage however the umpire collided with Prescott and middle Tyler Biadasz and didn’t get the ball prepared for play games.
The clock ran out and the Cowboys by no means were given a probability for a possible game-winning landing, dropping 23-17.
Upcoming the sport, the Cowboys stated they practiced that state of affairs every life, however they had been not able to tug it off in future in tournament statuses.
Proprietor and normal supervisor Jerry Jones was once as disillusioned and as aggravated as he have been with any playoff loss. With a 12-5 file, NFC East identify and a wholesome roster, Jones believed the Cowboys had been primed for a playoff run. In lieu, he let trainer Mike McCarthy twist within the breeze for a few weeks day seeking to hold defensive coordinator Dan Quinn from taking a head-coaching activity somewhere else.
The 49ers went on a run, making it to the NFC Championship Recreation for the second one future beneath Kyle Shanahan. Their season ended virtually similarly as tragic, blowing a 17-7 fourth-quarter manage to the Los Angeles Rams.
Contention renewed, II
It was once a unique around of the playoffs — divisional, now not wild card. It was once at a unique stadium — Levi’s Stadium, now not AT&T Stadium. However the consequence was once the similar: Niners 19-12.
The excess on this one? Two Dak Prescott interceptions, together with one within San Francisco’s pink zone in the second one quarter with the rating secured. Like they did then Prescott’s first surrender within the first quarter, the 49ers became that giveaway right into a grassland purpose for a 9-6 manage.
One play games earlier than the interception, the Cowboys misplaced Professional Bowl working again Tony Pollard for the sport on account of a leg shock. From that date on, the Dallas offense was once stagnant. The San Francisco offense was once marginally higher, but it surely didn’t have any handovers and a 30-yard catch via George Kittle from Brock Purdy ignited the one landing force of the second one part.
The Cowboys had a probability at a game-tying force however they went 3 and out then taking on with 3:04 to play games. They were given the ball again once more with 45 seconds left however did not threaten, and their ultimate play games — with Ezekiel Elliott at middle — was once dreadful.
The overall play games that sends the @49ers to the NFC Championship! #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Du5KruFQ3q
— NFL (@NFL) January 23, 2023
With the win, the Niners complex to the NFC Championship Recreation in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles, however their goals had been dashed when Purdy suffered an arm shock within the first quarter. His alternative, Josh Johnson, was once knocked out of the sport within the 3rd quarter, forcing working again Christian McCaffrey to play games quarterback. — Todd Archer
Introducing ‘Captain Comeback’
A separated shoulder stored Cowboys QB Roger Staubach sidelined for lots of the 1972 season, however he solidified his condition as “Captain Comeback” within the fourth quarter of the divisional around.
Craig Morton began the sport at quarterback for Dallas however threw two interceptions and misplaced a fumble as San Francisco fastened a 21-6 manage in the second one quarter.
“They were laughing at us. Making fun of us during the game,” stated Dallas protection Charlie Waters. “They were really enjoying having the upper hand on us. They didn’t think there was any way [we’d come back] — because our offense was sputtering. We were doing absolutely nothing.”
The Cowboys’ offense was once held scoreless within the 3rd quarter, and trainer Tom Landry made a QB trade within the fourth.
Staubach fumbled the ball on his first ownership however made up for his misstep via well-known Dallas to a miraculous comeback. He threw two landing passes within the ultimate two mins, discovering Billy Grounds and Ron Dealers, and that gave Dallas a 30-28 manage.
Waters sealed the sport via selecting off 49ers QB John Brodie.
‘The Catch’
Joe Montana & Co. discovered themselves trailing the Cowboys 27-21 with not up to 5 mins extra within the 1981 NFC Championship Recreation.
However Montana and Dwight Clark made enchanment occur on 3rd ailing.
Montana refrained from 3 defenders, rolled to his proper and delivered the ball at the back of the tip zone the place Clark made the profitable grasp with 51 seconds extra in legislation.
The play games just about didn’t occur, despite the fact that.
“I was thinking of throwing the ball away,” Montana stated then the sport. “But I saw him come open and I figured if I could hang on another half-second …”
‘How ’bout them Cowboys?’
Upcoming completing the familiar season 13-3, Dallas steamrollered its NFC East competitors, the Philadelphia Eagles, 34-10 within the divisional around, stamping their price tag to fulfill the 49ers within the 1992 NFC Championship.
In the meantime, San Francisco completed the season 14-2 and got here out on govern in a tricky divisional-round matchup in opposition to Washington. Additionally, then profitable 4 Tremendous Bowls with Montana all over the Eighties, the workforce regarded to proceed that reach with Steve Younger as its signal-caller.
Each squads had been chock stuffed with offensive skill with Younger and Jerry Rice on one facet and Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin at the alternative.
Regardless of that, a low-scoring back-and-forth combat ensued within the first part, and the 2 had been secured at 10 at halftime.
In the second one part, Dallas scored 3 of the sport’s ultimate 4 touchdowns, which was once plethora to stock the victory and a Tremendous Bowl XXVII look.
However earlier than going to stand the Buffalo Expenses within the Tremendous Bowl, Cowboys trainer Jimmy Johnson had one thing to mention:
“How ’bout them Cowboys?”
And identical to that, a word that has transcended generations of Dallas fanatics was once born.
‘We will be able to win the ballgame, put it in 3-inch headlines’
In 1993, Johnson delivered any other memorable word that has stood the check of future.
Ahead of the 2 met for a 2nd consecutive NFC Championship, Johnson known as a neighborhood sports activities radio display and made an extraordinary declaration.
“We will win the ballgame,” Johnson stated. “You’ll be able to put that during three-inch prime headlines.”
Neatly, he wasn’t fallacious.
Reinforced via a three-touchdown 2nd quarter, Dallas ruled San Francisco 38-21 to progress to Tremendous Bowl XXVIII.
Niners get their revenge
The Niners and Cowboys met for the NFC identify for the 3rd directly future, with each quarterbacks having opposing instances. Aikman entered with a 7-0 file as a starter within the playoffs, day Younger had but to recover from the hump, and into the Tremendous Bowl.
Alternatively, in 1994, the pendulum in spite of everything swung in partiality of the 49ers.
Aikman threw a pick-six to Eric Davis at the first force. Later Irvin fumbled on Dallas’ later ownership, and Younger took good thing about the perfect grassland place via connecting with Ricky Watters for a 29-yard landing. The Cowboys had any other expensive early surrender at the later force when Kevin Williams fumbled the kickoff and San Francisco capitalized with a landing.
And identical to that, the 49ers led 21-0 with over seven mins left within the first quarter.
Nonetheless, Dallas publish a combat, recording 451 overall yards of offense, in comparison to San Francisco’s 294, however couldn’t triumph over 5 handovers.
The 38-28 victory allowed Younger to create his first Tremendous Bowl look because the Niners’ foundation quarterback.
Dallas wins ‘Deion Sweepstakes’
Coming into the 1995 offseason, reigning Defensive Participant of the Era and Tremendous Bowl XXIX champion Deion Sanders was once using prime then his perfect season. Alternatively, his one-year trade in with San Francisco was once up and it was once future to seek out his later house.
The Miami Dolphins, Unused Orleans Saints, Oakland Raiders and Eagles entered the “Deion Sweepstakes” along with the Niners and Cowboys.
In Week 2, Dallas ended up signing Sanders to a seven-year, $35 million contract, which made him the NFL’s highest paid defensive player at the time.
Due to a surgery, Sanders was unable to make his debut for America’s Team until Week 9, but he made an immediate impact and went on to be a part of his second Super Bowl-winning squad in just as many years.
T.O.’s star-studded celebration
Terrell Owens’ legacy is highlighted by signature celebrations and unforgettable moments, and on Sept. 24, 2000, a star was born.
After making a 3-yard touchdown reception, Owens ran to midfield and spread his arms on the Cowboys’ logo. Nearly a minute later, longtime Dallas running back Emmitt Smith scored a touchdown of his own and responded by returning to the star to copy Owens. Later on, T.O. hauled in another touchdown and headed back to the center of the field in Texas Stadium, but Cowboys’ safety George Teague met him at the star and delivered a big hit.
On a 2016 episode of ESPN’s Mike & Mike radio show, Owens defended his decision to stand on the star.
“It had not anything to do with me seeking to taunt my opponent, had not anything to do with me seeking to taunt the Cowboys. … My trainer was once like, ‘Yo’ — he progressive me [to do this] — ‘That is what that is about. Move to the celebrity, give your because of God, as a result of he’s staring at ailing in this tournament, and display him who’s the most efficient participant as of late.’ And that’s what I did.”
Tony Romo rallies year Niners in OT
In Time 2 of the 2011 season, Tony Romo controlled to manage Dallas to an not likely comeback win.
Romo took a number of hits within the first part, together with one off of a blindside blitz that left him visibly in ache. He overlooked all however the endmost layout within the 3rd quarter, and his accidents had been next evident to be a damaged rib and punctured lung. He would go back within the fourth quarter.
The Cowboys trailed via as many as 10 issues within the fourth, however the wave temporarily modified.
Romo finished 5 of 6 passes at the force that despatched the sport to additional time. His 77-yard move to Jesse Holley arrange the profitable grassland purpose. Romo attached on 20 of 33 passes for 345 yards and two touchdowns, with over 200 yards coming within the fourth quarter and OT.
