The Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers will renew their longstanding rivalry beneath the brilliant lights of Levi’s Stadium on “Sunday Night time Soccer.”
San Francisco leads the all-time collection in opposition to Dallas 20-19-1, together with playoffs, and has received the previous three conferences. A win would give the 49ers their longest win streak in opposition to the Cowboys since profitable six straight from 1981-1990.
That is the second consecutive season the groups will meet in prime time (49ers received 42-10 final season) and the fifth prime-time matchup because the 1970 merger, with the 49ers profitable three of the earlier 4. They’ve additionally eradicated Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys within the 2021 wild-card and 2022 divisional rounds of the playoffs.
Learn extra: Cowboys-49ers rivalry is present process a renaissance
Niners coach Kyle Shanahan has loads of reminiscences of Cowboys-49ers conferences as his father, Mike Shanahan, labored because the Niners offensive coordinator in these 1992 to 1994 contests. He believes the current contests between the groups has reignited the rivalry.
“Anytime you play one another within the playoffs, it is all the time often a bit larger the subsequent 12 months,” Shanahan stated. “And with that being back-to-back, it was large. That is what I all the time remembered rising up. … They performed within the NFC Championship all three years that I lived right here. So simply enjoying them within the playoffs two years in the past form of was paying homage to that. … These histories stack up.”
Dallas coach Mike McCarthy has additionally seen the rivalry up shut from his time as Niners offensive coordinator in 2005. He is known as “The Catch” his first reminiscence of it.
“You possibly can solely obtain one win out of this recreation,” McCarthy stated. “We perceive that. … We all know who we’re enjoying, and we’ve a great understanding of how they wish to play. That is why you get to kick it off on ‘Sunday Night time Soccer.'”
Listed here are among the prime moments that made 49ers-Cowboys one of many best nondivision rivalries in NFL historical past, chosen by NFL Nation reporters Nick Wagoner and Todd Archer.
Rivalry renewed
Playoff heartbreak has turn into a pattern 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. And not using a timeout, the Cowboys hurried to the road of scrimmage however the umpire collided with Prescott and middle Tyler Biadasz and didn’t get the ball set for play.
The clock ran out and the Cowboys by no means received an opportunity for a possible game-winning landing, dropping 23-17.
After the sport, the Cowboys stated they practiced that state of affairs every week, however they had been unable to drag it off in time in recreation circumstances.
Proprietor and common supervisor Jerry Jones was as dissatisfied and as irritated as he had been with any playoff loss. With a 12-5 file, NFC East title and a wholesome roster, Jones believed the Cowboys had been primed for a playoff run. As an alternative, he let coach Mike McCarthy twist within the wind for a few weeks whereas making an attempt to maintain defensive coordinator Dan Quinn from taking a head-coaching job elsewhere.
The 49ers went on a run, making it to the NFC Championship Sport for the second time beneath Kyle Shanahan. Their season ended virtually equally as heartbreaking, blowing a 17-7 fourth-quarter result in the Los Angeles Rams.
Rivalry renewed, II
It was a distinct spherical of the playoffs — divisional, not wild card. It was at a distinct stadium — Levi’s Stadium, not AT&T Stadium. However the consequence was the identical: Niners 19-12.
The distinction on this one? Two Dak Prescott interceptions, together with one inside San Francisco’s pink zone within the second quarter with the rating tied. Like they did after Prescott’s first turnover within the first quarter, the 49ers turned that giveaway right into a discipline aim for a 9-6 lead.
One play earlier than the interception, the Cowboys misplaced Professional Bowl operating again Tony Pollard for the sport due to a leg harm. From that second on, the Dallas offense was stagnant. The San Francisco offense was marginally higher, nevertheless it didn’t have any turnovers and a 30-yard catch by George Kittle from Brock Purdy ignited the one landing drive of the second half.
The Cowboys had an opportunity at a game-tying drive however they went three and out after taking up with 3:04 to play. They received the ball again once more with 45 seconds left however did not threaten, and their last play — with Ezekiel Elliott at middle — was disastrous.
The ultimate play that sends the @49ers to the NFC Championship! #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Du5KruFQ3q
— NFL (@NFL) January 23, 2023
With the win, the Niners superior to the NFC Championship Sport in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles, however their goals had been dashed when Purdy suffered an arm harm within the first quarter. His alternative, Josh Johnson, was knocked out of the sport within the third quarter, forcing operating again Christian McCaffrey to play quarterback. — Todd Archer
Introducing ‘Captain Comeback’
A separated shoulder stored Cowboys QB Roger Staubach sidelined for many of the 1972 season, however he solidified his standing as “Captain Comeback” within the fourth quarter of the divisional spherical.
Craig Morton began the sport at quarterback for Dallas however threw two interceptions and misplaced a fumble as San Francisco mounted a 21-6 lead within the second quarter.
“They had been laughing at us. Making enjoyable of us throughout the recreation,” stated Dallas security Charlie Waters. “They had been actually having fun with having the higher hand on us. They did not suppose there was any manner [we’d come back] — as a result of our offense was sputtering. We had been doing completely nothing.”
The Cowboys’ offense was held scoreless within the third quarter, and coach Tom Landry made a QB change within the fourth.
Staubach fumbled the ball on his first possession however made up for his misstep by main Dallas to a miraculous comeback. He threw two landing passes within the last two minutes, discovering Billy Parks and Ron Sellers, and that gave Dallas a 30-28 lead.
Waters sealed the sport by choosing off 49ers QB John Brodie.
‘The Catch’
Joe Montana & Co. discovered themselves trailing the Cowboys 27-21 with lower than 5 minutes remaining within the 1981 NFC Championship Sport.
However Montana and Dwight Clark made magic occur on third down.
Montana evaded three defenders, rolled to his proper and delivered the ball behind the top zone the place Clark made the profitable seize with 51 seconds remaining in regulation.
The play almost did not occur, although.
“I used to be considering of throwing the ball away,” Montana stated after the sport. “However I noticed him come open and I figured if I might grasp on one other half-second …”
‘How ’bout them Cowboys?’
After ending the common season 13-3, Dallas steamrollered its NFC East rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, 34-10 within the divisional spherical, stamping their ticket to fulfill the 49ers within the 1992 NFC Championship.
In the meantime, San Francisco completed the season 14-2 and got here out on prime in a troublesome divisional-round matchup in opposition to Washington. Furthermore, after profitable 4 Tremendous Bowls with Montana all through the Eighties, the staff regarded to proceed that stretch with Steve Younger as its signal-caller.
Each squads had been chock stuffed with offensive expertise with Younger and Jerry Rice on one facet and Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin on the opposite.
Regardless of that, a low-scoring back-and-forth battle ensued within the first half, and the 2 had been tied at 10 at halftime.
Within the second half, Dallas scored three of the sport’s last 4 touchdowns, which was sufficient to safe the victory and a Tremendous Bowl XXVII look.
However earlier than going to face the Buffalo Payments within the Tremendous Bowl, Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson had one thing to say:
“How ’bout them Cowboys?”
And similar to that, a phrase that has transcended generations of Dallas followers was born.
‘We’ll win the ballgame, put it in 3-inch headlines’
In 1993, Johnson delivered one other memorable phrase that has stood the check of time.
Earlier than the 2 met for a second consecutive NFC Championship, Johnson known as an area sports activities radio present and made an unprecedented declaration.
“We’ll win the ballgame,” Johnson acknowledged. “You possibly can put that in three-inch excessive headlines.”
Properly, he wasn’t incorrect.
Bolstered by a three-touchdown second quarter, Dallas dominated San Francisco 38-21 to advance to Tremendous Bowl XXVIII.
Niners get their revenge
The Niners and Cowboys met for the NFC title for the third straight time, with each quarterbacks having opposing circumstances. Aikman entered with a 7-0 file as a starter within the playoffs, whereas Younger had but to recover from the hump, and into the Tremendous Bowl.
Nonetheless, in 1994, the pendulum lastly swung in favor of the 49ers.
Aikman threw a pick-six to Eric Davis on the primary drive. Then Irvin fumbled on Dallas’ subsequent possession, and Younger took benefit of the perfect discipline place by connecting with Ricky Watters for a 29-yard landing. The Cowboys had one other pricey early turnover on the subsequent drive when Kevin Williams fumbled the kickoff and San Francisco capitalized with a landing.
And similar to that, the 49ers led 21-0 with over seven minutes left within the first quarter.
Nonetheless, Dallas put up a combat, recording 451 whole yards of offense, in comparison with San Francisco’s 294, however could not overcome 5 turnovers.
The 38-28 victory allowed Younger to make his first Tremendous Bowl look because the Niners’ beginning quarterback.
Dallas wins ‘Deion Sweepstakes’
Coming into the 1995 offseason, reigning Defensive Participant of the 12 months and Tremendous Bowl XXIX champion Deion Sanders was using excessive after his greatest season. Nonetheless, his one-year cope with San Francisco was up and it was time to seek out his subsequent dwelling.
The Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Oakland Raiders and Eagles entered the “Deion Sweepstakes” together 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 participant on the time.
As a consequence of a surgical procedure, Sanders was unable to make his debut for America’s Workforce till Week 9, however he made an instantaneous influence and went on to be part of his second Tremendous Bowl-winning squad in simply as a few 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 landing reception, Owens ran to midfield and unfold his arms on the Cowboys’ brand. Almost a minute later, longtime Dallas operating again Emmitt Smith scored a landing of his personal and responded by returning to the star to repeat Owens. In a while, T.O. hauled in one other landing and headed again to the middle of the sphere in Texas Stadium, however Cowboys’ security George Teague met him on the star and delivered an enormous hit.
On a 2016 episode of ESPN’s Mike & Mike radio present, Owens defended his determination to face on the star.
“It had nothing to do with me making an attempt to taunt my opponent, had nothing to do with me making an attempt to taunt the Cowboys. … My coach was like, ‘Yo’ — he motivated me [to do this] — ‘That is what that is about. Go to the star, give your because of God, as a result of he is watching down on this recreation, and present him who’s the very best participant immediately.’ And that is what I did.”
Tony Romo rallies previous Niners in OT
In Week 2 of the 2011 season, Tony Romo managed to steer Dallas to an unlikely comeback win.
Romo took a number of hits within the first half, together with one off of a blindside blitz that left him visibly in ache. He missed all however the final collection within the third quarter, and his accidents had been later revealed to be a damaged rib and punctured lung. He would return within the fourth quarter.
The Cowboys trailed by as many as 10 factors within the fourth, however the tide shortly modified.
Romo accomplished 5 of 6 passes on the drive that despatched the sport to additional time. His 77-yard move to Jesse Holley arrange the profitable discipline aim. Romo linked on 20 of 33 passes for 345 yards and two touchdowns, with over 200 yards coming within the fourth quarter and OT.
