There are particular matchups in sports activities that deliver again recollections of epic encounters that outline championships and legacies. Sunday, 49ers and Cowboys will renew a postseason rivalry that dates again to the Cowboys’ first Tremendous Bowl run a half-century in the past. The 49ers dynasty additionally started with a win over the Cowboys in one of many best video games ever performed. The rivalry reached its peak within the Nineties when the 2 groups battled for supremacy within the league.
You possibly can’t write an NFL story with no chapter dedicated to the 49ers-Cowboys rivalry. The 2 groups have met eight instances within the playoffs, and the winner will elevate the Lombardi trophy 5 instances. The Cowboys are at present 5-3. Together with the championships, the video games outlined the careers of legendary gamers and coaches resembling Tom Landry, Invoice Walsh, Joe Montana, Troy Aikman, Jerry Rice, Michael Irvin, Steve Younger and Emmitt Smith.
Beneath, we rank the eight 49ers-Cowboys playoff video games as we stay up for the ninth assembly between the 2 storied franchises in Sunday’s divisional playoff sport.
8. 1971 NFC Championship Sport: Cowboys 14, 49ers 3
The Cowboys’ first postseason championship run included a low-scoring victory over the 49ers. Dallas’ operating sport and three pressured turnovers had been the distinction in that sport. Led by quarterback Roger Staubach’s 55 yards, the Cowboys offense chewed up 172 yards and two touchdowns on the bottom.
Duane Thomas, who has saved a low profile to the media and teammates all season, scored a game-changing landing within the fourth quarter to seal the Cowboys’ second consecutive Tremendous Bowl berth. Dallas’ “Doomsday Protection” chosen three-time 49ers Professional Bowl QB John Brodie. The 49ers’ defensive effort was led by Cedrick Hardman, who sacked Staubach 3.5 instances.
7. 1970 NFC Championship Sport: Cowboys 17, 49ers 10
The primary playoff battle between the 2 groups was for the correct to play in Tremendous Bowl V. Whereas Brodie threw for 160 extra yards than fellow quarterback Craig Morton, his two interceptions helped the 49ers lose in entrance of their house followers. The Cowboys offense was led by Thomas, whose 143 speeding yards included a 13-yard landing run.
Trailing 17-3, the 49ers acquired inside one rating however fell behind with two minutes remaining. It was the final playoff victory in a Cowboys uniform for Morton, who was chosen in favor of Staubach throughout the 1971 season.
6. 2021 wild card: 49ers 23, Cowboys 17
Though it was a detailed sport, the truth that it did not occur deeper within the playoffs is why it is decrease on the record. San Francisco dominated the sport for a lot of the day till the Cowboys ended the fourth quarter with two scores.
Dallas had an opportunity to finish the comeback after recovering the ball at their very own 20-yard line with 32 seconds left. Three completions drove the Cowboys throughout midfield, however Dallas ran out of time after Dak Prescott took off on a 17-yard run. Prescott fumbled the ball to cease the clock as time expired.
The 49ers protection sacked Prescott 5 instances within the win, whereas Elijah Mitchell and Deebo Samuel held the Cowboys protection to 168 yards on 37 carries.
5. 1993 NFC Championship Sport: Cowboys 38, 49ers 21
Jimmy Johnson was on his approach to lunch when he overheard a neighborhood radio station arguing about whether or not the Cowboys had been going to win their second straight NFC title sport over San Francisco. As an alternative of listening to the arguments, Johnson determined to assume for himself.
“We will win the ball sport,” Johnson stated on the air. “And you’ll put it on three-inch headers. We will win the ball sport.”
After his quote made nationwide headlines, Johnson made certain his gamers cashed his examine. The result was by no means in query as Dallas took a 28-7 lead in entrance of their hometown followers. Not even an early exit from Aikman (hospitalized after struggling a concussion) might cease the Cowboys, who iced the sport on Bernie Kosar’s third-quarter landing move to Alvin Harper.
The Cowboys offense was led by Smith, who was the league’s MVP that season. Smith scored two touchdowns whereas getting as many receiving yards (85) as speeding yards (88). The Dallas protection recorded 4 sacks of Younger whereas holding Rice to 83 yards on six receptions. The Cowboys would efficiently defend their title after profitable Accounts in Tremendous Bowl XXVIII.
4. 1972 Division Spherical: Cowboys 30, 49ers 28
Dallas had defeated San Francisco within the earlier two NFC Championship Video games. However in 1972, the 49ers swept the Cowboys within the common season and held a 28-13 lead via three quarters within the divisional spherical. Staubach dominated within the fourth quarter, as he produced three scoring drives that included the game-winning landing move to Ron Sellers. It was one among 23 profession fourth-quarter comeback wins for Staubach, whose penchant for late-game wins has earned him the nickname “Captain Comeback.” Dallas additionally acquired two interceptions from quarterback Charlie Waters, who helped maintain 49ers quarterback Brodie to simply 150 yards.
3. 1994 NFC Championship Sport: 49ers 38, Cowboys 28
The motivated 49ers jumped out to a 21-0 lead on the power of two pressured turnovers. Dallas minimize the deficit to 24-14 earlier than Younger hit Rice on a 44-yard bomb earlier than halftime. Regardless of a valiant effort, the Cowboys had been by no means in a position to shut the hole in brief order of their quest to change into the primary group to win three consecutive Tremendous Bowls. Regardless of falling wanting his targets, Aikman claimed the sport was his proudest second for the Nineties Cowboys. With Smith out with an damage, Dallas acquired an unimaginable effort from Irvin, who caught 12 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns.
However the star of the day was Younger, who sealed the sport with a 3-yard landing run. The previous Montana quarterback took a victory lap on the sector after main the 49ers to their fifth Tremendous Bowl. Younger would cap off his MVP season by throwing a document six touchdowns in a Tremendous Bowl win in San Francisco. Chargers.
2. 1992 NFC Championship Sport: Cowboys 30, 49ers 20
It was a altering of the guard sport because the Cowboys dethroned the 49ers because the league’s high group. After Younger and Rice linked on a 5-yard landing move within the fourth quarter, the Cowboys held a precarious 24-20 lead. As an alternative of being conservative, the Cowboys cruised to victory as Harper hauled in a 70-yard slant move that arrange Aikman’s game-clinching landing move to Kelvin Martin. The Cowboys’ offense was powered by Smith, who rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns on a muddy highway. Dallas defeated the Payments 52-17 to win the franchise’s first championship since 1977.
1. 1981 NFC Championship Sport: 49ers 28, Cowboys 27
An NFC powerhouse within the Seventies, the Cowboys entered the NFC title sport in 1981, hoping to return to their sixth Tremendous Bowl. The Cowboys will first should get previous San Francisco, who outscored them by 31 factors in Week 6. The rematch can be a very totally different story, as the 2 groups had dueled in one of the aggressive championship video games in NFL historical past.
The Cowboys took the lead on Danny White’s 21-yard landing move to Doug Cosbie with 10:41 left. Trailing 27-21 with 4:54 left, Montana led the 49ers on an 89-yard drive that featured a tricky run from Lenville Elliott. Walsh’s offense saved the Cowboys protection in examine with sweeps, a reverse punt to receiver Freddie Solomon for a 14-yard acquire, and intermediate passes to Montana’s Solomon and teammate Dwight Clark (extra on him in a second).
On third-and-3 with 58 seconds left, Montana rolled proper and was shortly met by three Dallas defenders. Regardless of being attacked by defenders, Montana stood tall and threw the ball into the again of the top zone. Though he could not see him, Montana believed Clark can be within the again nook of the top zone. Certain sufficient, Clark acquired open and Montana defensive again Everson was in a position to snare a excessive move over Partitions. The celebration after The Catch was sufficient to upset Tom Brady, a 4-year-old 49ers fan who was on the sport along with his mother and father.
The Cowboys nonetheless had an opportunity to steal the win within the sport’s remaining minute and virtually did when White hit Drew Pearson on an intermediate move close to midfield. However Pearson was tackled from behind by rookie quarterback Eric Wright on the 49ers’ 44-yard line and saved a certain landing. Within the subsequent sport, White misplaced after being hit by Lawrence Pillers. The ball was intercepted by defensive finish Jim Stuckey, sealing the 49ers’ ticket to Tremendous Bowl XVI. It was the primary of 4 Tremendous Bowl journeys over the last decade for the 49ers, who received every time whereas profitable the Group of the ’80s title.
With the win in hand, Montana was approached by Cowboys Professional Bowl move rusher Ed “Too Tall” Jones, one of many defenders pressured Montana on the game-winning landing move.
“You simply beat Group America,” Jones instructed Montana.
“Properly,” Joe Cool replied, “you’ll be able to sit on a donkey with the remainder of America and watch the Tremendous Bowl.”
