The 49ers and Cowboys have enjoyed a riveting and illustrious rivalry that has spanned for decades. Of course, no rivalry can truly be without great performances. In lieu of their much anticipated matchup this Sunday Night, here are the 49ers' top five performances against the Dallas Cowboys over the years.
2016: Loss 24-17
Yes, it is unusual for one of a team's best performances to end in a loss. However, just look at the rosters and where each team was headed. While the 49ers were spiraling toward the very bottom of the NFC, the Cowboys were shooting for the very top. Powered by the tremendous blocking of the best offensive line in the league and inspired by the incredible play of the rookie duo of quarterback Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys seemed like they were destined to win their sixth Super Bowl that upcoming February.
However, the 49ers were undaunted that cloudless Sunday afternoon. In front of a home crowd teeming with Cowboy fans, the 49ers performed above and beyond their talent level.
Blaine Gabbert began the fireworks in the first quarter with a 33-yard strike to Jeremy Kerley. Carlos Hyde extended the 49ers lead by rumbling in from the three-yard line early in the second quarter.
But the Niner's lead would soon vanish with both Terrance Williams and Brice Butler recording touchdown receptions before the half was over. Phil Dawson's field goal early in the third proved to be for naught as the Cowboys went on to score ten unanswered points to win the surprisingly close game 24-17.
4. 1967: Win, 24-16
The 1960's was a lost decade for San Francisco, but towards the end they had started to add the building blocks of a contender. Still, they lacked the leadership necessary to go deep into the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Cowboys began the decade as a lowly expansion team and ended it on the cusp of a potential dynasty. Just the year before they had lost a heartbreaker in the NFL Championship to the Green Bay Packers, just missing out on a shot at the very first Super Bowl. Now, at regular season's end, the Cowboys' record sat at 9-4, with the Packers having already clinched the top seed in the playoffs, the plan was to rest the Dallas starters in the second half.
Sensing an opportunity for an upset, the 6-7 49ers pounced on the Cowboys, drumming them in the first half to the tune of 21-3, with George Mira tossing two touchdown strikes. Led by backup quarterback Craig Morton, the Cowboys staged a late comeback by scoring 13 unanswered in the fourth. Wideout Lance Renztel was sensational in the game, catching four passes for 88 yards and a touchdown.. But his effort went with a whimper as the Cowboys ended the regular season with a 24-16 loss to San Francisco.
3. 2023: Win, 42-10
Entering Week 5 of the 2023 season, expectations were high for both teams. After all both squads were packed to the gills with talent ( 19 Pro Bowlers and 16 All-Pros) and both knew how to make the playoffs.
But on that October night, it was clear that the 49ers were in a completely different class. The 49ers defense smothered the Dallas rushing attack all night and made veteran quarterback Dak Prescott look completely clueless while forcing three interceptions. Meanwhile, while quarterback Brock Purdy was excellent with a career high four touchdown passes, it was tight end George Kittle who stole the show, catching three passes for 67 yards and three touchdowns.
2. 1995: Win, 38-20
The 49ers and Cowboys enjoyed easily the most intense rivalry in the 1990's with the two teams combining to win four Super Bowls. In 1995, the 49ers were defending champs but were starting to show cracks at the seams, losing to the lowly Saints and expansion Panthers in back-to-back weeks going into their Week 10 matchup with Dallas.
To make matters worse, quarterback Steve Young was out with a concussion for the 5-4 49ers. Everyone thought that the heavily favored 8-1 Cowboys would demolish the 49ers, so much so that the Bay Area media didn't even travel with the team to Texas Stadium.
Boy, did they miss out! On the second play from scrimmage, Jerry Rice took an Elvis Grbac pass 81 yards to the endzone. The 49ers forced star Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin to fumble, which was then scooped up and taken to the house 38 yards away. Suddenly, the team that was favored by 14 points before the game had begun was now down by as much with not even a minute and a half off of the clock.
And with that, the game was essentially over. The 49ers led 31-7 at the half before ultimately beating the eventual Super Bowl champions 38-20.
1. 1981: NFC Championship Game, Win, 28-27
The 49ers had never been able to get past the Cowboys in the playoffs. Not in the 1970's when both vied for Super Bowl berths and conference superiority. And especially not late in the decade when the team was about as irrelevant as a team could get while their nemesis reveled in the spoils of victory all the while being christened "America's Team".
But when Bill Walsh took command of the organization, a funny thing happened. Slowly but surely, the once lowly San Francisco 49ers started to look relevant, then good then -dare we say it- a contender. Suddenly, this little team of castoffs and misfits, with the scrawny quarterback and the so very young defensive backfield began to win games at a furious pace. Before they knew it, the 49ers had clinched homefield advantage throughout the playoffs and a date with America's Team in muddied Candlestick Park.
It wasn't an easy week of practice for the 49ers as most of the team battled the flu. But by game time, they were ready for war. The Cowboys were prepared too and this time they were not taking the young upstarts so lightly, having been obliterated by them earlier in the year.
It was a back-and-forth battle throughout, with the 49ers potent offense coughing up the ball six times. Still, they never gave up and found themselves down 27-21 land standing on their own 11-yard line late in the game. Standing between them and destiny was one of the era's great units, the Doomsday Defense.
Still battling the ill effects of the flu, the 49ers battled one of history's great defenses (as well as guard Randy Cross's vomit mid-huddle) all the way to the Dallas six-yard line. There, Bill Walsh called a Sprint Right Option. At the snap, Joe Montana rolled to the right and lofted the ball just high enough where only his good friend Dwight Clark could catch it.
The crowd was instantly enthused, but they knew that the game was far from over, not with almost a full minute left. On the first play of the ensuing drive, quarterback Danny White zipped a 31-yard strike to future Hall of Fame receiver Drew Pearson. For a moment, it looked like Pearson just might take it all the way, but rookie defensive back Eric Wright got just enough of his finger tips on the wideout's collar to drag him down ten yards short. of field goal range. The 49ers stout pass rush stripped White of the ball on the next play and the game was over. At long last, the giant had been slayed and the 49ers were on their way to the Super Bowl.
Comments