Happy Friday, Cowboys nation. In three days, the Dallas Cowboys will take on the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. It's the Divisional Round of the 2022 NFL playoffs with a trip to the NFC Championship game on the line.
The Cowboys won their Wild Card matchup on the road last week, defeating Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-14. A heck of a response after what we saw in the season finale against the Washington Commanders.
It's the first time they have won a playoff game on the road in 30 years.
Most of the fan base even picked Dallas to lose this game because it is the Cowboys in the playoffs. Not only did they win, but it might also have been one of the best games the team has played all season.
From Dak Prescott to the secondary, it was a great team win.
Since Week 7 when Dak Prescott returned from thumb surgery and Christian McCaffrey joined the 49ers, the Cowboys and San Francisco are the only two teams to average 30 points per game and outscore their opponents by 10 points per game, per @ESPNStatsInfo
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) January 19, 2023
They all will need to carry over the momentum on short rest as they will now take on one of the hottest teams in football.
The 49ers have the best defense in the NFL and a great running game. Their backend is suspect, but Nick Bosa and the rest of the defensive line can get after the quarterback.
Even as dominant as they have looked, since their 44-23 loss to the Chiefs in October, the 49ers have only played three teams with a winning record, all of which are no longer in the playoffs.
They played Seattle twice, the Dolphins with a banged-up Tua, and the Chargers without Mike Williams. The Raiders took them to overtime in week 17.
So, although they have looked unbeatable, opponents have found ways to score.
My most crucial key to this game comes from the defensive side of football.
Micah Parsons and the crew will have to string some stops together and keep the 49ers from getting momentum on their side.
Dallas was number one in the NFL in takeaways (33) and turnover percentage in the regular season. They will need to force one or two more on Sunday.
Make Brock Purdy uncomfortable, and see if the rookie, who has started six games, can make a few plays.
If we see the offense we did last week, the Cowboys will make their first trip to the NFC title game in over 30 years. We all know the 49ers are head and shoulders above the Bucs, but I like their chances if Dallas wins the turnover battle.
The only concern is how off Brett Maher looked against the Bucs in the Wild Card round. He has been UNREAL all year and missed four extra points on Monday night.
Dallas signed Tristan Vizcaino to the practice squad Wednesday.
Maher is still expected to kick Sunday at San Fran, but the Wild Card game has me pressing just a bit.
We all know how last year ended for the Cowboys, and now Dallas has a chance to end the 49ers' Super Bowl hopes in their building.
I've said this team feels different all season, even when they didn't look good. They responded last week and will do the same this week. The Cowboys will make their first NFC Championship game in over 30 years.
Cowboys 29 — 49ers 26.
