Cowboys at 49ers: The history of their playoff matchups

Excitement has filled the sky as the Dallas Cowboys travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers in the NFL Divisional Round game of the 2022 NFL Playoffs. Many know that there Is much history behind these two teams when it comes to the playoffs.

The Cowboys and 49ers have met a whopping eight times in the postseason (will be nine times after Sunday).

While six of these meetings have happened in the NFC Championship, two of them have been held in the divisional round, and one has been held in the Wild Card. The Cowboys are 5-3 in this heated rivalry and are 3-2 when playing in San Francisco.

Another crazy stat is that the winner of these games went on to win the Super Bowl five out of the eight times they met in the postseason.

The first three games in this postseason rivalry went to the Cowboys, as they beat the 49ers in 1970, 71, and 72.

In 1981, they would meet again in the NFC Championship game for the third time, but this game would be different. With Joe Montana being the starting quarterback for the 49ers, the Cowboys knew they were in trouble.

In the final minute of this game, a spectacular and memorable play was born, titled “The Catch.”

https://twitter.com/49ers/status/1612880279538130944

This amazing grab by Wide Receiver Dwight Clark in the final minute of the game would send the 49ers to their first-ever Super Bowl appearance where they would defeat the Cincinnati Bengals, 26-21.

The Cowboys wouldn’t meet the 49ers again until 1992 when they would defeat San Francisco and go on to win the Super Bowl. Between 1992-94 the real rivalry heated up.

The 49ers vs Cowboys was always a heated game. However, in the playoffs, it was a totally different battlefield. Lots of tension and arguments would be held on the field by both teams during these games.

All three of these games (92,93,94) took place in the NFC Championship. Dallas would win the first two and San Francisco would win the last.

All three times the winner would go on to win the Super Bowl.

When the games between these two teams hold such importance, you know that they will become sworn enemies.

The latest matchup between these two teams took place last year in the Wild Card game of 2021. This game didn’t end too well for the Cowboys either, as the famous “Slide” play was born.

https://twitter.com/theathletic/status/1482882142074028044?lang=en

The play above is painful to watch, but the Cowboys still lead the playoff rivalry, 5-3.

This Sunday, that number will change, and much pressure is on both teams.

On one hand, you have a Cowboys team that hasn’t been to the NFC Championship game since 1996. On the other, you have a very young quarterback by the name of Brock Purdy who will have all eyes on him this Sunday.

With so many instant classics and amazing games between these two, it’s safe to say that this Sunday will be filled with great memorable plays.