As the Cowboys play inNFC East and the 49ers in theNFC West, they do not play every year; instead, they play at least once every three years and at least once every six seasons at each team's home stadium due to the NFL's rotating division schedules when their respective divisions are paired up. Additionally, not only both teams could meet in the playoffs, but also if they finish in the same place in their respective divisions, they would play the ensuing season.[4][5][6][7][8][9]
It is one of the greatest inter-division rivalries in the NFL.Sports Illustrated ranked it as the eighth best rivalry[10] while theNFL Top 10 ranked this rivalry to be the tenth best in the NFL.[11] In 2020, CBS ranked it as the No. 1 NFL rivalry of the 1990s.[12][13] The rivalry was also the subject of two 2015 episodes ofNFL Network'sThe Timeline entitled "A Tale of Two Cities" with actorsSam Elliott (Cowboys) andJeremy Renner (49ers) as narrators.[14][15][16]
The 49ers lead the overall series, 21–19–1. The two teams have met nine times in theplayoffs, with the Cowboys holding a 5–4 record.[1]
History
The Cowboys and 49ers have faced each other in the postseason nine times, the second most between any two NFL teams (behind only the49ers–Packers rivalry; those two teams have met ten times). The rivalry between the Cowboys and 49ers started gaining traction in the 1970s. The Cowboys defeated the 49ers in the 1970 and 1971 NFC Championship games, and again in the 1972 Divisional playoff game. The 1981 NFC Championship game in San Francisco, which saw the 49ers'Joe Montana complete a game-winning pass toDwight Clark in the final minute (now known asThe Catch) is one of the most famous games in NFL history.[17][18][19]
The rivalry became even more intense from 1992 to 1994 when the two teams faced each other in the NFC Championship game during all three seasons. Dallas won the first two match-ups while San Francisco won the third, and in each of these pivotal match-ups, the game's victor went on to win the Super Bowl. With the Cowboys winning the Super Bowl following the 1995 season, from 1992 to 1995, either the Cowboys or the 49ers were Super Bowl champions, giving both teams five each – which, at the time, was tied for the most by any NFL team and later NFC team (currently, both teams are tied for third behind thePittsburgh Steelers and theNew England Patriots with six each).[20][21][22]
The rivalry went cold for many years due to the two teams’ inability to make the postseason in the same year after1998 and until2021, when both teams made the playoffs and were matched against each other in the Wild Card round in Dallas.[23] The 49ers won that game 23–17. The two teams would meet each other in the 2022 playoff divisional round, which saw the 49ers take a 19–12 win.[24][25] Both teams qualified for the 2023 postseason. However, the teams' fellow rival, theGreen Bay Packers, defeated the Cowboys, becoming the first 7 seed to win a playoff game against the 2 seed. The loss not only prevented a third straight matchup with the 49ers, but also allowedthe Packers and 49ers to play in a record 10th playoff game.[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]
NFC Divisional playoffs. First meeting at Candlestick Park. With Roger Staubach (who had been injured for much of the season) coming off the bench to replace an ineffectiveCraig Morton; Cowboys overcome 21–3 deficit and a 28–13 deficit in the fourth quarter to win. Last 49ers post-season game until1981.
NFC Championship Game. First postseason win for the 49ers over the Cowboys. Wide receiverDwight Clark makes a leaping catch in the back of the end zone on a pass fromJoe Montana with 51 seconds left, best referred to as "The Catch". 49ers winSuper Bowl XVI.
NFC Championship Game. Cowboys winSuper Bowl XXVII. After the game, Cowboys' head coachJimmy Johnson was caught saying "How Bout Them Cowboys" in their postgame locker room.
Second straight NFC Championship Game meeting. Cowboys winSuper Bowl XXVIII. Troy Aikman was knocked out of the game with a concussion after the knee of rookie 49er defensive tackleDana Stubblefield struck his head.
Last start in the series forTroy Aikman. This game was remembered for 49ers wide receiver (and future Cowboy)Terrell Owens spiking the ball on the Cowboys star at midfield following a touchdown and subsequently being hit by Cowboys safetyGeorge Teague.
Limited fans in attendance due to ongoingCOVID-19 pandemic. 49ers were eliminated from postseason contention with this loss, coupled with a win by theCardinals.
