Cowboys at 49ers score: San Francisco does just enough to continue Dallas’ NFC title game drought

It was an ugly, back-and-forth struggle for all 60 minutes — lacking in the beauty that comprised the Dallas Cowboys-San Francisco 49ers playoff showdowns of the 80’s and 90’s that had Joe Montana, Steve Young, Roger Craig, and Jerry Rice on one side and Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin on the other — and as expected, the 49ers did what they have done in each of their previous divisional round showdowns: what they needed to do to advance to the NFC Championship Game, this time winning by a 19-12 score. 

It’s a historical result as rookie Brock Purdy will now become the fourth quarterback drafted in the 6th round or later, or undrafted, to reach a Conference Championship in his 1st season as a starter, joining Dieter Brock (1985 ), Kurt Warner (1999), and Tom Brady (2001). On the other side, the Cowboys run the longest streak of playoff appearances in NFL history without a conference title game appearance to 12. 

While Purdy is re-writing the history books with his play as the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the reason the 49ers ended the Cowboys season on Sunday is because of their defense. San Francisco forced two Dak Prescott interceptions, and their offense turned both of those into field goals, critical in a game they won by only seven points. 

San Francisco got the scoring started late in the first quarter after being set up with a short field in the wake of a Dak Prescott interception. Prescott was looking for Michael Gallup on a comeback route on third-and-long, but Deommodore Lenoir jumped the route and picked it off. The Niners began their drive on the Dallas 21-yard line, but the Cowboys’ defensive line continually got pressure on Brock Purdy and held San Francisco to a field goal. 

On the ensuing possession, Dallas drove 74 yards on 14 plays, with Dalton Schultz finding the end zone on a play-action pass from Prescott. Cowboys kicker Brett Maher, though, fresh off setting an NFL record by missing four extra point tries against the Buccaneers last week, had his extra point blocked. He would go on to make his final two kicks of the game, both field goals from 25 and 43 yards out. Late in the first half, disaster struck for Dallas. After converting on fourth-and-4 from the Niners’ 35-yard line, Prescott checked down underneath to Tony Pollard, who had his ankle rolled up on two San Francisco defenders. As Pollard limped into the medical tent, Prescott forced a throw into double coverage and was intercepted for the second time in the game. Pollard was later carted to the locker room and ruled out with a high-ankle sprain. 

With the final drive of the half, the 49ers had some curious clock management, and ultimately had to attempt a 50-yard field goal on third down as time expired. Robbie Gould’s kick sailed right through the uprights, though, giving San Francisco a three-point lead at the break, 9-6. Maher tacked on a 25-yard field goal that left the score tied at nine entering the third quarter. However, a different Cowboys player’s gaffe ended up turning the tide for the 49ers. 

Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch combined to sack Purdy in a critical spot — on third-and-eight on the Dallas 20–, but Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson gave 49ers tight end George Kittle a hug, taking him to the ground relatively early in the play. That mistake nullified the sack and three plays later, San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey was in the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. That marked eight consecutive games for CMC with a touchdown, which is the longest streak of the Pro Bowler’s career. He has 12 touchdowns in 12 games as the 49ers’ starting running back since Week 8, all wins for the 49ers. The eight-game touchdown streak is the longest by a 49ers player since Hall of Famer Terrell Owens in 1998.

After the 49ers tacked on another field goal, Prescott and the Cowboys ran out of time again against the 49ers, but this time it was way less suspenseful as Dallas’ final drive didn’t get past their own 30. The second-seeded 49ers will now travel across the country to square off with the NFC’s top seed, the Philadelphia Eagles, for a spot in the Super Bowl. 

Stay tuned for more takeaways and analysis.