Dallas Cowboys’ storied playoff history with San Francisco 49ers renewed in wild card
Longtime Dallas Cowboys fans have been thirsting for a return to the team’s last heyday in the 1990s, and they’re about to get a taste of that with a classic throwback matchup in the first round of the playoffs.
The third seed Cowboys (12-5) host the sixth seed San Francisco 49ers (10-7) at 3:30 p.m. Sunday AT&T Stadium in an NFC wild card game.
The Cowboys lead the series 19-17-1, which includes seven playoff meetings. Dallas won the last meeting, a regular season game, 41-33, at AT&T Stadium on Dec. 20, 2020.
If the Cowboys beat the 49ers, they would advance to play at Tampa Bay in the divisional round (if the Buccaneers beat the Eagles) or host the wild card winner between the Rams and Cardinals (if the Bucs lose).
The last time Dallas met San Francisco in the playoffs was in the NFC Championship on Jan. 15, 1995. The 49ers won, 38-28, at Candlestick Park en route to the Super Bowl title. The Cowboys had won the previous two Super Bowls and won their third in four seasons the following season.
Six of the previous seven playoff matchups came in the NFC Championship Game.
Cowboys vs. 49ers playoff history
Jan. 15, 1995: NFC Championship (Candlestick Park)
49ers 38, Cowboys 28 — After falling behind 21-0 in the first quarter, the Cowboys struggled to overcome five turnovers, including three Troy Aikman interceptions.
Jan. 23, 1994: NFC Championship (Texas Stadium)
Cowboys 38, 49ers 21 — The Cowboys built a 28-7 halftime lead behind two Emmitt Smith touchdowns to coast to the win and eventual second consecutive Super Bowl title.
Jan. 17, 1993: NFC Championship (Candlestick Park)
Cowboys 30, 49ers 20 — In the first of three consecutive NFC Championship showdowns, Troy Aikman threw for 322 yards and two scores on 24 of 34 passing. His six-yard touchdown pass to Kelvin Martin in the fourth quarter iced the Cowboys’ first trip to the Super Bowl since 1979.
Jan. 10, 1982: NFC Championship (Candlestick Park)
49ers 28, Cowboys 27 — Avert your eyes, Cowboys fans. Joe Montana hit Dwight Clark in the back of the end zone with 58 seconds remaining to send the 49ers to their first Super Bowl and start their 1980s dynasty.
Dec. 23, 1972: NFC Divisional playoff (Candlestick Park)
Cowboys 30, 49ers 28 — After falling behind 21-3, Roger Staubach helped engineer a comeback with two fourth quarter touchdowns. Alas, Dallas lost in Washington the next week in the NFC Championship Game.
Jan. 2, 1972: NFC Championship (Texas Stadium)
Cowboys 14, 49ers 3 — The Dallas defense had three interceptions and Roger Staubach, Walt Garrison and Duane Thomas combined to rush for 151 yards to set up the Cowboys’ first ever Super Bowl title over Miami two weeks later.
Jan. 3, 1971: NFC Championship (Kezar Stadium)
Cowboys 17, 49ers 10 — Duane Thomas rushed for 143 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries to lead the Cowboys to their first Super Bowl, of which they lost to the Baltimore Colts, 16-13.
This story was originally published January 9, 2022 at 7:58 PM.
