Entering the game facing a Dallas Cowboys (12-5) team that made history by becoming just the third team since 1960 to lead the NFL in total offense, scoring offense and takeaways, Kyle Shanahan's 49ers (10-7) squad knew their first round opponent would not be a walk in the park. However, through much of the game and most of the first half, San Francisco would have their way with Dallas on both sides of the ball. Receiving the opening-kickoff and starting the game on offense, the 49ers' success since the second half of the season would roll right into their first possession of the ball game as quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo helped orchestrate a touchdown-scoring drive right out of the gates. Taking a stranglehold from the first play on, the 49ers found the end zone with a 4-yard rushing touchdown from rookie running back Elijah Mitchell. Equally as impressive would be San Francisco's defense, starting the game with a QB sack on 3rd and long to force a Dallas punt. Adding a pair of Robbie Gould field goals on each of their next two possessions, the 49ers would quickly jump out to a 13-0 advantage.
Dallas' high-powered offense was held off the scoreboard and out of the end zone for the entire first quarter, a trend Cowboys fans have grown accustomed to considering the dubious streak has now reached seven straight home playoff games in which the Cowboys have failed to score a 1st quarter touchdown. You'd have trace back to the 1996 Wild Card game to find the last touchdown scored by a Cowboy in the first quarter -- a 2-yard TD run by Hall of Fame QB Troy Aikman. However, it wouldn't be long before Dallas' league-best offense eventually found the end zone as Dak Prescott hit Amari Cooper in the end zone for a 20-yard score. Adding another field goal to give the Niner offense four straight scoring-drives to start the game, San Francisco went into their locker room at the half boasting a 16-7 lead. While confident with a double-digit lead at the half, the 49ers knew first-hand that they could not take their foot off the pedal after being in a similar predicament themselves a week ago when the roles were reversed and the Niners found themselves in a 17-0 hole to the division rival Rams.
With both teams exchanging punts to open the second half, the 49er defense would force the game's first turnover when a Dak Prescott pass was intercepted by K'Waun Williams who had missed the season-finale against the Rams after being placed in Covid protocols. Returning to the field in a big way, the San Francisco offense knew just what to do with the takeaway. Following the turnover, receiver Deebo Samuel went up to coach Shanahan and demanded the ball on the very next play. The first time All-Pro wide-out would get his wish and the ball, taking it 26-yards to the house for a touchdown to put his team ahead, 23-7. Looking to put the rare Prescott interception behind them and his first since Week 14, it wouldn't be until the fourth quarter when Dallas would finally piece together some success. After adding a Greg Zuerlein field goal to make it a 23-10 ballgame thanks to a successful fake-punt attempt, the Cowboys would find themselves a golden opportunity after an errant pass from Garoppolo was picked off on San Francisco's ensuing possession. Capitalizing on the turnover just like the Niners did, Dak and company would make it a six-point game as the Cowboys signal-caller ran it in himself for a 5-yard score.
Leading 23-17, the 49ers suddenly found themselves in a vulnerable position after suffering a trio of injuries on defense as Jordan Willis (ankle) and Pro Bowlers Nick Bosa (concussion) and Fred Warner (ankle) were all forced to leave the game with injuries. After San Francisco failed to make it a two-score game, the 49er defense would be asked to step up and deliver a much needed stop. Facing a 4th and 11 near midfield, the Niners D would answer the call by forcing a turnover on downs. In need of a big first down, the 49ers thought they had the game won on a handoff to Deebo Samuel as the referees called on the chain gang and gave him a first down that would've sealed the win. However, further review would show Deebo just shy of the first down marker, bringing up 4th and inches. Dialing up a QB-sneak, Garoppolo appeared to gain the first down, but not before a false start penalty on Trent Williams. Punting the ball back to Dallas, the Cowboys would get one final shot with 40-seconds remaining and no timeouts left. Prescott and company would move the chains on back to back completions of 20 and 10 yards, before a 9 yard pass got them to the 50 yard-line. But it would be there where the Cowboys turned into their own worst enemy and the drama intensified as Prescott ran up the middle for a 17-yard gain. Unbeknownst to them, the Dallas o-line ran to the line of scrimmage at the San Francisco 24 yard-line and attempted to spike the ball with 1-second remaining, but failed to allow the official to set the ball before hiking it as the game-clock hit double-zero.
Escaping Dallas by the skin of their teeth and avoiding heartbreak, the 49ers punched their ticket to the next round with the 23-17 victory. Leading the way on offense, San Francisco's ground attack which ranks 7th-best in the league, rushed for 169 yards compared to Dallas' 77. While Elijah Mitchell rushed for a game-high 96 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, Deebo Samuel was not far behind. Deebo who became the first 49ers wide-receiver to score a rushing touchdown in a playoff game since at least 1950, continued his historic season by rushing for 72 yards, the most rush yards by a WR in a playoff game in the Super Bowl era, while adding a rushing touchdown of his own. Samuel would also add another 38 yards on 3 receptions to put him over the century mark in total yards. The 49ers offensive-line welcomed back All-Pro Trent Williams from his elbow injury after missing Week 18, and were able to keep quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (16 of 25 pass attempts, 172 yards, 1 interception) on his feet all afternoon long by registering a clean game with zero sacks allowed. In comparison, the San Francisco defense pressured Dallas QB Dak Prescott (23 of 43, 254 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception) into five sacks on the day.
After leading the league in penalties and ranking No. 2 in penalty yards during the regular season, the Cowboys did not do themselves any favors on Sunday, committing a total of 14 infractions which tied them for the second-most penalties all-time in a playoff game and the most ever in a playoff loss. All of which helped contribute to Dallas' loss which now means the Cowboys have not made it to the NFC Championship since their last Super Bowl-winning season in 1995, setting a dubious record of 11 straight playoff appearances without reaching the Conference Championship. Having feasted on inferior opponents all season long within their own division (6-0 vs NFC East, 6-5 vs the rest of the league), the Cowboys proved once again under head coach Mike McCarthy that they were unable to answer the call against a battle-tested 49ers team that has been playing their best ball since getting off to a 3-5 start to the season.
Niners-Packers Preview: Advancing to the next round, the 49ers will head to the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field where they'll face off against the No. 1 seeded Green Bay Packers. Entering the showdown with the reigning MVP in Aaron Rodgers who could very well earn his second straight MVP Award and his fourth overall this season, the 49ers have a chance to avenge their first loss of the season -- a 30-28 last-second defeat at Levi's Stadium back in Week 3. Winners in 8 of their last 10 games following Sunday's playoff win over Dallas, the 49ers will look to deny the Northern California native Aaron Rodgers for a fourth time in the playoffs. Opposite of Rodgers who will be facing the team he grew up rooting for, will be Niners QB Jimmy Garoppolo who is listed to have a "slightly" sprained right shoulder, but is expected to play in time for Saturday's game. San Francisco defensive-end Nick Bosa will also be worth keeping an eye on as he sits in concussion protocol after leaving Sunday's game late in the second quarter. As for their former All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner, what was originally feared to be a knee injury, turned out to be an ankle injury that shouldn't keep the durable defensive leader out of next week's game.
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