The 49ers and Cowboys still carry the look and feel of a marquee matchup, but the recent results tell a much different story. When San Francisco heads to Arlington on Sunday, it does so with the edge that has defined this series lately: the 49ers keep winning, and Dallas keeps talking about the next chance.
That’s the simplest way to frame it. The all-time series is 21-19-1 in favor of San Francisco through 41 meetings, and the Cowboys’ last win came in 2020 against a 49ers team led by Nick Mullens. Since then, the 49ers have controlled the biggest moments.
The first of those recent postseason meetings came in the 2021 Wild Card round, the first playoff clash between the teams since San Francisco beat Dallas in the 1994 NFC Championship Game to reach the Super Bowl. Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers escaped with a 23-17 win after a mental lapse by Dak Prescott ended the game before an attempted spike could be completed. Deebo Samuel was the driving force for the 49ers offense and famously told Kyle Shanahan to get him the ball, and he “put the ball in the box.”
A year later, the teams met again in the 2022 Divisional Round at Levi’s Stadium, and this one went right down to the wire. Dallas tried one of the more unusual final-play looks you’ll see, with Ezekiel Elliott snapping the ball alone and being asked to block the pass rush on the last snap.
It didn’t change the outcome. Brock Purdy and the 49ers did enough to win 19-12 and move on to the NFC Championship Game in Philadelphia.
That victory also evened the all-time series at 19-19-1.
By 2023, the gap had widened again in San Francisco’s favor. In Week 5, the 49ers were rolling, and Dallas had no answer for the offense.
George Kittle scored three touchdowns and wore a shirt that captured exactly how 49ers fans feel about the Cowboys. The 32-point win was the largest margin of victory over Dallas, and Parsons went to his podcast to complain about Kittle instead of stopping him.
The most recent meeting came in Week 8 of 2024, and Dallas actually carried a 10-6 lead into halftime. The 49ers took over in the third quarter, putting up 21 points in that frame alone.
Kittle scored again, Dallas trimmed the deficit to within reach with 3:32 left in the fourth quarter, and San Francisco still finished the job. Anders Carlson handled the kicking duties for the 49ers in that game and added three field goals.
So yes, the history gives this matchup plenty of heat. But recent history gives it a clear winner.
In Other News...
Cowboys-49ers Suddenly Carries A Travel Problem Dallas Fans Need To Watch
A nationwide FAA ground stoppage on Friday created an unexpected wrinkle for the 49ers as they prepared to head to Dallas for Sundays game against the Cowboys. The pause, triggered by communication issues affecting air traffic control, prevented new flights from taking off and immediately put travel plans around the league under a cloud, including San Franciscos trip for one of the weekends more watched matchups.
Kyle Shanahan said the team is moving ahead with a normal walk-through while waiting on more information from the FAA, which is about as much control as anyone has right now. For a road team trying to stay on schedule before a big NFC test, the timing is less than ideal, and the next update could determine whether the 49ers usual pregame routine gets thrown off before they even reach Dallas. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Rookie Now Faces A Brutal Reality About His First Season
DeZhaun Striblings first NFL season has already taken a harsh turn, with the 49ers rookie wide receiver dealing with a left ankle injury suffered in Week 1 and now expected to be sidelined until at least December. For a young pass catcher trying to carve out a role in San Francisco, the timing could hardly be worse, especially in a system that demands more than just athleticism and raw talent to get on the field.
Deebo Samuel recently pointed out that the 49ers offense takes several weeks for rookies to fully learn, which only adds to the challenge Stribling will face when he finally returns. The recent trade for Keenan Allen also gives San Francisco more flexibility at the position, easing the immediate pressure on Stribling and potentially letting the team treat the rest of this season as a developmental window rather than a deadline. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Sent A Clear Message About Mac Jones At The Deadline
The 49ers made their stance on Mac Jones pretty clear as the trade deadline approached, and it was not the kind of price that invites much bargaining. San Francisco reportedly asked for at least a second-round pick for the backup quarterback, a steep ask that helped keep talks from moving forward with the Vikings and left Jones in place in Santa Clara.
For a team that has spent plenty of time managing quarterback depth and long-term planning, the message was unmistakable: the 49ers still view Jones as much more than a temporary insurance policy. San Francisco also kicked the tires on Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert, but he stayed put in Philadelphia, leaving the deadline without the kind of splash move some around the league may have expected. [Read more 🡒]