A year ago the Dallas Cowboys went west on an October Sunday night intent on proving they belonged among the NFC's elite. This week they're going back hoping to simply avoid a season careening into the ditch. When the Cowboys play the San Francisco 49ers, it seems something weighty is always at stake.
As one of the NFL's heritage rivalries, they have played each other an astounding nine times in the playoffs. The Niners have won the the last three meetings, including ending the Cowboys' seasons in the 2021 and 2022 playoffs and walloping them, 42-10, last October. In a series that is always important and often iconic, Sunday night's game at Levi's Stadium will have to deliver magic to break into our list of the Top 10 all-time matchups.
Roger Staubach's rally ...
T.O. standing on the star in Texas Stadium .
.. Deion Sanders and Charles Haley, swapping sides .
.. John Madden and Pat Summerall .
.. The Catch, in Candlestick .
.. The Guarantee, in three-inch headlines .
.. Brass vs.
papier-mache ...
Tony Romo's punctured lung ...
Dak Prescott's tardy slide ...
Troy Aikman's concussion ...
Jimmy Johnson's "How 'Bout Them Cowboys?!" ...
Bill Walsh ...
Tom Landry ...
Joe Montana ...
Steve Young ...
Emmitt Smith ...
San Francisco's Team of the 1980s ...
Dallas' dynasty of the 1990s ...
Six NFC Championship Games, leading to five Super Bowl champions ...
Asked a year ago if his players appreciate how big the 49ers-Cowboys rivalry used to be, San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said sadly, ".