2021-22 NFL Super Wild Card Weekend Preview! - NFC #6 San Francisco 49ers AT #3 Dallas Cowboys

Today after the Bucs-Eagles game, the 49ers (10-7) will face the Dallas Cowboys (12-5) in a playoff game that some say is the most interesting, competitive matchup of all the playoff games.
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Despite Dallas's higher seed, many people favor the 49ers as the favorite in this game, for whatever reason. I really could not tell you who wins this one.

This game features teams with average quarterbacks, with good to great weapons on offense. Defensively, they are sort of similar, but the 49ers are probably better defensively. Trying to dissect this game might be quite difficult in my opinion. But this game will be good, I know that.

For a lot of people this matchup likely brings back a lot of exciting memories from the 80's and 90's when the Niners and the Cowboys were top franchises, contending for championships every year. Troy Aikman, Steve Young, Emmitt Smith, Jerry Rice, Michael Irvin are just some legends from that era that come to mind for me. Unfortunately I was much too young or not alive at all when those GOATS were playing. I can still respect and appreciate their greatness though!

Here is a cool video describing that tremendous rivalry.

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Notable 49ers W-L during the regular season

Good WinsBad Losses
Eagles0-2 versus Seahawks
Swept Rams 2-0
Bengals

The Niners have had some good wins this season, I need to see highlights of that Niners-Bengals game. The Titans beat the Niners so that gives me hope as a Titans fan if the Titans do indeed play the Bengals.

Notable Cowboys W-L during the regular season

Good WinsBad Losses
ChargersBroncos
Swept Eagles 2-0
Patriots

I am actually surprised the Cowboys got some nice wins under their belt and didn't lose to ANY crazy bad teams. That's a good sign for them.


Offensive weapons for each team

Quarterbacks

Jimmy Garoppolo - 49ERS QuarterbackRegular Season Stat CategoryDak Prescott - COWBOYS Quarterback
3,810Passing Yards4,449
20Passing Touchdowns37
12Interceptions10
98.7QB Rating104.2
68.3Completion %68.8
51Rushing Yards146
3Rushing Touchdowns1

These two Quarterbacks are at a pretty similar skill level. Dak is more athletic and has a stronger arm, so I would say he's probably better, but not by an insane margin.

I wonder who will perform better today in Dallas?

Running Backs

Elijah Mitchell - 49ERS Running BackRegular Season Stat CategoryEzekiel Elliott - COWBOYS Running Back
963Rushing Yards1,002
5Rushing Touchdowns10
4.7Yards Per Carry4.2
1,100Yards from Scrimmage1,289
6Total Touchdowns12
11Games Played17

The Cowboys' Elliott is not the same running back he once was in his younger days, but he's still super productive and reliable. He had an ok season and played in every game in 2021-22. With fellow RB2 Tony Pollard, Elliott is still dangerous AND probably has a few more years left thanks to sharing touches.

I don't mean to sound disrespectful, but I laughed out loud when I heard Mitchell's name while researching the Niners. Not because Mitchell is bad because clearly he's not, but because I NEVER heard of Mitchell and it kind of shocked me. Mitchell is a rookie and he's been injured, so I guess that explains it. So I really have no opinion of Mitchell.

Top Receivers

WR Deebo Samuel - 49ERS Top ReceiverRegular Season Stat CategoryCeeDee Lamb - COWBOYS Top Receiver
77Receptions79
1,405Receiving Yards1,102
6Touchdown Receptions6
18.2Yards Per Reception13.9
1,770Yards From Scrimmage1,178
14Total Touchdowns6

The 49ers and Cowboys both have got good young top targets at receiver. Although Deebo is really in a league of his own. Deebo Samuel is like a next level dual threat offensive weapon. Possibly as important as Jimmy G. CeeDee on the other hand, is more traditional, but lethal nonetheless.

#2 Receiving Options

TE George Kittle - 49ERS #2 Passing TargetRegular Season Stat CategoryWR Amari Cooper - COWBOYS #2 Passing Target
71Receptions68
910Receiving Yards865
6Touchdown Receptions8
12.8Yards Per Reception12.7

If George Kittle or Amari Cooper are your second receiving options, odds are you are doing something right as a franchise! Both Kittle and Cooper are stars and have extremely comparable stats from this 2021-22 season.


Any memories from the classic 49ers-Cowboys rivalry?

I think that the Cowboys will take everyone doubting them personally, and get the win by drowning the Niners with too much offense.

This is going to be a dogfight! Predictions for this game? Leave a comment!

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