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.
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.
Notable 49ers W-L during the regular season
Good Wins | Bad Losses |
---|---|
Eagles | 0-2 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 Wins | Bad Losses |
---|---|
Chargers | Broncos |
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 Quarterback | Regular Season Stat Category | Dak Prescott - COWBOYS Quarterback |
---|---|---|
3,810 | Passing Yards | 4,449 |
20 | Passing Touchdowns | 37 |
12 | Interceptions | 10 |
98.7 | QB Rating | 104.2 |
68.3 | Completion % | 68.8 |
51 | Rushing Yards | 146 |
3 | Rushing Touchdowns | 1 |
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 Back | Regular Season Stat Category | Ezekiel Elliott - COWBOYS Running Back |
---|---|---|
963 | Rushing Yards | 1,002 |
5 | Rushing Touchdowns | 10 |
4.7 | Yards Per Carry | 4.2 |
1,100 | Yards from Scrimmage | 1,289 |
6 | Total Touchdowns | 12 |
11 | Games Played | 17 |
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 Receiver | Regular Season Stat Category | CeeDee Lamb - COWBOYS Top Receiver |
---|---|---|
77 | Receptions | 79 |
1,405 | Receiving Yards | 1,102 |
6 | Touchdown Receptions | 6 |
18.2 | Yards Per Reception | 13.9 |
1,770 | Yards From Scrimmage | 1,178 |
14 | Total Touchdowns | 6 |
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 Target | Regular Season Stat Category | WR Amari Cooper - COWBOYS #2 Passing Target |
---|---|---|
71 | Receptions | 68 |
910 | Receiving Yards | 865 |
6 | Touchdown Receptions | 8 |
12.8 | Yards Per Reception | 12.7 |
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!