The San Francisco 49ers defeated arch-rival Dallas Cowboys 19-12 Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium.
The “Niners” thus reached the final of the National for the second season in a row, they who had lowered the flag against the Los Angeles Rams last year. It was also the ninth time the 49ers and Cowboys had met in a one-night stand. The Californian club has won the last three duels.
Not all matches are won with fireworks. The 49ers have pulled out a good old recipe that serves them well with a suffocating defense to beat the Cowboys 19-12 and thus advance to the National Conference Finals for the third time in the last four seasons.
It was nothing spectacular, nothing grandiose, but not a team across the league can claim to bet on a wall like the 49ers.
Before the meeting, the NFL planet had nothing but young rookie quarterback Brock Purdy.
The seventh-round pick got the job done with 19 of 29 passes that were completed for 214 yards. He threw no touchdown passes and did not commit a turnover. A good little effective game, without error.
He becomes the fifth rookie quarterback to reach the conference finals, after Sean King (1999), Ben Roethlisberger (2004), Joe Flacco (2008) and Mark Sanchez (2009).
Purdy was helped in particular by a spectacular catch from tight end George Kittle in the middle of the field on the only sequence that led to a touchdown for the 49ers. Tied 9-9 early in the fourth quarter, that play stretched a push that eventually went 91 yards and ended in a touchdown on a two-yard run from runner Christian McCaffrey. Kicker Robbie Gould also contributed with four field goals.
A complete team
Hats off to Purdy, but it would be very dishonest to claim that he is the story of the game. From this famous sequence, the formidable offensive line of the 49ers literally took control of the game.
The breaches were opened for Christian McCaffrey and 13 first games were won in two series on offense. The 49ers were struggling with just eight first games beforehand.
Above all, it was the 49ers defense that shone. There isn’t a better group of linebackers in the NFL. The defensive line also bothered quarterback Dak Prescott, who was the victim of two interceptions. Those turnovers led to six of the 49ers’ nine points in the first half.
The Cowboys’ rushing game, lost to Tony Pollard after an ankle injury, was limited to 3.5 yards per carry.
The wind in the sails
Other than a touchdown on a pass from Prescott to Dalton Schultz on a 74-yard streak, the Cowboys have never been able to amass more than 47 yards on their other streaks. A meager pittance for the attack which scored the fourth highest total of points this season.
The 49ers will therefore take the road to Philadelphia, where the Eagles await them in the final of the national conference. It will be a confrontation between the best defense in the league statistically, that of the 49ers, and that of the Eagles, which follows close behind. Quite a shock in perspective!
The Niners have won their last 12 games, their most prolific streak since 1984.
For their part, the Cowboys have concluded their last 12 appearances in the playoffs without reaching the conference final. Many will claim the lead from head coach Mike McCarthy, despite two successive seasons of 12 wins and five losses.
With former Saints driver Sean Payton available, the association with the Cowboys and his good friend and owner Jerry Jones will quickly become a hot topic.
Tony Pollard broke his leg
Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard fractured his left leg during the game.
The 25-year-old was forced out of the first-half clash. According to the ESPN network, he will need to go under the knife.
Pollard may have played his last game in a Cowboy uniform, as he could become a free agent in the coming weeks.
The fourth-round pick (128th overall) in the 2019 draft is coming off his career-best season in the NFL. He had 1,007 yards and nine rushing touchdowns. Pollard also caught 39 passes for 371 yards and three majors.
THE STARS OF THE DAY
George Kittle
Not only has the tight end excelled with five receptions for 95 yards, but he’s solid at blocking and having a blast. What a refreshing personality!
Fred Warner
The 49ers linebackers are clearly from another planet and Warner is the soul of the group. He was fantastic with nine tackles and one interception.
CeeDee Lamb
In the loss, he led the Cowboys with 10 catches for 117 yards. He caught several passes from difficult angles, despite a finger injury.
