The San Francisco 49ers managed to secure the ball throughout the game. Despite Purdy’s performance being less than perfect, as he appeared to be affected by the Cowboys’ pass rush led by Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, he still managed to complete 19 out of 29 passes for 214 yards without any turnovers.
This level-headed approach allowed the 49ers’ top-rated scoring and total defense to handle the struggling Cowboys offense, which was missing key player Tony Pollard. The 49ers’ two takeaways from Prescott’s interceptions also helped Purdy, the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, guide the offense to two field goals.
Additionally, Fred Warner, a 49ers linebacker, was a force to be reckoned with on the field, covering Dallas’ top wide receiver CeeDee Lamb in the middle of the field and dropping into zone coverage. He also had a crucial interception that ended a Cowboys drive in the red zone just before halftime.
The San Francisco 49ers, five-time Super Bowl champions, secured a victory over the Dallas Cowboys with a score of 19-12, extending their winning streak to 12 games. In the AFC, the Cincinnati Bengals shocked the Buffalo Bills with a score of 27-10 at a snowy Highmark Stadium.
The Bengals, who took an early 14-0 lead in the first quarter, have now reached the AFC Championship Game for two consecutive years. This is also the first time in 36 years that the previous year’s matchup is repeated.
Pivotal moment
The Dallas Cowboys defense made a critical error in the fourth quarter of their game against the 49ers, which ultimately led to a touchdown for the opposing team. With the score tied at nine and the 49ers facing third-and-eight at the Dallas 20, Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson committed a defensive holding penalty.
The 49ers and Cowboys previously faced off in the NFC Championship Game for three consecutive years in the 90s, and their rivalry was renewed at Levi’s Stadium. Despite being led by their third-choice quarterback, Brock Purdy, the 49ers have now reached the Conference Championships for the third time in four years, and Purdy is just one win away from the Super Bowl.
Next Challenge
In order to make it to the Super Bowl for the second time in four years, the 49ers must overcome Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. This will be a difficult task as it has only been accomplished once with Hurts in the lineup. This Sunday’s NFC Championship Game will also be only the second playoff matchup between these two teams in history.
The only prior matchup was in the 1996 Wild Card Round, where the 49ers emerged victorious with a score of 14-0. The points were scored by Hall of Famers Steve Young (nine-yard rushing score) and Jerry Rice (three-yard receiving score).
