Santa Clara – The Niners out dueled the Dallas Cowboys in a defensive battle, both teams played stellar defense. But it was the 49ers that won the battle, San Francisco defeated the Cowboys 19-12 and will be in Philadelphia next Sunday for the NFC Championship game.
The 49ers have reached the Conference Championship Game for the 16th time since 1980, which is the most in the NFL, and for the 3rd time in 4 seasons. Brock Purdy became the 3rd rookie quarterback since 1970 to win 2 postseason games. Purdy completed 19-of-29 for 214 yds. He is the first rookie QB since at least 1970 to register 200-or-more passing yds. in back-to-back postseason games.
“He made a number of plays today, by no means was anything perfect for the whole offense and for the whole team,”said Kyle Shanahan. “But it seemed like playoff football in that game. We had a feeling it was going to be this type of game and that’s why we were stressing the run game on both sides and stressing to protect the ball and try to get turnovers and we accomplished both of those things.”
Kicker Robbie Gould connected on 26, 28, 47 and 50-yd. filed goals. He remains a perfect 29-of-29 on field goals and 38-of-38 on PATs in his postseason career. Gould’s 21 postseason FGM as a member of the 49ers are the most in franchise history, while his 29 total FGM are the 6th most in NFL postseason history.
“Yeah, credit to Dallas, they did a great job just playing physical, stopping the run, making us throw more than we anticipated,” Purdy said. “But it just sort of came down to executing once we got into the red zone and things like that. So, I think we’ve got to be a little bit better there. I have to be a little bit better down there, but overall, it was a great challenge for us.”
San Francisco’s offense struggled on both sides of the ball, Dallas’ defense did a great job shutting the Niners passing game down. However, with so many weapons on offense, Christian McCaffrey rushed for a 2-yard touchdown to put the game away. Late in the third Purdy found George Kittle for a 30-yard pass that Kittle bobbled in one hand before making the catch.
That was the first opportunity the 49ers had before setting up McCaffrey’s touchdown. Thanks to two penalty flags which resulted to two holding calls from Donovan Wilson and Jonathan Hankins. That put San Francisco in great position to score their only touchdown of the day early in the fourth quarter. McCaffrey registered 10 carries for 35 yards. He has now registered at least one touchdown in all three of his career postseason games.
“It was a bootleg,” said Kittle referring to his incredible catch. “Me and Juice [FB Kyle Juszczyk] are on the backside selling the outside zone away to get the defensive man across our face. I just saw kind of a space and he hadn’t thrown it yet, so I was just going up the field and he gave me a catchable ball and I was just trying to be dramatic, just for tv, man.”
Mike McGlinchey talks the success of Brock Purdy and the offense.
Dre Greenlaw talks drop pick and the NFC Championship game.
Deommodore Lenoir talks the 49ers being the best defense in the league.
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49ers favorites on the field for the playoffs
Santa Clara – Former Niner players celebrated the divisonal round of the playoffs today. It was a reunion when Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Merton Hanks, Eric Davis, and Garrison Hearst gathered on the field pregame.