SANTA CLARA, California. – Christian McCaffrey scored on a go-ahead 2-yard run in the fourth quarter and the San Francisco defense did the rest, sending the 49ers into their second straight NFC title game with a 19-12 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
The 49ers (15-4) used consecutive long-scoring drives in the second half to wear down the Cowboys (13-6) and win their 12th straight game. San Francisco advanced to face the Eagles in next Sunday’s NFC title game in Philadelphia after losing to the Rams in this round a year ago.
“Man, we’re just happy that we won,” said 49ers rookie quarterback Brock Purdy. “Everyone has contributed their part. It’s playoff football, it’s never easy, but we’ll keep going.”
The Cowboys lost for a record seventh straight divisional round and have not made it to the NFC title game since winning their fifth Super Bowl title after the 1995 season.
Dak Prescott threw two interceptions and Brett Maher missed his fifth extra point the postseason when his attempt was blocked. He later scored two field goals.
The Cowboys had a shot when they took over their own 18 with 2:59 left and were 19:12 behind after Robbie Gould’s fourth field goal of the game ended a nearly eight-minute drive.
But Prescott threw two direct incompletions and was dismissed in third place. Coach Mike McCarthy opted to stab in fourth and tenth with all three timeouts remaining.
Purdy started the next drive with a 16-yard completion to George Kittle and San Francisco didn’t return the ball to Dallas until 45 seconds remained. The Cowboys took over at their 6 and never got close from there.
Purdy, the last pick in the draft last April, improved to 7-0 as a starter since replacing an injured Jimmy Garoppolo earlier in Week 13. He went 18 for 28 for 215 yards without a turnover against the Cowboys and joined Joe Flacco (2008) and Mark Sanchez (2009) as the only rookie QBs to win two playoff starts.
“Wow. Brock Purdy taking us to the NFC Championship game? I mean, he’s only won seven straight wins I think now. Good job Brock,” said Kittle. “He’s playing at a high level, bringing our best players to football , he’s great and confident in the huddle, he’s just doing a great job.”
The 49ers took the lead in the first game of the fourth quarter when McCaffrey completed a 91-yard drive with a 2-yard run.
The drive presented a juggling 30-yard catch by Kittle and two defensive tackles against Dallas – including one on Donovan Wilson near the goal line that nullified a third sack.
“I was like, you know what, how can I make this as dramatic as possible?” Kittle said of his spectacular catch. “Just shout out to Brock: I wasn’t actually even in the progression and he found me anyway, so that’s all that matters. I just appreciate that he gave me a chance to catch the ball.
Maher scored his second field goal of the game when he converted from 43 yards to cut San Francisco’s lead to 16-12.
The NFL’s two top-scoring teams have struggled to get going over the past 13 weeks as defenses led by San Francisco All-Pros Nick Bosa and Dallas Micah Parsons controlled the game.
The Niners beat Prescott twice in the first half, converting those into field goals from Gould and leading 9-6 at the break.
The Cowboys scored the only TD of the first half when Prescott came in contact with tight end Dalton Schultz for the third time this postseason. But Maher’s low extra point attempt was blocked by Samson Ebukam.
Maher got some redemption when he hit a 25-yard field goal that ended the game early in the third quarter at 9 a.m. after Ray-Ray McCloud fumbled a punt return at the San Francisco 21.
JUST FOR FUN
The Cowboys’ decision to stay with Maher after his four missed extra points last week looked in question when he missed the early extra point. Maher’s five missed PATs are the second most of any NFL kicker in the playoffs. Roy Gerela missed six tries in 43 tries for Houston and Pittsburgh in the 1970s.
As Maher was warming up, there had been a cloud of dust before the game. Trent Williams and other 49ers players attempted to disrupt his attempts from San Francisco’s side of the field, leading to a brief argument.
INJURIES
Cowboys: RB Tony Pollard left the team late in the first half after injuring his left ankle following a reception when he was tackled. He did not return to the game. … DT Calvin Watkins (Wade) left in the first half.
49ers: DE Charles Omenihu (oblique) was briefly eliminated in the first half but returned to the game.
NEXT
The 49ers would reach their second Super Bowl in four seasons with a win in Philadelphia.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, transcribed or redistributed without permission.
