SF 49ers: 10 most painful playoff losses in franchise history
By Peter Panacy
No. 8: SF 49ers 1993 NFC Championship loss to Cowboys
Final Score: Cowboys 30, SF 49ers 20
The Niners’ playoff runs in 1992 and 1993 were tough to admit. After all, following San Francisco being the “team of the decade” in the 1980s, the Cowboys were now becoming the primary force in the 1990s.
Two back-to-back losses in the NFC Championship those seasons marked the transition from one dynasty to another, and the second of those heartbreaking defeats makes this list at No. 8.
The game itself wasn’t overly spectacular. The SF 49ers led only once in the game following a touchdown run by Steve Young in the first quarter. And while the Niners managed to stay in contention for the rest of the bout, it was pretty clear Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman and running back Emmitt Smith were taking over.
Aikman outdueled Young by tossing two touchdowns against zero interceptions against Young’s two picks thrown. And while San Francisco closed the gap late to make it 24-20, a late touchdown pass from Aikman to wide receiver Kelvin Martin sealed the deal.
The loss wouldn’t have been so bad from the SF 49ers’ vantage point if it weren’t for Dallas’ head coach, Jimmy Johnson, shouting “How ’bout them Cowboys?” in the locker room after the game:
To this day, when that sound clip airs, no Niners fan likes to recall that was after Dallas pulled off the victory over San Francisco.