49ers history vs. Cowboys, whom they’ll face in Wild Card round

49ers vs. Cowboys: A rivalry renewed

Now, the 49ers will look to repeat the result of the last time they met up with Dallas a long 27 years ago.

The Niners get to square off against their old-time rivals, perhaps not in an NFC Championship game setting, but at least in a Wild Card showdown that presents the No. 6-seeded San Francisco squad against the No. 3-seeded Cowboys.

This matchup isn’t quite as intense as those conference championship matchups in the 1980s and 1990s, and the star players who eventually turned into Hall of Famers are merely etched in memory.

But the current players and coaches certainly understand the magnitude of this game.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan understands many of his players may not be in tune with how significant this rivalry once was but knows his team will be ready to play regardless.

“I get very surprised at the difference in some of this stuff, but our guys know how big of a deal the playoffs are, and our guys are pumped for this game, no matter who we’re playing,” Shanahan said, via Niners Nation.

The two teams renew the rivalry on Sunday, Jan. 16 at 4:30 p.m. ET from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.