49ers vs. Cowboys playoff game: Why Niners have all the advantages
By Peter Panacy
42. 12-5. 123. Fox. Sunday, Jan. 22. 13-4. 49ers -3.5. 6:30 p.m. ET
Experts might be predicting a close game between the 49ers and Cowboys in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, but the Niners hold all the cards.
If the San Francisco 49ers’ desperate Wild Card victory over the Dallas Cowboys a year ago wasn’t enough for fans who are eager to see this decades-old rivalry resparked, the grudge match between both teams in this season’s divisional round of the NFL playoffs should only serve to add more storybook drama to the hatred the two fanbases have felt toward each other over the years.
Yes, Dallas knocked off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in decisive fashion during the Wild Card round last weekend on Monday night, while the Niners demolished another rival in the Seattle Seahawks despite a sluggish first half.
Unlike the Bucs and Hawks, both San Francisco and Dallas possess offenses and defenses that finished in the top 10 during the regular season. Based on that alone, one might predict Sunday’s divisional-round contest between these two storied rivals will be an awfully close game, and the betting odds seem to point in that direction with the 49ers currently a 3.5-point favorite, according to DraftKings.
Don’t let that fool you, however. The Niners have all the advantages in their favor, and it extends far beyond home-field advantage and being the higher seed.
Advantage No. 1: 49ers are the home team with an extra day’s rest
San Francisco beat Seattle at home on a Saturday, while Dallas had to travel to Florida to knock off Tampa Bay on Monday night.
From a rest-and-recovery perspective, the 49ers have two additional days’ advantage. And that’s something NBC Sports’ Tony Dungy pointed out as why the Niners have a massive edge here:
As good as the Cowboys looked tonight I think they have very little chance against the 49ers next week and it’s not their fault. There are very few examples EVER of teams winning Monday night road game then Sunday road game. Now give SF ( a great team) an extra day of rest. Tough pic.twitter.com/zmwAu8I7jv
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) January 17, 2023
Forget about matchups, Xs and Os, turnover differential and all of that. The Cowboys will be at a disadvantage after having to travel on such a short week while making trips to both coasts.
Perhaps San Francisco comes out fresh and rested on Sunday, whereas Dallas is at serious risk of playing the game with far less intensity.
Advantage: 49ers