49ers would love this postseason scenario (if playoffs started today)
By Peter Panacy
We're only halfway through the 2023 regular season, but the 49ers would be thrilled with this Wild Card matchup and a chance to eliminate this team... again.
After what's essentially been a 25-year hiatus, the rivalry between the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys is back.
Sure, it might not be quite as thrilling as it was during the early 1970s or especially during the mid-1990s when both the Niners and Cowboys met regularly in the NFC Championship game, and the winner of that contest would easily go on to win the Super Bow.
But, still. It's a great rivalry.
And it's one San Francisco has dominated as of late. In back-to-back postseasons, the 49ers have eliminated Dallas from the playoffs. There was the wild Wild Card win at AT&T Stadium two years ago, and the Niners beat the Cowboys at Levi's Stadium in the divisional round last season.
Now, at the halfway point through the 2023 season, there's still plenty of football left before playoff-bound teams can start prepping for their Wild Card matchups.
However, if the regular season ended now and the playoffs began this weekend, guess who would face off against each other in the Wild Card round?
Hint: We're discussing the two teams in this article.
49ers would host Cowboys in Wild Card round (if NFL playoffs started today)
The 5-3 Niners were idle in Week 9 and probably needed it after their three-game losing streak that cost them the top spot in the conference and (briefly) the No. 1 spot in the NFC West.
Now, back in the lead within the division, San Francisco is guaranteed a home game and sits as the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoff picture.
Also at 5-3, and second place within the NFC East behind the one-loss Philadelphia Eagles, the Cowboys would be on the road for the opening weekend of playoff action, and they'd be required to face off against the 49ers as the sixth seed in the postseason picture.
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There have already been some heated moments between the two squads this season, including the 42-10 primetime blowout the Niners issued the Cowboys in Week 5.
Tack on tight end George Kittle's memorable tee shirt worn during the game, Cowboys linebacker Micah Parson's exception to it and how wide receiver Deebo Samuel responded, and it would appear as if the rivalry between Dallas and San Francisco is gaining momentum. Not losing it.
And if the 49ers had the chance to eliminate the Cowboys for a third consecutive year, it sure would be fantastic.