For fans and players alike, the loss to the 49ers hurt after the Cowboys played their hearts out, but just didn't play well enough.

When the Cowboys needed one of their top playmakers most, Tony Pollard's crushing injury served as the catalyst to their eventual spiral against the 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round on Sunday.

Mike McCarthy took to the podium following the loss to the 49ers to give his take on a season that had the opportunity to be special, but instead ended up being anything but.

Dak Prescott gave away the ball twice in the narrow loss to the 49ers, in a matchup the Cowboys had a chance to win if they didn't again generate self-inflicted wounds.

The Cowboys' season comes to a close after they are unable to overcome early mistakes, untimely penalties and key injuries in a 19-12 loss to the 49ers.

Just like the 1992 Cowboys, the Cowboys are headed into San Francisco as underdogs … which is the way Micah Parsons likes it.

The Cowboys exercised one historical playoff demon to start the week, but with a longtime rival waiting in the NFC Divisional Round they'll look to expunge another portion of their recent playoff history.

The 49ers have won 11 straight games, including last week's Wild Card game. The Cowboys are coming off one of their most complete outings of the season in a win over the Bucs. What happens Sunday as the 49ers and Cowboys reunite in the playoffs again?

Every week, we analyze the best players on the opponent's roster and usually each team has anywhere from six to eight elite players. The 49ers have at least 10, and loaded on both sides of the ball.

Back in the offseason, Dan Quinn made sure he was prepared for any potential head coach interviews so it wouldn't be a distraction in the playoffs.

It's a rematch of last year's NFC wild card matchup between two teams with a lot of history, stemming back to their rivalry days when they owned the conference; and the league.

There was no team overlooked en route to where the Cowboys currently stand, but with a chance to stamp their ticket to the NFC Championship, they're seeking payback vs. SF.

The combination of Zeke and Pollard had just 16 carries in last year's playoff loss to the 49ers. But the Cowboys have a different running game this year. Will it carry over into the playoffs in a rematch with San Francisco?

For the second straight week, AT&T Stadium will be the site for a free watch party at Miller Lite®House to watch the Cowboys vs. 49ers in the playoffs.

Welcome to "The Science Lab", a place where football facts and in-depth analysis always triumph over feelings.

There's no such thing as "extra" points in the playoffs. Lets dives into the Maher madness, wonders why Tyler Smith is being overlooked and more!

The Cowboys are likely sticking with Brett Maher for Sunday's game but they have given themselves another option on the practice squad.

The offensive line has been up to the challenge all year with more shuffling and rotations than ever imagined. But with the NFL's best defense on the horizon in the 49ers, they'll face their biggest foe yet.

There's a clear disadvantage when one team is entering an NFL matchup with more time to prepare than the other but the Cowboys, who are on the short end of it this week, don't care.

Just a season removed from their last playoff clash, the Cowboys and 49ers will renew their rivalry yet again in the NFC Divisional Round as much different teams than they were the last time they met.

Watch Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb's best plays from his 123-yard game in the Divisional Round of the 2022 NFL season.

Watch highlights from the matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round.

Dallas Cowboys kicker Brett Maher redeems himself with 43-yard FG in fourth quarter as he nails his second FG of the game.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Kavontae Turpin's 44-yard kick return provides key spark for Cowboys in the fourth quarter as he finds a crease through the middle of the field with Robbie Gould taking him down.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback CeeDee Lamb is pure gold at end of quarterback Dak Prescott's 49-yard rainbow.

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Kelvin Joseph's heads-up tackle leads to Dallas Cowboys' fumble recovery.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott uses his legs to convert fourth-and-four in San Francisco 49ers territory on a 9-yard scramble.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott's precise play-action fake sets up tight end Dalton Schultz for the first TD of the game.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott hits wide receiver Noah Brown for 17 yards on pivotal third-down conversion as Brown finds a hole in the middle and bursts for extra yards.

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence maintains grip of Brock Purdy's ankle for 6-yard sack as Purdy can't elude him in the backfield.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott's 14-yard pass from left hash to right sideline hits wide receiver T.Y. Hilton for first down.

San Francisco 49ers' first pass play of game ends with 9-yard sack by Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa on Brock Purdy as Deebo Samuel is covered trying to set up a screen pass.

Tune in for Cowboys Pregame LIVE presented by WinStar as they count down to the kickoff against the San Francisco 49ers

Views of the Divisional playoff matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers at Levis Stadium.

Pregame views of the Divisional playoff matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers at Levis Stadium.

Views of the Dallas Cowboys as they travel to San Francisco for a Divisional Playoff matchup with the 49ers at Levis Stadium.

Views from the Dallas Cowboys practice as they prepare for the San Francisco 49ers at Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas.