Cowboys (13-5) at 49ers (14-4)
TV: 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox, Fox Sports and Fox Deportes
Tipico Sportsbook line: 49ers by 4
Battle in the trenches
The 49ers have one of the best offensive lines in football led by All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams. San Francisco’s stout O-line helped the offense have the NFL’s eighth-best rushing attack and the unit ranked fifth in total offense. On the other side of the ball, San Francisco’s defensive front seven is arguably the best in the NFL. They are led by NFL defensive player of the year candidate Nick Bosa and All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner. The 49ers offensive line and defensive front seven overwhelm opponents with their physicality. San Francisco dominated in the trenches in the last playoff meeting between the two clubs. The 49ers gashed Dallas for 169 rushing yards and two touchdowns on offense and the San Francisco defense sacked Prescott five times and tallied 14 QB hits.
Dak Prescott and Cowboys offense vs NFL’s top defense
Led by first-team All-Pros Bosa, Warner and safety Talanoa Hufanga, the 49ers defense finished the regular season ranked No. 1 total defense (300 yards per game) and points allowed (16 points per game) and were tied for first in total interceptions (20). The 49ers also had a league-best plus-13 turnover differential. Bosa led the NFL with 18.5 sacks; Warner had a team best with 130 tackles and has had five straight seasons with at least 100 tackles; and Hufanga tallied 97 tackles, nine pass deflections and four interceptions in the regular season. Prescott and the Cowboys offense were able to pick apart Tampa Bay’s defense, but San Francisco poses a more difficult challenge. If the Cowboys can slow down San Francisco’s pass rush and contain the team’s front seven, the Cowboys have some matchup advantages on the outside. The 49ers corners are the weaknesses to an overall stout defense. Dallas wide receivers CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup and tight end Dalton Schultz combined for 16 catches, 209 receiving yards and four touchdowns versus the Bucs.
49ers’ O vs Cowboys’ D
The 49ers’ Brock Purdy passed for 332 yards and three touchdowns in his first playoff start. San Francisco’s three best playmakers – wide receiver Deebo Samuel, running back Christian McCaffrey and tight end George Kittle – combined for 338 yards from scrimmage and two TDs versus Seattle. Can Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn design exotic blitz packages and a defensive game plan that can rattle the rookie quarterback and limit the production from San Francisco’s three primary playmakers?