Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers lost the NFC Championship 20-30 against the Dallas Cowboys on 1993-01-17. Troy Aikman threw for 320 and two touchdowns. Emmitt Smith ran for 114. The 49ers' offense produced 20 points; the Cowboys' produced 30. The closing-drive interception ended the season. Steve Young threw the kind of efficient line that, in postseason play, anchored the calendar. The defensive front produced the kind of pressure that defined the afternoon.[1][2]

The 49ers lost the NFC Championship 20-30 against the Dallas Cowboys. Troy Aikman threw for 320 and two touchdowns. Emmitt Smith ran for 114. The 49ers' offense produced 20 points; the Cowboys' produced 30. The closing-drive interception ended the season. The Sunday's outcome maps to the kind of postseason game-script the staff has been projecting since the regular season closed.

Steve Young threw the kind of efficient passing line. Ricky Watters and the lead back produced the rushing workload. Jerry Rice caught the full-route receiving line. The defensive front produced the kind of pressure that, in postseason play, defines the bracket's outcome. The Sunday's outcome sets the next round's posture.

The week of preparation produced the kind of game-plan continuity the staff has been pointing toward. The closing-drive coverage was the kind of stop the unit has been generating across the back half. The NFC Championship's afternoon ends with the projected outcome.

49ers 20, Dallas Cowboys 30. Margin: minus 10. The NFC Championship's box score reads in line with the projected postseason outcome. Steve Young's passing line came through. The lead back's rushing workload was the staff's call. The defensive front produced pressure.

A 20-30 NFC Championship home loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The 49ers' postseason bracket continues to shape across the kind of game-script the staff has been projecting.

How it unfolded

Troy Aikman threw for 320 and two touchdowns. Emmitt Smith ran for 114. The 49ers' offense produced 20 points; the Cowboys' produced 30. The closing-drive interception ended the season. The Sunday's full-sixty produced the kind of game-flow the staff has been building toward across the bye-week preparation.

The turning point

The in-game adjustment that, in postseason play, decided the closing two quarters. The defensive front's pressure on the third-down dropbacks produced the kind of pass-rush volume the unit has been generating across the calendar's back half.

By the numbers

Steve Young's passing line came through clean. Ricky Watters and the lead back ran the workhorse line. Jerry Rice caught the full-route afternoon. The defensive front produced the multi-sack pressure that, in postseason play, defines the bracket.

Personnel watch

The rotation produced the kind of full-sixty effort the staff has been projecting. The defensive front's pressure was the central strength of the afternoon. The offensive line's pocket time was the kind that, in postseason play, anchors the bye-week preparation. The receiver room's distribution carried the offense's production.

What it means