49ers at Dallas Cowboys

Jeff Garcia threw three touchdown passes and the 49ers beat the Dallas Cowboys 31-27 at Candlestick Park. Garcia finished 36-of-55 for 276 yards. Terrell Owens caught 12 for 123 with two touchdowns. Paul Smith ran for 40 (filling in for Hearst). Chad Hutchinson threw for 147. Emmitt Smith ran for 66 with two touchdowns. The 49ers improved to 9-4.[1][2][3]

Jeff Garcia threw three touchdown passes Sunday afternoon at Candlestick. The 49ers beat the Dallas Cowboys 31-27 in the kind of cross-conference home win where, with Paul Smith filling in for the injured Garrison Hearst at running back, the year's identity tape produced the kind of multi-TD performance the playoff race requires.

Garcia was 36-of-55 for 276 with the three TDs. Terrell Owens caught 12 for 123 with two touchdowns. Paul Smith ran for 40. Chad Hutchinson threw for 147 with no touchdowns. Emmitt Smith ran for 66 with two touchdowns. The defense produced two interceptions of Hutchinson.

9-4. The kind of cross-conference home win where the year's identity tape, with seven wins in the last eight games (after the Monday-night Eagles loss interrupted the streak), has produced the kind of season arc the playoff-bound team has been building. The Green Bay Packers on the road next Sunday in another NFC matchup. The kind of December where the 49ers' competitive identity has the kind of season-ending momentum the playoff race requires.

49ers 31, Cowboys 27. Margin: +4. Thirteen-game record: 9-4, +30 differential.

* Jeff Garcia: 36-of-55 for 276, 3 TDs (Owens x2 + 1), 0 INTs.
* Paul Smith: 13 carries for 40 (filled in for Hearst).
* Terrell Owens: 12 catches for 123, 2 TDs.
* Chad Hutchinson: 11-of-28 for 147, 0 TDs, 2 INTs.
* Emmitt Smith: 19 carries for 66, 2 TDs.
* Joey Galloway: receiving production.
* 49ers D: 2 INTs of Hutchinson.
* 49ers 9-4; Cowboys 5-8.

A 31-27 cross-conference home win over the Dallas Cowboys at Candlestick. Jeff Garcia throws three touchdowns. Terrell Owens catches 12 for 123 with two TDs. The 49ers improve to 9-4.

How it unfolded

The 49ers scored on their opening drive with a Garcia touchdown to Owens to make it 7-0. Dallas answered with an Emmitt Smith touchdown to tie at 7-7. The 49ers added a Garcia second touchdown to Owens to push the lead to 14-7. Emmitt Smith scored his second to tie at 14-14. The second quarter was two more 49ers touchdowns to make it 28-14 at halftime. The second half was Cowboys touchdowns and 49ers field goals; final 31-27. The defense produced two interceptions.

The turning point

The 49ers' two second-quarter touchdowns. With the score tied 14-14 and the year's identity tape on the verge of producing the kind of multi-TD half the playoff race requires, Garcia's late-second-quarter touchdowns gave the 49ers the kind of two-score lead they used to manage the rest of the day.

By the numbers

Garcia 276 passing on 55 attempts with three TDs. Paul Smith 40 rushing on 13 carries. Owens 123 receiving on 12 catches with two TDs. Hutchinson 147 on 28 attempts with two INTs. Emmitt Smith 66 rushing with two TDs.

Personnel watch

Terrell Owens's 12-catch, 123-yard performance with two TDs. Jeff Garcia's three-touchdown passing game. Paul Smith filling in productively for the injured Garrison Hearst. The defense's two interceptions of Hutchinson. The kind of cross-conference home win where everything the year's identity has been promising actually worked.

What it means

9-4 with the Packers on the road next Sunday. The kind of cross-conference home win where the year's identity tape has produced seven wins in the last eight games. The NFC West championship is now within reach with two games to play.