Cowboys @ 49ers 1994

[@Graxster]

The Battle of the Titans. There was so much talent on this field that it's almost unbelievable.

[@ALastShotonTwoGoodHorses]

22 pro bowl players, 11 on each team. Many HOFers.

[@joemamma137]

The Super Bowl and the pro bowl in one game.

[@Worth8755]

When Football was fun to watch. I miss these days. Just like the old days of the NBA

[@lmswentzeljr]

It was my 14th bday will always be my favorite bday. The 49ers proved a lot on this day

[@dumisatonyjohnson8145]

Key additions to the 49ers Deion Sanders at Cornerback Ricky Jackson at OLB/DE Ken Norton at OLB/ILB Bryant Young at DE/DT (1st round draft pick out of Norte Dame) William Floyd at FB (2nd round draft pick out of Florida state)

[@inglewoodsityful]

Gary plummer

[@graciemaemarie11jones16]

gary plummer.

[@scottross4374]

I think they also got Bart Oates and Richard Dent that year

[@faisalshab1]

@@scottross4374 Charles Mann and Toi Cook as well

[@michaeldubin8220]

you forgot Lee Woodall, Gary Plummer, and Bart Oates.

[@TheStarWarsCurmudgeon]

This was the game that made it clear the Cowboys had lost the mental edge to deal with the 49ers. They had enough talent to handle most everyone else, but when talent is matched it comes down to attitude and desire. Without Jimmy, the Cowboys didn't have those things, and the 49ers did in both games they played that year.

[@ericpoyntz7460]

Crazy think this game had 5 Super Bowl MVPs in it

[@TownBizz-r1d]

I guess Larry Brown was n da game cuz alls I got is Rice, Young, Aikman, Smith !!

[@stevekov6740]

@@TownBizz-r1d he was. Mr. 'I own Jerry Rice' was served up some big-time humble pie in this one and would get some more in the NFC Championship Game (AKA The REAL Super Bowl) two months later.

[@adedamolaodutayo2757]

Good game. I good win for the 49ers. 49ers went on to win the super bowl that year....Go 49ers

[@exchequerguy4037]

Arguably the best, or at least the most consequential, regular season game in the Super Bowl era.

[@ricardolozano5356]

the cowboys win they play in Dallas the title game

[@ALastShotonTwoGoodHorses]

⁠@@ricardolozano5356Yeah, Cowboys went on a three week tear after this game only to lose to Cleveland on a Saturday to firmly secure the home field for the 49ers. Ironically the following year the 49ers lost in the season finale by a point to the Atlanta Falcons handing the Cowboys home field throughout the playoffs. That 49ers loss ended what would of likely been another Cowboys vs 49ers NFC title game. Brett Favre was never ever winning in Dallas. Essentially ending the playoff rivalry until recently.

[@sobaze]

Agreed.

[@chrisuncleahmad666]

Earlier that week, Dan Dierdorf had this quote in the leadup to that showdown: "If the Cowboys win this ballgame . . . the Super Bowl is won."

[@paulcarlson754]

Agreed, another one to consider was the patriots broncos week 12 game in 2015, if the patriots won that overtime thriller they would of beat Denver in foxboro in the afc championship game, then probably won the Super Bowl as Denver did

[@EduardoMartinez-no6se]

This game was the REAL Super Bowl in the early 90s. They faced each other in the NFC Championship game 3 years in a row. Cowboys won 3 out of 4 SBs and the 49ers won 1.

[@sobaze]

The winning units of this game were: The 49er secondary The Dallas defensive line A few players outside those units had solid to great games but those units were dominant. The 49ers O-line got destroyed in pass pro. It’s lucky Steve survived this game. Dallas’s D-line was such an underrated unit. An all time great D-line. I’m a lifelong 49ers fan btw, who was a huge fan by 1987. Dallas was incredible man. What a team, even in defeat they took a pound of flesh.

[@brockgeorge777]

It shows the brilliance of SF’s skill players on offense and “big play” secondary that year. In the O and D lines-where it used to count most-the Cowboys in 1984 were still better. But the margin of difference was less and the 49ers “skill” advantage elsewhere has broadened. All of us knew that whichever of Dallas or SF prevailed was going to win it all.

[@chriscastillo4275]

Hanks with a career day (in one of the most significant games in his career) and Ricky Jackson w/a solid second place trophy on the day. He smoked Emmitt just before half. Looked to me like he put his lights out but they said shoulder. Probably was but he wasn’t movie a bit for a good minute

[@artytoons]

2:14:45 Dad McCaffrey with the onside kick recovery.

[@bpredric5484]

As a young Niners fan this game meant a LOT! They finally beat the Cowboys!

[@GELOCARMELLO]

My guys beat the cowgirls in the 80s too do u mean with the specific players at this time?

[@jamesroberts1810]

This victory Gave sf confidence for the championship game !!

[@bpredric5484]

@@GELOCARMELLO I was too young to know that at the time. That particularly team had trouble with them.

[@bijoubijoux5185]

What an iconic game

[@bijoubijoux5185]

This was like the 90s era's version of the catch game all over again. A changing of the guard.

[@sobaze]

Bar None William Floyd takes over the game and gives the team and the stadium the confidence and the intimidating presence they needed. Shame what happened to him. He was a huge part of that Championship run.

[@TownBizz-r1d]

What happened ta him??

[@sergeontheloose]

@@TownBizz-r1d Short career. Torn ligaments the next year he played for the 49ers after they won a Superbowl.

[@battlestarmarc]

Great rivalry in the 90's. Miss apex Dallas merchandise. Turnovers were the key in this rivalry.

[@baerhomburg6447]

The caption at the Dallas Morning News Sportsday read, "Turnover at the Top".

[@chriscastillo4275]

Ricky Jackson had a great game. He very well might’ve had the biggest play when he shot in and leveled Emmitt. He came back but wasn’t hitting the holes the same. Def would’ve been a tent visit in 2024

[@tolbosama]

1:48:44 give me a size 94 😂. Never heard Pat laugh like that .

[@Nflguy4949]

4 years later Haley resigned with SF for the playoffs (his first game back with SF was the Niners playoff win over Packers). He played the following season with SF as well.

[@kidmack3556]

I'd forgotten about that.

[@chriscastillo4275]

I was glad to see him return and even (way more) happier to see he’s addressed his issues mentally and seems be a mentally healthy, quite jovial, person now. He was incredible on the field. And even when he wasn’t in the best shape mentally he was still an all time competitor. You’ll never see a game where he took a play off. Always the most passionate player on the field.

[@kidmack3556]

@chriscastillo4275 I remember seeing that even though he left on a really bad note and was exiled to Dallas, he still made The Chronicle's All-Time Forty Niner team in the reader's poll.

[@chriscastillo4275]

@@kidmack3556 even if they were still bitter about his antics it was the right thing to do (his inclusion into the all niner team) Had he stayed I feel like they might’ve gotten 1 or even 2 more rings.

[@brianrolle42]

As a Cowboy fan I actually enjoyed this game although we lost. This showed to me how close these teams were and how next level they were to the rest of the NFL. We all knew whoever won these matchups would be the champion. #ITWAS PASS INTERFERENCE 😂😂😂😂😂

[@leeshackelford7517]

Im 58 and a lifelong 49er fan. Win or lose, every time we faced your Cowboys it was expected to be tooth and claws Blowouts or such were surprises, not the rule

[@Jerry-tv4bg]

Merton hanks was mvp of this game

[@rhmayer1]

Two deep red zone INT's after long drives by Dallas, right at the goal line. That's a knife in the heart. Twice. Merton Hanks best game.

[@cantona57]

Quite possibly the best game I've ever seen. It had everything. The first quarter Dallas gave up three turnovers. Then Dallas come roaring back in the second, only for Steve Young to find Jerry Rice at the end of the quarter. Dallas come on strong in the third, only for Young to tumble in for a late touchdown,then there was the debatable call between Dion and Michael......... and through it all Aikman kept getting back up, no matter how many times he was stomped into the mud. The bravest man on the field that day,and I say this as a 49er fan

[@faisalshab1]

That was an unbelievable game and Aikman was such a warrior that day. However, this isn't that game. This is the regular season matchup in week 11 at Candlestick; that was the NFC Championship game.

[@andycruz7403]

When referees hardly called penalties. Just the raiders always committed fouls.

[@sobaze]

Wrong game. This is the regular season game that year. Not the Championship game.

[@TL2354]

Way to let everyone know that you don't have a clue

[@TL2354]

@@andycruz7403 What about the other officials on the field?

[@KingJaymo2k11]

05:00-05:10 if there’s any question why we have instant replay nowadays

[@TownBizz-r1d]

One a da best games ever!! From an Oakland Raiders fan but not till 95

[@kristianacevedo8193]

Amazing how SF took a 40-8 loss at home vs. Philly earlier at Candlestick to convert it to a regular season win vs. Cowboys, the NFC Championship vs. Dallas and Super Bowl 29 Victory.

[@jackduncan5442]

This is basically the 1994 Pro Bowl.

[@ALastShotonTwoGoodHorses]

22 players, 11 on each team were all-pro this year.

[@jackduncan5442]

@ManintheBlackHat Not only did these teams have a dozen all pros and about 20 pro bowlers each, neither team had a weakness. No liability. The Cowboys' worst starter arguably was Larry Brown, Superbowl 30 MVP. The 49ers worst starter was probably Toi Cook. Who was a solid player.

[@redmustangredmustang]

Everyone knew this game was essentially even though it was earlier would be crucial for home field advantage. The 49ers put EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING into this season because they signed a lot of these free agents on one or two year deals. They had to go out and get players like Gary Plummer, Bart Oates, Ricky Jackson, even stole Ken Norton Jr away. But the crown jewel was Deion Sanders. providing that shutdown corner. Either way, the 49ers defense played Dallas tough and even got that interception, but this gave the 49ers a bunch of confidence that they could hang with the Cowboys and win. For the Cowboys, without Jimmy they made stupid mistakes that the usually didn't make especially when it came to the NFC championship. I promise you this, if Jimmy was coaching, the Cowboys would not have gone down 21-0 after 3 possessions in the NFC championship game.

[@anthonygonzalez9422]

4:38 Insane what fans had to deal with before instant replay. 44:58 Deion Sanders 'aint afraid of contact.

[@donovanwilson1039]

Key Plays: 10:35 SF: Young 25-yd rush 20:10 SF: Sanders 3-yd INT ret 24:55 DAL: Harper 90-yd rec from Aikman 25:50 DAL: Smith 4-yd rush TD 34:15 SF: Young 15-yd rush 37:30 SF: Young 1-yd rush TD 48:25 SF: Hanks 6-yd INT ret 1:06:05 DAL: Boniol missed 43-yd FG 1:29:10 SF: Rice 57-yd rec TD from Young 1:40:30 DAL: Novacek 19-yd rec from Aikman 1:49:45 DAL: Harper 37-yd rec from Aikman 1:52:40 SF: Hanks 13-yd INT ret 1:58:05 SF: Watters 17-yd rec from Young 2:01:40 SF: Taylor 32-yd rec from Young 2:04:30 SF: Jones 13-yd rec TD from Young 2:09:55 DAL: Williams 26-yd rec from Aikman 2:12:40 DAL: Smith 2-yd rush TD Key Stats: DAL: Troy Aikman 23/42 pass, 339 yds, 3 INT Emmitt Smith 26 car, 78 rush yds, 2 TD, 6 rec, 32 rec yds Alvin Harper 3 rec, 136 yds Michael Irvin 8 rec (11 targets), 94 yds Jay Novacek 5 rec (10 targets), 51 yds Leon Lett 2 sacks SF: Steve Young 12/21 pass, 183 pass yds, 2 TD, 8 car, 60 rush yds, 1 TD Ricky Watters 17 car, 65 rush yds, 4 rec, 32 rec yds Jerry Rice 5 rec, 93 rec yds, 1 TD, 1 car, 11 rush yds Merton Hanks 2 INT

[@christopherking4932]

Awesome video.

[@chriscastillo4275]

I’ve come to really not like the guy, and I’ll agree tackling was certainly not his strong pt by any means. But credit where it’s due, go to 45:00, Irvin takes an absolute SHOT by Deion. With his speed if he were of the same disposition as, say, Lott was he could’ve had some pretty amazing tackling highlights.

[@jplaya2023]

This is when ww turned the tables against those damn cowboys. Merton hanks a beast

[@leeshackelford7517]

Egads ....sheer stupidity From The Catch game till this time PLENTY of wins by our Niners vs Dallas...and some hard loses...but always worth watching

[@TownBizz-r1d]

Tha old school Candlestick Hunters POINT SF

[@kidmack3556]

"Double Rock"

[@Nflguy4949]

Anyone else think NFL+ should include games from the 90’s.

[@chriscastillo4275]

I don’t understand why stuff like this isn’t constant at the very least filler programming for NFL network. Maybe there’s licensing reasons w/networks that originally aired? There’s just so many great games I’m thankful many are on KZbin. There’s one I think it’s Buffalo Cleveland Jan 1990 (so 89 season?) I’ve watched a few times. One of the best games I’ve ever seen. Literally comes down to the last play.

[@tracybethune200]

CANT TELL ME AIKMAN DIDNT HAVE A STRONG AND ACCURATE ARM

[@TownBizz-r1d]

If it wasn't fa Prime dey woulda lost diss season

[@steelermia]

5:01 not even 3 minutes in and the refs already with the shenanigans .. how do you figure that's incomplete ? that's a pick obviously smh

[@kidmack3556]

NFC East almost always had to cheat in these grudge games against the Forty Niners.

[@rhmayer1]

Made absolutely no sense. The ball CLEARLY never touched the ground. How could it possibly be incomplete??

[@stevekov6740]

2:15:08 He'd be remembered as a star with the Broncos, this was Ed McCaffrey's biggest play as a 49er. I know he had a couple of touchdowns there but this recovery is why SF earned homefield in the playoffs that year.

[@jamespera808]

In the 1990s 49ers 5 wins Cowboys 4 wins From 92-94 3-3 and then 96-97 49ers 1 (97) Cowboys 1 (96)…..

[@jplaya2023]

I have nightmares about alvin harper. After that 90 yarder prime had to be on harper and we just.doubled playmaker

[@bijoubijoux5185]

What an iconic game

[@illrational44]

Frank Calindeo. . . . You are spot on with the John Madden "word salads" and mannerisms. I can't stop laughing when I watch these videos now. Comic gold. RIP John. Madden and Pat Summerall

[@BC16808]

John madden and pat summerall. Who is better 🤔

[@e93sports80]

Hope you're doing okay

[@michaeldubin8220]

What a terrible call at 5:00!

[@curtisalvin]

Right??!! Hanks should’ve had 3 interceptions this game. Yikes!

[@plainsimple244]

I'll never forget when I saw that game live and Harper caught that pass, I was yelling, 'Them Cowboys break your heart!...Damn!'.... That showed me right there the Cowboys could beat the 49ers easily... then those stupid mistakes, I didn't believe it, Dallas should have won that game 30-21 without those mistakes: the lack of discipline showed without Jimmy.

[@ricardolozano5356]

Aikmans interceptions

[@plainsimple244]

@@ricardolozano5356 Yeah, he didn't play well in this game... they said he had an injured hand, as was Harper injured wasn't going to play -- they said he was out for the year...but I don't think the Cowboys disclosed Aikman's injury in enough time... that was an entire situation if you go back and read ... probably why they lost this game?

[@ricardolozano5356]

@@plainsimple244 if he was injured they should have tried to use Jason Garrett

[@adedamolaodutayo2757]

Lol, 49ers force those turnover

[@plainsimple244]

@@adedamolaodutayo2757 Well, that's what I'm saying about the turnovers, you spot a team 21 points through turnovers -- you saw a casual attitude from Dallas, it takes a team to be careless to fold that easy in that situation -- you don't play that careless in a game like that -- they never played that reckless prior to that at all.

[@jakestone2591]

Must see t.v

[@TownBizz-r1d]

I thought dis was da championship game??

[@donteoliver8947]

Steve Young played terrible in this game😮😮😮

[@rhmayer1]

Dunno about that. He made some great runs. And he made a few great passes - on the rare occasion when the pocket didn't collapse. The pass pro was challenged by I think the best pass rush in the league at the time. You can't really dump on Young. He kept his cool and didn't spiral down. I think he was excellent considering the respectable competition with continuous high pressure.

[@ALastShotonTwoGoodHorses]

Stat wise, you’re correct. However, Steve played solid in both games. Steve didn’t turn the ball over. It was a safe game plan. The Bills and Steelers were turnover machines vs Dallas in Super Bowl XXVII, XXVIII and Super Bowl. XXX.

[@jackduncan5442]

You also have to understand that the Dallas Defense was VERY GOOD. Lightning fast as well, elite secondary, ferocious pass rush and cat quick linebackers. They had the number 1 defense in 1994 for a reason.

[@ALastShotonTwoGoodHorses]

@@jackduncan5442 The 1994 Cowboys were just as good as their 1992-1993 teams. Emmitt Smith was battling that hamstring late in the year and that hampered him in the NFC championship game. San Francisco signed many key players to get them over Dallas. Yet, Dallas was the better team for most of the 1994 season NFL championship game. Had Dallas not of turned the ball over three times in the first quarter and fell asleep right before halftime, Dallas wins that game 28-10.

[@marshalmagooo3899]

Steve did a great job of managing the offense this game

[@aloominknottyheadtap900]

2:01:38

[@teddyt]

erik williams doesn't have that car accident... it's a wrap and 3 peat.

[@s.tavares3257]

Idk about that.

[@dumisatonyjohnson8145]

@@s.tavares3257 It isn’t too far fetch Considering he held Reggie White to 0 sacks in the 1992 playoffs 1993 playoffs 1994 playoffs & the 1995 playoffs Williams was one of the better pro bowl caliber left tackles in football from 1992-93 prior to the accident

[@kennylopezjeetkunedo5555]

They still beat Dallas. San Fran had too many weapons this year for Dallas to beat them. Their defense could match Dallas offense. Dallas was the second best team this year and even with Erik Williams, they still would of been the second best team. Nothing they did was gonna help them beat the 49ers this year.

[@danyluk1]

Not so fast

[@neal6473]

@@kennylopezjeetkunedo5555 That's right.

[@mikelowery6227]

Steve Young is the textbook definition of a system qb. On any other team, he was and would have been trash. That system made average qbs Excell. Montana was different though, he was a winner. Really, the best ever.

[@marshalmagooo3899]

Montana was a systems QB. Walk arm, slight. He was a Walsh protege of West Coast offense like Ken Anderson etc. Young would have won as many SBs

[@mikelowery6227]

@marshalmagooo3899 lol yeah yeah. Young got his ass handed to him. "On any other team". See Youngs 2 years in Tampa Bay.

[@marshalmagooo3899]

@@mikelowery6227 Montana would have done worse. ,, Tampa was the worst team in the NFL.. There was NO free agency or salary cap when Young was SF QB... Let that sink in... Joe never lost players in his time

[@ntgr87]

well and without the Walker and Haley trades, Aikman is just another random 90s Pro Bowler. see I can say random shit too nah but 1:52:43 was a solid throw

[@leeshackelford7517]

Lol..,true BS. He could throw ACCURATELY..... HOW MANY games did you see large number of completions in a row?/ He could THROW...and his running helped keep defenses honest