NFC Championship, 1971: Dallas 14 San Francisco 3

Game information
This was a rematch of the first NFC Championship Game played the previous season in San Francisco. Prior to 1975, the NFL rotated hosting rights of playoff games between divisions, and the NFC East champion Cowboys had the right to host the 1971 title game. It was the fourth title game played by the Cowboys, and the 49ers' second title game appearance as an NFL team after the preceding season's game.

Dallas won the NFC East with an 11–3 record and defeated the NFC Central champion Minnesota Vikings 20–12 at Metropolitan Stadium in the Divisional Round to advance to the NFC Championship game. San Francisco won the NFC West with a 9–5 record and defeated the NFC East runner-up Washington Redskins 24–20 at Candlestick Park in the Divisional Round to reach the NFC title game. This was also the Cowboys' first season at the brand new Texas Stadium in the Dallas suburb of Irving. Since the Cowboys were on the road for the Divisional Round, the title game in San Francisco was the first NFL playoff game at Texas Stadium. Both teams played on artificial turf in their home stadiums. The 49ers moved to an expanded Candlestick Park in 1971, which had artificial turf from 1970 through 1978.

As was the case in 1970, the teams did not meet in the regular season, thus their most recent game was Dallas' win in the 1970 NFC title game, the final NFL game at Kezar Stadium. Their most recent regular season game, in 1969 on Thanksgiving at the Cotton Bowl, ended in a 24–24 tie.

In the first playoff game at Texas Stadium, the Cowboys' defense dominated the 49ers' offense, allowing only 61 rushing yards, nine first downs, and forcing three interceptions.

Scoreless into the second quarter, veteran Dallas defensive end George Andrie intercepted a screen pass from John Brodie and returned it seven yards to the 49ers' two to set up Calvin Hill's one-yard touchdown run. This was the only score of the game until the middle of the third quarter, when Brodie's 24-yard completion to tight end Ted Kwalick set up Bruce Gossett's 28-yard field goal.

Following a missed 47-yard field goal by Gossett on San Francisco's next drive, Dallas QB Roger Staubach finished the quarter with a 17-yard completion to halfback Dan Reeves. Then he started off the fourth with a 23-yard pass to tight end Billy Truax. Duane Thomas completed the 14-play, 80-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run for a 14–3 lead, and the final score.

With nine minutes left in regulation, the Dallas defense took over the rest of the game, forcing turnovers on San Francisco's last three drives. First, linebacker Chuck Howley broke up a 4th down pass. Then on San Francisco's next possession, Brodie was intercepted by linebacker Lee Roy Jordan. Finally, after Mike Clark's 24-yard field goal attempt was blocked by 49ers linebacker Frank Nunley, safety Cliff Harris picked off a pass from Brodie that enabled Dallas to run out the clock.

After the game, Dallas received a visit in the locker room from former President Lyndon Johnson, who told Staubach, "You're the best. They should rename this place Staubach stadium."

This was the second postseason meeting between the 49ers and Cowboys, with Dallas winning both.

The NFC champion Cowboys made their second consecutive Super Bowl appearance. Dallas defeated the Miami Dolphins of the American Football Conference 24–3 in Super Bowl VI at New Orleans to win their first Super Bowl.

The Cowboys made two more consecutive appearances in the NFC title game, but lost both, to the Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings. After a one-year absence from the title game (and playoffs), the Cowboys captured their second NFC championship in 1975.

The 49ers lost again to the Cowboys the following year in the playoffs, this time in the Divisional Round. San Francisco did not return to the postseason until 1981, when they finally beat Dallas in the NFC title game en route to their first Super Bowl appearance and victory.

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