The San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys are set to meet in the playoffs for the second consecutive season after the former defeated the latter 23-17 in the NFC Wildcard round in 2021.
This time, the two teams are meeting in the NFC Divisional Round, while playing at Levi's Stadium, although it's clear that the energy between the sides will be similar.
Speaking to reporters earlier this week, quarterback Dak Prescott did not shy away from acknowledging that he and the Cowboys wanted to play the 49ers after their loss last season.
"Most definitely I [wanted the 49ers]. I think this whole team did. Obviously, using that loss last year as a motivation," Prescott said. "The focal point of the resiliency that we carried into the offseason obviously carried into this year. We get a chance to go back at their place and do something that we wanted to do."
Even prior to their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Prescott admitted that the loss was still on his mind as motivation for 2022.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott on if the playoff loss to 49ers last year is still on team's mind as motivation: "Damn right. Damn right. And obviously, after a game like last week, that helps remind you." pic.twitter.com/YWg81HDtQK
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) January 13, 2023
His fellow teammates have reciprocated the same feeling.
Cowboys guard Zack Martin admitted that the 49ers got the better hand in 2021, while acknowledging that it would be a physical matchup.
"It's no surprise... they got after us pretty good last year," Martin said. "[The 49ers] do a great job of coming off the ball and really trying to set a tone for the game, and I think that's something that we like to do, too. So it's going to be a physical game, and we've got to come out ready to play from the first snap."
After having just one catch against the 49ers in their playoff bout in 2021, wide receiver Ceedee Lamb is looking to improve, understanding that he fell short as well last season.
"I feel like I could be more impactful this year for sure, but [the wildcard game] definitely wasn't one of my best performances," Lamb said. "I grew a lot, just from learning and seeing a lot of things in that last game, and as far as [how I felt at the end] of the game. I felt terrible, obviously, because we lost, but I wasn't productive enough."
The two teams will battle on Sunday, with physicality likely playing a factor in the outcome as it did in 2021.