Unlike the ‘90s, 49ers-Cowboys matchup lacks appeal

By Adam Sweeney  |   Thursday, November 20, 2008  |  Comments( 1 )

San Francisco 49ers
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I am fresh out of college, so maybe it is a bit too soon for me to start getting nostalgic, but there have been a few moments this week where I wanted to sit my friends' kids on my knee and say, "When I was your age, the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys were fighting each other for a right to play in the Super Bowl!"

Commentary: You almost have to turn on the NFL Network or ESPN Classic to remember that these two teams once set the bar in terms of excellence for the league. I'm not the only one who has forgotten the greatness of these two franchises. It appears that both teams are fighting against the dying of the luxury-box light to matter in the NFL.

No, I didn't get to see Dwight Clark catch the impossibly high throw from Joe Montana in the 1981 NFC championship game, but I do remember Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin and Troy Aikman taking the torch from the 49ers in the 1992 season. I also recall linebacker Ken Norton Jr. flipping the script as the 49ers beat down the Cowboys in the 1995 NFC title match. Of course, Jerry Jones knocked the wind out of the San Francisco sails a year later by grabbing Deion Sanders.

You see what I mean? It was the '90s equivalent of the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. Now look at the 49ers and Cowboys matchup this weekend. Will anyone even be thinking about Jerry Rice when they see Isaac Bruce run an out route? The 49ers-Cowboys rivalry has come a long way from what it once was, and that's a sad thing to behold.

Fan Pulse: The season isn't officially over, but some 49ers fans are already addressing the team's roster needs for 2009.

Fantasy Football Watch: Maybe head coach Mike Singletary knocked some sense into tight end Vernon Davis. The potential stud has caught two touchdowns since being sent to the showers for insubordination in his team's Week 8 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Injury Watch: WR Josh Morgan is questionable for Sunday's game with a groin injury.
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About Adam Sweeney

Adam Sweeney spent 4 years as an opinions and arts & entertainment columnist with the Lone Star Lutheran, also working with Sports Illustrated.com. Along with his work on Realfootball 365 he currently is a contributor for Film School Rejects, SLAM Online, Talkhoops.net, and C-Heads ...
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