As the Dallas Cowboys prepare for their wild-card game against the San Francisco 49ers in the 2022 NFL Playoffs, their renowned defense will have to make a stand for what should be a brutal clash with the 49ers’ offensive line. One notable Cowboy who seems unfazed about the challenge is stellar rookie defender Micah Parsons.
When asked about the Cowboys’ so-called ‘bully ball’ style of football, Parsons remarked that such a strategy would swamp them, despite the fact that they approach the playoffs having won five of their last six matches.
“I’m from Harrisburg, where the bullies get bullied,” Parsons stated, according to The Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken. “There’s a bully in every gym. … At one point, it’s going to take somebody to stand up and fight. I ain’t ever back down from a challenge.”
Cowboys LB Micah Parsons was told the 49ers offense likes to play “bully ball. Parsons: “I’m from Harrisburg where the bullies get bullied. There’s a bully in every gym. …At one point, it’s going to take somebody to stand up and fight. I ain’t ever back down from a challenge.”
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) January 12, 2022
Parson isn’t afraid to go to the mat if that’s how the Niners want to do things, and despite being a newbie, Parson has repeatedly proven again that he’s one of the league’s fiercest defenders. He has had a season deserving of recognition for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, albeit a rookie linebacker.
The 6-foot-3, 245-pounder will see his first NFL playoff game shortly. And standing in their way is a 49ers team that wore down a Los Angeles Rams squad headed by a fellow Keystone State linebacker in Aaron Donald, who rushed for 135 yards. Donald was also kept to zero sacks as the 49ers won 27-24 on the road to seal their postseason position.
Parsons was back to business after being released off of the COVID-19/Reserve list. When speaking with the press about the forthcoming game, Parsons exhibited his usual optimism.
The 49ers have won seven of their last nine games before the playoffs, earning 158 running yards and 4.5 yards per carry. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are 16th in the league in rushing yards allowed per game (111.3) and sixth in points allowed this season (21.1).
Parsons, the 12th overall choice in the 2021 selection, is the strong contender to win Defensive Rookie of the Year this year. The 22-year-old had 13 sacks, 84 tackles, three forced fumbles, and 20 tackles for loss in a total of 16 games.
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— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 13, 2022
History repeats itself
San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys’ last match was during the 1994-95 season NFC conference title game. The Cowboys raced to a 38-21 victory over the Niners.
However, what made it more or less remarkable was more than simply a slew of future Hall of Famers on both sides as the clubs competed for NFC supremacy.
On the eve of the title game, former Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson provoked ex-49ers head coach George Seifert with a daring statement, prompting Seifert to say, “Well, the man’s got balls, I’ll tell you that,” the Los Angeles Times quoted before the title fight.
The following year, All-Pro Cowboys’ Michael Irvin predicted that Dallas would send home the 49ers at Candlestick Park. The 49ers, on the other hand, took revenge on them from the previous two NFC Championship games, thus winning 38-28.