San Francisco continues dreaming in search of their sixth Super Bowl ring, while Dallas will continue with their drought. The 49ers suffered, but defeated the Dallas Cowboys 19-12, which gave them a ticket to the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.

The 49ers advance to the National Conference Final for the third time in four years, while the Dallas Cowboys close their season bitterly, reaching 27 years without advancing to said instance and consequently, playing on Super Sunday.

Defenses, the protagonists

It was not the most explosive game, but a dramatic one, thanks to the defenses. After two punts, San Francisco struck first when Deommodore Lenoir intercepted Dak Prescott and left his team at the Dallas' 21-yard line. But the defense resisted and the 49ers, stopped at the opponent's 8-yard line, settled for a 26-yard field goal by Robbie Gould.

The third possession was the charm for Dallas, which took the lead on the scoreboard after consuming seven minutes and ending with a Prescott four-yard pass to Dalton Schultz; but they only got six points because Samson Ebukam blocked the extra point attempt by Brett Maher, who missed four out of five attempts last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The 49ers wasted no time in tying the game, entering Cowboys territory, but penalties spoiled their offensive rhythm and Gould had to come in to convert the 47-yard field goal. Dallas missed a valuable opportunity when Prescott looked for CeeDee Lamb, but Jimmie Ward deflected the ball and Fred Warner intercepted it. However, Brock Purdy couldn't bring his team closer and Gould scored his third of the night for the 49ers to go into halftime with a 9-6 lead.

The game tightened again when the Cowboys punted and Ray-Ray McLoud III ran four yards before Kelvin Joseph hit the ball and Damone Clark recovered it, leaving Dallas at their opponent's 17-yard line. The Star did not take advantage of their defensive gift and stalled at the 7-yard line, so Maher tied the game again with a 25-yard field goal.

San Francisco got back in the game after a 30-yard pass from Purdy to George Kittle, who managed to hold onto the ball after juggling it between his hands and his helmet. Dallas penalties kept the 49ers' offense alive, and they scored their first touchdown early in the fourth quarter with a two-yard carry by Christian McCaffrey.

Maher brought Dallas closer with a successful 43-yard attempt. San Francisco wore down the Texans' defense, but did not overcome it, and only added three points through Gould (28 yards).

With one possession in the final seconds, a key pass from Prescott to Schultz was incomplete and the clock ran out with a pass to the center with KaVontae Turpin. It's still not the year for the Dallas Cowboys.