Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco: What Are the 49ers Saying About Week 5 Showdown?

The San Francisco 49ers aren't letting the hype of this week's game against the Dallas Cowboys distract them from their preparation.

Thankfully, the game of the week is in primetime. It would be a disservice to football fans everywhere for it not to be the "Sunday Night Football" matchup on NBC.

While head coach Mike McCarthy acknowledged that there are higher implications for the Dallas Cowboys' game this week, those on the San Francisco 49ers downplayed the notion that they were overlooking the Arizona Cardinals and instead peeking ahead at Sunday's 7:20 p.m. showdown.

"Not at all. I wasn't thinking about [the Cowboys]," 49ers linebacker Fred Warner said after their 35-16 demolition of the Cardinals Sunday. "I know our team was locked in on the Cardinals all the way through, especially with them coming off a big win against the Cowboys. So, we weren't looking ahead at all."

Dallas hasn't beaten San Francisco since Dec. 20, 2020 — a 41-33 thriller in which former Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton threw for two touchdowns while running back Tony Pollard scored twice on the ground as well.

The past two meetings have come on a much bigger stage than a Week 15 matchup between two teams that had losing records. Instead, the Cowboys and 49ers have met in the playoffs — both of which has been won by San Francisco.

"Any time you have a Sunday night game it's always bigger," Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan said. "Sunday night, Monday night, Thursday night - there is always a little more excitement in the building knowing everyone's watching you. I have a lot of respect for the Cowboys and how good of a team they are. We know the challenge that we have in front of us, and we're aware of the rivalry and the history, which is always cool. But, besides that, it's Week 5."

Sure, but it's bigger than that ... and everybody knows it, down deep.

"It's a big game. They're a good team, and they bring it every time we see it in the playoffs the past two years," Niners defensive lineman Nick Bosa said. "It's a big game, but you also don't want to make it too big because it's just another regular-season game."

To the Cowboys? That playoff history has left a bad taste in Dallas' mouth, and the thought of revenge will certainly serve as fuel.

"You just want to piss me off going into this week," quarterback Dak Prescott said when asked to describe what it felt like to lose the 49ers last January. "I appreciate that. I do, actually. I do. Appreciate that."

San Francisco has had the taste of victory, but that hasn't meant any complacency despite its 4-0 start.

"I think coach (Kyle Shanahan) did a good job trying to keep us in the moment, keep us present because the team last week played this team that we just played," wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. "Just keeping us on track, keeping us focused on this week. And we attack this week and can't wait to enjoy this [win], then worry about who we got coming up out here next Sunday."