Dallas Cowboys' Mike McCarthy: 'You Live for This!' 49ers 'Not Just Another Game'

Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy admitted that this week's game against the rival San Francisco 49ers is not "just another game," but he stressed the need for "balance" in preparation for it.

It's not quite at the level of the mid-1990s, but Sunday night's matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers could have a massive impact on the race for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Dallas currently sits with a 3-1 record, the lone blemish coming on the road in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals. San Francisco is a perfect 4-0, and if you believe the latest NFL power rankings, these are two of the top three teams in the NFC, along with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Throw in the fact that the 49ers have ended the Cowboys' season in back-to-back years, and this early-season meeting holds a lot of marbles, both emotionally and practically.

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy knows this. He knows that his team has succumbed to the Niners in the postseason, and he knows that many Cowboys fans remember the battles of the 90s where a meeting between these two franchises often resulted in a Super Bowl berth for the victor.

Now, even in Week 5 of the regular season, he knows that Sunday's game is crucial.

Jan 17, 1993; San Francisco, CA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman (8) scrambles under pressure from San Francisco 49ers defensive end Kevin Fagan (75) during the 1992 NFC Championship game at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Peter Brouillet-USA TODAY NETWORK

"I think it's like anything: you always want to be in balance," McCarthy said. "It's obviously an important game. You understand the history, and there's obviously a lot of tradition with this game. It's all part of it. You live to play in these kinds of games. You don't want to make it bigger than it is, but the reality is that it's not just another game."

Multiple Cowboys players (and even team owner Jerry Jones) have referenced the "chip-on-the-shoulder" mentality they are carrying into this road matchup with San Fran. After Dallas' head-scratching loss to the Cardinals in Week 3, that same mentality helped the Cowboys dominate the New England Patriots last weekend.

McCarthy hopes to see his team use it to their advantage again this week.

Jan 22, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) runs during the second quarter of a NFC divisional round game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

"Self-motivation going into [last Sunday's] contest was there after the week we had," McCarthy said. "Important thing is for us to learn, which we took this morning to go through it. There's a number of things we can improve on. 

"Watching [San Francisco's] tape, they're playing very well. I've been very impressed so far, for what I've seen. Just keep your eye on the target."

The target? Escaping Santa Clara with a win on Sunday night and handing the mighty 49ers their first loss of the season. That would go a long way in fixing the "bad taste" left in the mouths of Cowboys fans and players alike after the last two seasons.