Clarence Hill: The Dallas Cowboys wanted rematch vs. 49ers. What must they do to win?

There is an old adage: Be careful what you ask for because you just might got it.

Ever since the San Francisco 49ers knocked the Dallas Cowboys out of the playoffs last year, a rematch has been on the minds of quarterback Dak Prescott and his cohorts.

Their bitter disappointment drove them throughout the offseason and it was the foundation of the motivation they used to drive them in 2022.

After beating the Tampa Bay Bucccaneers in the wildcards playoffs, the Cowboys are getting exactly what they wanted: Sunday’s NFC Divisional Playoff matchup against the 49ers for the right to go to the conference title game and move one step closer to the Super Bowl.

“Most definitely, I [wanted the rematch],” Prescott said “I think this whole team did. Obviously, using that loss last year as a motivation and just kind of the focal point of the resiliency that we carried into the offseason, [that we] carried into this year.

“Yeah, we get a chance to go back and at their place, do something that we want to do.”

From the locker room to the coaching staff, the Cowboys are juiced about getting a chance at redemption and taking another step toward the goal of reaching the Super Bowl.

“I think we’re all excited about it,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “There’s no question. When the season ends the way it did, I think that’s natural. That’s all part of the competitive spirit in our game. I think just like anything, where we want to go, these are the games you have to win. These are the teams that you have to beat. That’s really what we’re focused on.

“We’re all going through the cut-ups and that game will be part of the cut-ups so yeah, that’ll resonate with our guys. I think that’s all natural.”

The Cowboys say they didn’t play their best football against the 49ers last year. They were nervous to open the game. They fell behind 23-7. They committed a litany of penalties and then saw their comeback come up short when the clock ran out on Prescott in the 23-17 setback.

Said linebacker Micah Parsons: “I really think we beat ourselves last year with the penalties, the offsides, things like that. If you just play your game — the biggest misconception is that you have to go out there and be different, that you have to go out there and try to out-physical a team, that you want to play their game.

“Why play their game? Play your game. Let’s play Dallas football. That’s all we got to do.”

This is not the same 49ers team of a year ago. They are better with the addition of running back Christian McCaffrey. And they are hottest team in the league, riding an 11-game winning streak.

But the Cowboys also not the same team from last year. The defense is much improved.

And the Cowboys are better mentally and psychologically, partly because of last year’s shared experience.

“Just think it’s a different team. Much more mature team, much more connected. Better brotherhood and culture,” Prescott said. “A lot of carryover in roster and coaches that allows us to use that last year experience not only just in this game, but just throughout the season as we’ve the built the foundation that we’ve created. And now we can lean on that as we as we move forward and go into this game.”

Clarence Hill: What the Cowboys must do to win

Dak Prescott must be the difference maker at quarterback

At age 29, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is the oldest quarterback left in the playoffs.

And he’s also the most experienced quarterback left in postseason in the NFC.

That should count for something and mean something for Prescott and the Cowboys, who need their franchise quarterback to be a difference maker in what could be a journey to the Super Bowl.

Prescott had his complete game on display against the 49ers last week when he passed for four touchdowns and ran for another.

He is the only quarterback in NFL history with a passing and rushing touchdown in four straight playoff games.

His ability to make plays with his arm and his legs will be key to the Cowboys success against the 49ers.

Prescott was purposely conservative with his quarterback runs during the regular season but there will be no holding him back now.

“I’m down to run,” Prescott said. “As I’ve always told y’all, this thing is about the risk versus reward. And I told you as we got into the late part in the season and the playoffs, if I’ve got to run it more than I did last week, 15 times or whatever, I’m going to run the ball. I enjoy running the ball. It’s part of it. I’ve just got to be careful about being physical and just be smart with it.”

Tyler Smith faces another tough test

There is arguably no better story on the Cowboys than rookie left tackle Tyler Smith, who was drafted in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Tulsa to be the future replacement for eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith.

Tyler Smith was supposed to open the season at left guard but that was moved to left tackle with Tyron Smith suffered a torn hamstring in training camp. Tyler Smith then started the next 16 games at left tackle. But when center Tyler Biadasz suffered an ankle injury in Week 17, left guard Connor McGoven moved to center and Tyler Smith moved to left guard for the season final and opened the playoff game at left guard with veteran Jason Peters at left tackle.

Of course, Peters was injured against the Buccaneers, forcing Tyler Smith back to left tackle and McGovern back to left guard.

And now Tyler Smith faces his biggest challenge of the season in trying to contain 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is what is the biggest game of the season.

“He’s a baller. He’s a baller and a mauler,” quarterback Dak Prescott said of Tyler Smith. “Strong as hell. I didn’t realize, truthfully, that the guy was just 21 years old. I knew he was young, but to just be 21 and playing the way he’s playing is so, so impressive. To be able to go, even last game starting at guard and then moving over to tackle and not missing a beat. I think it shows his commitment — his commitment to this team, his commitment to his job to do whatever it takes, whatever task is given to him.

“I’m confident with him going into this game. He’s one of those guys, I told y’all at the beginning of the year — you’ve just got to let him go to play and see what happens. Now we’ve all seen it.”

Prescott said Tyler Smith’s physicality will be huge going against Bosa and the 49ers.

“Obviously, a physical team, understanding they want to get to you with their pass rush,” Prescott said. “Just having a guy and honestly not just him but just a young guy you’d maybe think hey we can attack the young guy and I don’t think that’s the case with a guy like that (Tyler) who’s a mauler, who’s a fighter, who’s going to play his tail off and be prepared.”

Cowboys must tackle well

The Cowboys defense has one primary goal on Sunday. They must stop the run and they must tackle running back Christian McCaffery and receiver Deebo Samuel.

That is the focus of the front seven but it also must a priority outside, especially with cornerback Trevon Diggs, which struggled with tackling last week against the Buccaneers.

The 49ers will likely go after Diggs with some edge runs. They Cowboys know it and have talked him this week about being more physical in the run game.

Once the Cowboys stop the run, they can force rookie quarterback Brody Purdy to beat them with his arm. They want to affect the quarterback with hits, sacks and changing schemes.

They want to make Purdy finally look like a rookie.

“There’s a lot of things that have to go into this game for us to play well, that have to be our ability to create takeaways,” defensive coordinator Dan Quinn said. “We can do that, which we’ve got a knack for being able to do. That’s one. The second thing is you’d better be really good tacklers. Do you have to affect the quarterback? Every damn game. We’ve got to do that because that’s part of who we are and how we get it on. And really just play to our style. I’d imagine if we do that, we’ll let the results take care of themselves. We’ve put the work in, so we’re ready to get it on.”

Cowboys putting trust in kicker Brett Maher

The Cowboys are saying all the right things about kicker Brett Maher.

They trust him. They believe in him.

And they are hoping he returns to being seemingly Mr. Automatic as he was in the regular season when he made 50 of 53 extra points and 29 of 32 field goals.

But the Cowboys don’t know for sure, not after Maher missed four extra points in the 31-14 wildcard victory over the Buccaneers. Special teams coach John Fassel described it as “the yips.”

Maher has kicked well in practice this week. But he also kicked well before the Buccaneers game.

The stakes will be much higher and the conditions will be much worse against the 49ers because of the swirling winds and the grass field at Levi’s Stadium.

Leave it to running back Ezekiel Elliott to sum it up best.

“We got faith in him. We’re not going to turn our back on him. Last week, we didn’t really need him, but this week we probably will, (laughing) so get that (expletive) together.”

Dan Quinn won’t be distracted

Cowboys defensive coordinator was seemingly serving two masters this week.

He prepared for Sunday’s game against the 49ers while also preparing to put his best foot forward in an interview with the Denver Broncos for their vacant head coaching job.

Quinn made it clear there was no split allegiance as he did his due diligence on potential coaching jobs in the offseason.

He interviewed for a number of jobs after last season, including the Broncos, and anticipated that the Cowboys would be in the playoffs and he would be in the circuit again.

“What I did through the spring and through the summer, that’s where I did all my preparation because I have actually done this a few times before,” Quinn said. “I interviewed during the playoffs years ago during by time in Seattle. That experience helped me make sure, ‘Hey, your process had better be straight and organized as you’re going.’ Back in the spring and summer, I had planned for us to be in the playoffs, so I planned for these conversations if I was fortunate enough to have them. I didn’t want to have to do anything differently.

“Respectfully, I’d like to focus on the game. I hope you guys all understand that. Doing the work early, like most things, allows you to really feel relaxed so you don’t have to change anything at all.”

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said he has zero concerns about Quinn’s focus and called him the ultimate professional.

He said his preparation, work ethic and time commitment have been beyond what the Cowboys need to get ready for the 49ers.