EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Falcons HC Mike Smith nudges Cowboys to complain to NFL brass about 49ers' major advantage
The San Francisco 49ers take on the Dallas Cowboys this weekend, and the chances of either team winning a divisional-round game would seem impossible. On one side, the Dallas Cowboys haven't won a divisional-round playoff game since the 1990s. On the other side, a rookie third-string seventh-round draft pick is getting the first divisional-round reps of his career.
Heading into the game, both teams have big things working against them, but one former head coach believes that the San Francisco 49ers got a bonus working for them courtesy of Super Wild Card weekend.
Speaking on Sportskeeda's BallFather podcast, former head coach Mike Smith outlined the time difference between the teams as an issue.
"The way they want to have players that have a Monday game, and then turn around and play a team that had a Saturday game, right. I think two days advantage, I’d be complaining about that."
Dallas Cowboys receive shorter break between playoff games
The Dallas Cowboys played Tom Brady and the Buccaneers on Monday at Wild Card Weekend. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers played the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday, more than 48 hours earlier.
With the upcoming matchup scheduled to take place this Sunday at 6:30 PM EST, the 49ers will be getting more than a full week off.
Fred Warner said on night before games Kyle Shanahan will pick on the #49ers defense to fire them up.
"Today he took a shot at our defense saying the Cowboys defense may be playing better than us. As players, we have to take it. You give it back to him by proving him wrong." https://t.co/I4TrcJcWkU
As for the Cowboys, they'll be playing on a short week through no fault of their own. This means that the 49ers will have had more time to rest and prepare for the team than Dallas, because they were still preparing for the matchup against No. 12.
Bengals-Bills and Cowboys-49ers is going to be an insanely intense and wildly entertaining NFL playoff Sunday.
Dak Prescott will face Brock Purdy in a rematch of last year's playoff battle that saw Dallas come up short in the final moments of the game. Will history repeat itself this weekend or will Dallas snap a playoff curse that has followed them for about the last 30 years?
If any of the above quotes are used, please credit The Ballfather Podcast and Sportskeeda.