The game was very close, and in the fourth quarter Walsh called a series of running plays as the 49ers marched down the field against the Cowboys prevent defense, which had been expecting the 49ers to mainly pass.

The Cowboys became the surprise team of the 2003 season, posting a 10 – 6 record and a playoff berth by having the best overall defense in the NFL.

It is said that the rivalry was fueled in the 1970s due to the stark contrast of the teams: the Cowboys, being more of a " flashy " team with Roger Staubach's aerial attack and the " flex " Doomsday Defense ; while the Steelers were more of a " blue-collar " team with a strong running game and the 1970s-esque Steel Curtain defense, a contrast that still exists today.

Green Bay also had a superb defense, which displayed its talent on the final drive of the NFL Championship Game, stopping the Dallas Cowboys on 4 consecutive plays starting on the Packers 2-yard line to win the game.

Like the Colts, the Cowboys main strength was their defense.

The Cowboys, with their offense and " flex " defense, became the first NFC wild-card team to advance to the Super Bowl after posting a 10-4 regular season record and postseason victories over the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams.

The Cowboys advanced to their third super bowl in team history with their rather high-tech offense and " flex " defense.

The Cowboys ' " Flex " defense was anchored by linemen Harvey Martin and Ed " Too Tall " Jones.

After Gerry Mullins recovered Dallas ' onside kick attempt, the Steelers then tried to run out the clock on the next drive with four straight running plays, but the Cowboys defense stopped them on fourth down at their 39-yard line, giving Dallas one more chance to win.

The Cowboys ' " Doomsday Defense " finished the season as the top ranked defense in the league against the run by only allowing 107. 6 yards per game, 2nd overall ( 4009 ), 3rd in points allowed ( 208 ).

The Cowboys ' defense was anchored by such Pro Bowlers as lineman Russell Maryland, linebacker Ken Norton Jr., along with defensive backs Thomas Everett and Kevin Smith, who picked off 6 passes during the season.

But after coach George Seifert's team lost 2 consecutive NFC Championship Games to the Dallas Cowboys in 1992 and 1993, San Francisco brought in several veteran free agents to strengthen their defense.

The Steeler defense held, however, forcing Dallas into a three-and-out ; after a 6-yard run by Smith and an incompletion, Aikman's third down pass was broken up by defensive back Rod Woodson ( who had missed most of the season due to a knee injury ), forcing the Cowboys to punt.

Nixon, who hailed from the Southwest, was initially backed by the military industrial defense contractor power-brokers ( the Cowboys ); however, he later wanted to jump ship and return government to the east-coast establishment of Yankees.

Spreading the defense out in hopes of containing Hayes allowed the Cowboys ' talented running game to flourish, rushers Don Perkins, Calvin Hill, Walt Garrison and Duane Thomas taking advantage of the diminished coverage of the line of scrimmage.

He invented the now popular 4 – 3 defense, and the " flex defense " system made famous by the " Doomsday Defense " squads he created during his 29 year tenure with the Dallas Cowboys.

To do this, he refined the 4-3 defense by moving two of the four linemen off the line of scrimmage one yard and varied which linemen did this based on where the Cowboys thought the offense might run.

The Cowboys improved their defense before the 2005 season with the additions of first round draft picks Demarcus Ware and Marcus Spears.

He even criticized Troy Brown of the New England Patriots and Deion Sanders of the Dallas Cowboys, two players who also have played both offense and defense, because their positions as a wide receiver and cornerback didn't require as much contact as the center and linebacker positions that Bednarik played.

Although he was drafted to play middle linebacker, the level of skill and speed he demonstrated in training camp, allowed the Cowboys to move him to strongside linebacker in an effort to improve the defense.

The Cowboys finished in the top seven in the NFL in scoring defense and yards allowed in 10 of Howley ’ s 13 seasons with the team.

Both the offense and defense hit their stride in the playoffs ; the Buccaneers posted a playoff per-game point differential of 23 points per game in victory, tied with the 1992 Dallas Cowboys for the highest average playoff margin of victory by a Super Bowl winner in the free agency era.

Allen's 1972 team, with Kilmer by now the starting quarterback, won the NFC East title with an 11-3 record ; the defense allowed a conference-low 218 points on the way to a NFC title, which was secured with a 26-3 home victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

The 49ers faced the Cowboys again that same season in the NFC title game.

Yet the glory days of the Cowboys were again beginning to dim as free agency, age and injuries began taking their toll.

In 1992 under fourth-year coach Jimmy Johnson the Cowboys met the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game again, this time against Steve Young ; the Cowboys pulled out a 30-20 win en route to Super Bowl XXVII.

In the 1990s concurrent with the resurgence of the Cowboys under Jimmy Johnson the Packers after two decades of mediocre results began to become a playoff power again with the ascension of quarterback Brett Favre.

In, the Vikings again won the Central Division with a 9 – 5 record and advanced to their 4th NFC Championship Game in 5 years, but were defeated by the eventual Super Bowl Champion Cowboys, 23 – 6, at Texas Stadium.

Soon after, the Giants would lose to the Washington Redskins again, but they would bounce back from this defeat by beating their cross-town rival New York Jets, also knocking the Philadelphia Eagles out of playoff contention, leaving them with a tiebreaker versus the Cowboys.

However, the Cowboys once again failed to score as Herrera missed a 32-yard field goal attempt.

Troy Aikman then threw two consecutive incompletions, and the Cowboys were forced to punt again.

Green Bay then fumbled the ensuing kickoff, allowing the Cowboys to score again with Aikman's 6-yard pass to Novacek.

The Steelers and the Cowboys would also meet again, in Super Bowl XXX.

Aided by receiver Alvin Harper's 24-yard reception, the Cowboys drove to the Bills ' 7-yard line, but once again were forced to settle for a field goal ; a 24-yarder by Murray to regain the lead, 6-3.

The Cowboys eventually cut their deficit to 38-28 with a touchdown run by Emmitt Smith and Aikman's 10-yard touchdown pass to Irvin in the final period, but they were unable to score again.

Butrum would tour again, from 1977 to 1984, with the reformed Drifting Cowboys.

Unable to establish a strong fan base in Vancouver, the team was moved again in 1975 to become the Calgary Cowboys.

After two seasons, the team was again relocated to Calgary, Alberta as the Calgary Cowboys for 1975 – 76.

After only two seasons in Vancouver, the team once again packed up and was moved to Calgary, Alberta, where they were renamed Calgary Cowboys.

However, once again they were defeated by the Dallas Cowboys, this time 38 – 21.

The Cowboys once again made the Super Bowl, and lost 35-31 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XIII.

In 2009, the rivalry resumed again on an annual basis, being played each year at Cowboys Stadium.

However, they were defeated in the finals by the Bayamon Cowboys in 1972, 73 and 75 and by Rio Piedras Cardinals in 1976 ; Quebradillas won the title again in 1977 through 1979 for a total of 8 finals in the 10 years of the 1970 decade.

Arthroscopic surgery kept him sidelined until his debut in Week 9, which was once again in Atlanta against the Falcons, though this time Sanders ' debut with his new team was not as dramatic as it was with the 49ers ( the Cowboys won, 28-13 ).

The Cowboys ’ Super Cup affiliate club Northern Pride again made the finals, but were unable to successfully defend their 2010 premiership, losing to Tweed Seagulls in the preliminary final.

The following season, Dallas made it back to the Super Bowl, and again Howley had a great performance, recording a fumble recovery and a 41-yard interception in the Cowboys 24-3 win over the Miami Dolphins.