Arlington, Texas - The Dallas Cowboys will have to wait yet another season as they dropped their NFL Wild Card matchup against a classic foe in the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.

The 49ers escaped on Sunday with a 23-17 upset win over the Cowboys, setting a date with the Packers in next weekend’s divisional round.

The better team on paper dropped the ball in this matchup, plain and simple.

The Niners took control of the flow of the game with some sound offense to build a decent 13-0 lead midway through the second quarter.

Dallas made things interesting when they finally got on the scoreboard with a touchdown towards the half, followed by a quick San Francisco field goal to keep the Niners up 16-7 at the break.

The Niners kept the heat on with another touchdown in the closing minutes of the third to seemingly put the game out of the Cowboys’ reach.

But Dallas dug deep and fought back with 10 unanswered points in the fourth to pull within six.

In the end, several penalties by the Dallas defense kept the ball in San Francisco’s hands, leaving the Cowboys with not enough time and too much desperation as time ticked away on another disappointing playoff finish.

San Francisco’s best offensive player, third-year wide receiver Deebo Samuel (26), was the difference-maker for the team on a big night.

He scored the touchdown that kept the Niners far enough ahead of the Cowboys for them to escape with the win.

To make things more remarkable, the 2021 NFL All-Pro did most of his offensive work out of the backfield as a rusher, instead of from his usual pass-catching tactics.

Samuel finished the game with three catches for 38 yards, along with 10 carries for 72 yards and a rushing touchdown.

Not many would have bet against the Cowboys walking off their own field with a victory.

But they have only themselves to blame for a series of error, the worst one of which was underestimating San Francisco.

A lot of people somehow forgot that the 49ers are only two years removed from an appearance in Super Bowl LIV.

Much of that team is still around, and having just upset Dallas, the Niners look they have what it takes to at least make things tough on the Green Bay Packers in the next round.

That's coming up on Saturday.