The Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers will renew their playoff rivalry when they meet on 2022 Wild-Card Weekend. The betting odds suggest that Sunday’s game at AT&T Stadium is the most difficult first-round matchup to predict.

Dallas is the smallest favorite on the wild-card schedule, only laying three points against the visiting 49ers. San Francisco is among the NFL’s hottest teams, going 7-2 over the final nine games of the regular season.

The 49ers clinched a playoff spot by defeating the Los Angeles Rams, 27-24, in Week 18. San Francisco finished first in yards per play and sixth in opponents’ yards per play. Deebo Samuel has established himself as one of the league’s most dangerous weapons, rushing and receiving for a combined 1,770 yards for 14 touchdowns.

Samuel could put up big numbers in Dallas. The Cowboys ranked 20th in yards per play allowed. It didn’t stop Dallas from winning the NFC East with ease and earning the conference’s No. 3 seed.

The Cowboys finished the season with five wins in their last six games. Four of those victories came against teams that missed the playoffs. In Week 18, Dallas beat the Philadelphia Eagles, who rested many of their starters for the postseason.

Dallas’ No. 1 scoring offense averaged 36.4 points per game at home. The Cowboys scored fewer than 22 points just once at home, and they scored more than 35 points five times in Dallas.

Dak Prescott had a season-high 151.8 passer rating in the 51-26 win over the Eagles. After suffering a calf injury and what appeared to be a midseason slump, Dallas’ quarterback enters the playoffs with 13 touchdowns and no interceptions in the last four games.

Only MVP favorite Aaron Rodgers and Joe Burrow had a better passer rating than Prescott, who threw for a career-high 37 touchdowns and completed a personal-best 68.8% of his passes. Prescott was especially good at AT&T Stadium, where he had 23 touchdowns, two interceptions and a 116.2 passer rating.

Jimmy Garoppolo made some big throws in the Week 18 clincher, completing 71.9% of his passes for 316 yards. Garoppolo was also a key reason why San Francisco was forced to climb out of a 17-0 hole, throwing two interceptions in his first game back from a thumb injury.

Garoppolo has thrown multiple interceptions in three of his last five games. During San Francisco’s run to the Super Bowl two years ago, the quarterback had more interceptions than touchdown passes. Garoppolo has never reached the 220-yards mark in a postseason game.

The 49ers might have a hard time controlling the line of scrimmage and running the ball with as much success as they have in recent wins. Cowboys star cornerback Trevon Diggs could add to his interception total if Garoppolo has to make big plays to keep up with Dallas’ offense.

The Cowboys have the edge at the game’s most important position, and it might ultimately be too much for the 49ers to overcome.

Prediction: Dallas over San Francisco, 27-20

Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott reacts after a touchdown in the second quarter of the Cowboys' 56-14 NFL victory over the Washington Football Team
Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott reacts after a touchdown in the second quarter of the Cowboys' 56-14 NFL victory over the Washington Football Team GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA via AFP / Richard Rodriguez
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