rematch of the first NFC Championship Game played the previous season in San Francisco. At the time, the NFL rotated hosting rights to playoff games between division champions. Under this format, the NFC East champion Cowboys had the right to host the 1971 title game. It was the fourth title game played by the Cowboys, and the 49ers' second title game appearance as an NFL team after the preceding season's game. Dallas won the NFC East with an 11–3 regular season record and defeated the NFC Central champion Minnesota Vikings 20–12 at Metropolitan Stadium in the Divisional Round to advance to the NFC Championship game. San Francisco won the NFC West with a 9–5 regular season record and defeated the NFC East runner-up Washington Redskins 24–20 at Candlestick Park in the Divisional Round to reach the NFC title game. This was also the Cowboys' first season at the brand new Texas Stadium in the Dallas suburb of Irving, Texas. Since the Cowboys were on the road for the Divisional Round, the title game in San Francisco was the first NFL playoff game at Texas Stadium. As was the case in 1970, these teams did not play each other the 1971 regular season, thus their most recent meeting was Dallas' win in the 1970 NFC title game. Their most recent regular season game, which was on November 27, 1969, at the Cowboys' former home, the Cotton Bowl, had ended in a 24–24 tie. In the first playoff game at Texas Stadium, the Cowboys defense dominated the 49ers offense by allowing only 61 rushing yards and 9 first downs, and forcing 3 interceptions. In the second quarter, Dallas defensive end George Andrie intercepted a screen pass from John Brodie and returned it 7 yards to the 49ers 2-yard line to set up Calvin Hill's 1-yard touchdown run. This would be the only score of the game until 6:52 remained in the third quarter, when Brodie's 24-yard completion to tight end Ted Kwalick set up Bruce Gossett's 28-yard field goal. Following a missed 47-yard field goal by Gossett on San Francisco's next drive, Dallas QB Roger Staubach finished the quarter with a 17-yard completion to halfback Dan Reeves. Then he started off the fourth with a 23-yard pass to tight end Billy Truax. Duane Thomas eventually finished the 14-play, 80-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, making the score 14-3. With 9 minutes