Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers are ready to take on the Dallas Cowboys in what should be a very entertaining Wild Card matchup. The playoffs are here and every team must bring their top game if they want to advance. While the Cowboys are favored to win this game, the 49ers are not going to go down without a fight.

All season long, the 49ers have been fighting to stay alive. After getting off to a slow start this year, San Francisco battled back to get into the playoffs. They even had to battle hard in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams to end up making it into the playoffs over the New Orleans Saints.

Now, they have a chance for a fresh slate. The regular season is gone and no record is there for them to claw back from. San Francisco simply has to start winning now.

All of that being said, let’s dive in and take a look at four reasons the 49ers could actually end up pulling off the major upset over the Cowboys in Dallas.

4. The Cowboys Have Always Struggled Come Playoff Time

When we say “always,” we aren’t talking about all-time. We are talking about recent years and the Cowboys are known for their playoff struggles. No matter how good the regular season was, the playoffs are a completely new season.

Even though the Cowboys are loaded with talent, especially on the offensive side of the ball, they are still a team that can’t be trusted in the postseason. They will have to change that perception by winning games consistently. This is a place for them to start, or the perception could continue forward.

3. Jimmy Garoppolo Is Playing For His Job

Let’s be honest, no one is going to call Jimmy Garoppolo an elite quarterback or a superstar. He simply isn’t that guy and he never will be. However, he is the kind of quarterback that plays well under pressure.

Coming into this game, the 49ers are going to be watching Jimmy G’s performance very closely. They have rookie quarterback Trey Lance in the wings waiting to take over the starting job. Garoppolo knows that winning this game could be his only chance of remaining the starter in San Francisco and we believe that will power him to be a big-time performance.

2. San Francisco Has A Defense Capable Of Flustering Dak Prescott

If there was one major key that the 49ers have to focus on this week against Dallas, it would be putting pressure on Dak Prescott. Prescott is lethal when he has time and isn’t flustered. San Francisco has to force him to make quick decisions and capitalize on the mistakes he does make.

Thankfully for the 49ers, they have a defensive unit more than capable of getting to the quarterback. Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, Fred Warner, and the rest of the defense have to be on their game. If they can pressure Prescott throughout the entire course of the game, they will have a fighting chance of winning.

1. Kyle Shanahan Is A Massive X-Factor

Finally, the playoffs can come down to coaching. That has been seen time and time again in the postseason. Looking at the coaching matchup in this game, the 49ers easily have the Cowboys beat.

Kyle Shanahan is one of the league’s best offensive minds, while Mike McCarthy leaves a lot to be desired. The 49ers are the better coached team, which will give them a chance as well. San Francisco may not be the favorite to win, but they shouldn’t be written off by any stretch.