Whereas followers of the San Francisco 49ers are pumped forward of a doubtlessly powder keg playoff sport in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys, to the group it’s only a regular week.

That is precisely how their ‘laser-focused’ head coach Kyle Shanahan likes it. The 42-year-old approaches every sport on a fair keel – and his gamers comply with go well with. 

‘Laser-focused. At all times,’ stated 49ers return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud about his head coach. ‘He is all the time laser-focused about soccer. About Xs and Os and executing.

Ray-Ray McCloud claims San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan (above) is ‘laser-focused’

‘I feel he most likely will get not even one night time every week simply to calm down for a second and that is the day after the sport. And the following morning he is proper again on it. And you’ll inform when he comes again in. He is watched the sport extra instances that we are able to rely – not our sport however the opponent that following week. He is simply so on it. And it reveals up on gameday.’

The 49ers meet the Cowboys for the ninth time within the postseason on Sunday – and for the second straight 12 months – because the groups rekindle the rivalry that lit up the Eighties and Nineties.

Niners’ heart Jake Brendel claims the playoff conflict simply one other sport

However to heart Jake Brendel it is simply one other sport.

‘We’re positively a one week at a time group. That is simply how we predict, that is how we function. No matter’s prior to now is prior to now,’ he stated.

‘Clearly on paper, it appears to be like actually good. So I imply, we’re actually completely happy about that, however none of that stuff means something now. Now. It is simply who might be enjoying subsequent – and proper now it is the Cowboys.’

Punter Mitch Wishnowsky added: ‘Within the locker room anyway, it is like each week it is handled the identical. Do the identical issues. Our regular routine. I do not suppose we have to do something too completely different. So I feel all people’s simply kind of within the routine of doing the identical factor.

‘That is simply the way it’s all the time been. I imply, I do not suppose one week we rise up greater than the opposite week or something like that.’

Dallas leads the collection 19-18-1, however forward of their ninth postseason assembly, Brendel added: ‘This rivalry has been going again because the starting of the league. These devoted followers that we have now right here, a whole lot of have been round sufficient to see the rivalry happen and seen these video games throughout a number of a long time. So I really feel like several good group versus any good group, there’s all the time a rivalry there. We have simply obtained to do enterprise on this sport.’

McCloud, who has additionally performed for the Buffalo Payments and Pittsburgh Steelers, additionally paid tribute to the tightness of the group.

Vast receiver McCloud (proper) paid tribute to the tightness of the group on and off the sphere 

‘My school profession I used to be in Clemson, so we gained the final championship of the 12 months. However positively. Most groups aren’t shut like we’re. Like in school, that is a brotherhood. Y’all spend on daily basis collectively. Class. Weight room. Off the sphere. You exit collectively. You all develop up collectively.

‘Within the NFL it’s kind of completely different. Everyone has obtained households, individuals are older. There’s a larger margin of ages. However on this locker room we’re blessed to have that area. Everyone spends time with one another. Households hang around. Girlfriends hang around. I feel that is what builds our chemistry. Off the sphere makes it good on the sphere.’

At Levi’s Stadium there guarantees to be an attractive battle on either side of the ball. Two elite defenses play two buzzing offenses – particularly after Dak Prescott’s 4 landing outing at Tampa on Monday.

But all three gamers suppose the 49ers protection – ranked No 1 general within the NFL – has sufficient to deal with regardless of the Cowboys can muster.

Mitch Wishnowsky echoed his teammates ideas, insisting each week is handled the identical 

‘The protection I feel is the most effective within the NFL, and our offense is shifting, so we do not actually should lean on particular groups. However you already know, we simply go on the market and attempt to do our job restrict the returner and get our area targets. So yeah, we’re all kind of working properly collectively,’ stated Wishnowsky.

Brendel added: ‘You positively noticed the expertise and the explosiveness and simply the sheer energy and energy that we have now on the defensive aspect of the ball throughout coaching camp after we’re only one v one, simply smashing into one another.

‘I can say this indisputably – they’re the most effective protection that I’ve ever seen on a group. It is simply very spectacular to see how they function from you already know, safeties, all the best way all the way down to the D line. They’re legit.’

McCloud added: ‘They’re annoying. They buzz. They punch each play. It reveals within the sport. You’ll be able to inform it wears the opposite group down. With them simply punching the ball. Flying all over the place. 11 on the ball, each time. It wears you down all through the sport.’