Sunday, November 22, 1998

Cowboys to find out how good they are

By DENNE H. FREEMAN

Associated Press

IRVING -- The Dallas Cowboys start a two-game stretch today where they will find out if they've arrived back in the top echelon of the NFL.

The Cowboys meet a dangerous underachieving Seattle team, then take on the Minnesota Vikings just four days later on Thanksgiving Day.

Dallas is 7-3 but six of the wins have come against NFC East foes. The NFC East is the weakest division in the NFL. The Cowboys' only other win came against Carolina, which is having a miserable season.

The Cowboys have lost to defending Super Bowl champion Denver, improved Oakland, and the down-and-out Chicago Bears. The losses to the Raiders and the Bears were by one point.

Quarterback Troy Aikman said Seattle, which has beaten every NFC East team on its schedule this year, and Minnesota, should give the Cowboys a clearer picture of where they stand.

"It's hard to win in this league regardless of who you are playing, but the next few teams we play stack up more favorably," Aikman said.

Aikman said it's time for the Cowboys to get their national respect back after a 6-10 disaster under former coach Barry Switzer.

"I'm disappointed that maybe we're not respected as we once were," Aikman said. "That upsets me a little. I still think we are a talented team that can compete on a level we once did."

Running back Emmitt Smith said he hopes nobody notices how many games the Cowboys have won.

"We just want to go about our business and very quietly win games," he said. "We don't want to talk about any elite business."

Even though Seattle is 5-5, the Seahawks provide an interesting test for the Cowboys because of 42-year-old quarterback Warren Moon. Moon has the mobility to get out of the pocket and give the defense fits much as Arizona's Jake Plummer did last week against Dallas in a 465-yard passing day.

Aikman said Moon amazes him.

"He's like the Nolan Ryan of football," Aikman said. "It's amazing how his body has held together despite all the hits he has taken."

Aikman said Seattle has a fast team.

"They could give us some real problems on both sides of the ball," Aikman said. "It could be the toughest game we've had."

Dallas has been blown out just once this year, a 42-23 loss to Denver in which Aikman broke his collarbone. The Cowboys lost two games 13-12 to Oakland and Chicago with Jason Garrett as the starting quarterback.

Seattle coach Dennis Erickson said what he sees on tape of the Cowboys has been impressive.

"They are playing football like they used to, with great confidence," Erickson said. "They are one of the best in the NFL. They are pretty close to the Cowboy teams of old."

Seattle linebacker Darrin Smith, a former Cowboy, said he's been impressed of what he's seen on tape of his old team.

"The offense is looking good," Smith said. "Emmitt (Smith) is running hard again and the offense is really attacking teams. We see they even put in a little option last week against Arizona. What's going on? They will be tough, but we have to have a win."

Seattle is five games behind Denver in the AFC West and the Seahawks' only playoff hopes rest on a strong six-game run.

"We're in a position where we can't afford to lose," Moon said.

Neither can the Cowboys, if they want to prove they do belong among the elite again.

"We have two big tests coming up," said Dallas coach Chan Gailey. "Then we'll see where we are. We have a long ways to get to where we want to go."