Wednesday, November 25, 1998

Dallas: Minnesota has something to prove, too

By MIKE BALDWIN

The Daily Oklahoman

IRVING, Texas - For all those who claim a Thanksgiving showdown with Minnesota is an opportunity to see how Dallas stacks up against one of the league's elite teams, the Cowboys have a rebuttal.

"It might say how good Minnesota is, too," said quarterback Troy Aikman. "We're not like the stepchildren over here that are trying to go out and show we belong in this league. We're coming in at 8-3. It's a game to where a lot of things are going to be evaluated on their side of the ball as well."

If the Cowboys beat 10-1 Minnesota, Aikman was asked, does it signify Dallas should once again be listed among the NFC's elite teams?

"I think (Sunday's) game was a step in that direction," Aikman said. "This is a game that clearly we're going against, what is right now, the best team in the NFC as far as records are concerned. They've got a very talented football team, so yeah, I think that would accomplish that."

"People are more concerned with how we're going to deal with them and how we're going to defense them," said running back Emmitt Smith. "Nobody's asking them what they're going to do to stop us."

Smith has a valid point. Minnesota is third in the league in total offense and is averaging 31.7 points. Dallas is ranked fourth offensively and has scored 30 or more points six times.

"We aren't put on a pedestal at this point. But when you look between the lines you see we have comparable numbers and we have just as much a threat offensively as they do, all the way around," said wide receiver Billy Davis. "This is a big game for both teams. It could really define how the playoffs are going to be."

If the Cowboys win they have a legitimate shot at earning a first-round bye in the playoffs.

"The way I see it, we don't have any pressure. We really don't, because people never expected us to be this good anyway," Smith said. "What kind of pressure do we have? None. Granted, we do have some kind of pressure, but it's a different kind of pressure."

Dallas owner Jerry Jones said he likes the underdog role compared to those seasons in which the Cowboys were predicted to win the Super Bowl before the season started. And Jones relishes big games.

"To me this is like Texas-Oklahoma," Jones said. "If we could get this kind of game every Sunday, and have that much riding on just the winner ... We feel good about where we are no matter how it comes out, and I'm sure they feel pretty good no matter how it turns out."

Dallas, though, must deal with numerous injuries. Wide receiver Ernie Mills and guard Everett McIver will miss the remainder of the regular season. Cornerback Deion Sanders, running back Chris Warren, tackle Erik Williams and Smith are listed as questionable.

"Every time we've had somebody go down, somebody else has stepped up," Gailey said. "I think they look at it as a challenge rather than a downer ... Don't gripe about what you don't have, get excited about what you do have."

The four players listed as questionable are critical to the Cowboys chances of posting an upset Thursday. Sanders is needed against the Vikings three talented wide receivers and Smith and Warren could help the Cowboys win the time of possession as they did Sunday.

"Sometimes the best offense is a very good defense and the best defense is a good offense," Smith said. "If you're able to go out there, move the ball, eat up the clock and keep a team that scores very quickly on the bench, then you have a good chance of winning."

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)