Friday, April 3, 1998

Cowboys have tough opening stretch in 1998, soft schedule

IRVING, Texas (AP) - The Dallas Cowboys' soft 1997 record has been rewarded with a soft 1998 schedule.

The Cowboys, coming off a 6-10 season, had no complaints Thursday when the NFL released its schedule.

Aside from an early-season match with the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos and a late-season game at Kansas City, Dallas drew a considerably easier non-division schedule than in years past.

The Cowboys' 1998 opponents include only five playoff teams from last season and have a combined record of 91-98. Last year's opponents were 102-87.

And NFL schedulers gave the Cowboys a break with back-to-back division games at home to end the year.

Head coach Chan Gailey said the Cowboys will try to capitalize on their schedule, which he says keeps them in Texas during the harsh December months.

"Having coached in both Denver and Pittsburgh, I know the type of advantage a cold-weather team can have by playing at home late in the year," Gailey told the Dallas Morning News.

Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple said the team is trying not over-analyze the schedule.

"I would imagine that our composite opponents record is not as high as last year's because we didn't finish in first place in our division," Dalrymple said Thursday.

"But today, coach Gailey said that there is not a whole lot you can say about a schedule in (the spring) - some teams that you expect to be very strong, midway through the season may experience injuries or other difficulties."

The Cowboys' schedule, released Thursday, opens at home against Arizona. It's the first time they're starting at home since 1992.

The only other home games in the first nine weeks of the season are Sept. 27 against Oakland and Oct. 11 against Carolina.

Also during the stretch are road games at the New York Giants, Washington, Chicago and Philadelphia. Dallas' bye week is Oct. 25.

The Cowboys drew two Monday night games - Sept. 21 at New York and Nov. 2 at Philadelphia - and one Sunday night game - the Dec. 27 season finale at home against Washington.

"We are very happy to be opening and closing at home this season," Dalrymple said. "Another interesting aspect about the schedule is that we are playing the last two games at home for only the fourth time in club history," he said.

Other non-divisional games are at home against Seattle, and Minnesota and at New Orleans and Kansas City.

Here is the Dallas Cowboys 1998 schedule:

PRE-SEASON

All times Central

Aug. 1 -- Seattle, 8 p.m.

Aug. 8 -- Oakland, 8 p.m.

Aug. 17 -- New England at Mexico City, 7 p.m.

Aug. 22 -- at St. Louis, 7 p.m.

Aug. 27 -- at Jacksonville, 7 p.m.

REGULAR SEASON

Sept. 6 -- Arizona, 3:05 p.m.

Sept. 13 -- at Denver, 3:15 p.m.

Sept. 21 -- at NY Giants, 7:20 p.m.

Sept. 27 -- Oakland, 12:01 p.m.

Oct. 4 -- at Washington, 12:01 p.m.

Oct. 11 -- Carolina, 12:01 p.m.

Oct. 18 -- at Chicago, 3:15 p.m.

Oct. 25 -- Bye

Nov. 2 -- at Philadelphia, 7:20 p.m.

Nov. 8 -- NY Giants, 12:01 p.m.

Nov. 25 -- at Arizona, 3:15 p.m.

Nov. 22 -- Seattle, 12:01 p.m.

Nov. 26 -- Minnesota, 3:05 p.m.

Dec. 6 -- at New Orleans, 12:01 p.m.

Dec. 13 -- at Kansas City, 3:15 p.m.

Dec. 20 -- Philadelphia, 3:15 p.m.

Dec. 27 -- Washington, 7:20 p.m.