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Thursday, December 24, 1998

Are Cowboys paper tigers?

By DENNE H. FREEMAN

AP Sports Writer

IRVING, Texas (AP) — The common perception is once the NFC playoffs begin the Dallas Cowboys will be sent packing in short order.

Although they were the best team in a bad NFC East division, Dallas showed less than Super Bowl caliber play and just eked past lowly Philadelphia 13-9 last Sunday to break a three-game losing streak.

Seven of the Cowboys’ nine wins have come against NFC East foes. Carolina and Seattle were the only other Dallas victims. Dallas has lost to Minnesota, Denver, New Orleans, Chicago, Kansas City and Oakland.

Cornerback Kevin Smith, who has three Super Bowl rings, said the Cowboys are still capable of making a run to Miami, but they have to play well in the season finale against Washington on Sunday night in Texas Stadium.

Smith will start at right cornerback for the second week in place of Deion Sanders, whose big left toe is still sore.

“I think we have just as much a chance as anyone else,” Smith said. “What’s important now is that we play good against the Redskins. If we can go 10-6 it would be a complete reverse of the 6-10 that we had last year.”

No team has ever swept the NFC East in a season. That is one incentive Dallas has going into Sunday’s game. The game will have no bearing on the Cowboys’ playoff position, which calls for them to host a wild-card team in Texas Stadium on either Jan. 2 or Jan. 3.

“If we play like we did against Philadelphia I don’t see how we can go very far in the playoffs,” safety Darren Woodson said. “We’re not playing that great so resting guys against Washington probably won’t happen. We need to get on a roll going into the playoffs.”

Fullback Daryl Johnston said he is proud of what the Cowboys accomplished after what they went through last season.

“This is big for us to win the division,” Johnston said. “There is still a lot of pride on this team. There are still some guys here who have been to three Super Bowls and won them.”

The Cowboys know they have to kick up their play a notch, particularly on offense.

“If we keep playing like we’re playing offense are we going to win another world championship?” quarterback Troy Aikman said. “It’s highly unlikely unless our defense keeps holding people the way they have been.”

Running back Emmitt Smith said no matter what happens coach Chan Gailey deserves kudos for turning the team around.

“Chan deserves a lot of credit,” Smith said. “He has done just a tremendous job. He is a great leader. He has turned the ballclub around.”