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Tuesday, November 18, 1997

Packer fans obsessed with beating Dallas

By MIKE BALDWIN

The Daily Oklahoman

IRVING, Texas - Asked if the Dallas Cowboys' visit to Lambeau Field on Sunday is comparable to last year's Super Bowl, a Wisconsin sportswriter said: "It's not that small."

That's how obsessed Green Bay fans are with ending an eight-game losing streak to Dallas. Hundreds of "Showdown in Titletown" T-shirts, hats and pennants have been sold in Wisconsin the past two months. Scalpers are asking as much as $1,000 a ticket.

"This is like their Super Bowl," said cornerback Kevin Smith. "I heard about those T-shirts and stuff they've had printed up. For us, it's another must-win game. It's not like we're 8-2 or sitting there right behind them. We're fighting for our lives."

Green Bay players aren't nearly as obsessed with beating Dallas. While Packer fans were distraught they didn't get the opportunity to eliminate the Cowboys in the playoffs last season, the players simply wanted to win a Super Bowl.

But it's easy to understand Packer fans' frustration. Dallas eliminated the Packers from the NFC playoffs three consecutive years ('93, '94 and '95) and have beaten Green Bay seven times the past four years. All seven games have been played at Texas Stadium.

"There's been a lot made of the fact that they've had to come here for so many years," said quarterback Troy Aikman. "I know that they're looking forward to us having to play them at their home and seeing what they can do on their field. We're looking forward to it as well. It's going to be an exciting game, one potentially where there's a lot on the line."

Many Packer fans have counted the days until Dallas was forced to play on the frozen tundra. Oddly enough, early indications are the tundra may not be frozen. Weather reports suggest temperatures might reach the 40s.

"Right now, I'm thinking it's going to be cold and snow," said Kevin Smith. "I'm expecting the worse. Anything other than that, we'll be happy."

One streak is sure to end. In addition to Dallas owning an eight-game winning streak in the series, Green Bay has won 21 consecutive regular-season home games. It's the second-longest home-winning streak in NFL history (the Miami Dolphins won 27 consecutive home games in the early '70s).

"The fact that we've won whatever it is, I'm not even sure, eight games, it definitely gives us confidence going into the game, knowing we can play with these guys and we've done it," Aikman said. "I think the burden is on them this time."

Green Bay, 8-3, is a 7-point favorite, but future Hall of Fame defensive end Reggie White and defensive tackle Gilbert Brown are both questionable. Dallas, 6-5, is coming off an emotional 17-14 win over Washington that featured a game-tying 97-yard drive.

"Fortunately, we haven't been in that situation a lot in the past," said wide receiver Michael Irvin. "Here of late we have, and we haven't gotten the job done. It was a season drive. Troy put it together and held the season together for us."

After Sunday's win, Irvin presented a game ball to owner Jerry Jones to give to his dying father. Aikman said the locker room was as emotional as he's seen in a couple of years.

"A lot of players felt a lot of emotion for our head coach because of what he's been going through and our owner as well for what he's been going through in his personal life," said Emmitt Smith. "A game like that helped bring people closer together."

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)