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Sunday, November 23, 1997

This time, Packers have their threats

By ARNIE STAPLETON / AP Sports Writer

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- When the Green Bay Packers last played the Dallas Cowboys, they didn't have all their guns.

Tight end Mark Chmura had a torn arch, split end Antonio Freeman had a broken arm and deep threat Robert Brooks a mangled knee, and it was no surprise they lost 21-6 on Nov. 18, 1996.

"It crushed me," Chmura said. "It's a game you wait to play all year."

"What do I remember?" Freeman said. "Final outcome. We lost."

For the seventh straight time since 1993, all at Texas Stadium, they lost.

Brooks has cracked ribs this time, but it would take more than that to keep him out of Sunday's showdown at Lambeau Field.

"I won't be 100 percent when I got into the game, but I'm going to play regardless," said Brooks, who's been outfitted with a special pad.

"It's kind of encouraging to look at last year's film and see the people that we played with; we hung in there for a while," Packers offensive coordinator Sherm Lewis said.

"So, it's encouraging that we're a lot more powerful now, more weapons."

And that will make for the biggest matchup in the most hyped game of the NFL season: the Packers' premium passing attack against the Cowboys' select secondary.

Brett Favre and his targets of Chmura, Brooks, Freeman and Derrick Mayes vs. cornerbacks Deion Sanders and Kevin Smith and safeties Darren Woodson and Brock Marion.

"They're a talented group, we're a talented group," Freeman said with a smile. "So, whoever does a better job at running their stuff ..."

Brooks and Freeman, the top tandem in the NFC, have combined for 99 receptions, 12 touchdown catches and 1,534 yards.

Favre is tied for the league lead with 23 TD passes and his 2,776 yards passing rank second in the NFL.

The Cowboys lead the league in pass defense, allowing 153.2 yards per game. They're second in the NFL in total defense and in points allowed.

The Packers' hopes of ending their eight-game losing streak to the Cowboys rest on whether they can penetrate the league's best secondary.

"I think this will be our No. 1 challenge as far as getting open," Lewis said. "Those guys just lock up on you and they shut people down. It's going to be a challenge. I think our guys will respond."

Sanders allows the Cowboys to take risks on blitzes and run support that other teams wouldn't dare.

"He allows them to take one side of the field and say, ÔForget it, he'll take care of that,' " Lewis said. "They just figure he can shut down whoever's over there and they play with the 10 other guys."

But it's far from a one-man show.

"Kevin Smith is no slouch," Packers receiver Don Beebe said. "He gets overshadowed by Deion, but Kevin is as good as there is in the league."

"I think as good as Deion is, the guy that is as important to them as any player is Darren Woodson," Packers coach Mike Holmgren said.

"Brock Marion's our leading tackler," Cowboys coach Barry Switzer added.

Still, it all starts with Sanders, whose talents have allowed the defense to remain dominant despite a turnstile-like turnover of players.

"With corners like that, you can afford to blitz and know that those guys are going to win most of the battles," Lewis said.

Favre, the two-time MVP, said Sanders is scary.

"You don't go after Deion," Favre said. "You pick your spots. You can't take that half of the field and totally disregard it. But if you're going to throw at him, you've got to be smart about it.

"It's not that our receivers aren't good. Our guys are good. He's just better than everything in the league."

The Cowboys (6-5) rarely flip-flop Sanders and Smith, so the Packers (8-3) can dictate matchups at Lambeau Field on Sunday by moving receivers around.

The Packers' best hope is to use multiple receiver sets, even on early downs, although that exposes the run and invites the blitz.

"We feel that our four wide receiver package, or even our three, can match up with any team," said Beebe, the No. 4 wideout. "When they bring their nickel or dime guys in, they're not the caliber of Deion or Kevin Smith, whereas our third and fourth receivers could start on a lot of teams."