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Taylor, Irvin face off in prime time

By DENNE H. FREEMAN AP Sports Writer

IRVING, Texas (AP) - Taylor vs. Irvin.

It has become one of the more entertaining matchups in the NFL.

And Philadelphia cornerback Bobby Taylor will be trying to frustrate Dallas receiver Michael Irvin once again tonight on Monday Night Football.

Irvin, a 6-foot-2, 210-pounder, and Taylor, a 6-foot-3, 217-pounder, have been going at it every since Taylor came out of Notre Dame and developed into one of the league's best coverage men.

Irvin, of course, is one of the best receivers in the NFL and has three Super Bowl rings to show for it.

Taylor, in his third-season, has become a defender most receivers like to avoid. That is, except Irvin.

"I like going against that kid," Irvin said. "I really like going against him one-on-one. But how often do I get him one-on-one? They double me a lot. It doesn't happen very often. There's not a cornerback in the NFL I don't mind facing if it's one-on-one coverage."

Irvin missed the first Philadelphia game last year as he served a drug suspension. But in the second game he burned young Taylor on seven catches for 89 yards.

In 1995, Irvin got the best of Taylor with eight catches for 115 yards and a touchdown, but Taylor bounced back by holding Irvin to three catches for 40 yards in the rematch.

Taylor said he likes the challenge.

"He's a very physical receiver and I kind of think of myself as a physical player, too," Taylor said. "It makes for a good matchup."

Taylor has studied a lot of film on Irvin and decided his rival is "tough to cover because he can catch the short one on you and break it, or he can go deep. Most guys can do one or the other. He can do both."

Irvin, who had the best training camp of his career, has caught 11 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns as the Cowboys started the season 1-1. He was held to only four catches last week by Arizona's Aeneas Williams.

"I was close to a big game," Irvin said. "I caught a touchdown pass and the officials ruled I was out of bounds."

But Irvin made it clear he's less interested in the personal matchup with Taylor than the overall Cowboys-Eagles battle.

"We've got to get in focus. The Eagles have a tough defense and we need to start playing error-free football," Irvin said. "We don't want to lose this game. We know how much it means, even if it is a September game."

The Eagles also are 1-1 and are trying to jump ahead of the NFC East pack. While Dallas has won five consecutive NFC title, the Eagles haven't owned one since 1988 under Buddy Ryan.