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Struggling Cowboys face must-win game against 49ers

By MIKE BALDWIN / The Daily Oklahoman

IRVING, Texas -- The roles are reversed but the scenario is similar.

Two years ago, San Francisco (5-4) was struggling. The 49ers were a two-touchdown underdog against Dallas (8-1). Few gave the 'Niners much of a chance since Steve Young was side lined.

What transpired was shocking. San Francisco posted a 38-20 upset and reeled off six consecutive wins. Could an up set win over the 49ers Sunday at 3Com Park turn the Cowboys season around?

"I like that scenario," coach Barry Switzer said. "Let's go do it."

At least Dallas will have quarterback Troy Aikman, who was cleared to play Monday after suffering a mild concussion in Sunday's 13-12 loss at Philadel phia.

"San Francisco was in this situation a couple of years ago," Aikman said. "They came here to Texas and beat us pretty good and got things rolling. We're hoping we might be able to do the same thing."

Whether or not the Cowboys (4-4) turn it around, there are rumors this will be Switzer's fi nal season as head coach. In re cent weeks, he has seemed more edgy, as if his job is on the line.

"It isn't pressure, I promise you, the pressure of the job," Switzer said. "I've never felt any pressure. None at all."

Despite predictions his days are numbered, Switzer believes he will return next season.

"I either believe Jerry (Jones) or I don't believe him," Switzer said, referring to Jones' statements last season that the two men would work together for years to come. "I really don't feel any pressure. On what, whether I'm going to be the coach here next year or not? I never even think about it. I never consider it."

Just like the Cowboys don't consider not being a Super Bowl contender, even though they're a .500 team halfway through the season.

"If we're going to do what we want to do -- and clearly that's to get into the playoffs, No. 1 -- the goal of this football hasn't changed, and that's to get to the Super Bowl, we've got to start making plays because championship teams make those plays," Aikman said. "Right now we're not a championship team."

They're not a championship team because of costly penalties, poor pass protection, missed opportunities in the red zone and the league's No. 2-ranked defense surrendering the go-ahead score late in games. Dallas is .500, but the four losses have been by a combined 12 points.

"I don't think we're that far away," Aikman said. "The games that we've lost have been so close, and yet we recognize that we can play better. We've had chances in each of the games to win each one. We've just failed to make the plays."

By losing three of their last four games -- all division games -- the Cowboys must string some wins together or miss the playoffs for the first time since 1990.

"If we'd been able to win the game (Sunday), I think the atmosphere in here, maybe the stories that were written, would have been dramatically different," Aikman said. "Their ability to make one play or our ability not to make one play completely changes every thing."

How good is San Francisco? That's yet to be determined. The 49ers have won seven consecutive games, but all seven have come against NFC West foes, which are a combined 4-12 outside the division. Dallas may provide the first true test on whether the 'Niners are a legitimate Super Bowl contender . "We're not as good as we've been in the past. How good a test we pose for them I don't know at this time," Aikman said. "I think we can play better than what we have. We're still a pretty good football team -- but if we don't play any better, we're going to get embarrassed Sunday."

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)