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Friday, November 21, 1997

Northern Exposure: Packers-Dallas matchup is huge

By MIKE BALDWIN / Daily Oklahoman

IRVING, Texas -- It's still a big game.

Even though home-field advantage isn't at stake when the Cowboys visit Green Bay for the long-awaited showdown Sunday at Lambeau Field, it doesn't erase the reasons Dallas on the "frozen tundra" is a marquee matchup.

"This is a huge game," said Packers coach Mike Holmgren. "It was a huge game in August, and it's a huge game now. It would have been nice if both teams were undefeated, but we're not. But both teams are still fine football teams, both teams are in their division races and I expect both teams to be there at the end."

For the Packers, especially their fans, it's an opportunity to avenge eight consecutive losses, seven at Texas Stadium since 1993. All seven of those losses have been by 10 or more points.

"This game has obviously been a big game on a lot of people's calendars for a long time, certainly for people in Wisconsin," said Cowboys coach Barry Switzer. "The fact we haven't been up that way this decade and the success we've enjoyed over the Green Bay Packers has all contributed to that emotion."

For Packer fans, those emotions have been negative. Even when Green Bay won the Super Bowl last season, the Packers still lost to the Cowboys. Combine that with three consecutive playoff losses to Dallas in '93, '94 and '95, and an 0-7 record against the Cowboys during the Holmgren era, and you can understand the frustration.

"Beating them, I don't want to say it gets us over a hump, but that's kind of been one of the thorns in our side," said Packers quarterback Brett Favre. "You can say what you want, but it's really a big game."

It's big for the Cowboys for a different reason. When you're one game over .500 you need victories regardless of who you play.

"The game has taken on a different significance," Switzer said. "It becomes more meaningful from the aspect both teams just need to win ... We need to win for all the obvious reasons. It's not two teams with great records but two teams that need wins."

The Cowboys, 6-5, probably need to win four of their final five games to reach the playoffs. Green Bay, 8-3, is in a three-way tie for first in the NFC Central. Two more losses and the Packers could drop to wild-card status, not the ideal position to return to the Super Bowl.

It will be an emotional game, but neither team can afford to place too much emphasis on the outcome. The Cowboys play four days later, knowing they need 10 victories to reach the playoffs. The Packers' next two games are on the road at Tampa Bay and Minnesota, the teams they're tied with for the NFC Central lead.

"This is a big game for us, but it's important to keep it in perspective. This is a regular-season game," said Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith. "I'm not going to say this isn't a big game because it is. But we're not going to make it bigger than what it is. You can put too much into one game.

"The Eagles and 'Skins do that all the time."

Two winning streaks are the reason Fox Sports is sending its studio crew of Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Ronnie Lott and James Brown to Lambeau. Favre is 0-7 against Dallas, but the Packers have won 21 consecutive regular-season games at home. Something has to give.

"It's a big game because it's a place where a lot of history has been made and we've been successful against them," said Cowboys defensive tackle Tony Casillas. "A lot of our guys are looking forward to playing up there. It should be a great game playing in that environment."

Ah, yes, the environment. Vince Lombardi. Bart Starr. The Ice Bowl. Thousands of "Cheeseheads" wanting to see their beloved Packers finally defeat the hated Cowboys. This game matches the defending Super Bowl champions against the team of the '90s.

"I'm not counting these guys out, and no one else should," Favre said.

"Anyone who says they're counting them out is just blowing smoke because they're a heckuva football team."

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)