[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Sunday, November 23, 1997

Cowboys will extend streak against Packers

By Jean-Jacques Taylor

The Dallas Morning News

DALLAS -- The Packers can't beat the Cowboys.

They know it. The Cowboys know it. The whole state of Wisconsin knows it. Even Brett Favre's eight-year-old daughter knows it. How? Her teacher told her.

So it must be true. After all, teachers never lie.

The Packers won Super Bowl XXXI last season, but the Cowboys remain the team of the '90s. They have three Super Bowl rings and five NFC Championship Game appearances to prove it.

More important, the Cowboys own the Packers. Seven wins in the past four years provides conclusive evidence: The streak is no fluke.

"I expect us to win," receiver Michael Irvin said. "We expect to win."

And why shouldn't he?

Three of the Cowboys' victories against Green Bay have come in the playoffs, where championship teams elevate their play.

The Cowboys will make it nine in a row over Green Bay at noon Central time on Sunday at Lambeau Field because they have the NFL's best secondary.

Deion Sanders. Kevin Smith. Darren Woodson. Brock Marion.

Sanders is the best cornerback in NFL history, and Woodson is the NFL's best strong safety. Smith ranks among the league's best cornerbacks and Marion, an underrated player, leads the team in tackles.

---

MATCHUP PROBLEMS FOR PACKERS

It's really that simple. The Cowboys pose a terrible matchup for the pass-happy Packers.

They will shut down the Packers' receiving core of Antonio Freeman, Robert Brooks and tight end Mark Chmura. And when a passing team can't pass, it loses.

Three weeks ago, the Cowboys' secondary made Steve Young play like a college freshman. Young, the NFL's passing efficiency leader four of the past five seasons, passed for 173 yards with two interceptions.

Only Arizona's Kent Graham and Jacksonville's Mark Brunell have passed for more than 200 yards against the NFL's best secondary.

Opposing quarterbacks have completed only 53 percent of their passes. And don't forget, the Cowboys have had success against Favre.

A career 62 percent passer, Favre has reached that figure only twice against the Cowboys. They have sacked him eight times in the past two games and he has thrown more touchdowns than interceptions in a game just three times.

"You have to give our coaches a lot of credit," defensive end Broderick Thomas said. "(Defensive coordinator) Dave Campo came up with a great scheme last year, and he'll do it again."

The Cowboys also will benefit from some offensive help for a change. Nothing brings out the best in the Cowboys' offense like green and gold.

Dallas has averaged 25.8 points the past seven games against the Packers, with a low of 21.

Troy Aikman has recorded three of the top 10 passing games of his career against the Packers. Emmitt Smith has gained more than 100 yards in three of the past five games, and Irvin has five 100-yard games against Green Bay.

---

STOPPING THE BIG THREE

The trio will have similar success Sunday because the Packers' defense rarely has flashed championship form this season. The Packers rank 22nd in the NFL in defense and 27th against the run. And that's with defensive tackle Gilbert Brown and future Hall of Fame defensive end Reggie White.

Both will play Sunday, but they're hurt, which means the Cowboys should be able to run the ball.

Once that happens, the Packers will have to commit strong safety LeRoy Butler to the running game. Then Irvin will start to abuse cornerbacks Doug Evans and Tyrone Williams.

"We know we can play with these guys," Aikman said. "The burden is on them. I don't know that this game will have more emotion than a championship game or a Super Bowl, but it will be an important game."

These Cowboys don't play with the same swagger and arrogance of their predecessors, but don't underestimate the potential on a given Sunday. They still have 14 players who have won three Super Bowl rings.

The Cowboys have too many Pro Bowl players and superstars to be intimidated by the frenzied crowd, frigid temperatures or aura of Lambeau Field.

"Our guys think of themselves as Super Bowl champions," said Cowboys' Coach Barry Switzer, "because when you've won three Super Bowls like a lot of these guys have, you play with a lot of confidence."

-- PICK: Dallas 24, Green Bay 16.

(c) 1997, The Dallas Morning News.

Visit The Dallas Morning News on the World Wide Web at http://www.dallasnews.com/

Distributed by Knight-Ridder/Tribune Information Services.