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Thursday, November 20, 1997

Staying ahead of time aids Cowboys against Pack

By Jean-Jacques Taylor

The Dallas Morning News

(KRT)

DALLAS - The Cowboys have used a simple approach to beat Green Bay seven times in the past four seasons: keep quarterback Brett Favre on the bench.

The Cowboys have won the time of possession battle in each of their victories.

Five times they kept the ball at least five minutes more than the Packers. And in their 1995 playoff win, the Cowboys held a 17-minute advantage in time of possession.

It's no coincidence.

"That's our offensive philosophy, and that's why our playbook is built on ball control," Cowboys' Coach Barry Switzer said. "But accomplishing that is hard against a good football team."

The Cowboys rank seventh in the NFL in time of possession (31:23), despite a season-long offensive slump. Dallas ranks 19th in total offense and has scored more than one offensive touchdown just four times.

But they have dominated Green Bay's defense during the streak.

"We've had success against them because we've been able to be balanced," running back Emmitt Smith said. "We've been able to get first downs and eat up the clock, while keeping them on the bench."

Offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese said the key to Sunday's game will be how the Cowboys' offensive line handles Green Bay's defensive line.

Aikman has four 300-yard games, Irvin has five 100-yard games and Smith has three 100-yard games against the Packers during the streak.

To have similar success, he said, the offensive line must play well.

"They have a big, strong defensive front that plays physically," Zampese said. "When you look at them on film, they run over a lot of guys, but our guys have managed to hold their own.

"But we can't just hold the ball. We have to be productive. You don't expect to beat a team like Green Bay by scoring 10 or 14 points."

Traditionally, though, the Cowboys have shredded the Packers' offense. Last season marked the first time the Cowboys failed to score at least 27 points during the streak. But former kicker Chris Boniol tied a NFL record that day by making seven field goals.

The Packers rank 29th in the NFL in time of possession, but fifth in points scored per game.

Their time of possession figure is misleading because the Packers are a predominantly passing team and the clock stops after each incompletion, so a drive with three incompletions could last less than a minute.

The Packers also strike quickly.

Favre has 24 completions of at least 20 yards, including 10 of more than 30 yards, leading to short touchdown drives.

"We're closing the talent gap, and some might say that we're ahead of them," Favre said, "but we still have something to prove.

"They still have what I call the Holy Trinity in Aikman, Smith and Irvin, so I'm not counting them out because they've struggled a little this season."

(c) 1997, The Dallas Morning News.

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