LINE -- Cowboys by 5½.
RECORD VS. SPREAD -- Cowboys 9-7-0; Steelers 7-9-0.
SERIES RECORD -- Steelers lead 13-12.
LAST TIME MET -- In 1991 at Texas Stadium, Cowboys won 20-10.
COWBOYS OFFENSE -- RUSH (No. 2), PASS (No. 7), OVERALL (No. 4)
Nucleus of two-time champions still intact: regular season and
Super Bowl MVP RB Emmitt Smith (NFL-high 1,486 yards, 10 TDs), QB
Troy Aikman (3,100 yards, 15 TDs, six INTs), WRs Michael Irvin (88
receptions, 1,330 yards) and Alvin Harper and TE Jay Novacek. Unit
stacked with Pro Bowl linemen: C Mark Stepnoski, G Nate Newton and
T Erik Williams. WR Kevin Williams is weapon. FB Daryl Johnston is
effective receiver (50 receptions) and blocker. Ernie Zampese,
Redskins coach Norv Turner's mentor, is new coordinator.
STEELERS OFFENSE -- RUSH (No. 6), PASS (No. 13), OVERALL (No. 7)
If Barry Foster reverts to old form (AFC-leading 1,680 yards in
1992), unit which emphasizes ball control will succeed. Rookie Bam
Morris (Texas Tech) beat out Leroy Thompson (traded to Patriots) to
back up Foster. QB Neil O'Donnell (3,208 yards, 14 TDs, seven INTs)
had best season despite painful elbow tendinitis. All-Pro C
Dermontti Dawson anchors line. Charles Johnson (Colorado) was first
WR taken in draft (No. 17 overall). FB John L. Williams (58
receptions) replaces Merril Hoge (Bears). Pro Bowl TE Eric Green
(63 receptions) ended holdout, but missed preseason action. Todd
Kalis (Vikings) replaces troubled G Carlton Haselrig.
COWBOYS DEFENSE -- RUSH (No. 11), PASS (No. 10t), OVERALL (No. 10)
This bend-but-not-break defense turned it on when had to. Led by
DTs Russell Maryland and Leon Lett; LB Darrin Smith; and excellent
secondary, featuring CBs Kevin Smith and Larry Brown. Kevin Smith
and Brown are two of NFL's best cover men. Super Bowl hero James
Washington and Darren Woodson are safeties. No. 1 pick Shante
Carver (Arizona State) groomed to replace oft-injured DE Charles
Haley. Key losses: LB Ken Norton Jr. (49ers) and trade of S Thomas
Everett to Tampa Bay.
STEELERS DEFENSE -- RUSH (No. 3), PASS (No. 15), OVERALL (No. 3)
Clearly, this is Rod Woodson and Greg Lloyd's team. The All-Pro
CB and star LB are physical and emotional leaders. LB Kevin Greene
(12 1/2 sacks) can still get to QB. Joel Steed showed improvement at
NTm as did rookies LB Chad Brown and CB Deon Figures (replaces D.J.
Johnson, Falcons). Safeties Carnell Lake and Darren Perry round out
secondary. LB Levon Kirkland has ability to make people forget
about All-Pro Hardy Nickerson. DE Ray Seals (Buccaneers) had 8 1/2
sacks last season. DE Gerald Williams is solid when healthy. CB Tim
McKyer (Lions) is new nickle-dime back.
SPECIAL TEAMS -- Decision not to re-sign K Eddie Murray (Eagles) may hurt Dallas. Rookie Chris Boniol (Louisiana Tech) won job. After long training camp holdout, K Gary Anderson (28-30 FGs, 32-32 PATs) reported. With special teams costing Steelers more than one game last season, brought in highly regarded coach Bobby April (Falcons).
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES
Emmitt Smith can become only second player in NFL history to win four straight rushing titles. Jim Brown won five straight from 1957-1961. ... Rod Woodson, NFL's defensive player of year, was one of five active players selected to 48-man All-Time NFL team in August. ... DT Tony Casillas, contract terminated by Kansas City for failing to report to camp, said he has overcome medical problems and considers a return to Dallas. ... In offseason, Leon Lett had two screws placed in right foot to aid healing of broken bone. ... Rodney Peete (Lions) will back up Aikman. ... John L. Williams' 471 career receptions place him fifth in NFL history among RBs.
Cowboys: RB Derrick Lassic (knee) is out. RB Daryl Johnston (foot) is questionable.
Steelers: QB Jim Miller (thumb) is probable.
The Super Bowl champion Cowboys play Sunday afternoon in a test of their defensive line against a team that will run all day if you let them. Plus, the Steelers have guys who can catch in Charles Johnson and Andre Hastings.
In fact, this is a bad matchup for the Cowboys. The Steelers also have one of the NFL's best secondaries.
Result? Barry Switzer frowns, Jimmy Johnson smiles and Jerry Jones calls down plays from the owner's box.