Dallas: Offense Is Key

	IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Good defense is supposed to translate into
championships.
	After the Dallas defense scored more points than the offense on
Monday night, not all the Cowboys are so sure.
	``We've got to get our offense going,'' Pro Bowl center Mark
Stepnoski said Wednesday. ``The defense has been carrying this
team. The offense isn't getting the job done. We'll never get to
the Super Bowl playing like this.''
	The Cowboys returned two interceptions for touchdowns to beat
the Saints 24-16. Two weeks ago, Dallas needed a 94-yard
interception return for a touchdown by Darren Woodson to knock off
Philadelphia.
	The Cowboys have a short week to try to turn their offense
around before Saturday's game against the New York Giants at the
Meadowlands.
	``I just feel so-so about the way I've played and the way the
whole team has played,'' quarterback Troy Aikman said. ``We're
going to have to play better in all phases of the game if we get to
do what we want to do and that's win a third consecutive Super
Bowl.''
	Aikman missed two games with a knee sprain, and the offense
played well enough to get past Green Bay and Philadelphia.
	Aikman returned against the Cleveland Browns, played poorly by
his own admission, and Dallas lost 19-14. He threw two
interceptions against the Saints, and the offense accounted for
only 10 points.
	``We put some good drives together against the Saints. Now we
need to put the whole offensive package together,'' offensive
coordinator Ernie Zampese said.
	Complicating matters is the second hamstring injury of the
season to running back Emmitt Smith. He pulled his right hamstring
on Oct. 2 and pulled his left hamstring Monday night against New
Orleans.
	The Cowboys need Smith in the lineup against the Giants to get
back their offensive timing. But is it worth the risk of
aggravating Smith's injury?
	The game against the Giants means nothing to the Cowboys, who
clinched a bye in the first round and will be home for a divisional
playoff game on Jan. 7 or 8. San Francisco has the homefield
advantage throughout the playoffs.
	But the Cowboys still need a solid game against the Giants for
polishing and positive thinking as they head into the playoffs.
	``You want to go into the playoffs not worried about any phase
of your team,'' defensive end Tony Tolbert said. ``We're still
making too many mistakes. We even had a field-goal attempt blocked.
We've got to get everything worked out against the Giants.''
	Defensive coordinator Butch Davis said the Dallas defense gets
better each week.
	``The defensive plays we made against the Saints were some of
the biggest we've made in my six years here,'' Davis said. ``Our
defense refuses to give up no matter what kind of field position it
gets.''
	Defensive tackle Russell Maryland said even though the Cowboys
have won 12 games, there has been frustration.
	``It's been a hard climb this year,'' Maryland said. ``In the
past we've always overcome the negatives. We've got to really pull
together now to get that third ring.''