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Monday, Dec 25, 8 p.m. Dallas time, ABC

LINE: Dallas -8

RECORD VS. SPREAD: Dallas 6-7-2; Arizona 7-8

SERIES RECORD: Dallas leads the series 43-22-1.

LAST TIME MET: RB Emmitt Smith rushed for 116 yards in 21 carries and 2 TDs to lead Dallas over Arizona at Texas Stadium in Week 4 by the score of 34-20 in a game that appears closer than it was.

LAST GAME: Dallas K Chris Boniol kicked his 5th FG to defeat the NY Giants at Texas Stadium 21-20. Arizona lost to the Philadelphia Eagles at the Vet also by the score of 21-20 after losing a 17-0 lead.

COWBOYS OFFENSE (RUSH: #2, PASS: #18, OVERALL: #8)
QB Troy Aikman with a rating of 92.2 has fallen from top-ranked QB in the NFC to 4th. RB Emmitt Smith has a league-leading 24 TDs, 1,705 rushing yards and appears on his way to his 4th rushing title in 5 years. WR Michael Irvin has 106 receptions for 1,521 yards and 10 TDs.

CARDINALS OFFENSE (RUSH: #?, PASS: #?, OVERALL: #?)
QB Dave Kreig has an NFC-leading 19 INTs and a QB rating of 75.0. RB Garrison Hearst has rushed for 1,013 yards and 1 TD. RB Larry Centers has ben the most productive player with 89 catches and 1,044 total yards from scrimmage. WR Rob Moore has 901 receiving yards and 5 TDs.

COWBOYS DEFENSE (RUSH: #19, PASS: #7, OVERALL: #12)
The unit is averaging 317.3 total yards against them this season, with an average of 177 yards rushing over the past 3 games. DE Chad Hennings has 5½ sackes (2½ in the past 3 games) and is getting more playing time with the injuries to DE Charles Haley and DT Russell Maryland. DE Tony Tolbert also has 5½ sacks. CB Larry Brown and S Brock Marion lead the team with 5 INTs.

CARDINALS DEFENSE (RUSH: #?, PASS: #?, OVERALL: #?)
The vaunted "46" defense is allowing 348.7 total yards against them this season. DE Clyde Simmons leads the team with 9 sacks. They do lead the NFL with 39 takeaways, with OLB Seth Joyner having 6 and CB Aeneas Williams having 8.

SPECIAL TEAM
Cowboys K Chris Boniol kicked the 5th FG in last week's game to be the game winner. He has been the NFL's most consistent kicker making 24 of 25 FGs this season. P John Jett has an average of 41.0 yards per kick. ...Cardinals P Jeff Feagles has an average punt of 43.9 yards (2nd in the NFC) and leads the NFL with a 38.0 yard net.

STREAKS, STATS & NOTES
Dallas can clinch the division and a 1st round bye with either a win or tie against the Cardinals or a Philadelphia loss at Chicago. A San Francisco loss to Atlanta coupled with a Dallas win will give them Home Field advantage throughout the playoffs. ...The Cowboys have won 10 straight games against the Cardinals. ...RB Emmitt Smith needs just 1 TD to pass John Riggin's record and set a new NFL season record for TDs in a season with 25. He has 99 TDs in 92 games and his next TD will give him 100 TDs in 93 games, tying with RB Jim Brown as only the 2nd NFL player to reach 100 TDs in fewer games. Smith needs 9 yards to surpass his career-best season rushing total of 1,713 set in 1992. ...QB Troy Aikman is 51-15 in his last 66 starts. ...WR Michael Irvin can add to his NFL record of 11 100-yard games with another century effort. Dallas has an NFL-leading 10 representatives in the Pro Bowl (the 3rd straight year Dallas has led the league in Pro Bowl selections). Those players are QB Troy Aikman, RB Emmitt Smith, WR Michael Irvin, OT Mark Tuinei, OG Nate Newton, OG Larry Allen, C Ray Donaldson, TE Jay Novacek, DE Charles Haley and S Darren Woodson. ...Arizona RB Larry Centers needs just 4 receptions to become the NFL's single-season record holder for receptions by a RB, surpass Roger Craig (92), who set the record in 1985 while in San Francisco. ...RB Garrison Hearst recorded his 1st 1,000 rushing season with his performance against the Eagles last week. ...ARizona will be reporesented in the Pro Bowl by RB Larry Centers, CB Aeneas Williams, DT Eric Swann and P Jeff Feagles.