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Despite beating Giants twice this season, Cowboys ready for playoff test
By JAIME ARON, AP Sports Writer
January 12, 2008
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- On the home sideline of the Dallas Cowboys' most recent home playoff game, Greg Ellis was surrounded by teammates who were seeking their second, third or fourth Super Bowl ring.
On the other sideline? A joke of a team. A playoff team, yes, but one that shouldn't have given Dallas any trouble. The Cowboys had beaten them twice that season and oh-so-many times before. They hadn't even won a playoff game in more than 50 years.
C'mon, they were the Cardinals.
The joke turned out to be on Dallas. Jake Plummer had a great game for Arizona and the aging, uninspired Cowboys got what they deserved, a 20-7 loss that wasn't anywhere near as close as the score suggests.
Ellis used this little history lesson this week partly because Dallas is getting ready for its first playoff game since that embarrassing afternoon in January 1999.
Another reason for the storytelling was to remind folks how precious playoff games are, especially home ones. See, he was a rookie then, a 10-year veteran now.
But his main point about that game was contrasting the Cowboys' mind-set then to the attitude they'll carry into their game Sunday against the New York Giants.
"Arizona that year doesn't compare to New York this year, talent-wise, ability-wise, reputation," Ellis said. "You're talking about Arizona and you're talking about New York. You know what I mean? I'm not guaranteeing we'll win the game, but I will guarantee that we won't overlook them."
That Dallas-Arizona game also is significant because it's one of 17 previous instances of teams meeting for a third time after one team won the first two.
It's one of six times the 0-2 team won the most important matchup.
The Giants, of course, hope to make it seven.
More than hope, actually. They believe they can after being within a field goal in the closing minutes of the opener, then being within four points in the fourth quarter of the November meeting at Giants Stadium. New York also is coming off a strong performance in a season-ending loss against New England, followed by a victory over Tampa Bay in the wild-card round last weekend, the confidence-boosting first postseason win for quarterback Eli Manning.
"Even though we lost two tough games with Dallas, we feel that if we go down and play our best football we can give ourselves a chance to win by not hurting ourselves," receiver Plaxico Burress said. "This is basically going to come down to the team that doesn't make any mistakes and the team that is more physical."
The teams certainly know each other, having met 91 times since Dallas joined the NFL in 1960. This, however, will be the first postseason meeting.
The rivalry and third matchup stuff are only the start of the story lines to this game. Other include the Cowboys trying to end a franchise-worst 11-year playoff drought, coach Wade Phillips and quarterback Tony Romo seeking their first playoff wins and the supposed distraction of Romo spending last weekend in Mexico with girlfriend Jessica Simpson.
There's more, too.
Dallas also is trying to get back to playing the way it did during a 12-1 start, not a 1-2 finish. Terrell Owens is likely to play, but how good will he be because of his high ankle sprain? The Cowboys also will have Terry Glenn, who played only in the season finale and didn't catch a pass but has drawn raves this week in practice.
The Giants' biggest concern is in the secondary. Cornerback Kevin Dockery is out and fellow cornerback Sam Madison is doubtful because of a strained abdominal muscle. New York needs all the help it can get if Owens and Glenn are healthy, especially since Romo has three touchdown passes of at least 20 yards in each of the two previous meetings this season.
Then again, the Giants are 8-0 on the road since their lone road loss -- way back on Sept. 9, at Texas Stadium. A lot has changed for both teams since then.
"You can look back at the other two games and learn from them, but it doesn't mean anything," Manning said. "This is a whole new game, a whole new situation, and that is what we are looking forward to. It should be a good game."
The Cowboys have been saying for weeks that they'll be able to snap back to midseason form. After getting back to basics last week, then having a weekend off, everyone's been raving at how crisp and effective practices have been.
They certainly don't seem worried. Phillips has been his usual loose self and the atmosphere has been light in the locker room.
A perfect example unfolded while reporters were allowed in Friday afternoon.
Backup receivers Sam Hurd and Isaiah Stanback staged an elaborate wrestling match, with offensive lineman Marc Colombo slapping a bench for sound effects. Their theatrics were too good to have been totally impromptu, and Stanback said they've been doing it all season, including as recently as Wednesday. Still, their teammates got into it Friday, with about 50 of them watching, clapping and laughing along.
"I'm bleeding inside right now," Hurd said, still cracking up minutes later. "It ain't over."
It will be Sunday -- for the Giants or the Cowboys.
By JAIME ARON, AP Sports Writer
January 12, 2008
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- On the home sideline of the Dallas Cowboys' most recent home playoff game, Greg Ellis was surrounded by teammates who were seeking their second, third or fourth Super Bowl ring.
On the other sideline? A joke of a team. A playoff team, yes, but one that shouldn't have given Dallas any trouble. The Cowboys had beaten them twice that season and oh-so-many times before. They hadn't even won a playoff game in more than 50 years.
C'mon, they were the Cardinals.
The joke turned out to be on Dallas. Jake Plummer had a great game for Arizona and the aging, uninspired Cowboys got what they deserved, a 20-7 loss that wasn't anywhere near as close as the score suggests.
Ellis used this little history lesson this week partly because Dallas is getting ready for its first playoff game since that embarrassing afternoon in January 1999.
Another reason for the storytelling was to remind folks how precious playoff games are, especially home ones. See, he was a rookie then, a 10-year veteran now.
But his main point about that game was contrasting the Cowboys' mind-set then to the attitude they'll carry into their game Sunday against the New York Giants.
"Arizona that year doesn't compare to New York this year, talent-wise, ability-wise, reputation," Ellis said. "You're talking about Arizona and you're talking about New York. You know what I mean? I'm not guaranteeing we'll win the game, but I will guarantee that we won't overlook them."
That Dallas-Arizona game also is significant because it's one of 17 previous instances of teams meeting for a third time after one team won the first two.
It's one of six times the 0-2 team won the most important matchup.
The Giants, of course, hope to make it seven.
More than hope, actually. They believe they can after being within a field goal in the closing minutes of the opener, then being within four points in the fourth quarter of the November meeting at Giants Stadium. New York also is coming off a strong performance in a season-ending loss against New England, followed by a victory over Tampa Bay in the wild-card round last weekend, the confidence-boosting first postseason win for quarterback Eli Manning.
"Even though we lost two tough games with Dallas, we feel that if we go down and play our best football we can give ourselves a chance to win by not hurting ourselves," receiver Plaxico Burress said. "This is basically going to come down to the team that doesn't make any mistakes and the team that is more physical."
The teams certainly know each other, having met 91 times since Dallas joined the NFL in 1960. This, however, will be the first postseason meeting.
The rivalry and third matchup stuff are only the start of the story lines to this game. Other include the Cowboys trying to end a franchise-worst 11-year playoff drought, coach Wade Phillips and quarterback Tony Romo seeking their first playoff wins and the supposed distraction of Romo spending last weekend in Mexico with girlfriend Jessica Simpson.
There's more, too.
Dallas also is trying to get back to playing the way it did during a 12-1 start, not a 1-2 finish. Terrell Owens is likely to play, but how good will he be because of his high ankle sprain? The Cowboys also will have Terry Glenn, who played only in the season finale and didn't catch a pass but has drawn raves this week in practice.
The Giants' biggest concern is in the secondary. Cornerback Kevin Dockery is out and fellow cornerback Sam Madison is doubtful because of a strained abdominal muscle. New York needs all the help it can get if Owens and Glenn are healthy, especially since Romo has three touchdown passes of at least 20 yards in each of the two previous meetings this season.
Then again, the Giants are 8-0 on the road since their lone road loss -- way back on Sept. 9, at Texas Stadium. A lot has changed for both teams since then.
"You can look back at the other two games and learn from them, but it doesn't mean anything," Manning said. "This is a whole new game, a whole new situation, and that is what we are looking forward to. It should be a good game."
The Cowboys have been saying for weeks that they'll be able to snap back to midseason form. After getting back to basics last week, then having a weekend off, everyone's been raving at how crisp and effective practices have been.
They certainly don't seem worried. Phillips has been his usual loose self and the atmosphere has been light in the locker room.
A perfect example unfolded while reporters were allowed in Friday afternoon.
Backup receivers Sam Hurd and Isaiah Stanback staged an elaborate wrestling match, with offensive lineman Marc Colombo slapping a bench for sound effects. Their theatrics were too good to have been totally impromptu, and Stanback said they've been doing it all season, including as recently as Wednesday. Still, their teammates got into it Friday, with about 50 of them watching, clapping and laughing along.
"I'm bleeding inside right now," Hurd said, still cracking up minutes later. "It ain't over."
It will be Sunday -- for the Giants or the Cowboys.