Cowboys at Vikings
Hubert H. Humphrey, Minneapolis, Minn.,
Sunday, Jan. 9
AT A GLANCE: The Vikings enter the game having won eight of their last
10 under the direction of QB Jeff George. The Cowboys haven’t been able to put two
solid outings together virtually all season and must visit a hostile Metrodome.
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| OVERVIEW: Minnesota (10-6) is coming into this game
having won eight of its last 10, including a 24-17 victory over the Lions in Week 17 to
assure a home playoff game. The Cowboys (8-8) put on a decent showing (437 yards of
offense) in a 26-18 win over the Giants last week but are not exactly entering the
playoffs on a hot streak. They’ve lost three of their last five and haven’t put
back-to-back victories together since starting the season 3-0.
Neither team has managed to stay consistent for any lengthy stretch this season.
Injuries have been a big problem for the Cowboys. For the Vikings, the move to QB Jeff
George at halftime of Week Six has provided a spark, and the offense hasn’t looked
back. But the defense has been up and down.
The Vikings and Cowboys met in Minnesota in Week Nine, and the Monday-night showdown
was a tale of two games. The Cowboys controlled the contest until RB Emmitt Smith and QB
Troy Aikman left because of injuries. The Vikings rallied for a 27-17 victory as the
Cowboys’ offense faltered without its two leaders.
WHEN THE COWBOYS HAVE THE BALL:
Dallas will need all it can get from Smith in an effort to keep the Vikings’
offense off the field. Smith has had an outstanding season and has typically risen to the
occasion in big games in the past.
The WR corps has been banged up for most of the ’99 campaign. Injuries to WRs
Michael Irvin, Ernie Mills, Wane McGarity and James McKnight have prevented the
Cowboys’ passing offense from really taking off. First-year WR Jason Tucker has
stepped in as the starter opposite Raghib Ismail and had a 90-yard TD catch last week vs.
the Giants. Scoring hasn’t necessarily been a problem, but consistency has been tough
to establish.
The Cowboys will need TE David LaFleur to be active in finding gaps in Minnesota’s
coverage. He has become a favorite target of Aikman’s in the red zone.
The weakness of the Vikings’ defense is a secondary that is loaded with injuries
and lacking in depth and experience. Former WR Robert Tate is now the team’s nickel
back and is coming along nicely in the transition from offense to defense. SS Robert
Griffith has done it all for the Vikings, but CB Jimmy Hitchcock has not played up to the
level he reached last season. |
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|
Profile |
| Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Date: Sunday, January 9, 2000 |
| 11:35 A.M. Central Time |
| Type Of Turf: Artificial |
| Meeting Of The Year: Second |
| Previous Meeting: |
| |
Dallas |
17 |
| |
Minnesota |
( -7) 27 |
| Season Record: |
| |
Dallas |
8-8-0 |
| |
Minnesota |
10-6-0 |
| Season Record vs. Spread: |
| |
Dallas |
8-8-0 |
| |
Minnesota |
3-11-2 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Dallas (R) |
1-7-0 |
| |
Minnesota (H) |
6-2-0 |
| Home/Road Record vs. Spread: |
| |
Dallas (R) |
1-7-0 |
| |
Minnesota (H) |
2-5-1 |
| Record On Artificial Turf: |
| |
Dallas |
7-6-0 |
| |
Minnesota |
8-3-0 |
| Record On Artificial Turf vs. Spread: |
| |
Dallas |
7-6-0 |
| |
Minnesota |
3-7-1 |
|
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| Getting pressure on Aikman will be the key for the Vikings’ defense. DT John
Randle is back to playing like John Randle, mainly because he is getting better support
from others along the defensive line. Veteran DRE Chris Doleman has had a stellar
season with 8½ sacks after being lured out of retirement by the Vikings, but
Minnesota may be without the services of MLB Ed McDaniel, who sprained his right knee in
the season finale and was scheduled to have it evaluated Monday.
WHEN THE VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL:
The Vikings are clicking on offense at the right time of the year, scoring at least 24
points in seven of their last eight games.
George and WR Randy Moss have a tendency either to connect for huge numbers or be held
down as a duo. Opponents must always be aware of their big-play potential, however. WR
Cris Carter continues to play with a sprained ankle but is showing few ill effects.
RB Robert Smith is playing pain-free for the first time since he had hernia surgery in
Week Seven, and he appears to be peaking and providing the offense with much-needed
balance. Smith is very dangerous when he gets to the outside and can make life miserable
for opposing linebackers who have to chase him outside the tackles.
OLT Todd Steussie has had a significant amount of trouble with quick pass rushers this
season. However, the Cowboys have not been getting enough pressure on the passer out of
their base defense, so look for them to blitz vs. the immobile George. Dallas will need
rookie DE Ebenezer Ekuban to step up and fill in where the injured Greg Ellis left off.
Look for the Vikings to use more three- and four-WR sets vs. the Cowboys, as many teams
have done before them.
The Cowboys have had some injury problems at the CB position, which could spell trouble
vs. Minnesota’s deep WR corps. Kevin Smith and Kevin Mathis normally see a lot of
action opposite Deion Sanders, but both have been hobbled (check status).
Game preview and depth charts were compiled as of Jan. 2, 2000 |
|
Cowboys depth
chart |
OFFENSE |
| WR |
81 ISMAIL, 85 Ogden, 87 Tucker |
| OLT |
76 F. ADAMS, 77 Page* |
| OLG |
77 PAGE*, 62 Myslinski, 73 Allen |
| C |
53 STEPNOSKI, 67 McIver, 69 Fricke |
| ORG |
67 McIVER, 62 Myslinski |
| ORT |
79 E. WILLIAMS, 77 Page* |
| TE |
89 LaFLEUR, 86 Bjornson, 84 Lucky* |
| WR |
80 MILLS, 87 Tucker, 82 Brazzell |
| QB |
8 AIKMAN, 17 Garrett, 11 Quinn |
| RB |
22 E. SMITH, 42 Warren |
| FB |
44 THOMAS, 35 Chancey, 39 Neufeld |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
96 EKUBAN*, 78 Lett, 90 Spellman |
| DLT |
90 SPELLMAN, 75 Noble |
| DRT |
95 HENNINGS, 78 Lett, 91 Benson |
| DRE |
97 PITTMAN, 93 Zellner* |
| LLB |
54 HAMBRICK, 57 Coryatt, 55 Hall |
| MLB |
56 GODFREY, 59 Nguyen*, 44 Thomas |
| RLB |
52 COAKLEY, 55 Hall |
| LCB |
23 MATHIS, 38 Hawthorne, 26 K. Smith |
| RCB |
21 SANDERS, 25 C. Williams, 41 Davis |
| SS |
28 WOODSON, 27 Mobley, 24 V. Adams |
| FS |
31 TEAGUE, 29 Akins, 20 Kaiser |
SPECIALISTS |
| P |
4 GOWIN |
| PK |
3 MURRAY |
| H |
86 BJORNSON |
| PR |
21 SANDERS, 23 Mathis |
| KR |
85 OGDEN, 23 Mathis |
| KC |
70 HELLESTRAE, 89 LaFleur |
* Rookie |
|
|
Vikings depth
chart |
OFFENSE |
| WR |
84 MOSS, 86 Reed |
| OLT |
73 STEUSSIE, 67 Humphrey* |
| OLG |
64 R. McDANIEL, 63 Lacina |
| C |
62 CHRISTY |
| ORG |
71 DIXON, 75 Birk |
| ORT |
77 STRINGER, 67 Humphrey*, 76 Liwienski |
| TE |
82 GLOVER, 87 Crumpler, 43 Jordan |
| WR |
80 CARTER, 89 Hatchette, 81 Walsh, 19 Murphy |
| QB |
3 GEORGE, 7 Cunningham, 12 Culpepper*, 8 Bouman |
| RB |
26 R. SMITH, 44 Hoard, 21 Williams |
| FB |
40 KLEINSASSER, 45 Mills, 33 Morrow |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
93 RANDLE, 92 Clemons |
| NT |
96 BALL, 79 Phillips, 95 Council |
| UT |
94 WILLIAMS, 91 Burrough |
| DRE |
56 DOLEMAN, 97 Sawyer* |
| SLB |
52 WONG, 55 Johnson* |
| MLB |
58 E. McDANIEL |
| WLB |
57 RUDD, 51 Holmberg |
| LCB |
20 WRIGHT*, 29 Rogers* |
| RCB |
37 HITCHCOCK, 28 Tate |
| SS |
24 GRIFFITH, 30 Banks |
| FS |
32 BASS, 31 Morgan |
|
SPECIALISTS |
| P |
17 BERGER |
| PK |
1 ANDERSON |
| H |
17 BERGER |
| PR |
19 MURPHY, 28 Tate, 84 Moss |
| KR |
19 MURPHY, 28 Tate, 21 Williams |
| KC |
68 MORRIS, 67 Humphrey*, 62 Christy |
* Rookie |
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