Dallas offense vs. Minnesota defense

	COWBOYS OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	6
	Pass	25
	Tot. Yds.	18
	Scoring	11
	Int's allowed	13
	Sacks allowed	24
	VIKINGS DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	14
	vs. Pass	30
	Total yds. allowed	27
	# of Ints.	12
	# of Sacks	46
	Turnover differential	-10

Coming off a strong finale against the Giants, QB Troy Aikman must find a rhythm and get the ball out quickly to prevent the Vikings from defending what has become a rather vanilla offensive game plan.

Aikman, who was knocked out of the last game between these teams with a concussion, will normally direct a conventional two-receiver, two-running back set when they go to the air. Dallas' lack of depth at receiver will limit what they will be able to do in terms of formations and personnel groupings, making them that much easier to defend.

One positive for the Cowboys heading into Sunday's game is the recent emergence of rookie WR Jason Tucker, who has caught 11 passes for 250 yards in the past two games. Tucker, who broke training camp as the No. 6 receiver on the roster, has taken advantage of opposing defenses when they roll coverage to the side of WR Rocket Ismail.

Dallas head coach Chan Gailey is confident that his team can hit some big plays in the passing game against an extremely inexperienced Viking secondary. With rookie DC Kenny Wright, untested FS Anthony Bass and converted wide receiver Robert Tate in the nickel package, Minnesota has been tentative to use the blitz to create pressure. Luckily for the Vikings, their front four has come on strong the past month and should provide an ample rush without help from the back-seven. Minnesota's defensive line accounted for six of the team's season-high seven sacks last week but this group is undersized and could easily be engulfed by Dallas' massive front.

The one thing Dallas' offense has done consistently well all season is run the football and the Cowboy's appear to peaking in this area at the right time. Smith has rolled up three straight 100-yard games and the offensive line seems to be responding to the team's more aggressive approach on the ground. Offensive line coach Hudson Houck's unit didn't respond to a finesse-style early in the season and the new philosophy should help them attack the smallish interior, especially if MLB Ed McDaniel sits out with a knee injury.

Before leaving the Week 9 contest with a broken hand, Smith was on his way to a career-best performance (13 att., 140 yds., 2 TD) and was running through the arm tackles of Minnesota defenders. Dallas even excelled after he left the game, finishing with 205 yards rushing on a staggering 8.5 per carry. If the Vikings don't do a better job of playing sound, fundamental defense, Dallas will be able to utilize a ball-control scheme that will take the home crowd out of the game.

Dallas' last few opponents have pressured them with three-receiver sets but look for Minnesota to take it one step further on Sunday when offensive coordinator Ray Sherman goes with four wides. Now that the offensive line doesn't require much help from TE Andrew Glover in pass protection, they are using multiple-receiver sets more liberally than they did in the beginning of the year.

The Vikings are one of the only teams in the league that have the personnel to effectively attack a depleted secondary, as they attempted to do last week against the Lions. An off game by QB Jeff George (14-of-24, 2 INT) kept it competitive but he had numerous opportunities to break the game wide open in the second half. Despite his struggles, George did connect with WR Randy Moss four times in the first half for 147 yards, including bombs of 53 and 67 yards, as the Lions inexplicably left their corners in man coverage against Moss early in the game before reverting back to predominantly zone looks after halftime.

If the Cowboys are forced to go with inexperienced players such as Duane Hawthorne, look for them to play a deep zone and rely heavily upon the speed of their linebackers to get enough depth to prevent crossing routes by WR Cris Carter.

The one wild card that Dallas will rely on is a healthy Deion Sanders, who played the Week 9 game at far less than 100 percent. With Sanders locked in single coverage on either Moss or Carter, it will allow Dallas to focus on the intermediate sideline routes that gave them problems in the last meeting in the Metrodome.

One weapon that they Vikings didn't have in their earlier matchup against the Cowboys was 1,000-yard rusher RB Robert Smith. Without Smith in the lineup, Dallas faced a one-dimensional running attack with the between-the-tackles style of RB Leroy Hoard, who banged his way for over four yards per carry. Smith will present a challenge with his speed and ability to get to the corner.

Rookie DE Ebenezer Ekuban has held up well in Greg Ellis' spot the past few weeks, but he'll need a monster effort on Sunday against the run. Dallas' run defense allowed 90.3 yards per game in the regular season and they haven't faced a quality runner since their Week 15 when Curtis Martin rolled up 113 yards on 26 carries.