European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 8, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 18 b the stars and stripes sunday december 8t 1991nfl week 15 cowboys Welcome groggy saints by Dave Goldberg a football writer the Dallas cowboys and new Orleans saints Are like two ships groping through the fog in opposite directions. The cowboys can see Clear weather ahead the saints Are moving deeper into the soup. Quot if we can win 11 games i think we have a Good Chance at winning the super bowl Quot says Jerry Jones the ebullient owner of a Dallas team that a 8-5 just two years after finishing 1-15. Quot but the first thing you have to do is get out there where the big boats Are. First things first. The saints remain at 9-4 after losing two straight chances to Clinch their first Ever division title. They can still Clinch a wild card berth this week with a Victory but can win the division this week Only if they win and both Atlanta and san Francisco lose a the Falcons to the rams the 49ers to the sea Hawks. Quot its become a tighter race but its still ours to win Quot says new Orleans nose tackle Jim Wilks. A maybe the pressure will help a rest would be better. The new Orleans defense second in the nil has allowed 86 Points in the fourth period of its last three games after allowing Only 21 in the last period of the first ten. Injuries to quarterback Bobby Hebert and running backs Dalton Hilliard and Craig Heyward have led coach Jim Mora to rely More on the defense and its simply begun to Wear Down. Hebert a injury sets up an interesting meeting Between the cowboys and Steve Walsh whom they traded to the saints last season. Walsh played against Dallas last year a 17-13 loss that dropped the saints record at Texas stadium to 0-8. The cowboys meanwhile have found a More than adequate replacement in Steve Beuerlein who took Over when Troy Aikman went Down in Washington and led them to wins Over the redskins and Steeles. That a a lot better than last season when with Aikman Hurt Dallas tried and failed to get to the playoffs behind babe Laufenberg the ultimate Journeyman. Coach Jimmy Johnson is just Happy that the cowboys Are getting the saints now. A i d rather play a team that s struggling than one that son a Roll he says. In other games Theis weekend Buffalo 11-2 at los angelas raiders 9-4 revenge would be More than Sweet for the raiders who need no reminders of what happened the last time they met the Bills the 51-3 she lacking in the acc title ame last january that made the nation so aware of but aloes offence. A i done to forget losses especially games like that Quot says coach Art 6-5 at new York giants 7-6 last Chance for the giants if they Hope to have any shot at defending their title a the 27-24 loss in Cincinnati last week was indeed a Crusher. Now come the eagles redskins and oilers and new York needs to win them All to make the playoffs. A it Isnit outside the realm of possibility Quot says Everson Walls who admits he a the team Optimist. A we just have to take it into our own even in Good years the giants rarely have done that against the eagles who have beaten them six of 5-8 at Houston 9-4 they re getting Antsy for that evasive first acc Central title in Houston although its almost sure to come a the oilers need just one win or a Cleveland loss in the final three weeks to Clinch it. A but there has to be concern about the sputtering run and shoot which has been Fumble and stumble the last two 9-4 at Cleveland 6-7 the cast of characters has changed particularly in Cleveland but there is still a rivalry Here that stems from Denver a three wins Over the Browns in acc title games. The stakes Are lower now although the Broncos have to keep winning if they want to win the acc West a if they finish tied with the raiders los Angeles wins the division by virtue of its sweep. The Browns have an outside shot at a wild card but they be already had a successful season in Bill Belichick a first year doubling their win total of last York jets 7-6 at Detroit 9-4 not even the Lions thought they a be tied for first in the pfc Central with three games left particularly with Erik Kramer replacing Rodney Peete at quarterback. But Bariy Sanders has helped carry them this far the defense has been improving each week and the Home dome has helped. If they win this one the Lions finish the season 8-0 at Home. Even if it does t win the division Detroit is in Good position for a playoff spot a one More win should do it. I Arffia new Orleans backup a a Steve Walsh returns to Dallas. Dallas backup this season is sex Raider Steve Beurlen. Not so the jets who Are in the Tough part of their schedule and May have to win in Miami the final week to make Francisco 7-6 at Seattle 6-7 Steve Bono has two straight 300-Yard games and is starting to look a lot like a Guy named Joe Montana instead of a seven year Veteran who a bounced in and out of the nil. With the defense Chipping in he sled the 49ers on a three game winning Streak that May be too late. San Francisco has to win this one then beat Kansas City and Chicago just to have a Chance for the playoffs. Even at 10-6, the 49ers done to have very Good tie breaker possibilities. Seattle a situation is similar a win them All and Hope for Bay 3-10 at Chicago 9-4 Mike Ditka was t pleased with the bears thanksgiving Day performance at Detroit which dropped Chicago into a tie in a division it thought it had wrapped up. It was the second straight loss for Chicago which probably Means an even More physical game than usual in a game that a always a 8-5 at lot angelas rams 3-10 the Falcons Are in the midst of the pfc playoff race although they could just As easily be 5-8 As 8-5 alter beating the 49ers on a a big Bend on the final play of the Fame and beating the saints in overtime after trailing by 0 Points in the last Quarter. Chris Miller who threw for 187 Yards in the second half against Green Bay after sitting of the first with a 103-degree fever should be healthy this week. The rams who lost 31-14 at Atlanta earlier in the season seem to be playing out the Diego 3-10 at Kansas City 8-5 the chiefs 19-6 win at Seattle last week was typical a four Nick Lowery Field goals and one touchdown pass. They also rediscovered Barry word a 1,000-Yard rusher last season but a Sitter most of this year. Word Likely will play again this week with Christian Okoye and Harvey Williams both bruised. Kansas City in Good shape for a wild card playoff spot is trying to keep alive its slim Hopes of passing the raiders and Broncos in the acc 2-11 at Miami 7-6 monday night the bengals missing Anthony Munoz in an already banged up offensive line will try to continue the a misery loves company a routine they started by upsetting the giants 27-24 last week All but killing the playoff Hopes of the super bowl champs. A loss would be misery for the dolphins who have won four of five to get into decent position for a wildcard berth. Dan Marino had his Best Day of the season last week throwing for 307 Yards against Tampa Bay and remains the quarterback you want for a stretch 12-1 at Phoenix 4-9 the redskins can Start resting banged up players like Charles Mann now although they need a win Here to officially Clinch Home Field advantage for the playoffs. The cards got their rest a last week off a and will try to close the season respectably. Minnesota 6-7 at Tampa Bay 2-11 Call this the Laine Duck bowl. Jerry Burns confirmed this week that he will step Down As the Vikings coach after the season and there seems Little Way that Richard Williamson 3-12 for his nil career can hold his Job with the bucs. The Vikings have an outside shot at a playoff spot if they can win their remaining three a they re Home to the rams and packers after this. But they have a habit of losing games they should win and 9-7 May not be Good 1-12 at new England 4-9 the Colts used to be the Only team the patriots could beat a they went 14 games with three victories All Over Indianapolis. Since then they be become More competitive while the Colts have deteriorated. They got 115 Yards last week from Eric Dickerson in his return but still lost 31-0 to Cleveland turning the Ball Over four times
