Burden Lies With Kc Chiefs Against Dallas, Kc Can Salvage Pride For Afc
The three-knockdown rule goes into effect today. If the Cowboys floor the Kansas City Chiefs, the AFC may stay down all the way through the Super Bowl.
The 1 p.m. PT game at Texas Stadium matches the best, by record, from each conference. The Cowboys lead the NFC at 9-2. The Chiefs, riding a seven-game winning streak, top the AFC at 10-1.
Leader of the AFC is nothing to boast about this week. The AFC inferiority complex flares again after two losses in which the conference’s heavyweights could not match NFC heavyweights.
On Sunday, the Cowboys took apart the bully-boy Oakland Raiders, 34-21. On Monday, San Francisco routed Miami, 44-20. The AFC trails by only 21-19 in the season series, but these two games reminded everyone why the NFC has won 11 consecutive Super Bowls.
“It’s just that San Francisco and Dallas happen to be two NFC teams and happen to be the two best teams,” Cowboys coach Barry Switzer said. “That’s what it is. Those two teams may have separated from everybody else. But the Chiefs have a good football team.”
The honor of the AFC falls upon the Chiefs. A decisive Cowboys victory would make the NFC title game the marquee event of the season.
Again.
“That’s certainly not any concern of ours,” said Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer, who is 21-14 lifetime against the NFC. “We’ve got to play one of the best teams in the NFL. We’re not trying to carry any banner or champion any cause.”
A victory would give the Cowboys a sweep of the AFC West, allegedly the conference’s best division. The Cowboys beat Denver, Oakland and San Diego by a combined 37 points.
That has become the norm for the Cowboys. Since 1990, they are 15-4 against the AFC. Two losses in 1993 carry asterisks. Running back Emmitt Smith missed the Buffalo loss because of a holdout. Miami scored the winning points after Cowboys defensive tackle Leon Lett muffed a blocked field goal when there was no need to touch the ball.
“The AFC probably feels like they’ve been undermined the past couple of years because of the number of Super Bowls on the NFC side,” Smith said. “They feel like they might have a lot more to prove.
“Either way it goes, it’s going to be a great game. The AFC has some great clubs. Kansas City is not 10-1 on a humbug and a fluke. They’ve been playing real good all year. It’s hard to be 10-1 in this league, as we found out.”
The Chiefs are 3-0 against the NFC this season. The victories came against Arizona, Washington and the New York Giants, who are a combined 9-24. The Chiefs have beaten the only team they faced with a winning record: Oakland.
“We’re a good team,” Schottenheimer said. “I don’t represent to anybody that we’re a great team. We’ve been very resourceful. I’m not sure we’ve played a team that’s the caliber of the Cowboys.”
In today’s early game, the Minnesota Vikings (6-5) travel to Detroit (5-6) for an NFC Central matchup with the Lions.
Warren Moon, who turned 39 less than a week ago, has guided the Vikings to three consecutive victories. Moon has 11 touchdown passes in those three games and hasn’t thrown an interception in the past four.
Moon will be operating against a Detroit defense that hasn’t had much success. But the Lions’ offense has been performing well as Scott Mitchell has become steady.
“They have their passing game in high gear, now,” Vikings coach Dennis Green said. “They have terrific receivers in Herman Moore and Brett Perriman. As a result, Barry Sanders is over 1,000 yards already.”
Rams sign cornerback
The St. Louis Rams got some help for their secondary, but they may have to wait for results.
Cornerback Maurice Hurst, a seven-year veteran who was waived by the New England Patriots on Monday, was claimed off waivers by the Rams. But Hurst’s agent, Doug Sunseri, said his client has been playing with a herniated disc in his neck that bothers him when he turns his head to the right.
The Rams were administering a physical to Hurst Wednesday. Coach Rich Brooks said if all went well, Hurst could play a significant role Sunday at San Francisco.
The Rams gave up 325 yards passing in a 31-6 loss to Atlanta last week. In that game Brooks benched cornerback Anthony Parker, who has been bothered by a rotator cuff injury.
xxxx ON TV Minnesota at Detroit (FOX), 10 a.m. Kansas City at Dallas (NBC), 1 p.m.