November 8, 1999

When the Dallas Cowboys travel to the Minnesota Vikings on NFL Monday Night Football tonight, it will be a matchup of two of the league’s more successful teams of the ’90s…and two who had a recent memorable game.

Since 1992 – Dallas’ first Super Bowl season of the ’90s and DENNIS GREEN’s first season as head coach of the Vikings – Dallas has posted a 79-40 (.640) regular-season record, tying Green Bay for second best in the conference. Minnesota has a 75-45 (.625) mark, which ranks fourth in the NFC. San Francisco is the NFC leader with an 88-31 (.739) record.

Since ’92, the clubs have met four times, with Dallas winning three, including a 40-15 1996 Wild Card victory. The Vikings’ lone win came last year on Thanksgiving Day. And what a game it was.

1998 THANKSGIVING SHOOTOUT

On November 26, 1998 -- Thanksgiving Day -- Minnesota defeated Dallas 46-36 at Texas Stadium. The teams combined for 82 points, 984 total yards, 92 passes, 808 passing yards and five passing touchdowns which averaged 56.8 yards per TD. The 82 points and 984 total yards were the second-highest totals of all games in the NFL last year.

Vikings quarterback RANDALL CUNNINGHAM threw for 359 yards and four touchdowns, including three to rookie wide receiver RANDY MOSS, and one -- a 54-yarder -- to veteran wide-out CRIS CARTER. Vikings running back LEROY HOARD added two rushing touchdowns, including one for 50 yards.

"They’re a scoring machine," said Dallas head coach CHAN GAILEY after the game. "But I didn’t think they would score that many against us."

Cowboys quarterback TROY AIKMAN passed for a career-high 455 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown to wide receiver PATRICK JEFFERS. Aikman also had career highs in attempts (57) and tied a career high with 34 completions.

RANDY MOSS & DEION SANDERS

Unquestionably, the star of last year’s game was then-rookie receiver RANDY MOSS, who hauled in three passes -- all for touchdowns -- for 163 yards. Moss’ touchdowns were of 51, 56 and 56 yards.

After the game, everyone was talking about Randy:

• Dallas Owner/President/general manager JERRY JONES: "He’s an explosive player that is already making his mark."

• Vikings head coach Green: "He’s one of a kind. There’s no one like him."

• Dallas head coach Gailey: "He is a great player. It looks to me that he’s an exceptional receiver. He can go make plays, go make the catch. He just had a great day."

• Vikings wide receivers coach HUBBARD ALEXANDER: "He’s got it all. He’s the perfect specimen. He looks like all the great receivers – MICHAEL IRVIN, CRIS CARTER, JERRY RICE – only he’s somebody real fast."

Many are anticipating Moss going head-to-head with Dallas’ Pro Bowl cornerback DEION SANDERS, who missed last year’s game with a toe injury. But Sanders warns that Moss is just one of Minnesota’s three-headed receiving monster.

"When you talk about the Minnesota Vikings, you're talking about Cris Carter, you're talking about Randy Moss, you're talking about Jake Reed," says Sanders. "You're talking about a trio of receivers who are great. You can't emphasize one guy (Moss) at the expense of the others."

And you can’t emphasize one Sanders’ talent at the expense of another. In addition to his secondary duties, Sanders leads the NFC in punt-return average with a 15.7-yard mark. He has already returned one punt for a touchdown (70 yards) and also has a 76-yard return.

"Everybody is dangerous, but he is the most dangerous,'' said Vikings special teams coach Gary Zauner. "Deion has excellent blockers, and he's a heck of a return guy. He has a knack for it, and he's enthusiastic about doing it. They have very good personnel. They use all of their good players on special teams.''

1995 OT CLASSIC

The last time these two clubs met in prime time was on September 17, 1995 in a Sunday-night classic. The Vikings led 10-9 at halftime, but Dallas took a 17-10 lead with a two-yard EMMITT SMITH touchdown run in the fourth quarter and a successful two-point conversion.

Minnesota countered with an eight-yard touchdown catch by Carter which tied the game with 30 seconds left. In overtime, the Cowboys needed only five plays before Smith broke free and scored on a 31-yard touchdown to give the Cowboys a 23-17 victory. At the time, Smith’s run was the third-longest scoring run in overtime history.