Bring it on

If there is a successful head coach in the NFL who’s more lightly regarded than Brad Childress, it’s probably the Dallas Cowboys’ Wade Phillips.

But after the Cowboys handed it to what we’re told is a very good Philadelphia Eagles team in the NFC Wildcard playoff round, Phillips is suddenly getting a lot of respect and so are his Cowboys.

So even though the Vikings won one more game than the Cowboys during the regular season and will host Dallas next Sunday at a stadium where they are 8-0 in 2009/2010, don’t be surprised to see just about everyone (except Viking fans) figuring the Cowboys will win this one.

Personally, I relish the opportunity. It’s a tough matchup for the Vikings. But eventually you are going to have to beat somebody good to win a Super Bowl. The Cowboys are good.

First, some fears about Dallas.

Tony Romo’s mobility makes him a tough guy to sack, which will be annoying at times next week when he escapes the clutches of Jared Allen or Ray Edwards and completes passes against a weak Viking secondary.

And obviously, you don’t want Felix Jones still upright when he gets to the second level of the defence.

But the real concern for me is the Dallas defence. I’ve watched them a few times the past four weeks and if there is a unit playing better in the NFL right now, I’m not aware of it.

The pass rushing abilities of DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer are particularly bothersome. If it was only one guy, you’d figure the Vikings could find a way of dealing with it (although they didn’t against Carolina and Julius Peppers.) But when it’s two guys, that’s a difficult assignment. And nose tackle Jay Ratliff – six sacks and a Pro Bowl selection – is pretty good, too. Bryant McKinnie, Phil Loadholt and John Sullivan will have to have the games of their lives next week.

However, a few things should be noted before anyone automatically sends the white-hot Cowboys to the NFC Championship game.

1. Beware of the team that wins big at home. I’ve seen so many teams over the years look unbeatable at home in the playoffs, then go on the road the next week and get beat – often quite easily.

Winning on the road during the playoffs is not easy in the NFL.

2. It will be even less easy playing in the Metrodome (I refuse to call the place Mall of America Stadium). The crowd will be a factor as long as the game is close and instead of Jason Peters committing false start penalties that benefits the Cowboys D, it could be the Cowboys Flozell Adams committing false start penalties that benefits the Vikings D.

Silly penalties created by Metrodome crowd noise could be a small, but significant, factor that tips the scales in favor of the Vikings in this game.

3. In the Cowboys five losses this season, opposing quarterbacks completed 63.7 per cent of their passes, threw for eight touchdowns and only two interceptions and averaged 255 passing yards per game. Those are pretty good numbers.

The Cowboys can be passed on – provided the opposing offence doesn’t get in too many unfavorable down and distance situations.

Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, Visanthe Shiancoe, Adrian Peterson, Chester Taylor and even Bernard Berrian – those names represent a deep and talented receiving corps for Brett Favre to throw to. Somebody will be open. Favre just has to be given enough time to find them.

This is a game that will make me nervous all week. It will likely feature several big plays and it could be brutally physical and tense. But it’s also a game the Vikings are quite capable of winning.

Let’s keep that in mind while the experts talk up the Cowboys this week.