Cardinals defense spells doomsday for Dallas


Ending 51-year playoff drought not enough for Tobin


Arizona at Dallas


Pick the PrimeTime Player


Prime Time Players

IRVING, Tex. -- Chan Gailey's first year as Dallas Cowboys coach ended in a playoff disaster that has shaken the organization to the bone.

Even though the Cowboys won the NFC East with a 10-6 record, few expected a collapse against the Arizona Cardinals in the playoffs. The Cowboys had beaten Arizona 16 of the last 17 times they played.

The 20-7 beating wasn't as close as the score indicated.

Cornerback Deion Sanders said it might be time for a big player shakeup.

"You can't look in a mirror and be happy with the way we played," Sanders said following the loss. "It's time for some guys to step up or step out."

Against Arizona, Dallas looked like the 6-10 club last year that got Barry Switzer fired.

"If we are going to call ourselves bigtime players, then we have to make big plays," Sanders said.

The Cowboys missed wide receiver Ernie Mills, who has the speed to stretch a defense. Mills was lost for the season with an injury a month ago. Also, Dallas played without Chris Warren, signed to give Emmitt Smith some rest at tailback.

However, the way Dallas played neither player could have helped much.

Dallas is a long way from being the team that won three Super Bowls in the 1990s.

"Everybody wants to think this is the same Cowboys as the old days, and it's not," said quarterback Troy Aikman, who was sacked four times and intercepted three times by the Cardinals. "It's not. We rely on different people now, and for a few of the people, the door of opportunity is shut. We are looking through a different window now."

The Cowboys still need help on the offensive line, more speed on offense, and a pass rush. In the offseason, they probably will try to sign linebacker Randall Godfrey, kicker Richie Cunningham and punter Toby Gowin, wide receiver Patrick Jeffers, running back Sherman Williams, and Mills, whose contracts have expired.

Guard Nate Newton is an unrestricted free agent and the Cowboys likely won't pursue him. Cornerback Kevin Smith's fate also is to be determined. He was healthy, but didn't play against Arizona as Kevin Mathis took his place.

"We had a heck of a season and there is a lot to be proud of," Aikman said. "We're not satisfied, but there was a lot to be proud of."

Owner Jerry Jones said the Cowboys suffered a total breakdown.

"It was a total team loss from the top to the bottom," Jones said. "We're very disappointed."

However, Jones said he was pleased with the first year under Gailey.

"I'm excited about our coach and what he brought to the table with our players and quarterback," Jones said. "Next year should be an exciting one and we'll study what went wrong and address our needs."

Wide receiver Michael Irvin said it hurt the way the Cowboys lost.

"I would hate to think we had to lose a playoff game to do some soul searching," Irvin said. "We should have done a whole bunch of soul searching before we got into the playoffs. I just need to sit down and deal with this right now."

The Cowboys hadn't lost a home playoff game since 1983.

Rookie defensive end Greg Ellis tried to look on the bright side.

"There are some positives to build on for next year," Ellis said. "Our overall record and record in the (division, 8-0) was good. At this time last year, we were a losing team."

Gailey said the Cowboys will be studied from top to bottom in the offseason.

"We lost seven times this year and we will go and evaluate why and where we did poorly and try to correct it for next year," Gailey said.

He tried to give the team a goodbye speech, but stopped short.

"I started to evaluate the season and then stopped and just talked about the game," he said. "I thought the guys were too disappointed to take what I was saying about the season. I will address the season later."

Fullback Daryl Johnston said that, despite the premature ending, it was a good year.

"This is the first year under a new system and we probably did better than people expected, going 10-6," Johnston said. "We'll be back next year after we have extra time to work on our new offense."

Smith said changes in personnel could be coming.

"Surely, some changes will be made," Smith said. "Whatever it takes, I'm all for it. I feel we have a good system."