On Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers meet for the 27th time when they square off in Super Bowl XXX.

Sunday also marks the third Super Bowl collision between the two rivals of the gridiron and, despite the hype, this year’s contest may prove to be as exciting as the classic matchups of the late 70s.

Heading into Sunday, the two teams are tied 13-13 lifetime. However, the Steelers own bragging rights as far as Super Bowl wins are concerned.

Advertisement

Dallas and Pittsburgh first collided in Super Bowl X, Jan. 18, 1976, and then again in Super Bowl XIII, Jan. 21, 1979.

The Steelers managed to win both games by a narrow margin of four points in each contest, thanks to a well-balanced attack from the Pittsburgh offense who held the advantage over the Cowboys.

First, the Cowboys are making their third Super Bowl appearance in four years. To some, that statistic may not sound like one that necessarily makes the Cowboys an automatic Super Bowl winner. However, as any analyst on Sunday afternoon will tell you, experience always plays a major factor in a big game.

Both Dallas’ defensive and offensive lines are loaded with veteran players, many of whom were with the Cowboys when they notched back-to-back Super Bowl victories against the Buffalo Bills in 1993 and 1994.

Second, Pittsburgh will see an added dimension to Dallas’ already powerful defense with the return of defensive end Charles Haley.

Haley, who missed the end of the Cowboys regular season and the playoffs due to back surgery, has proven in the past to be a thorn in Neil O’Donnell’s side. In the 94 season opener, Haley sacked O’Donnell four times.

Haley is hungry once again and looking to become the first player ever to win five Super Bowl rings.

Advertisement*

Third, the Dallas Cowboys are the team that has something to prove, not Pittsburgh.

Dallas has faced a tremendous amount of criticism, some justified and some not. Unlike Pittsburgh, Dallas has to prove to the fans and the media that they are the best. Having to prove that just might be an added asset for Dallas and a big problem for Pittsburgh.

By no means are the elements of criticism, experience and Haley the only three elements needed to beat the Steelers, but considering those three elements combined with the running of Emmitt Smith, the receiving ability of wide receivers Michael Irvin and Kevin Williams, the arm of quarterback Troy Aikman and the protection of the offensive line the Boys have an ample array of talent to take care of the Steelers.

The latest line has Dallas a 13 1/2 point favorite over the Steelers on Sunday, and the addition of cornerback Rod Woodson to the Steelers’ defense will not shrink that line.

Whether they are 13, 21 or 28 point favorites does not matter at this point. What matters most is the fact that the Cowboys are hungry for No. 5, and are not about to let the Steelers stop them from fulfilling their appetite.

Experience will put to rest the Steeler ghosts that haunt the Cowboys’ past.