If the Cowboys of the 1990s played the Patriots of the 2000s, who would win?(Counterpoints)

COWBOYS--Their brawn would beat Belichick's brains

The only way Tom Brady's Patriots could beat Troy Aikman's Cowboys would be if Bill Belichick were to out-scheme Dallas. That would be a triumph for coaching over talent, but I won't make that bet. I'll take the roster of superstars.

The Cowboys were loaded. From Aikman's passing to Michael Irvin's receiving to Emmitt Smith's running to Larry Allen's blocking, this was a star-laden offense. On defense, end Charles Haley applied pressure while Deion Sanders absorbed half the field. That's six certain Hall of Famers, plus another 13 Pro Bowl players from 1992-95, when Dallas won three Super Bowls and advanced to the NFC championship game the other year. Overall, the Cowboys won playoff games in six consecutive seasons.

If the Patriots beat the Eagles--certainly no done deal--they will have matched the Cowboys with three titles in four years, but their off year was a complete playoffs whiff. As for talent, New England has but one Canton possibility--Brady--to go with eight other Pro Bowl participants over the past four years. And two of those guys were special teamers.

Obviously, Belichick's coaching goes a long way. But Jimmy Johnson was no knucklehead. He won the 1992 championship with the youngest team in the league, then bagged Buffalo again the next year.

The most convincing case for the Cowboys overcoming anything Belichick might devise? After Johnson left, they won a Super Bowl with Barry Switzer on the sideline. Now that's a great group of players.--Mike Nahrstedt

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