SUPER BOWL XXVII : HOW THEY MATCH UP

Super Bowl games are sometimes rematches from the regular season. Not this time. The Bills and the Cowboys haven’t met since 1984. So it’s difficult to pinpoint what the TV analysts call tendencies, such as: * Can the offensive line handle Bruce Smith? * Does Emmitt Smith usually have big games against Buffalo? * Can Charles Haley and Russell Maryland get to Jim Kelly? * Will Kelly be able to go deep to James Lofton and Andre Reed? * How will Troy Aikman hold up in the biggest game of his life? The teams are strikingly similar. With Kelly and Aikman, they are strong at quarterback. With Thurman Thomas and Emmitt Smith, they are exceptional at running back. With Bruce Smith and Haley, each team should be able to put pressure on the quarterback. Good offenses and solid defenses. It could come down to special teams and turnovers. There, that sounds like a coach, doesn’t it?

BUFFALO BILLS Thurman Thomas was the most valuable player in the league in 1991 and he should have been the MVP of Super Bowl XXV. He has called himself “the Michael Jordan of the Bills.” No player is more versatile at running the ball and catching it. Thurman Thomas Statistics (percent of team’s total)

Touchdowns Thurman Thomas: 12 (27%) Team: 44

Rushing yards Thurman Thomas: 1,487 yards (61%) Team: 2,436 yards

Receiving yards Thurman Thomas: 626 yards (18%) Team: 3,457 yards

Total yards Thurman Thomas: 2,113 yards (36%) Team: 5,893 yards

REGULAR SEASON Offense * Rushing: 2,436--NFL Rank 1 * Passing: 3,457--NFL Rank 5 * Total: 5,893--NFL Rank 2 * Scoring: Defense * Rushing: 1,395--NFL Rank 4 (Tie) * Passing: 3,210--NFL Rank 20 * Total: 4,605--NFL Rank 12

PLAYOFFS Offense * Rushing: 449 yards (149.7 per game) * Passing: 600 yards (200 per game) Defense Rushing: 244 (81.3 per game) Passing: 701 (233.7 per game)

DALLAS COWBOYS Emmitt Smith, who has won back-to-back rushing titles, obviously is dangerous running the football. But, like his Buffalo counterpart, Thurman Thomas, Smith is also a weapon coming out of the backfield catching the ball. If he has a big day, so will the Cowboys. Emmitt Smith Statistics (percent of team’s total)

Touchdowns Emmitt Smith: 19 (43%) Team: 44

Rushing yards Emmitt Smith: 1,713 yards (81%) Team: 2,122 yards

Receiving yards Emmitt Smith: 335 yards (9.6%) Team: 3,485 yards

Total yards Emmitt Smith: 2,048 yards (37%) Team: 5,607 yards

REGULAR SEASON Offense * Rushing: 2,122--NFL Rank 4 * Passing: 3,485--NFL Rank 5 * Total: 5,607--NFL Rank 4 Defense * Rushing: 1,245--NFL Rank 1 * Passing: 2,690--NFL Rank 5 * Total: 3,935--NFL Rank 1

PLAYOFFS Offense * Rushing: 281 yards (140.5 per game) * Passing: 522 yards (261 per game) Defense * Rushing: 177 (88.5 per game) * Passing: 416 (208 per game)