As the clock wound down in the 1993 National Football Conference championship game and the Dallas Cowboys were assured of advancing to their second consecutive Super Bowl, San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. and president Carmen Policy looked at one another as they sat forlornly in the owners' box at Texas Stadium.
Not a word was spoken. Both men knew what had to be done.
"It wasn't even necessary to articulate the fact that everyone knew that if we wanted to compete at a higher echelon -- let alone the NFC championship game -- that we had to get better as a team," Policy said. "In particular, we had to get better on defense."
That might be partially answered today, when the two-time Super Bowl champion Cowboys and 49ers meet at Candlestick Park in the biggest game of the season, and the Niners' defense will be at center stage.
When Policy and DeBartolo talked about revamping the defense, boy did they mean business. Only five starters remain from the lineup for last season's conference title game.
Notable additions to the defense include rookie Bryant Young, a first-rounder from Notre Dame; Rickey Jackson, a Saints free-agent linebacker; linebacker Lee Woodall from West Chester (Pa.) University; and, Cowboys free agent Ken Norton Jr.
Then, of course, there's Deion Sanders, who signed as a permanent replacement for cornerback Don Griffin, who went to Cleveland.
Enough change for you?
Remember a few weeks ago, when the 49ers' offensive line was limping along without Pro Bowl right tackle Harris Barton (torn biceps), left tackle Steve Wallace (thigh, concussion), left guard Jesse Sapolu (hamstring) and right guard Ralph Tamm (arch)?
Well, all but Tamm are expected to play today.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, have their own injury problems. Every single lineman that started the season is either banged up or out of the lineup.
Right tackle Erik Williams is out for the season after suffering multiple injuries in a car crash Oct. 24. Right guard Derek Kennard suffered a sprained toe against the New York Giants and may not play Sunday. Center Mark Stepnoski and guard Nate Newton are hobbling on sprained ankles, and left tackle Mark Tuinei has played all season with back and toe problems.
"Why does it always come back to us?" Newton said. "When everything's going great, it's Troy, Emmitt and Michael. When things start to go wrong, it's the offensive line. Man, we can't get a break."
Fullback Daryl Johnston just wants respect.
"With what happened the past two seasons, it's like they don't realize what we've done," he said.
NFC SHOWDOWN
Here's how Dallas and San Francisco stack up statistically, with NFL rank in parentheses.
.. .. .. .. .. ... Cowboys .. .. .. 49ers
Record .. .. .. .. 8-1 .. .. ... .. 7-2
OFFENSE
Yards rushing ... ... ... 131.9 (4) ... ... 110.4 (10)
Yards passing .. .. .. .. 225.9 (10) .. ... 240.2 (8)
Total yards .. .. ... ... 357.8 (6) ... ... 350.7 (7)
Points .. .. .. .. .. ... 27.6 (2) .. .. .. 30.4 (1)
DEFENSE
Yards rushing .. .. .. .. 93.6 (7) ... ... 92.6 (6)
Yards passing .. .. .. .. 160.6 (1) .. ... 200.7 (7)
Total yards .. .. ... ... 254.1 (1) .. ... 293.2 (7)
Points .. .. .. .. .. ... 13.3 (2) ... ... 19.1 (11)