Jones circles the wagons for a Rams raid
DALLAS COWBOYS owner Jerry Jones wants his team to adopt the pioneer spirit as they aim to win the Super Bowl for the first time in 23 years.
The Texas team – arguably, the most famous name in the sport – face a tough trip to the LA Rams in Saturday’s divisional play-offs.
The Rams had the joint-best record in the regular season, at 13-3, while the Cowboys sprang a surprise even to land a place in the play-offs.
Dallas started the season with an unimpressive 3-5 record before finishing strong to book their place in the wild card round.
But they also had a miserable away record of just three wins out of eight games on the road – making the visit to California this weekend all the more daunting.
The Cowboys’ larger-than-life owner compared the task to the old wagon trains in cowboy times.
He said: “It’s like the old wagon train. We’re going to burn some of these wagons on the way to California, break them down and float the Mississippi River. A lot of people are going to die. But I’m going to make it to California. I hope you’re on the train with me.
“That’s kind of the way you look at a football team. We’ve got a lot of guys that can make it to California, I think.”
Victory would carry Dallas through to their first NFC title game – one short of the Super Bowl – since they last won the big prize in 1998.
Jones added: “We are capable of beating any team we line up against.
“If we can get there, our team can beat the teams that are out there.
“Some of them got better records. But yeah, I think we are capable of winning the game.”
In the other NFC game, the Philadelphia Eagles and back-up quarterback Nick Foles keep marching on after last weekend’s stunning 16-15 wild card win on the road at the Chicago Bears.
The defending champions struggled to even make the play-offs and looked out of contention when first-choice quarterback Carson Wentz suffered a season-ending injury in December.
They face a daunting trip to the New Orleans Saints, who share the league’s best record with the Rams of 13-3.
The AFC sees the underdog Indianapolis Colts travel to the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday and New England Patriots host the LA Chargers 24 hours later.