Here are the five stories that made the biggest headlines in 1997:
1. THE COWBOYS' COMA Nineteen teams won more games than Dallas
did. Chris Chandler outplayed Troy Aikman. Corey Dillon
outrushed Emmitt Smith. Jerry Jones could fire Barry Switzer any
minute, but don't expect magic from the new coach—not unless he
brings a tight rein, salary-cap relief and an offensive fountain
of youth to a team that lost its last five games.
2. BARRYBALL Sanders, the Lions' phenom, became the third player
in league history to crack the 2,000-yard mark in rushing,
finishing with 2,053. Sanders didn't even need a full season to
reach the milestone. After running for only 53 yards in his
first two games, he ran for an even 2,000 over the next 14 while
leading the Lions into the playoffs. "I don't know how it's
possible for a 29-year-old runner to be better than he's ever
been in his life," Bears coach Dave Wannstedt said. "But Barry
is."
3. STEAMED RICE Alas, the Comeback lasted nine plays and ended
in an end zone bog. Jerry Rice returned 15 weeks after
undergoing major surgery on his left knee, then cracked his left
kneecap in his Dec. 15 coming-out party against the Broncos.
Coincidence, the Niners say. A weakened knee shouldn't have been
tested so quickly, others retort.
4. NEW YORK FOOTBALL The men of the Big Apple, a combined 7-25
last season, finished a stunning 19-12-1. The Giants win the
pennant! The Giants win the pennant! "I'm looking for pioneers,"
Giants rookie coach Jim Fassel said earlier this season. He has
them, plus the best young defense in football. The Jets,
meanwhile, got a total makeover from despotic coach Bill
Parcells and came within a whisker of making the playoffs one
year after going 1-15.
5. RUSH HOUR Rushing average was up from 1996 (4.0 per carry to
3.8), and league records were set for most 200-yard (seven) and
100-yard (121) individual rushing performances in a season.
Issue date: December 29, 1997
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