The hype and pageantry is expected to include the return of Dallas Cowboys luminaries like Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Bob Lilly and Randy White.
And the Baltimore Ravens (9-5) would like nothing more than to ruin the party by upsetting the Cowboys (9-5) in a game holding major playoff implications for both teams.
Forget the famous hole in the roof for America’s Team. The Ravens want to knock down the foundation.
"That’s exactly what we’re going to try to do is make it the last game in Dallas," rookie quarterback Joe Flacco said. "As long as we do that, we’ll be happy."
If the Ravens win their final two regular-season games against Dallas and at home next week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, they will make the playoffs as a wild-card entry with the sixth and final AFC postseason berth.
If they lose this game amidst the pomp and circumstance of the final scheduled game at Texas Stadium unless the Cowboys host the NFC championship, then they lose a grip on their playoff destiny.
No scenario exists where the Ravens can clinch a playoff spot this weekend, but Baltimore could relinquish its hold on the sixth spot in the AFC with a loss combined by any two of the three AFC East challengers, the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins or New England Patriots, winning their Sunday games.
The Ravens will need their trademark focus tonight as well as a strong game plan to contain Cowboys standouts like quarterback Tony Romo, wide receiver Terrell Owens, tight end Jason Witten and outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware.
"It’s not going to affect how we play or our emotions," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of the extra attention being paid to this nationally-televised contest. "We know what we’ve got at stake for our team. We’re not too concerned about their history or tradition. We respect it and it’s neat for them. I think it will affect their team more than us."
The Ravens, who are the only present NFL team that has never played at Texas Stadium and have won both of their prior meetings with Dallas, will be battling history as well as the Cowboys.
Since the end of the 1996 season, teams have gone 11-2 in the final regular-season games before closing their old stadiums. And the margin of victory has usually approached 20 points in those lopsided games.
"We’re not getting caught up in all of this thing that Dallas wants to do because they’re closing the stadium," middle linebacker Ray Lewis said. "That don’t have anything to do with us. We’re the Ravens. They’re the Cowboys.
"Let them take care of that. Our job is to go win a 60-minute ball-game and set up the game against Jacksonville, come home and try to get in the dance."
The Ravens understand that it will be an emotional night for the Cowboys, who are planning to count down the five most memorable moments at the stadium from 1971 to this year and will trot out close to 100 former players and coaches for a post-game ceremony.
According to Dallas team officials, that will include a final walk across the famous star on the 50-yard line.
The Ravens’ concentration, though, needs to be on their matchups and not on the Cowboys’ impressive history.
"It’s going to be a circus atmosphere, bringing everybody back, but we have to focus on the 11 guys that we are going to try to defend," said defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, whose father, Buddy Ryan, had some memorable clashes with the Cowboys, including the so-called Bounty Bowl when he was the Philadelphia Eagles’ coach. "Our focus is we have to win this game to go to the playoffs. It doesn’t matter if [Ed] "Too Tall" Jones is out there."
The Cowboys sport an all-time record of 212-99 at Texas Stadium, including a 6-1 mark this year. Plus, Dallas needs to win to keep pace in the NFC wild-card race.
Meanwhile, the Ravens are 4-3 on the road this season. In their past five road games, they have averaged 29.8 points and gone 4-1.
Every possible bit of motivation exists for the Ravens, who are coming off a stinging 13-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Win and they’re in the driver’s seat to make the playoffs after last year’s 5-11 disaster that cost former coach Brian Billick his job and brought Harbaugh to town to get the franchise back on track. Lose, and they could find themselves on the outside looking in when the postseason tournament launches.
"You want to be able to have your football destinies in your hands, but I would have liked to have taken care of this problem last week or a couple of weeks ago," wide receiver Derrick Mason said. "As we, sit we’re in a two-game playoff right now. We win two, we’re in. If we don’t, then we have a big problem."
NOTES: Free safety Ed Reed (hamstring), cornerbacks Fabian Washington (hamstring) and Samari Rolle (hamstring) and running back Ray Rice (calf contusion) are questionable. … Offensive tackles Willie Anderson (ankle), Adam Terry (knee) and Jared Gaither (illness, shoulder), punter Sam Koch (back), Mason (dislocated left shoulder), kicker Matt Stover (ankle) and linebacker Terrell Suggs (thigh) are probable. … The Cowboys ruled out linebacker Bobby Carpenter (knee/calf) and offensive guard Montrae Holland (ankle), listing cornerback Alan Ball (ankle) as doubtful. … Running back Marion Barber (toe) is questionable, and Romo (back), cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones (neck), Witten (ankle) and wide receiver Roy Williams (foot) are probable.
Aaron Wilson cover the Baltimore Ravens for the Carroll County Times and the Annapolis Capital.
