EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- After the New York Giants won the NFC East in 1997 in Jim Fassel's first season as coach, there was an assumption the days of Dallas' dynasty were over.

How else could you look at it? The Giants had a young up-and-coming team and the Cowboys and their stars, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin, were aging.

Like many assumptions, it was inaccurate.

The Cowboys not only bounced back in 1998 to win their sixth division title in seven years, they did it by posting the first perfect division record (8-0).

Dallas (3-1) is showing no signs of letting up this year. It carried a share of first place with Washington in the NFC East into the weekend. While the Redskins are at Arizona on Sunday night, the Cowboys vist Giants Stadium on Monday night to face the struggling Giants (2-3).

"I think we are a better football team than a year ago," Aikman said. "Now it's just a matter of proving it. We started off well. Obviously losing Sunday (to Philadelphia) was a big disappointment, but that's life in the NFL when you don't play well. The important thing is to bounce back against New York."

The Cowboys will be without Irvin this week, and maybe forever. The 12-year veteran receiver is considering his future in football after sustaining a neck injury and swollen spinal cord in last week's 13-10 loss at Philadelphia.

"I speak for everyone when I say there is still concern," Aikman said.

The Giants, who missed the playoffs with an 8-8 record last season, come into the game in turmoil.

The defense, which has played well enough to be 4-1, is annoyed with the offense, which has struggled since opening day.

While there has been no finger-pointing, yet, the locker room could get ugly if quarterback Kent Graham's return to the lineup doesn't wake up the offense, which has 19 points in the last two games.

Kerry Collins started last week with Graham sidelined by a concussion and he didn't do much in a 14-3 loss to Arizona.

Earlier this week, Fassel told the team and admitted the offense wasn't doing its job. The offense also took it upon itself to have a meeting.

"These guys know what they've got to do," All-Pro defensive end Michael Strahan said. "They're smart enough to figure it out."

The Giants have struggled in recent years against Dallas, especially on Monday night. The Cowboys have beaten the Giants in all seven of prime-time games.

Last year's win came courtesy of "Prime Time." Deion Sanders scored on a 59-yard punt return, a 71-yard interception return and an 80-yard pass in the Cowboys' 31-7 win.

Besides controlling Sanders, the Giants defense needs to slow down Smith. The 10-year veteran has rushed for 100 yards three times this season. He leads the NFC with 409 yards rushing.

Aikman has struggled a little, throwing for 840 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. Five of the TD passes came in the season opener.

The key for the Giants will be to get more consistent play from the offense and for the defense to not only slow Dallas, but chip in with a few turnovers.

In the Giants' two wins, they forced eight turnovers. In three losses, they didn't force a single turnover.

"Without stating the obvious, it's a very, very, very important game for us," said Fassel, who has been criticized more in recent weeks by the media for the offensive shortcomings. "We're coming off a loss and it's against a team we always feel like we have to play well to beat. We need a win."

DALLAS Season schedule and results

NY GIANTS Season schedule and results

September 12 @Washington W 41-35 September 20 Atlanta W 24-7 October 3 Arizona W 35-7 October 10 @Philadelphia L 10-13 October 18 @NY Giants 9:00pm ET October 24 Washington 1:00pm ET October 31 @Indianapolis 1:00pm ET November 8 @Minnesota 9:00pm ET November 14 Green Bay 4:15pm ET November 21 @Arizona 4:15pm ET November 25 Miami 4:15pm ET December 5 @New England 8:20pm ET December 12 Philadelphia 1:00pm ET December 19 NY Jets 4:15pm ET December 24 @New Orleans 3:05pm ET January 2 NY Giants 4:05pm ET

September 12 @Tampa Bay W 17-13 September 19 Washington L 21-50 September 26 @New England L 14-16 October 3 Philadelphia W 16-15 October 10 @Arizona L 3-14 October 18 Dallas 9:00pm ET October 24 New Orleans 1:00pm ET October 31 @Philadelphia 1:00pm ET November 14 Indianapolis 1:00pm ET November 21 @Washington 4:15pm ET November 28 Arizona 1:00pm ET December 5 NY Jets 1:00pm ET December 12 @Buffalo 1:00pm ET December 19 @St. Louis 1:00pm ET December 26 Minnesota 1:00pm ET January 2 @Dallas 4:05pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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