MINNESOTA (9-7) at DALLAS (10-6) Channel 7,...

MINNESOTA (9-7) at DALLAS (10-6) Channel 7, 1 p.m.

* STORYLINE: The teams that engaged in four playoff games in the 1970s when the cast of characters were Staubach, Pearson, Tarkenton and Page will meet for the first time in the postseason since 1978.

* MINNESOTA UPDATE: The Vikings wrote an unlikely story in 1996 with Brad Johnson filling in for the injured Warren Moon. Johnson, who signed a four-year, $15-million contract last week, led the Vikings to five victories in eight starts while Moon nursed sore ankles. After the Vikings lost five of six games to fall to 6-6, Johnson led Minnesota to consecutive victories over Arizona, Detroit and Tampa Bay to clinch a playoff berth. Johnson, 28, a backup for his first four NFL seasons, completed 62.7% of his passes for 2,258 yards and 17 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. Since running back Leroy Hoard entered the starting lineup, the Vikings are 4-2. In those starts he rushed for 420 yards, including two 100-yard games. Cris Carter and Jake Reed are the only tandem from the same team with more than 70 catches and 1,150 yards this season. They are also the only duo from the same team to top 1,000 receiving yards for three consecutive seasons. The Vikings last appeared in the playoffs two years ago under Dennis Green and were beaten by Chicago, 35-18, in the wild-card round. Minnesota is 0-3 in the playoffs under Green.

* DALLAS UPDATE: Quarterback Troy Aikman, running back Emmitt Smith and wide receiver Michael Irvin combined with a powerful offensive line to lead the Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles in five years. However, this year has been a different story for the Cowboys. Dallas is the lowest-scoring club of the 12 playoff teams with 286 points, compared to 435 last year. The Cowboys’ most valuable offensive player this season has been Chris Boniol, who was successful on 32 of 36 field goal attempts. Safety George Teague said the Cowboys’ defensive game plan against Johnson will be simple. “We’ve got to make him make wrong decisions,” Teague said. “He’s not a superstar but he’s good. He’s smart. We’ve got to make him throw to the wrong people.”

* THE LINE: Dallas by 10