NFC PLAYOFF CAPSULES

By BILL PLASCHKE

Dec. 28, 1995 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

DALLAS COWBOYS

* Finish: 12-4, first place in NFC East.

* Record vs. playoff teams: 5-2.

* League rankings: Offense fifth, defense ninth.

* Streak: Won final two games after losing three of previous five.

* High point: Doubling the Kansas City Chiefs, 24-12, on Thanksgiving. Against the top-five defense of a team that eventually finished with the NFL’s best record, Michael Irvin had 121 yards on 11 receptions, quarterback Troy Aikman missed on only eight of 29 pass attempts with no interceptions, and Emmitt Smith scored on a 15-yard run.

* Low point: Coach Barry Switzer’s decision to try a fourth-down conversion not once, but twice, from the Cowboy 29-yard line late in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 10. Smith failed on consecutive runs (the first play was nullified because of the two-minute warning) and the Eagles converted a field goal for the victory.

* Turning point: When Chris Boniol converted a 35-yard field goal in the final seconds to defeat the New York Giants on Dec. 17. He saved not only a game, but the psyches of 45 men who thought this team was jinxed.

* Will advance to Super Bowl if: Switzer lets Aikman run the team for the next month. The quarterback is the only one who can convince them not to be intimidated by the 49ers.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

* Finish: 11-5, first in NFC West.

* Record vs. playoff teams: 4-3.

* League rankings: Offense second, defense first.

* Streak: Won six of last seven, but that loss was in season finale at Atlanta.

* High point: Stunning 38-20 victory over the host Cowboys on Nov. 12. The 49ers played without their starting quarterback (Steve Young), best running back (William Floyd) and half of their offensive line.

* Low point: The choke in Atlanta, where they couldn’t score a second-half touchdown against the league’s worst pass defense while allowing backup quarterback Bobby Hebert to throw his first two touchdown passes of the season. Ranking a close second are consecutive home losses to the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints in Games 8 and 9.

* Turning point: When veteran tackle Harris Barton walked into the huddle during the first midweek practice before the Dallas game and urged his teammates to “shock the world.” He repeated the phrase throughout the week, inspiring the conservative organization.

* Will advance to Super Bowl if: They can find a running game between now and the NFC championship on Jan. 14. They rushed for only 104 yards in their last two games combined, not enough to take advantage of Dallas’ defensive deficiencies.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

* Finish: 11-5, first in NFC Central.

* Record vs. playoff teams: 2-2.

* League rankings: Offense seventh, defense 14th.

* Streak: Won six of last seven.

* High point: Quarterback Brett Favre hobbling on to the field with a badly sprained ankle Nov. 11 and throwing five touchdown passes to lead a 35-28 victory over the Chicago Bears. It was then that the team began believing Favre could actually lead them to the Super Bowl.

* Low point: A 13-10 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Dec. 10 that cost them any chance at home-field advantage in the second round of the playoffs. The running game expired and special teams were horrible.

* Turning point: When defensive end Reggie White, who missed the game in Tampa, returned to play against the Saints on Dec. 16, only days after it was announced that he would sit out the rest of the season because of a hamstring injury.

* Will advance to Super Bowl if: Favre is truly superhuman.

DETROIT LIONS

* Finish: 10-6, second in NFC Central.

* Record vs. playoff teams: 2-3.

* League rankings: Offense first, defense 23rd.

* Streak: Won last seven.

* High point: Gaining 943 yards in total offense in consecutive nationally televised victories over division rivals; a 44-38 decision over the Minnesota Vikings on Thanksgiving and a 27-7 victory over the Chicago Bears 11 days later. It was then the team began believing it could win despite mediocre defense and coaching.

* Low point: A 20-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals at home on Sept. 17. The Cardinals won only three more games the rest of the year.

* Turning point: When owner William Clay Ford said on Nov. 5 that the Lions must make the playoffs or “changes would be made.” Fearing for the job of their beloved coach Wayne Fontes, the Lions have not lost since.

* Will advance to Super Bowl if: Quarterback Scott Mitchell can handle the pressure of his first postseason.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

* Finish: 10-6, second in NFC East.

* Record vs. playoff teams: 1-2.

* League rankings: Offense 25th, defensive fourth.

* Streak: Lost two of last four.

* High point: Victory over Cowboys on Dec. 10 after trailing by 11 at halftime. Bobby Taylor, rookie cornerback, held Michael Irvin to three catches for 40 years. Aggressive defense held Cowboys without a touchdown after the first quarter.

* Low point: Three losses in first four games--to the Buccaneers, San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders. Running back Ricky Watters whined, benched quarterback Randall Cunninghampouted and Coach Ray Rhodes stewed.

* Turning point: When Watters and Charlie Garner combined to gain 259 yards rushing in a 37-34 overtime victory over the Washington Redskins on Oct. 8. The complaining stopped, quarterback Rodney Peete was accepted as the team’s leader and the Eagles won seven of their last 10 games.

* Will advance to Super Bowl if: The defense, which ranked third in the NFL with 38 takeaways, can make enough big plays so quarterback Peete does not have to be a hero.

ATLANTA FALCONS

* Finish: 9-7, second in NFC West.

* Record vs. playoff teams: 2-4.

* League rankings: Offense 10th, defense 29th.

* Streak: Lost three of last five.

* High point: Final week victory over the 49ers with backup quarterback Hebert. The Falcons made the playoffs by avenging a 41-10 loss earlier in the season.

* Low point: There were many. They could have made the playoffs easily had they beaten the Carolina Panthers at home two weeks ago, but they couldn’t. They could have had a better playoff seeding if they could have held a 20-6 lead against the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 26, but they couldn’t. And then there was a last-minute touchdown drive by the Miami Dolphins that beat them on Dec. 3.

* Turning point: When Morten Andersen kicked three field goals of more than 50 yards each on Dec. 10 in a victory over the rival New Orleans Saints. For the first time in many years, this team felt more blessed than cursed.

* Will advance to Super Bowl if: Fans in every host city hold snowball fights during every playoff game, causing all home teams to forfeit.

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The Pairings

FIRST ROUND

Saturday

* Detroit (10-6) at

Philadelphia (10-6),

1 p.m., Channel 11

Sunday

* Atlanta (9-7) at

Green Bay (11-5),

9:30 a.m., Channel 11