NFL: Fins: Dallas is different with Tuna

But the Dolphins can rest assured they will not have to stop Parcells to beat the Cowboys today.

"Coach Parcells isn't out there making any tackles; I wish he was," Dolphins quarterback Jay Fiedler said. "They have some pretty good athletes making the plays on the field. He just gets them going and puts them in the right spot. He's obviously a great coach and he's done the job everywhere he's been, but he's not the one we're worried about on the field."

In his first season in Dallas, Parcells has done just about everything but throw a touchdown pass or make a game-saving tackle.

Before Parcells' arrival, the Cowboys had been just a shadow of the team that won three Super Bowls in the '90s. In the past three years, Dallas has won only five games each season.

In just 11 games, Parcells has guided Dallas to an 8-3 record. He has them tied with the Philadelphia Eagles atop the NFC East, and Big D once again thinking big time -- as in the Super Bowl.

While many, including the coach himself, thought it might take a few years for Parcells to implement his system, the Cowboys are winning with basically the same nucleus they've had the past three years. The job Parcells has done has impressed many of the Dolphins.

"I think a lot of people had written them off and said 'they'll be good in a couple of years,'"said Dolphins center Tim Ruddy. "If you look at what coach Parcells had done at pretty much all the teams that he has been, it's been a pretty quick turnaround. So I don't think there should be that element of surprise."

But Parcells is no stranger to success. He won Super Bowls XXI and XXV with the New York Giants, reached Super Bowl XXXI with the New England Patriots and went to the AFC championship game in his second season with the Jets.

Parcells' career record is 146-103-1. He's also 11-6 in the playoffs. Only Tom Landry, Don Shula and Chuck Noll have more postseason victories.

But not many people thought Parcells would get a chance to improve that postseason record so fast in Dallas.

"What he has been able to do as a fixture in the National Football League," linebacker Junior Seau said, "moving from team to team, taking them to championships and winning championships .... I take my hat off to him."

Seau also gives credit to the Dallas players for stepping it up and believing in Parcells' system. The Pro Bowl linebacker is especially impressed with the play of the Cowboys' defense, which is currently ranked No. 1 in the NFL.

"They are out there busting their butts off and winning close games when they have to," Seau said. "I know it's pretty exciting for the Dallas Cowboys to kind of revamp things there and be on the top of their division. They look forward to the postseason and so do we."

Exciting times in Dallas might be an understatement. Wednesday evening, fans filled the lobbies of Dallas area hotels with anticipation of another victory.

Many admitted they didn't share the sentiments last year. Most gave the credit to Parcells.

"Last year we came to the game because it's a Thanksgiving Day tradition but we didn't think we had much chance to win," said Steve Fineman from Tyler, Texas. "But what Parcells has done in such a short time is unbelievable. The way things are going, the Super Bowl isn't out of the question."