IRVING, Texas -- Jerry Jones gave his veteran players a little reminder of how much winning means to him.

	Troy Aikman and the Cowboys were swarmed by the Saints on Christmas Eve.

The Dallas Cowboys owner called a group of players into his office Monday and spoke for about 20 minutes. With the team needing a victory Sunday to make the playoffs, it's easy to guess what he spoke about.

"I don't think anyone has ever questioned how passionate Jerry is about the Cowboys and how passionate he is about winning," quarterback Troy Aikman said. "It was reiterated for those that maybe didn't know that."

Aikman, who joined Dallas in 1989, the same year Jones bought the team, said he doesn't remember the owner ever holding such a gathering.

"Jerry got his point across," safety Darren Woodson said, smiling. "It was his meeting."

"It was needed," defensive lineman Alonzo Spellman said. "It starts at the top. Jerry is unbelievable in how he takes care of business. It was a good thing."

Despite consecutive losses to teams long ago eliminated from the playoffs, Dallas (7-8) can earn the NFC's last wild-card spot with a victory Sunday over the New York Giants.

The Cowboys assumed all weekend their offseason had begun following a loss to New Orleans on Friday. After the game, everyone spoke about this season in the past tense, including Jones, who said he felt "a little foolish and stupid" for having spent $41 million in bonuses for this team.

Yet a stunning series of losses over the weekend kept the Cowboys' playoff hopes alive and well. Although New York, Carolina and Green Bay also are 7-8, Dallas is the only team that can win and be certain of making the playoffs.

"We've had second chances out the gazoo," said Cowboys coach Chan Gailey, as much relieved as he is frustrated. "Let's see if we can do something with this game in order to take advantage of it."

The Giants would be eliminated by losing to the Cowboys. Even if the Panthers and Packers win, Dallas has tiebreaker advantages over them. This will be only the fourth time an 8-8 team makes the playoffs, the first since 1991.

There could be two .500 teams if Detroit (8-7) loses. If so, Dallas would end up with the No. 5 seed.

Gailey explained the formulas to players at a team meeting Monday so they would understand how drastically their outlook has improved since the Saints game.

"I hope it's a great lift," Gailey said. "You went through the weekend thinking there was no chance, and now you do have a chance. We can't lay in that Friday stupor."

Gailey said he doesn't want players focusing on the if-then playoff scenarios. If anything, they should see this as a playoff game because if they win, they go on and if they lose, they go home.

"Just go out and play one game," Gailey said. "You don't have to worry about a game after it, what's happened in the past -- nothing. Just worry about this game."