Even in Super League, you can never predict what will happen.

Everyone expected a high-scoring affair with the high-powered offenses of the 1971 Dallas Cowboys and 1999 St. Louis Rams moving up and down the field. Instead, both teams were held to fewer than 300 yards and the key play was a defensive touchdown, as Dallas won 24-20.

Dallas' defense, which includes eight starters 30 or older, relies on its veteran smarts. That came into play when 32-year-old cornerback Herb Adderley read Kurt Warner's sideline pass late in the third quarter, then stepped in front of Isaac Bruce and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown.

That gave Dallas a 24-10 lead, and St. Louis' late comeback fell short. The Cowboys pounded the Rams' defense all day with their multipronged running game -- Duane Thomas had 67 yards, Walt Garrison had 50 and the team combined for 157 -- and Roger Staubach found Garrison out of the backfield for a first-half score.

The Rams' Greatest Show on Turf was never able to get untracked. Warner completed 19 of 33 passes for just 206 yards as Adderley and fellow corner Mel Renfro put the clamps on Bruce and Torry Holt.