<P> By the middle of the decade, both teams were rebuilding . The 1986 NFL season would be the first year since the 1965 NFL season that both teams missed the playoffs, which would happen for two more years before the Steelers clinched a wild card spot in 1989 . During this time, the Steelers, with a mix of aging veterans and younger players, remained competitive in the AFC Central while the wheels fell off completely in Dallas . In 1988, both Tom Landry and Chuck Noll appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated together, asking if both coaches had lost their touch . Though both teams had young future Hall of Famers in Michael Irvin and Rod Woodson, the Cowboys and Steelers would finish 3--13 and 5--11, respectively, for 1988 . New Cowboys owner Jerry Jones fired Landry after the season . Noll would retire just three seasons later after missing the playoffs by just a few games each year after his breakout 1989 wild - card spot and two playoff thrillers, a 26--23 overtime victory in Houston and a 24--23 loss at Denver . </P> <P> The Cowboys would return to prominence in the 1990s, winning three Super Bowls, while the Steelers would return to AFC Championship contention under head coach Bill Cowher . The rivalry resumed in the 1990s, but unlike the 1970s matchups that were dominated by Pittsburgh, Dallas got the upper hand this time around . The Cowboys swept all four matchups between the two teams in the decade . </P> <P> The possibility of Cowboys--Steelers III for Super Bowl XXIX existed, as both teams advanced to their respective conference championships . Such a matchup would be a rematch from Week 1 of the regular season, which the Cowboys won 26--9 . The Cowboys were the two - time defending Super Bowl champions, while the Steelers behind their "Blitzburgh" defense was the favorite to win the AFC . However, the favored Steelers were upset by the San Diego Chargers 17--13 while the San Francisco 49ers, who had lost in the NFC Championship game the previous two years to the Cowboys, beat the Cowboys 38--28 . </P> <P> Fans would only have to wait another year for Cowboys--Steelers III in the Super Bowl, as both teams advanced to Super Bowl XXX . Like the previous two matchups, the game was close, but this time favored the Cowboys, who won 27--17 after Steelers quarterback Neil O'Donnell threw two interceptions to Cowboys cornerback Larry Brown, who would be named Super Bowl MVP for his efforts . </P>

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