National Football League

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett: Seahawks are 'damn good'

Published Oct. 7, 2014 11:40 a.m. ET

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IRVING, Texas -- During his annual youth football camp in May, Jason Witten was asked by campers to name the toughest NFL defense he's faced.

The Dallas Cowboys' Pro Bowl tight end thought for a second before responding with the 2004 Baltimore Ravens. That season, the Cowboys lost 30-10 to a Ravens team that included defensive stars like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs.

But the kids weren't pleased with that response, many shouting in favor of the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

"You guys need to get off that Seahawks bandwagon," Witten replied to the group gathered at Grand Prairie High School.

The Cowboys have a chance to get some of those kids off the bandwagon this weekend when they travel to Seattle.

"It's a great challenge for us," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Monday. "Obviously, they're world champs and they play great at their stadium and have for a few years now. It starts with how good of a football team they are. They're a really, really good team. They didn't win the Super Bowl last year by accident."

Garrett knows a little something about playing for a defending Super Bowl champ from his time as a reserve quarterback for the Cowboys in the 1990s. He said Monday that he recalls teams being fired up for their shot at the champs.

Will this Cowboys team be fired up about facing a similar situation?

"I think we certainly know who these guys are, and they earned the right to be champions," Garrett said. "I don't know that there's been a more impressive playoff and Super Bowl run than they had last year. They were awfully good. They're off to a good start this year. They look like the same kind of team. So we understand the challenges.

"You just have to put the tape on, and they'll get your attention. Whatever motivation you need beyond that, that's up to you. But just watch the tape. They're pretty damn good."

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