News

Earl Thomas III returns to Dallas Sunday to play the team he grew up rooting for in the state he grew up in.

“I had this cassette video tape of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Deion Sanders,” Earl recalls.

ET, a native of Orange, Texas, looked up to Smith because, like Earl, he was “very short, but he was very tough.”

As enamored as young Earl was with the Cowboys, he’ll do everything he can to ensure they don’t win on Sunday. This will be the fourth time No. 29 will be facing off against his childhood team, and he said Thursday in a press conference that it’s still surreal to suit up against the Cowboys.

“It’s just a part of my dream,” Earl said. “It doesn’t feel real but it’s here, it’s real, it’s happening.”

Last time these two teams met, the Cowboys stunned the Seahawks in Seattle 30-23 in Week 6 of 2014. That was just Seattle’s second loss at home since 2012. Those Cowboys were 5-1, but this time, Dallas is coming off four straight losses. After losing quarterback Tony Romo and wide receiver Dez Bryant to injury early in the season, the Cowboys have failed to recover.

Quarterback Matt Cassel will make his second consecutive start as Romo continues to rehab from injury. Meanwhile, Bryant could make his first start since Week 1. ET isn’t concerned about the Cowboys’ offensive weapons. No. 29 is focused on the Seahawks.

“We just need everybody to bring what they see during that week of preparation to our game,” Earl said. “When everybody’s communicating like that, you cannot cut that string because we’re going to adjust to anything.”

After a rough start to the season, the Seahawks’ defense got back on this past Thursday night with a 20-3 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. ET said he’s noticed improvement all around on defense. On Thursday, No. 29 spoke highly of Cliff Avril and the Seahawks’ defensive front.

“Him and Mike Bennett. They feed off each other really well,” Earl said. “They’re very very smart. We ask those guys to drop in coverage sometimes and they’re very versatile.”

While the Seahawks’ defensive front was a star of the 49ers’ game, the Legion of Boom also stepped up its game in Week 7. ET III pulled down an interception for the second straight game, a streak he’ll look to continue in Big D.

The Legion of Boom is confident going up against a Dallas squad that has thrown seven interceptions in six games and ranks just No. 20 in the league in passing yards per game.

Earl revealed another source of confidence for the L.O.B. this week. Cornerback Richard Sherman has been moving around and covering the No. 1 receiver no matter where he is on the field. Sherman used to be posted on the left side of the field permanently, but now that No. 25 is no longer stationary in the defensive backfield, No. 29 feels more at ease.

“It’s a clear conscience for me, when he’s moving around and he’s following the No. 1 guy,” Earl said. “That’s all I can say about that. I don’t have to worry about the No. 1 guy.”

Earl might not have the same passion for the Cowboys as he had when he was younger, but his love for football is just as strong as it’s ever been. As always, he’ll look to exercise that passion against the team he grew up watching.

“I’m just a football player that loves the game,” Earl said.

Kickoff is set for 1:25 p.m. PT from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and will be broadcast on FOX.