ARLINGTON, Texas – Today, Seahawks fans discover whether contesting a game in a new venue will mean a better outcome for a trip to Dallas.

But the way things shape up, the palatial new Cowboys Stadium could be as problematic as the old Texas Stadium was for the Seahawks.

You will remember Texas Stadium as the place with the hole in the dome like a case of structural male-pattern baldness. The Seahawks went 2-4 there over the years, and the damage was often physically costly.

Before we examine just what a threat Cowboy pass-rusher DeMarcus Ware will be in a matchup against Damion McIntosh – the team’s fifth left tackle of the season -- a bit of history.

In the Hawks’ four losses in Texas Stadium, they were outscored 142-38.

As a result of faulty blocking, the Seahawks lost quarterback Dan McGwire (fractured hip) to a linebacker blitz in 1992.

Trent Dilfer went down with a torn Achilles’ tendon in ’98.

Receiver Darrell Jackson suffered postgame seizures after a concussive hit in that ’98 game, which Dallas won, 30-22.

And last year, in a Thanksgiving Day loss (34-9) on national television, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was sacked seven times in what would he his final game of a season lost to back problems.

Today, Hasselbeck comes into the game still tender in his recovery from broken ribs.

Standing between Hasselbeck’s sore bones and Ware’s helmet is McIntosh, who was cut before the season by Kansas City.

How good is Ware?

The All-Pro has had four sacks the past two games despite a stress fracture in his foot. When the teams played last season, he had three sacks of Hasselbeck.

The Cowboys rewarded him with a $78 million contract extension. And now he faces McIntosh, who was recently unemployed.

Ware managed to be political when asked about the seemingly lopsided matchup this week.

“I think you approach it the same way; if a guy makes any NFL team, that means that he’s good at what he does,” Ware said. “So you can’t really just take anything for granted. You just have got to get ready.”

Ware spoke highly of Seahawks All-Pro tackle Walter Jones, who was placed in the injured-reserve list this week because of knee problems.

Jones was battling with injuries in the meeting last season, when Ware had such gaudy statistics.

“He played with a sore back or ankle, something like that, but the thing is, he was a warrior,” Ware said. “He was out there playing.

“I always talk about how great of a player he is; I mean, year in and year out, he makes the Pro Bowl.”

But this year, he never made it to the field. He was replaced by successively injured or ineffective Sean Locklear, Brandon Frye and Kyle Williams.

McIntosh may be new to the Seahawks, and a cast-off from a bad Chiefs team, but he has a great deal of experience (111 NFL starts with San Diego, Miami and Kansas City).

Ware said he’d never faced McIntosh before, and wasn’t even ready to concede that’s who would be lining up against him.

“You don’t know who you’re going to face, and that’s the unknown, so you’ve just got to be ready. They’re a high-powered offense. They scored 69 points in those two (wins). They can score some points, that’s the main thing. They’re a nice West Coast offense where they get the ball off really fast, so getting pressure is going to be key.”

Sure it’s the key.

In Seattle’s two wins this season, Hasselbeck and backup Seneca Wallace were sacked one time. In the four losses, the sacks totaled 17.

Hasselbeck missed practice time this week to nurse the ribs, but is expected to be ready for today’s game.

“The challenge with our offense, first and foremost, is to protect our quarterback,” said Hawks coach Jim Mora. “Their premier pass rusher (Ware) just signed a new deal that makes him one of the highest-paid players in the National Football League – and deservedly so. That’s the real challenge for us right there.”

True.

And, really, it’s not the history or the stadium that have been bad for Seahawks quarterbacks in Dallas.

It’s been the blocking.

Dave Boling: 253-597-8440

dave.boling@thenewstribune.com