his third season at right guard at Pittsburgh and helped Dallas gain 380 total yards, including 295 passing yards, while not allowing a sack. He left the September 15 win over the Philadelphia Eagles after suffering a strained left hamstring in the second quarter and did not return. Allen returned to the starting lineup following the bye week, against the Chicago Bears on September 28, but was forced to leave in the second quarter without enough strength in his left leg to block effectively. He was once again back in the starting lineup the following week at the Giants. Allen was then forced to move out to left tackle after the loss of Tuinei during a game at Washington on October 13. Allen remained at left tackle in third-down passing situations against the Eagles and Redskins on October 26 and November 16. He became a full-time starter at left tackle against the upstart Carolina Panthers on December 8, and remained there the final three weeks of the season. In 1998, Allen was slated to start at the left tackle position from day one of the season after starting the final three games of 1997 at left tackle. In his first full season guarding Troy Aikman's blindside, he earned consensus All-Pro and All-NFC honors. Allen became just the third player in league history to be selected to the Pro Bowl at more than one offensive line position when peers voted him to NFC Pro Bowl team at tackle. He earned recognition as part of an offensive line that allowed just 19 sacks for 110 yards in 493 pass plays for a season, the fewest in the NFL. Allen's blocking helped Emmitt Smith to record seven 100-yard rushing games and 1,332 yards on the season. He debuted at his new position in the season opener against the Arizona Cardinals and helped Dallas gain 444 total yards (188 rushing); both totals were the team's highest since 1996. He helped lead the way as two running backs topped the 100-yard mark for just the third time in franchise history at Washington on October 4, Smith finishing with 120 yards and one touchdown while Chris Warren recorded 104 yards and two touchdowns. In November, he faced four of the NFC's top defensive ends in Hugh Douglas, Chad Bratzke, Simeon Rice, and John Randle. Allen's streak started at Philadelphia on November 2, when he limited Douglas