IRVING, TEXAS ? Dallas coach Bill Parcells was in his office at 5 a.m. Wednesday watching film, trying to take advantage of every possible minute. For the Cowboys, it’s already time to play another game.

Just 69 hours after completing their last game, the Cowboys (2-1) play their exhibition finale tonight against Kansas City (1-2). And Parcells is planning to play his starters.

“I still need to. You can’t protect guys in this game,” Parcells said. “Every time I’ve seen someone try to protect guys, it always works just the opposite way because the whole team gets a sense that’s what you’re doing.”

So Vinny Testaverde will start again at quarterback and play more than just a couple of series against the Chiefs. The 40-year-old quarterback threw for 240 yards and his first preseason touchdown Monday night against Tennessee.

Kansas City is playing its third game in 11 days, having lost on the last play to Cleveland on Saturday night, but coach Dick Vermeil has never played twice in four days like the Cowboys are doing.

“It becomes the entertainment business then,” Vermeil said. “I know Bill Parcells. They will play.”

Vermeil plans to have his starters to get about 25 snaps each.

It will also be the final tuneup for the attack-mode defense installed by new Chiefs coordinator Gunther Cunningham. Defensive improvement has been the point of emphasis.

Two years ago, the Chiefs had the worst defense in the league. They ranked 29th last season and in a playoff loss to Indianapolis never even forced a Colts punt.

“I think people will see a difference. Only time will tell,” Pro Bowl safety Jerome Woods said. “That last game has left a sour taste in our mouths.”

Woods, hampered throughout camp by a hamstring injury, is expected to make his first preseason start tonight.

One of the biggest decisions still facing the Chiefs is whether CFL standout Lawrence Tynes can finally beat out Morten Andersen, the NFL’s No. 2 career scoring leader, to be the kicker. The 44-year-old Andersen held off Tynes twice the past three years.

Tynes is scheduled to get all of the kicks Thursday, including kickoffs, but that doesn’t mean it’s his job to lose.

“Not necessarily,” Vermeil said. “There are a lot of variables that go into that.”

An injury may have settled the Cowboys’ kicking job.

Billy Cundiff, inconsistent during camp, may keep his job because of Matt Bryant’s hamstring strain. Bryant was signed during camp, but was held out Monday because of the injury that may keep him out Thursday as well.

Testaverde showed that he can still play like old times, completing 17 of 24 passes — all in the first half against the Titans — and his first TD in 11 preseason possessions.

Parcells wouldn’t say how much Testaverde would play Thursday, or how Drew Henson and Tony Romo would split time after he was done.

“Tony might have a little advantage on game management right this minute,” Parcells said. “Drew, with more work and more experience, is coming along pretty fast for a guy that hasn’t played in a while. Hopefully he will get some good work.”