Tuesday, December 3, 1996

Cowboys rested and ready for the stretch run

By DENNE H. FREEMAN / Associated Press (Dec. 3, 1996)

IRVING - Emmitt Smith was smiling and walking without a limp again. Nate Newton was spinning his usual jokes. Troy Aikman was chatting about his weekend, which included watching Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls play.

The defending Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys are rested and ready for their three-game run to close out a roller coaster regular season.

"I'm feeling good," said Smith, who had his best game of the season last Thursday by gaining 155 yards and scoring three touchdowns in a 21-10 win over the Washington Redskins. "The rest over the weekend did me good. I didn't do much and the swelling in my ankle went down."

Smith watched his alma mater, Florida, lose to Florida State, and said, "That was a tough one. But it was a great game."

The Cowboys play at Arizona Sunday, entertain New England Dec. 15, and travel to Washington for a big NFC East showdown Dec. 22 to close out the season. Washington, Philadelphia and Dallas are tied for the lead with 8-5 records.

If the Cowboys win out, they would win the NFC East because of a better division tie-breaker over the Eagles.

"We will have to stay focused for the last three games," Smith said. "There is no room for comfort. You could say we're walking on a ledge. We can't afford to lose."

Aikman, who only had 63 yards passing against the Redskins, was upbeat because of the way the Cowboys ran the ball against Washington.

"Our running game was outstanding," Aikman said. "But now we have to pull all the offense together. The rest of our games are going to be tough. "

He said the Cowboys will treat the next three weeks like they are playoff games.

"This is usually the stage of the season where our team comes together," Aikman said. "There is a sense of enthusiasm and excitement now that has been missing."

The Cowboys are 21-7 in the first game played after Thanksgiving.

"It seems like the weekend of rest has always helped us," Aikman said. "All our banged up guys get to heal and it just sets us up for the last part of the season."

Safety George Teague, picked up as a free agent during the off-season, said he always thought the Cowboys had an advantage in games after Thanksgiving.

"It's like coming back from an off-week," Teague said. "It's a big plus.

"If we lose a game now it could be devastating. It's a three-game season."