Tuesday, October 1, 1996
A 96-Yard Drive That May Have Saved Dallas'
Season
By DAVE GOLDBERG
AP Football Writer
(Oct. 1, 1996)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The drive went from the south end of Veterans
Stadium to the north end, 96 yards for a touchdown that may have
saved the Dallas Cowboys' season.
"Ninety six yards?" coach Barry Switzer yelled in the
euphoria of Dallas' 23-19 win over Philadelphia on Monday night.
"That drive was 130 yards, we had so many darn penalties."
Actually, it was 105, but who's counting. The important thing
is that it turned around a game for the Cowboys, who came into
Monday night's contest 1-3, then fell behind 10-0 after the Eagles'
first two possessions. Last place in the NFC East beckoned for
a team that entered the season looking for its fourth NFL title
in five seasons.
Herschel Walker's 49-yard kickoff return began the breakthrough,
setting up a 5-yard touchdown pass from Troy Aikman to Eric Bjornson
that cut Dallas' deficit to 10-7. Still, it was just the second
offensive touchdown in seven quarters for the Cowboys and they
needed to move only 44 yards to get it.
Then, after the defense had held Philadelphia for the first time,
Tom Hutton punted. Kelvin Martin returned it past the 20, but
a holding call on Dallas' Darren Woodson forced the Cowboys to
start from their own 4.
Thus the drive began.
On the first play, Aikman got them out of the hole with a 22-yard
pass to Bjornson, who has replaced the injured Jay Novacek at
tight end. One play later, however, Aikman got them back into
the hole when he was called for clipping on a reverse by Deion
Sanders, one of the few times that particular call has been made
on a quarterback.
Now it was second and 22 at the 14, Michael Irvin was a game
away from returning from a suspension and Kevin Williams, the
other starting wide receiver, was out with a broken foot.
No problem. That's why Sanders plays both ways these days, and
when the the Cowboys saw him in single coverage they jumped on
it.
Sanders streaked down the left sideline, cut inside cornerback
Troy Vincent and Aikman hit him perfectly with Vincent a half-step
behind. The play carried to the Philadelphia 47, Dallas was out
of trouble and now the offense could do what it wanted.
"It was a big play," Sanders said almost reluctantly.
"But we had a lot of big plays tonight."
A few more came on that drive.
One was a 13-yard pass from Aikman to Herschel Walker. Another
was a 16-yard run around the right side by Sherman Williams,
Emmitt Smith's backup.
Then the Eagles were penalized five yards when Rhett Hall went
offside. Williams went for four more yards and then Smith came
back and went left behind Nate Newton and Daryl Johnston for
the TD. It was vintage Cowboys, and it gave them a 14-10 lead
they never relinquished.
The Cowboys weren't sure it saved their season. Not yet, with
11 games to go after next week's bye.
"If we lose the next game, we're right back where we were
before tonight," Smith said.
But at least one Eagle noticed what the Cowboys had done and
hoped he learned from it.
"They've been there," said fullback Kevin Turner. "They
are a championship club. They know how to make the plays when
they have to."
All content copyright 1996, AP, The Abilene
Reporter-News and Reporter OnLine
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