The Dallas Cowboys, defending NFL Champions, were 6-2 and
had won six straight games after an 0-2 start as they hosted the Phoenix
Cardinals on November 14, 1993. However, Head Coach Jimmy Johnson’s team would
be without star QB Troy Aikman due to a hamstring injury. They still had the
other key components to their offense in RB Emmitt Smith and WR Michael Irvin.
They had also just picked up ninth-year veteran QB Bernie Kosar (pictured at right), who had only
been with the Cowboys for four days after his abrupt release by the Browns,
where Head Coach Bill Belichick said he had “diminished skills”.
The Cardinals were coached by Joe Bugel and limping along
at 3-6, although they were coming off a win against the Eagles. QB Steve
Beuerlein had been benched in favor of Chris Chandler and RB Garrison Hearst,
the highly-touted first round draft choice, held out and then went down with a
knee injury six games into the season. Still, Phoenix had a good receiving
threat out of the backfield in FB Larry Centers, a reliable possession receiver
in WR Ricky Proehl, and the defense could be stingy at giving up points.
There was a crowd of 64,224 in attendance for the late
afternoon game at Texas Stadium. The Cardinals went three-and-out on their
opening possession. Following the punt, Dallas drove 35 yards in seven plays
with rookie Jason Garrett at quarterback. Five of them were runs by RB Emmitt
Smith and Garrett completed a pass to WR Michael Irvin for 16 yards. Eddie
Murray kicked a 44-yard field goal to give the Cowboys the early 3-0 lead.
The teams traded punts and on the third Dallas series,
Bernie Kosar entered the game at quarterback. He immediately completed a pass
to Irvin for 14 yards and, after Smith was tossed for a five-yard loss, threw
back-to-back completions to FB Daryl “Moose” Johnston for six yards and to
Irvin for 18 to reach the Phoenix 32. Smith then ran the ball five straight
times, the last on the first play of the second quarter for a four-yard TD.
Murray’s extra point made it a 10-0 game.
The Cardinals, who had done nothing on offense during the
first quarter, generated three first downs as they advanced to the Dallas 45 on
their next series. QB Chris Chandler completed three passes, although one that
was called back due to offsetting penalties negated a big gain.
The Cards ended up having to punt and once again Kosar
led the Cowboys on a scoring drive. The big play was what started out as a five-yard
completion to Smith out of the backfield that the great runner turned into a gain
of 86 yards to the Phoenix two, breaking three tackles along the way. Smith
couldn’t penetrate the end zone on two running plays, but Kosar threw to TE Jay
Novacek for a one-yard TD and, with the extra point, the home team held a 17-0
lead.
After a three-and-out series by the Cardinals, Dallas
again advanced into Phoenix territory, but a fumble at the 28 negated an
opportunity to add more points. Jason Garrett returned at quarterback for the
Cowboys on their next series and the half ended with no further points scored.
The Cowboys punted following the first possession of the
third quarter, with Kosar again behind center. The Cards drove 47 yards in 11
plays, Chandler completed four passes, the longest to Ricky Proehl for 16 yards
in a third-and-six situation, but after getting a first-and-goal at the Dallas
five, they ended up having to settle for a 19-yard Greg Davis field goal.
On the first play following the kickoff, Kosar fumbled
and DE Reuben Davis recovered for Phoenix at the Dallas 19. The Cardinals
capitalized three plays later when Chandler threw to Larry Centers for a
17-yard touchdown. Davis added the extra point and suddenly the visitors were
only a touchdown behind the Cowboys.
Dallas punted following its next series, but now it was
Phoenix’s turn to give up a costly fumble. Chandler dropped the snap on the
fourth play and DE Charles Haley recovered to give the Cowboys the ball at the
Phoenix 39. Two passes by Kosar picked up 21 yards and, early in the fourth
quarter, Murray kicked a 43-yard field goal to extend the Dallas margin to ten
points.
After a punt by the Cards pinned the Cowboys down at
their one yard line, Kosar was penalized for intentional grounding while
passing out of the end zone, resulting in a safety. Phoenix then took the free
kick and went 30 yards in eight plays. Davis kicked a 47-yard field goal to
narrow the Dallas lead to five points.
The Cowboys responded with a long non-scoring drive that
knocked time off the clock. It was all Smith, either running or catching short passes
from Kosar, as Dallas converted two third downs. By the time the Cardinals got
the ball back at their own 13 following a punt, there was just 2:37 left in the
game. Chandler passed Phoenix into Dallas territory, but on a fourth-down play
at the Dallas 41, FS Kenneth Gant came up with an interception and that was it.
Dallas won by a final score of 20-15.
The Cowboys had the edge in total yards (311 to 265)
while each team generated 15 first downs. There were no sacks by either club.
The Cardinals turned the ball over three times, to two suffered by Dallas.
Bernie Kosar completed 13 of 21 passes for 199 yards and
a touchdown with none intercepted. Emmitt Smith (pictured below), who was battling the flu,
rushed for 80 yards and a TD on 24 carries and gained another 102 yards on four
pass receptions. Michael Irvin also caught four passes, for 63 yards.
For the Cards, Chris Chandler was successful on 27 of 46
throws for 214 yards and a TD with one intercepted. Larry Centers, who rushed
for three yards on two carries, caught 7 passes for 59 yards and a touchdown
while Ricky Proehl gained a team-leading 66 yards on six receptions. Johnny
Bailey led the modest ground attack with 8 carries for 31 yards and contributed
6 catches for 34 yards.
“For Bernie to pull this off with limited practice time
was commendable,” said Coach Jimmy Johnson. “He was hitting Michael Irvin on
crossover routes and executing the offense. He had everything spinning in his
head but did a tremendous job.”
“I didn’t want to let the coaches and the players on this
great team down,” said Kosar. “I’m just so happy we won. It was a tough week
getting ready. I told some Cleveland friends it’s amazing what a difference a
week can make.”
The Cowboys lost their next two games before winning the
remainder and finishing atop the NFC East with a 12-4 record. They again
advanced to the Super Bowl and won for the second straight year. The Cardinals
finished strong with four wins in their last five games to end up fourth in the
division at 7-9.
Bernie Kosar started one more game before Troy Aikman
returned to take over the reins. He completed 36 of 63 passes for 410 yards and
three touchdowns with none intercepted. He moved on to the Dolphins for 1994
where he backed up QB Dan Marino for three years to finish out his career.
Emmitt Smith went on to win his third consecutive NFL
rushing title, gaining 1486 yards on 283 carries (5.3 avg.) and scoring nine
touchdowns. He also caught 57 passes for 414 yards and another score. The
86-yard reception against the Cardinals was the longest of his Hall of Fame
career.
