The Carolina Panthers reached the playoffs in just their second year of existence in the 1996 season and hosted the Dallas Cowboys, defending NFL Champions, on January 5, 1997. Coached by Dom Capers, the Panthers benefited from an outstanding defense that featured linebackers Kevin Greene, who led the NFL with 14.5 sacks, Lamar Lathon, who contributed another 13.5 sacks, and Sam Mills, still a Pro Bowl-quality performer at age 37. The conservative offense was directed by second-year QB Kerry Collins and received unanticipated production from journeyman RB Anthony Johnson (pictured above). Reliable TE Wesley Walls led the receiving corps. Carolina won its last seven games to top the NFC West at 12-4, edging out the 49ers, who the Panthers swept during the season.
The Cowboys were coached by Barry Switzer for the third
season and had won three Super Bowls in the preceding four years, beginning
under Switzer’s predecessor Jimmy Johnson. The offense was still led by QB Troy
Aikman, RB Emmitt Smith, and WR Michael Irvin, and the defense contained
dynamic CB Deion Sanders. But there had been disarray in Dallas, starting with
Irvin missing the first five games due to a drug suspension by the league and
TE Jay Novacek being lost for the year with a back injury. The Cowboys stumbled
out of the gate, losing three of their first four games, before winning four
straight on the way to a 10-6 record that placed first in the NFC East for the
fifth straight year. They easily defeated Minnesota in the Wild Card round, but
DT Leon Lett was missing for the postseason due to a drug suspension and DE
Charles Haley due to injury. Furthermore, there had been sexual assault
accusations made against Irvin and OT Erik Williams during the week preceding
the game against the Panthers that provided an additional distraction (the
charges ultimately proved to be unfounded).
There were 72,808 fans in attendance on a 60-degree day at
Ericsson Stadium. The Panthers had the ball first but, after reaching midfield,
Kerry Collins was intercepted by SS Darren Woodson. Troy Aikman completed
passes to Michael Irvin for 22 yards and WR Kevin Williams for 17 while Emmitt
Smith plugged away on the ground, and the Cowboys put the first points on the board
with a 22-yard Chris Boniol field goal. However, Irvin suffered a broken collar
bone when tackled by Lamar Lathon following his reception and was lost for the
remainder of the game.
Carolina responded with a 68-yard drive in six plays.
Collins (pictured below) threw to WR Willie Green for 22 yards and a seven-yard completion to WR
Mark Carrier gave the Panthers first-and-goal at the Dallas one, from where
Collins connected with Wesley Walls for a touchdown. John Kasay added the extra
point for a 7-3 lead.
A short series by the Cowboys ended with a punt and, in a
drive that stretched into the second quarter, the Panthers advanced 42 yards in
11 plays. Collins threw to Green for 13 yards on first down, hit Green again
for eight yards on a third-and-nine play, and converted the resulting
fourth-and-one situation by carrying himself for the necessary yardage. Another
Collins pass, to RB Winslow Oliver, picked up five yards on a third-and-two
play and the possession ended with Collins throwing to Green for a 10-yard TD.
Kasay’s point after made it a 14-3 score.
Dallas came back with a long series of 14 plays that
traveled 73 yards. Aikman completed six passes, the longest to Williams for 15
yards to convert a third down and the last to FB Daryl “Moose” Johnston for a
two-yard touchdown. The attempt for a two-point conversion failed but the
Carolina lead was narrowed to 14-9 with 4:19 remaining in the first half.
The Panthers went three-and-out on their next possession
but gave up two points when the snap from punt formation sailed over Rohn Stark’s
head and the punter was obliged to fall on the ball in the end zone for a
safety. Deion Sanders returned the resulting free kick 28 yards and Aikman
immediately moved the Cowboys into Carolina territory with a pass to Williams
for 12 yards, but three plays later he was picked off by SS Chad Cota, who
returned it 49 yards to the Dallas 27. Kasay kicked a 24-yard field goal and
the Panthers led by 17-11 at halftime.
The Cowboys had the ball first in the third quarter and
had to punt, but retained possession when Oliver fumbled the kick and Johnston
recovered for Dallas at the Carolina 16. Aikman threw to Williams for 11 yards
but, after reaching the three yard line, the Panthers held and the visitors
settled for a 21-yard Boniol field goal that made it a three-point game.
With Anthony Johnson leading the way on the ground, the
Panthers drove from their 28 to the Dallas 22 and Kasay kicked a 40-yard field
goal. The Cowboys punted following their next series and once again Carolina
advanced to a field goal by Kasay, again from 40 yards, that made the score
23-14 early in the fourth quarter.
Dallas came back with a long drive that covered 78 yards.
Aikman completed four passes, all under ten yards, and Sanders, lined up at
wide receiver on offense, gained 16 yards on a reverse while Smith had a
25-yard run. However, Sanders was lost with a head injury and once again the
Cowboys couldn’t reach the end zone and settled for another Boniol field goal
that covered 21 yards.
A short series by the Panthers following a 51-yard
kickoff return by WR Michael Bates resulted in a punt and Dallas, down by six
points, was pinned back at its two. The Cowboys reached their 37 before Aikman
threw a pass that was intercepted by FS Pat Terrell, who returned it 49 yards
to the Dallas 19. Carolina kept the ball on the ground and Kasay made it a
nine-point game with a 32-yard field goal as the clock showed 3:44 remaining in
to play. On the third play following the ensuing kickoff, Sam Mills intercepted
an Aikman pass to clinch the 26-17 win for the Panthers, who were able to run
out the clock.
Dallas had the edge in total yards (244 to 227) and first
downs (21 to 18). However, the Cowboys failed to take full advantage of scoring
opportunities, settling for three field goals rather than touchdowns inside the
Carolina five, and turned the ball over three times, to two by the Panthers.
Kerry Collins completed 12 of 22 passes for 100 yards and
two touchdowns while being intercepted once. Anthony Johnson rushed for 104
yards on 26 carries and Willie Green led the Carolina receivers with 5 catches
for 53 yards and a TD. John Kasay was successful on all four of his field goal
attempts.
For the Cowboys, Troy Aikman (pictured at right) was successful on 18 of 36
throws for 165 yards and a TD but also gave up three interceptions. In the
absence of Michael Irvin, Kevin Williams caught 6 passes for 89 yards to lead
the club. Emmitt Smith gained 80 yards on 22 rushing attempts but was
consistently stopped inside the five yard line.
“Same old story we had all year long,” summed up Coach
Switzer of the Cowboys. “We get the ball in scoring position and can’t get the
touchdown.”
Carolina advanced to the NFC Championship game and lost
to Green Bay (similarly, the other 1995 expansion team, the Jacksonville
Jaguars, reached the AFC title game). The Panthers were unable to sustain the
quick success, dropping to 7-9 in 1997 and not reaching the playoffs, or
posting another winning record, until 2003. For the Cowboys, the defeat marked
the end of a six-season period in which they were an elite club. They fell to
6-10 in ’97 and, while they returned to the postseason in 1998 and ’99, they
were defeated in the Wild Card round both times.
