1997: Panthers Defeat Cowboys in First Playoff Appearance

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.

1996: Key Interceptions Propel Cowboys Over Steelers in Super Bowl XXX

Super Bowl XXX on January 28, 1996 featured the Dallas Cowboys, back after a one-year hiatus following back-to-back titles in 1992 and ’93, against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

While Barry Switzer had replaced Jimmy Johnson as head coach since the last two Super Bowl appearances, the Cowboys still relied on the offensive trio of QB Troy Aikman, RB Emmitt Smith, and WR Michael Irvin, and all three had excelled in 1995. TE Jay Novacek was also a Pro Bowl-quality player and the veteran offensive line was solid. The defense was anchored by aging but able DE Charles Haley and was particularly strong in the backfield, where flashy CB Deion Sanders was a dominant defender and had good company in SS Darren Woodson. Dallas won the NFC East for the fourth straight year with a conference-best 12-4 record and defeated the Eagles and Packers thus far in the postseason to reach the Super Bowl for the third time in four years.

Under Head Coach Bill Cowher, Pittsburgh had been in the playoffs for each of the past three seasons and barely missed going to the Super Bowl the previous year. QB Neil O’Donnell was a good fit in running a conservative offense, but it was the solid defense which ranked third overall in the NFL that made the Steelers a contender. Outside linebackers Kevin Greene and Greg Lloyd were both selected to the Pro Bowl, and big Levon Kirkland was a solid inside linebacker. Injuries to star cornerbacks Rod Woodson and Deon Figures could have been shattering blows, but replacements Carnell Lake, moved from strong safety, and Willie Williams rose to the occasion. After getting off to a 3-4 start, the Steelers won eight straight games and topped the AFC Central with an 11-5 record. They defeated the Bills in the Divisional round and held off the Colts to win the AFC title.

There was a crowd of 76,347 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, supplemented by the usual mammoth television audience. The Cowboys had the first possession and drove 47 yards in six plays. Troy Aikman threw to Michael Irvin for 20 yards and Emmitt Smith followed up with a 23-yard carry to the Pittsburgh 28. They picked up four more yards on the next three plays and Chris Boniol kicked a 42-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

The Steelers went three-and-out on their first series and punted. Dallas put together another scoring drive, this time advancing 75 yards in eight plays. Following two carries by Smith that picked up eight yards, a false start penalty backed the Cowboys up and forced a third-and-seven situation. Aikman connected with Irvin for 11 yards and then went long on a post pattern to Deion Sanders, inserted as a wide receiver, for a gain of 47 yards to the Pittsburgh 14. Three plays later, Aikman converted a third-and-nine play with a pass to Jay Novacek for ten yards and then went to the tight end again for a three-yard touchdown. Boniol’s extra point made it a 10-0 game.

The Steelers responded with a long series that stretched into the early second quarter. Neil O’Donnell completed a pass to WR Ernie Mills for 11 yards in a third-and-eight situation and QB Kordell Stewart, coming in for the short-yardage play, ran for two yards to convert a fourth-and-one near midfield. O’Donnell completed another third-and-eight play with an 11-yard completion to WR Andre Hastings, but the drive finally stalled at the Dallas 39 and the Steelers punted into the end zone.

The Cowboys came back with another long scoring drive of 13 plays and 62 yards. Aikman completed six passes, but an apparent completion to Irvin at the goal line from 24 yards out was nullified by an offensive pass interference penalty and, after Aikman threw to Novacek for 19 yards, Smith ran twice and was stopped for a three-yard loss on a third-and-one play. Dallas settled for a Boniol field goal from 35 yards, but now led by 13-0.

The teams traded punts before the Steelers, taking over with 3:52 remaining in the half, put together a 13-play, 54-yard scoring drive. It didn’t look promising when O’Donnell was sacked by Charles Haley for a loss of 10 yards to bring up a third-and-20 play, but O’Donnell threw to Hastings for 19 yards and Stewart gained three yards over tackle on fourth-and-one. A 12-yard run by RB Bam Morris put the Steelers at the Dallas 30 at the two-minute warning and, after Morris ran for three yards and TE Jonathan Hayes dropped a pass, O’Donnell connected with Mills for seven yards and a first down. DT Chad Hennings sacked O’Donnell, but he came back with completions to Hastings for six yards, Mills for 17 on third-and-13, and then six yards to WR Yancey Thigpen for a touchdown with the clock down to 13 seconds. Norm Johnson added the extra point and the score was 13-7 at the half.

The teams exchanged punts to start the third quarter before the Steelers drove to their 48, but a misdirected O’Donnell pass was intercepted by CB Larry Brown (pictured at top), who returned it 44 yards to the Pittsburgh 18. The Cowboys made the most of the turnover as Aikman passed to Irvin for 17 yards and, on the next play, Smith ran the last yard for a touchdown. Boniol added the extra point and Dallas had an extended lead of 20-7.

The Steelers again advanced toward midfield on their next series. O’Donnell completed three passes but, after reaching their 47, Morris was stopped for no gain on three straight carries, the last one while facing fourth-and-two. The Cowboys had a short series and punted and, with 33 seconds remaining in the period, Pittsburgh again had possession. The Steelers went 52 yards in 10 plays that started with O’Donnell passing to Mills for 12 yards, followed by two carries by Morris that picked up another 17. Mills fumbled after gaining 11 yards on a catch, but TE Mark Bruener recovered to keep the series going. Four straight short passes got the ball to the Dallas 19, but an incompletion was followed by a sack and the Steelers settled for a 46-yard Johnson field goal.

Down by 20-10, the Steelers went for an onside kick and it was successful when CB Deon Figures recovered at the Pittsburgh 48. O’Donnell went to the air for three straight completions to the Dallas 22, and after Morris (pictured above) picked up five yards on a run, two more passes got the Steelers to the five. Morris carried on the next three plays, the last for a one-yard TD and, with Johnson adding the extra point, Pittsburgh was back in the game at 20-17 and appeared to have the momentum.

The Cowboys had a short series that ended with a punt, and the Steelers again had the ball, starting off at their 32 with 4:15 left on the clock. But after an incomplete pass on first down, O’Donnell again threw for Hastings and his off-target pass was picked off by Brown for a second time, who returned it 33 yards to the Pittsburgh six. Smith ran for a four-yard TD two plays later, and for all intents sealed the win for Dallas.

O’Donnell passed the Steelers to the Dallas 40, but they got no farther as the next three tosses fell incomplete, the last on fourth down. The Cowboys were winners by a final score of 27-17.

It was the 12^th straight loss by an AFC team in the Super Bowl. However, the Steelers made a game of it, leading in total yards (310 to 254) and first downs (25 to 15). Pittsburgh’s defense did especially well against the run, holding the Cowboys to 56 yards on 25 running plays, but Dallas recorded four sacks, to two by the Steelers. However, the Steelers gave up three turnovers, two of which directly led to touchdowns, while the Cowboys didn’t turn the ball over at all.

Troy Aikman completed 15 of 23 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Michael Irvin had five catches for 76 yards and Jay Novacek (pictured at left) also caught five, for 50 yards and a TD. Emmitt Smith was limited to 49 yards on 18 carries, but had the two short touchdowns. Larry Brown was the game’s MVP thanks to his two big interceptions, although in addition to that he had seven tackles, five of them solo.

For the Steelers, Neil O’Donnell was successful on 28 of 49 throws for 239 yards and a TD, but gave up three interceptions, two of which were critical. Andre Hastings had 10 receptions for 98 yards and Ernie Mills accumulated 78 yards on his 8 catches before leaving the game with a sprained knee. Bam Morris was the leading rusher with 73 yards on 19 attempts that included a score.

“I knew I was going to be the key today,” said Larry Brown. “I knew they would stay away from Deion (Sanders).”

“I’d like to commend Pittsburgh for the way they played,” commented Barry Switzer. “They dominated the second half.”

Several of the key players on both sides were wearing different uniforms in 1996, including Neil O’Donnell, who signed a big contract to play for the Jets, and Larry Brown, who moved on to Oakland. The Cowboys once again finished first in the NFC East but fell to the upstart Carolina Panthers in the Divisional playoff round. Pittsburgh, despite a tumultuous offseason, came back to top the AFC Central and thrashed the Colts in the Wild Card round before losing to New England.

1995: 49ers Defeat Cowboys for NFC Championship

Following the 1992 and ’93 NFL seasons, the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers had met for the NFC Championship, with Dallas winning both times on the way to victories in the Super Bowl. On January 15, 1995 the two clubs faced off for a third time with the conference title on the line.

The 49ers, coached by George Seifert, had put together a league-best 13-3 record to top the NFC West for the eighth time in nine years. QB Steve Young (pictured at right), mobile and highly accurate with his lefthanded passing, led the league with a 112.8 passer rating plus 35 touchdowns, 8.6 yards per attempt, and a 70.3 completion percentage. Star WR Jerry Rice topped the NFL in receiving yards (1499) on his 112 catches. RB Ricky Watters was productive both running the ball and catching it out of the backfield. The defense benefited from the presence of CB Deion Sanders and had other Pro Bowl talent in DT Dana Stubblefield, FS Merton Hanks, and SS Tim McDonald.

Dallas had a new head coach for 1994 in Barry Switzer, who replaced the departed Jimmy Johnson, architect of the club’s previous success. The core of the offense was back in the persons of QB Troy Aikman, RB Emmitt Smith, and WR Michael Irvin. DE Charles Haley anchored the defensive line while SS Darren Woodson was also an All-Pro in the backfield. The Cowboys were nicked up on the offensive line, however, and while Smith had rushed for 1484 yards and 21 touchdowns, he had been hampered by hamstring problems.

Both clubs had handily won their NFC Divisional playoff games, with the 49ers defeating Chicago by a score of 44-15 and Dallas whipping the Packers 35-9.

There were 69,125 fans in attendance at Candlestick Park. The field was in poor condition after a week of heavy rain in the Bay Area leading up to game day. On the third play from scrimmage, San Francisco CB Eric Davis (pictured below) intercepted a Troy Aikman pass and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown. Doug Brien added the extra point and the 49ers were in front by 7-0 with barely over a minute of time elapsed.

The next Dallas possession again resulted in a turnover, and it was once again Davis making the play as he forced Michael Irvin to fumble after gaining 16 yards on a pass from Aikman. Tim McDonald recovered at the Dallas 39 and, five plays later, Young threw a short pass to Ricky Watters, who went the distance for a 29-yard TD. Brien’s kick put the Niners up by 14-0.

Things continued to go wrong for the Cowboys as, on the ensuing kickoff, WR Kevin Williams was stripped of the ball by RB Adam Walker after a 22-yard return and Brien recovered for the 49ers at the Dallas 35. Runs by Watters and FB William Floyd picked up nine yards and Steve Young gave the home team a first down with a two-yard sneak up the middle. Two plays later, Young threw to WR John Taylor for 14 yards and followed that up with a quarterback draw that gained nine yards to the one yard line. From there, on the seventh play of the series, Floyd bulled over for a touchdown. Brien again added the PAT and, with the opening period not quite halfway over, the 49ers held a 21-0 lead.

Now in a deep hole, the Cowboys put together an eight-play, 62-yard scoring drive. FB Daryl “Moose” Johnston converted a third-and-one with a carry for four yards, Williams gained eight yards on an end-around, and a sack of Aikman was negated by a defensive holding penalty. Finally, facing third-and-23 at the San Francisco 44, Aikman threw deep for Irvin and connected for a touchdown. Chris Boniol added the PAT and the score was 21-7 after a period of play.

The Cowboys had the ball again heading into the second quarter and reached the San Francisco 10, but Boniol was wide on a 27-yard field goal attempt. The 49ers drove 64 yards in 11 plays in response, helped along by a 33-yard pass interference penalty on CB Larry Brown. Watters had an 11-yard run, Young carried for six, and Young converted a fourth-and-three play with a completion to TE Brent Jones for ten yards to the Dallas 17. After the usually-reliable Jerry Rice dropped a pass in the end zone, Brien finished off the series with a 34-yard field goal to extend the home team’s lead.

With just under six minutes remaining in the half, the Cowboys came back with a 63-yard drive in eight plays. Aikman had two completions to TE Jay Novacek, covering 15 and 19 yards, and Emmitt Smith ran for a four-yard touchdown. Boniol’s extra point narrowed the San Francisco lead to ten points.

The teams traded punts until the 49ers, taking advantage of a 23-yard kick by John Jett, took over at the Dallas 39 with thirty seconds left on the clock. Two carries by Floyd picked up 11 yards before Young fired for Rice in the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown. It was a huge boost for the 49ers, and they took a 31-14 lead into halftime.

The Cowboys got a break on the second half kickoff when Adam Walker muffed the kick and CB Dave Thomas recovered for Dallas at the San Francisco 25. Seven plays later, and helped along by a penalty on LB Rickey Jackson for a blow to Aikman’s head on a third down play, Smith ran one yard for a TD and, with Boniol’s conversion, it was a ten-point game once again.

However, the 49ers came right back with a drive of 70 yards in ten plays. Young completed three passes, including one of 17 yards to Taylor to reach the Dallas 38 and another to Jones of 12 yards in a third-and-five situation. Young ran for the final three yards, just reaching the end zone for a touchdown that, adding the extra point, made the score 38-21.

The Cowboys came back throwing, with Aikman hitting Williams for 18 yards and Irvin for 20 before being picked off by Deion Sanders. The 49ers put together a methodical possession that carried into the fourth quarter and ended with a Klaus Wilmsmeyer punt that had the visitors starting at their own 11.

Still, Dallas battled back and drove 89 yards in 14 plays. Smith ran effectively and Aikman completed six passes, the last to Irvin for a 10-yard touchdown. But that was it for the defending champs. Dallas got the ball twice more and turned the ball over on downs both times. At one point Coach Switzer, furious that Sanders was not called for pass interference, bumped an official, which resulted in a 15-yard penalty against the Cowboys which was followed by Aikman being sacked by DE Tim Harris on fourth down. The 49ers won by a final score of 38-28.

Dallas had more total yards (451 to 294) and first downs (29 to 19) as they played catch-up throughout the contest. However, they also turned the ball over five times, three in the first quarter to put themselves in a hole, to one turnover by the 49ers. San Francisco also recorded four sacks and Aikman was knocked down on 14 other plays.

Steve Young completed 13 of 29 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns, with none intercepted, and also ran the ball 10 times for 47 yards and a TD. Ricky Watters rushed for 72 yards on 14 carries and scored a 29-yard touchdown on his lone pass reception. William Floyd contributed 20 yards on 7 rushing attempts that included a score and had three catches for 16 yards. Brent Jones also had three receptions, for a team-leading 37 yards, while Jerry Rice was right behind with 36 yards on his two catches that included a TD. Defensively, DT Rhett Hall and Tim Harris had two sacks apiece and Eric Davis intercepted two passes, one of which was returned for a touchdown.

For the Cowboys, Troy Aikman went to the air 53 times and had 30 completions for 380 yards and two TDs, but gave up three interceptions. Michael Irvin (pictured below), with 12 catches, tied the record for pass receptions in a NFL/NFC Championship game set by Raymond Berry of the Colts in 1958 and set a new standard with 192 receiving yards while scoring twice. Kevin Williams added 6 pass receptions for 78 yards and Jay Novacek contributed 72 yards on his five catches. Emmitt Smith ran for 74 yards and two TDs on 20 carried before leaving the game with nine minutes remaining due to a pulled hamstring.

“We’re all disappointed,” said Troy Aikman. “We came out thinking we were going to run the ball, but when you get down 21-0, we were forced to put the ball in the air. It’s hard enough to pass block when you’re behind, but it makes it tougher when your players are banged up.”

The 49ers went on to win the Super Bowl with ease over the San Diego Chargers. They again topped the NFC West in 1995 but lost in the Divisional playoff round. Dallas came back strong to post a 12-4 record in winning the NFC East and, this time defeating the Packers for the conference title, returned to the Super Bowl where they defeated the Steelers. While coming up short on achieving three consecutive NFL Championships, the Cowboys still managed to win three in a four-year span.

1996: Cowboys Shut Down Patriots & Clinch NFC East

The Dallas Cowboys, defending NFL Champions, were seeking to clinch a fifth straight NFC East title as they hosted the New England Patriots on December 15, 1996. Head Coach Barry Switzer’s Cowboys were still a strong team with an offense based around the troika of QB Troy Aikman, RB Emmitt Smith, and WR Michael Irvin and a defense that was top-ranked against the pass. But Smith was playing hurt much of the year and Irvin missed time due to a drug suspension, one of many off-field distractions that dogged the club. DE Leon Lett would be missing the contest against the Patriots, also due to a drug suspension. But despite the problems, Dallas was 9-5 and, at the very least, still the best team in its division.

The Patriots, coached by Bill Parcells, had a 10-4 record and were already assured of a playoff berth. QB Drew Bledsoe directed a pass-oriented offense and had WR Terry Glenn, who quickly established himself as an impact player in his rookie season despite playing with a nagging hamstring injury, as his main target. Second-year RB Curtis Martin was outstanding running the ball. The defense had been unimpressive earlier in the season but appeared to be coming together as the postseason approached.

There were 64,578 fans in attendance Texas Stadium. The Cowboys had the first possession and punted. New England responded by driving 61 yards in 10 plays. Curtis Martin started things off with a 21-yard carry and Drew Bledsoe threw to Terry Glenn for 19 yards to the Dallas 25. A 10-yard run by RB Dave Meggett converted a third-and-10 situation but, after getting first-and-goal from the four yard line, Bledsoe threw three incomplete passes in the end zone and the Patriots settled for a 21-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri.

The Cowboys no sooner got the ball again when CB Ty Law intercepted an Aikman pass to give New England possession at the Dallas 30. Bledsoe completed three short passes and the Patriots again ended up with a Vinatieri field goal, this time from 30 yards. The Patriots were up by 6-0, but that would prove to be the high point of the game for them.

Dallas responded quickly when RB Herschel Walker returned the ensuing kickoff 70 yards to the New England 19. While the Cowboys had difficulty moving the ball from there on offense, Chris Boniol booted a 23-yard field goal.

The Patriots came back on a series that extended into the second quarter. Bledsoe threw a screen pass to FB Keith Byars for a 19-yard gain and, two plays later, hit Byars again for 16 yards. But after reaching the Dallas 16, Martin fumbled on a third down carry and DT Chad Hennings recovered for the Cowboys.

The teams traded punts before Dallas put together a nine-play, 51-yard scoring drive. Aikman threw to Emmitt Smith on a third-and-two play to gain 21 yards as he broke two tackles along the way and the star running back followed up with three consecutive eight-yard carries before being shaken up and having to leave the game. Boniol kicked a 36-yard field goal to tie the score at 6-6.

New England drove to just past midfield as the game moved into the last two minutes of the first half, but a pass was intercepted by safety Roger Harper to end the threat. The score remained tied at halftime.

Following a punt by the Patriots after their first series of the third quarter, the Cowboys advanced 69 yards in 13 plays. Aikman had completions to Michael Irvin for 15 yards and WR Kevin Williams for 19 yards along the way, Smith had six carries for 26 yards, and a defensive holding penalty converted a second-and-10 situation before the drive ended at the New England 17 and Boniol kicked his third field goal, from 35 yards.

On New England’s third play after receiving the ensuing kickoff, SS Darren Woodson (pictured at top) intercepted a Bledsoe pass and returned it 21 yards to the New England four. The Patriots held on defense, actually backing the Cowboys up seven yards, and Boniol booted a 29-yard field goal.

The visitors reached the Dallas 48 on their last series of the period, but Bledsoe threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-one to give the ball back to the home team. Aikman threw to Irvin for 20 yards and the Cowboys reached the New England seven, but on the second play of the fourth quarter Aikman threw into the end zone and Law intercepted for the second time.

The teams exchanged punts before the Patriots again threatened, advancing to the Dallas 23. The big play was a Bledsoe pass to Glenn for 29 yards, but once again New England came up empty when trying to convert a fourth down.

After the Cowboys managed to burn over three minutes off the clock before punting, the Patriots took over at their 18 with 2:33 remaining. Bledsoe threw to WR Troy Brown for nine yards but then was picked off by Woodson. It turned out to be their last chance – Williams gained nine yards on a third-and-seven end-around to clinch the surprisingly low-scoring 12-6 win for Dallas.

In a game dominated by the defenses, the Patriots had the edge in total yards (279 to 251) while the clubs were even with 16 first downs apiece. New England turned the ball over four times, to two suffered by the Cowboys. Moreover, the Patriots had come into the game leading the league by scoring an average of 28 points-per-game, but were held to just six points and no touchdowns by the Dallas defense.

Troy Aikman completed 16 of 28 passes for 169 yards and gave up two interceptions. Emmitt Smith rushed for 85 yards on 27 carries and added another 55 yards on 5 pass receptions. Michael Irvin led the club with 6 catches for 76 yards. Darren Woodson had two big interceptions on defense and Chris Boniol (pictured at left) was successful on all four of his field goal attempts.

For the Patriots, Drew Bledsoe was successful on 20 of 40 throws for 178 yards and was picked off three times. Curtis Martin had 91 rushing yards on 20 attempts. Terry Glenn caught 8 passes for 83 yards and Keith Byars contributed 5 receptions for 46 yards. On defense, Ty Law accounted for both of the team’s interceptions.

“I told the team they ought to be damn proud of the fact they’re the first team to ever win five consecutive NFC East titles,” said Coach Switzer.

On a different note, Michael Irvin said, “We’ve had to fight and struggle all year. But our defense won it for us. If we play like this on offense we’ll be out of the playoffs as soon as they start. It was flat-out embarrassing the way we played. I just about cried.”

Irvin’s pessimism was not fully justified as the Cowboys, who finished with a 10-6 record, easily got past Minnesota in the Wild Card playoff round. However, they lost to the upstart Carolina Panthers in the Divisional round – the club’s earliest departure from the postseason since 1991. New England ended up winning the AFC East at 11-5 and advanced all the way to the Super Bowl before losing to Green Bay.