Sunday, November 1, 1998

From fourth-and-1 to Boniol's botch, always a thriller

By KEN BERGER AP

Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Troy Aikman wouldn't miss this for the world.

When the Cowboys and Eagles get together, especially in prime time, it's usually a game to remember.

Barry Switzer's infamous fourth-and-1 calls that were stopped by the Eagles on consecutive plays in 1995 come to mind. So does James Willis' interception of Aikman's pass in the end zone and lateral to Troy Vincent for a decisive touchdown return in 1996.

And no one could ever forget Tom Hutton's fumbled snap that led to Chris Boniol's botched game-winning 22-yard field goal attempt in the Cowboys' 21-20 victory on Monday Night Football last year.

Aikman, who missed five weeks with a fractured shoulder, is back at quarterback for the NFC East-leading Cowboys (4-3) just in time for another Monday night meeting in Philadelphia. The only question is, are the Eagles (1-6) so bad that even a prime-time game against the rival Cowboys can't shake them out of it?

"We don't really look so much at what's going on in Philadelphia," Aikman said. "We've got some things that we've got to work through ourselves. I don't think anybody here has really given a whole lot of consideration to their record."

For everyone who's been involved in this rivalry, it's as much about history as anything.

Dallas has won the last four games against Philadelphia on Monday night, including the 21-20 game last year in Dallas that will always be remembered for the Eagles' botched field goal attempt with four seconds left.

The Cowboys, then 1-3, came to Philadelphia, then 3-1, on a Monday night in 1996 and beat the Eagles 23-19. Philadelphia hasn't beaten the Cowboys on Monday night since a 31-7 victory at Veterans Stadium in 1992.

Still, the one thing Eagles coach Ray Rhodes has done in three-plus seasons is beat the Cowboys at least once each year. With little else to motivate his team during its dreadful start, the Cowboys coming to town is plenty for him.

"When you're a native Texan, it's always special when you play your home-state team," Rhodes said. "I've got a lot of family and friends who are diehard Cowboy fans. This is always a special game."

It has almost always lived up to the hype. The last three regular season games have been decided in the final minute.

Before that, the Eagles stopped Emmitt Smith twice on fourth-and-1 plays in Philadelphia's 20-17 victory at the Vet in 1995. The defensive stand helped the Eagles make the playoffs in Rhodes' first season. Switzer never lived it down.

"We've had some wild plays," Rhodes said. "It's always an exciting game."

After the Eagles tied it at 17 on a field goal in the fourth quarter, Switzer decided to go on fourth-and-inches at the Dallas 29. Smith was stopped in the backfield, but the refs said the play didn't count because they'd stopped the clock for the two-minute warning.

Switzer called the same play, and the Eagles stopped it again before winning with a 42-yard field goal.

Dallas went 6-10 last season, and Chan Gailey replaced Switzer for the job of leading the Cowboys back to the Super Bowl.

"Chan's come in here and provided some real direction and leadership for this ballclub," Aikman said. "The way he's handled himself, the way he's conducted things for this team has been very positive. I've been very impressed with him."

After going 3-2 with Jason Garrett at quarterback, Gailey gets to see what his offense can do with Aikman back. Aikman hasn't played particularly well at Veterans Stadium, and the rock-hard turf can be a nightmare on injuries.

"It's not going to be completely healed really until the season's about over," Aikman said.

With the Eagles off to their worst start since going 1-7 in 1975, Aikman knows to expect the notoriously mutinous Philly crowd to be in rare form.

"Our media has said, 'Hey, what about Philly? They do this, they do that,' " Aikman said. "Every opponent you get ready to play, you can sit there and say there are reasons why it may not be a particularly good time to come back. At some time you just say it's ready to go, and let's do it."

A victory for Dallas would keep the Cowboys in sole possession of first place. But in a once-proud division with only one team above .500, the Eagles can get within two games of Dallas if they win.

Both teams are coming off a bye week after losses.

"You have to be ready. You have to have your A-game on," said Eagles receiver Irving Fryar, 36, who has yet to score a touchdown in his 15th season. "If you don't, you're going to get embarrassed."