Monday, December 21, 1998

Gailey changes attitudes and--finally-results

By JAIME ARON

AP Sports Writer

IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Chan Gailey wasn't part of the Dallas Cowboys last December when the team basically quit, losing its last five games in a mad dash to end a season they'd rather forget.

Although the attitude had turned around in Gailey's first season in charge, the late-season results hadn't. Dallas was having another disastrous December, losing three straight with two to play.

The Cowboys snapped the skid Sunday by beating the Philadelphia Eagles 13-9. Even though it wasn't an impressive performance, it was enough to win the division -- the greatest sign of the difference Gailey has made.

"Chan deserves a lot of credit for the way this ballclub has turned around from 6-10 to where we are now," running back Emmitt Smith said. "A lot of folks never thought we could do it. But here we are. ...

"I think his leadership is what we were missing last year. Not only that, but the offensive system he brought in gave us a fresh opportunity to get out there and do different things."

Quarterback Troy Aikman chafed the most at former coach Barry Switzer's lack of leadership. He's also become one of Gailey's most vocal supporters.

"He's the one who has got it turned around," Aikman said. "I think he's got everybody focused in on what we're trying to accomplish. He's given the team some real direction."

The Eagles are in a similar situation to the one the Cowboys were in this time last year: heading downhill fast and unable to pull out of it. Against Dallas, Philadelphia failed to score a touchdown for the sixth time this year and didn't win on the road for the 17th straight time dating to 1996.

But at least the Eagles are trying. Their coach is, too, even though Ray Rhodes said recently he doesn't expect to be back next year.

"We were really motivated to win this game for Ray," said offensive tackle Steve Martin.

Mental lapses crushed Philadelphia. Passes were dropped often, especially on third downs. Many of them wouldn't have been first downs anyway because the routes were too short.

The Eagles also had nine penalties, including consecutive false starts by right tackle Richard Cooper and one for too many men in the huddle on their final drive.

Worst of all, Philadelphia may have had just 10 players on the field when Dallas scored its only touchdown on a fake field goal. Eric Bjornson's 7-yard run gave the Cowboys a 7-3 lead they wouldn't relinquish.

"I think that we did not have enough players on the field and that left a big hole on one side of the defensive line," Rhodes said.

The Cowboys, meanwhile, didn't look so great either.

Aikman was sacked a season-high three times and was lucky it wasn't more considering how poorly the line handled the blitz. Dallas had two turnovers -- a batted-ball interception by Aikman and a fumble by Smith -- that both resulted in Philadelphia field goals.

The Eagles racked up 356 yards, but the Cowboys defense came up big in the end, stopping two drives in the final minutes to seal the sixth division title in seven years and the 19th in franchise history.

"The defense has played their rear off all year, but never did they play in the clutch any more than they did today," Gailey said. "Yeah, it was ugly at times and I know that. But we get a chance to work on it in the playoffs and there are other teams that don't get to do that." Notes: If Dallas beats the Washington Redskins on Sunday, the Cowboys will be the first team to have a perfect run through the NFC East. The New York Giants were undefeated in division play last year, but went 7-0-1. ... Rhodes heads into what is probably his last game as Philadelphia's coach with a 30-35-1 overall record. ... Emmitt Smith had 110 yards rushing and nine more receiving, giving him 15,107 combined yards for his career and making him only the 12th player to reach that milestone.