Monday, December 21, 1998

Cowboys greeted by Eagles' warm smiles, pathetic offense

By David Moore

The Dallas Morning News

(KRT)

IRVING, Texas -- No matter how bleak the outlook, no matter how difficult life without Deion Sanders has become, the Cowboys always have been able to take solace in the fact they would return to the NFC East to finish the regular season.

Philadelphia was there Sunday to greet the Cowboys with a warm smile and a pathetic offense. And while it took longer than expected the Eagles watched a chance to win in the final two minutes glance off Freddie Solomon's fingertips Dallas finally subdued Philadelphia for a 13-9 victory and the division championship.

Afterward, quarterback Troy Aikman talked about how the Cowboys were back where they belonged. Sunday's victory at Texas Stadium, in front of 62,722 damp fans, assured Dallas will play host to a wild-card game in the first round either Jan. 2 or 3.

Washington's victory over Tampa Bay on Saturday put the Cowboys back in the playoffs after a one-year absence. Beating a hapless Eagles team ended a three-game losing streak and relieved some of the anxiety that has infiltratated this team since Thanksgiving Day.

"Their hearts are as big as Texas Stadium," said Cowboys coach Chan Gailey, who conceded there was a mixture of relief and pride in his team's locker room. "They went out and fought their rears off with one mission in mind, and that was to come out as NFC East champs.

"They did it. And it was not easy."

Determining which team the Cowboys will face in the first round isn't any easier. Arizona, New York and Tampa Bay each have a chance to slip in as the final wild-card team.

The Cowboys will worry about that next week. Sunday was reserved for feeling good about themselves something the players and coaches have been unable to do since they were 8-3 entering their game against Minnesota on Thanksgiving Day.

"We've got to take a lot of pride in what we've done," fullback Daryl Johnston said. "It's very difficult to win a division. I don't care which one you are talking about."

Even with the Cowboys' declining play in recent weeks, there was nothing to indicate Sunday's game would be this difficult. Philadelphia has been shut out three times including, 34-0, by Dallas in its last meeting and has scored more than 20 points in a game only once all season. The Eagles haven't won a road game in two years.

Two years.

But Dallas had its own demons. The Cowboys had lost six consecutive regular-season games in December the last victory coming on Dec. 16, 1996 against New England before Sunday. Dallas also has developed a disturbing turnover trait the last two weeks.

Aikman's interception on the first possession of the third quarter allowed the Eagles to close within 7-6 on a 41-yard field goal by Chris Boniol. Emmitt Smith's fumble late in the third quarter led to another Eagles field goal, this time closing the gap to 13-9 with 12:02 left.

Then, the Eagles offense reverted to ineffective form or the Cowboys defense stiffened. Take your pick.

Gailey obviously picked the latter.

"That was an unbelievable defensive effort out there by our football team," Gailey said. "I couldn't be prouder of a group. They fought there rear off, and never more did they play in the clutch than they did today."

The Cowboys also managed to breath some life into Emmitt Smith and an anemic running game.

After scraping together a total of 117 yards over the last three games, Dallas generated 153 yards on the ground against the NFL's 27th-ranked run defense. Smith carried the ball 25 times for 110 yards, breaking the 100-yard barrier for the first time in five weeks.

"I expected us to run the ball well," Smith said.

The key play, and the only touchdown of this dreary afternoon, came late in the first quarter.

On third-and-7 from their own 44, Aikman victimized a blitzing Philadelphia defense and a sick Bobby Taylor to hook up with Michael Irvin for a 41-yard completion. The drive stalled on the Philadelphia seven, and Richie Cunningham came in to attempt a 24-yard field goal.

Gailey, however, called for the fake. Holder Eric Bjornson took off to the left and scored with 3:29 left to stake the Cowboys to a 7-3 lead.

The Eagles never could get over the hump. Dallas did.

Barely.

"I'm not trying to reach around and pat ourselves on the back too hard," Gailey said. "But I do mean they fought and persevered out there today.

"Yeah, it was ugly at times. I know that. But we get a chance to work on it in the playoffs. There are other teams that don't get a chance to say that."

(c) 1998, The Dallas Morning News.

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