Tuesday, November 3, 1998

Cowboys defeat Eagles

By Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Knight Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

PHILADELPHIA - Greeted by a chorus of boos upon entering Veterans Stadium on Monday night, Cowboys cornerback Deion Sanders had a little fun with equally hated Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

"I knew you had to be around," Sanders joked. "They only boo me or you."

The Eagles' fans found out what the rest of the league is coming to know more and more each week. Though he may be distancing himself from his "Prime Time" nickname, Sanders loves to be the center of attention - especially under the bright lights of Monday Night Football.

Sanders returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter to spark the Cowboys to a 34-0 blowout victory against the sinking Philadelphia Eagles.

Sanders' heroics helped take the pressure off quarterback Troy Aikman, who returned to action for the first time since fracturing his collarbone on Sept. 13.

Sanders, downplaying his own efforts, said it was important to have Aikman back after a five-game hiatus. Though Aikman was rusty early, he completed 14 of 26 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns.

"He's a great quarterback," Sanders said. "We were fortunate to have him in there."

The victory kept the Cowboys (5-3) one game ahead of second-place Arizona (4-4) in the NFC East, while the Eagles dropped to 1-7.

Aikman passed the physical test. Questions about his fractured collarbone were answered on the game's first play when he was sacked by Eagles tackle Hollis Thomas. However, he quickly bounced back and continued to play.

"I think it was good for him and good for us to see that," said Cowboys coach Chan Gailey, who also complimented the defense for getting its first shutout since blanking the Giants, 27-0, on Sept. 8, 1996.

Aikman, who was hit four times in the game and sacked once, said the shoulder held up fine and credited the offense line for great protection.

"The guys up front did a nice job," Aikman said. "I know what this game is about, and you are going to get hit. The shoulder did well."

The lopsided score, which can largely be attributed to a dominant performance by the Cowboys' defense and the ineptitude of the woeful Eagles, belied the struggles of the Cowboys' offense.

The effects of the layoff on Aikman and his cohesiveness with the Cowboys' offense were evident early. Aikman was only 7-of-13 for 57 yards in the first half.

"We wanted to come out and play with some consistency," Aikman said. "That's the thing this football team has not done."

They led 17-0 at intermission but amassed only one real drive, which covered 47 yards and resulted in a 33-yard field goal by Richie Cunningham in the first quarter. The Cowboys also turned an Eagles fumble into a 10-yard touchdown pass from Aikman to Michael Irvin, who ended a nine-game drought without a touchdown reception.

But despite a 10-0 advantage, the Cowboys could not distance themselves from the bumbling Eagles - that is, until Sanders' punt return with one minute, 49 seconds left in the first half.

What was most amazing is that the Eagles actually punted the ball to Sanders. Eagles coach Ray Rhodes said before the game that they would not give Sanders a chance to break the game open.

Punter Tommy Hutton swayed from the strategy with a wobbly 37-yard effort down the middle of the field. Sanders put a now-you-see-me, now-you-don't move on Eagles cover men Kevin Turner and Corey Walker and then cut toward the right sidelines.

Hutton grabbed at his jersey at the 10-yard line, but Sanders already had the ball stretched out and was in the midst of his high-stepping strut.

The Eagles, who lost starting quarterback Rodney Peete in the first quarter, had no chance of catching the Cowboys in the second half with the inexperienced Bobby Hoying at the controls.

Hoying was 13-of-39 for 124 yards and was sacked three times. He had two passes intercepted, by Sanders and strong safety Darren Woodson. The Cowboys' defense held the Eagles to 200 yards total offense and 96 yards rushing.

(c) 1998, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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