Monday, October 5, 1998

Cowboys 31, Redskins 10

By JOSEPH WHITE AP Sports Writer

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) - Deion Sanders said the quarterback was puzzled. Nate Newton thought the Pro Bowl defensive tackle was pressing. Emmitt Smith felt the game just didn't have that usual rivalry feeling.

No doubt all three were true and then some as the Dallas Cowboys routed the winless Washington Redskins 31-10 on Sunday.

"The accumulation of five weeks of losing has developed into the worst situation I have seen as a Redskin," said cornerback Darrell Green, whose 16-year career doesn't quite make it back to 1981, the last time Washington started 0-5.

The Cowboys (3-2) feasted on it. With Trent Green throwing high and wild, Sanders looked like the intended receiver as he made a first-half interception to set up the touchdown that put Dallas ahead for good.

"We had a great scheme today," Sanders said. "He was puzzled. He was confused at times. He made a few big plays. A few other plays he had guys wide open, but he was under pressure."

Green, who won the starting job from Gus Frerotte with a good relief performance in Week 1, finished 13-for-29 for 193 yards. Coach Norv Turner said he might go back to Frerotte next week.

At least Green played better than the Redskins defense, which allowed 224 yards rushing. Smith had 120 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries, while Chris Warren had 104 yards on 14 rushes with two 6-yard TD runs. It was the first time in 20 years that Dallas had two 100-yard rushers.

It was so easy to run the ball that Jason Garrett, making his third start while Troy Aikman recovers from a broken collarbone, had to throw just 17 times. The final drive - against a line that includes $36 million NFL defensive player of the year Dana Stubblefield - consisted of 11 straight running plays for 96 yards against a team that appeared to quit. The official play-by-play looked as if it had been written by a stuck typewriter: "C. Warren up middle" appeared seven times.

"What I see is man that's pressing," said left guard Newton, part of a line that pushed Stubblefield around and dominated the line of scrimmage. "He made a lot of money, a big bonus, and he's pressing. Once he relaxes and gets into the system, things will open up."

It was the 75th meeting of the NFC East rivals, but Jack Kent Cooke Stadium doesn't rock with intimidation the way RFK used to. Besides, the home fans were too busy booing their own team and putting bags over their heads to concerning themselves with Dallas.

"No, it was not" the same, Smith said. "We were so accustomed to RFK, a packed house. Today was a little shocking, not to see the stadium full."

The Cowboys, who moved into first place in the NFC East and are 3-0 in the division, fumbled at midfield on their opening drive to set up a 40-yard pass from Green to Leslie Shepherd for the Redskins' only touchdown.

But Smith, recovering from a strained right groin, scored on a 3-yard run set up by Sanders' interception, and Garrett (14-for-17, 169 yards) hit Ernie Mills for a 43-yard strike less than three minutes later to make it 17-7.

The game was put away when Warren's first TD capped a 71-yard drive to start the third quarter, a quarter in which the Redskins have been outscored 63-10 this season. The Skins have also allowed a 100-yard rusher for four straight weeks, and are giving up an average of 173 yards per game on the ground.

"It's got to get better," Shepherd said. "Something has to go right. I can't see us going 0-16."

The Redskins have been outscored 114-36 in three games at home. Running back Brian Mitchell spent much of the fourth quarter exchanging taunts with a fan, much as guard Tre Johnson did last week.

Given that no NFL team has ever recovered from an 0-5 start to make the playoffs, Turner had labeled this game a must-win.

What now?

"Obviously next week's game is more of a must-win, isn't it?" the coach said. Notes: The Redskins lost Larry Bowie, the only fullback on their roster, in the second quarter when his left leg was broken when hit by Leon Lett's helmet as Lett fell during a running play. ... Dallas guard Everett McIver sprained his right knee in the first half and did not return. ... Tony Dorsett and Robert Newhouse were the last Cowboys duo to run for 100 yards each in a game. They did it on Nov. 12, 1978, against Green Bay.