DALLAS 34, WASHINGTON 14 --- October 2, 1994

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   10-02-94 (c) Copyright the News & Observer Publishing Co. and The
   Associated Press, 1994 
   
   
   
   
   WASHINGTON (AP) -- Troy Aikman knows all about poor beginnings,
   something Heath Shuler certainly learned first-hand Sunday.
   
   Shuler, making his first NFL start, completed just 11 passes in 30
   attempts for 96 yards as the Dallas Cowboys, behind Aikman, trounced
   the Washington Redskins 34-7.
   
   "Like I told him after the game, there are better days ahead," said
   the Dallas quarterback who opened his career in 1989 with a 1-15
   season. "Sometimes it's hard to have faith when you start like this,
   but I had several of them. He's an outstanding player and a good kid.
   I think he's going to be OK."
   
   There were some bad times for the Cowboys as well, as Emmitt Smith
   left the game at the end of the first half with a strained hamstring
   and did not return. Dallas trainer Kevin O'Neill said it would be a
   few days before he could gauge the seriousness of the injury. Smith
   said he hoped to be practicing by Wednesday.
   
   The Redskins fell apart completely with Shuler replacing John Friesz
   -- committing penalties and turnovers that enabled Dallas to take a
   31-0 halftime lead. It was the Redskins' worst start in a game since
   Nov. 9, 1980, when Chicago led 35-0 at the half.
   
   "The way we were playing, we couldn't beat anybody, and we were
   playing the world champions, we were playing the best team in
   football," said Redskins coach Norv Turner of the team he helped to
   two Super Bowl titles as offensive coordinator before he was hired by
   the Redskins last spring.
   
   "I'm going to put it in a nutshell: my job is to get the team ready to
   play, and they were not ready to play, so I didn't get my job done
   today."
   
   Shuler said he was overanxious.
   
   "I had so much adrenalin built up inside, I kept on throwing them
   high, high and out of bounds, but I can work on that."
   
   Washington's running game told the story: 18 carries for 28 yards.
   
   But while the Redskins took themselves out of the game with mistakes,
   they also were outclassed by a clearly superior and motivated
   opponent. The Cowboys were coming off a 20-17 overtime loss to the
   Detroit Lions on Sept. 19.
   
   "We played the running game well today," said Dallas coach Barry
   Switzer. "Their offensive line couldn't block us and they didn't have
   Barry Sanders."
   
   Two fumbles by Reggie Brooks led to 10 points for Dallas as the
   Cowboys took a 17-0 edge. Brooks was benched in the second quarter and
   did not return. Ricky Ervins took over the ball-carrying duties, but
   ran for just 9 yards on seven attempts.
   
   Washington opened the game with a pair of miscues, a fumble by Brooks
   and a roughing-the-passer penalty against Leonard Marshall. That set
   the stage for a 45-yard TD drive capped by a 4-yard scoring run by
   Smith.
   
   And it was a botched handoff from Shuler to Brooks on the Redskins'
   second possession that gave Dallas the ball at the Washington 19-yard
   line. But cornerback Tom Carter intercepted a pass by Aikman at the
   Washington 3.
   
   Dallas scored on the following drive on a 6-yard run by Smith.
   Washington did its part again, with a pass interference call against
   Darrell Green on third-and-5 at the Washington 22.
   
   Brooks' fumble in the second quarter gave the Cowboys the ball at the
   Washington 27. A 28-yard field goal seven plays later by Chris Boniol
   made it 17-0.
   
   Aikman drove the Cowboys 50 yards for their next score, hitting Jay
   Novacek for a 3-yard TD to make it 24-0. Smith exited the game two
   plays earlier, following a hit by linebacker Tyronne Stowe.
   
   The Cowboys ended the half with a 90-yard drive for a touchdown on a
   7-yard run by Smith's backup, Lincoln Coleman.
   
   Coleman became the workhorse of the offense, carrying 22 times for 74
   yards and one TD. Smith carried 16 times for 48 yards and two TDs.
   
   Dallas scored just once in the second half, a 47-yard field goal by
   Boniol. The kick bounced through off the lower crossbar, seeming to
   epitomize a day when the Redskins could not get a break.
   
   The Redskins got their lone score at the end of the third quarter on
   an 8-yard TD pass from Shuler to Frank Wycheck. Cornerback Kevin Smith
   was called for two pass interference penalties for a total of 45 yards
   of the 71-yard drive.
   
   Aikman was 20-for-28 for 181 yards, one TD and one interception.