DALLAS 23, CINCINNATI 20 --- October 30, 1994

                                       
   Box Score
   
   Troy Aikman threw two touchdowns passes and Chris Boniol kicked three
   field goals, including a 38-yarder with five minutes left to help the
   Dallas Cowboys survive a scare with a 23-20 victory over the winless
   Cincinnati Bengals.
   
   The Bengals (0-8) stunned Dallas (7-1) with touchdown passes of 67 and
   55 yards from Jeff Blake to rookie Darnay Scott for a 14-0 lead early
   in the second period. Blake, Cincinnati's No. 3 quarterback, made his
   first offensive start because of injuries to David Klingler and Donald
   Hollas.
   
   Aikman took the Cowboys 60 yards on nine plays to Boniol's final field
   goal. Emmitt Smith had a 13-yard run, and Aikman threw a 17-yard pass
   to Michael Irvin to the Bengals 27. The 23-20 lead was Dallas' first
   lead of the game.
   
   Cincinnati was forced to punt on its next possession, and Dallas ran
   out the final 3:40.
   
   The Cowboys won their sixth straight overall and their seventh
   straight road victory tied a club record set in 1968.
   
   "We don't want to live a nightmare that becomes a reality," Dallas
   Coach Barry switzer said of the near-upset. "Chris Boniol made the
   difference, the guy kicked the ball extremely well."
   
   Aikman threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Alvin Harper and a 10-yarder
   to Michael Irvin to pull Dallas within 17-14 at halftime.
   
   Boniol's 37-yard field goal tied the score 5:53 into the third
   quarter, but Doug Pelfrey gave Cincinnati a 20-17 lead with a
   33-yarder with 2:02 left in the period. Kevin Williams' 55-yard
   kickoff return set up Boniol's 43-yarder that tied it with six seconds
   left in the third period.
   
   Boniol's 38-yarder was the only scoring in the fourth quarter.
   
   "The game was closer than anticipated," Aikman said. "Their defense
   played well. They put some pressure on us and pinned us back in our
   own territory on our early drives."
   
   Aikman, playing despite suffering a concussion last week against
   Arizona, completed 20 of 33 passes for 272 yards and an interception.
   Smith rushed 25 times for 92 yards.
   
   Harper caught six passes for 125 yards and Irvin had five receptions
   for 72 yards.
   
   Blake hit 14 of 32 for 247 yards and no interceptions, but completed
   only five of 15 passes for 67 yards in the second half. Scott caught
   four passes for 155 yards and Pelfrey added a 23-yard field goal in
   the second period to give the Bengals a 17-7 lead.
   
   Aikman's touchdown pass to Irvin came after linebacker James Francis
   was called for roughing-the-passer for hitting Aikman late on an
   incomplete fourth-down pass. The penalty gave Dallas a first down at
   the Cincinnati 22, and Irvin scored with 30 seconds left in the half.
   
   "The call was warranted," Aikman said. "I don't think I was getting
   any extra protection because of my injury."
   
   Bengals Coach Dave Shula praised his team for its effort.
   
   "I told our players they played a courageous game and should hold
   their heads up," he said. "Jeff Blake did a fine job running the team,
   Darnay Scott came up with some big plays and we were better on third
   down than we've been all year."
   
   Shula said Klingler will start next week at Seattle if his knee injury
   is healed, but "Jeff Blake showed he can move the team."
   
   Blake said he did not expect to throw so many passes Sunday.
   
   "It just kind of evolved that way that we threw the ball as often as
   we did," he said. "I just wanted everyone to know I could do what the
   coaches wanted me to do."