SAN FRANCISCO 21, DALLAS 14 --- November 13, 1994

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   SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The San Francisco 49ers bought a defense so they
   could beat the Dallas Cowboys.
   
   But it was Merton Hanks, a defensive back they already had, who made
   two touchdown-saving interceptions Sunday that helped the 49ers to the
   21-14 win over Dallas that proved they can play with the two-time
   Super Bowl champions.
   
   The usual heroes, Steve Young and Jerry Rice, combined on a 57-yard
   touchdown pass that broke a 7-7 tie late in the third quarter of the
   game matching the NFL's two best teams.
   
   But the defense, built by salary cap maneuvering, made the difference
   as San Francisco ended a three-game losing streak against Dallas -- in
   each of the last two NFC title games and a 1993 regular-season game.
   
   This game hardly live up to that standard. Despite the hype, the game
   was a dull defensive struggle until the middle of the fourth quarter.
   
   "Defensively, it's as good as we've played against an outstanding team
   in some time," said 49ers coach George Seifert.
   
   Hanks put it more precisely.
   
   "This defense was revamped basically to beat Dallas," he said. "It was
   put up or shut up time for us and we pretty much came through."
   
   Even Hanks, in his fourth year with San Francisco, is in the revamped
   category.
   
   With the signing of Deion Sanders, Hanks returned from right corner to
   his natural position at free safety. The result: The two
   interceptions, one in the second-quarter and one in the fourth.
   
   Everyone else chipped in, too.
   
   Emmitt Smith was held to 78 yards in 26 carries as Rickey Jackson,
   Gary Plummer and former Cowboy Ken Norton, all free-agent pickups,
   jammed his running lanes. "The Cowboys have given this team fits the
   last couple of years and I wanted to help change that," Norton said.
   
   Troy Aikman, playing with a sore thumb, was 23 of 42 for 339 yards,
   but also was picked off three times, the two by Hanks and one by
   Sanders as the 49ers (8-2) won their fifth straight and moved into a
   tie with Dallas atop the NFC.
   
   "It was not a factor on the turnovers I had," Aikman said of the bone
   bruise to his right thumb. "It would be wrong to suggest it had a
   major effect on my performance.
   
   The win gives the 49ers a tiebreaker edge for home field in the
   playoffs with the Cowboys and a psychological lift for wherever a
   playoff meeting might occur.
   
   "You don't win championships until January," said Hanks, who had an
   apparent third interception overruled by the officials. "We'll see
   what happens in January."
   
   The Cowboys had an opinion on that, too.
   
   "We've been to the Super Bowl with two losses before and we've been to
   the Super Bowl with four losses before. We feel we can be there
   again," said owner Jerry Jones, as usual the most outspoken Cowboy.
   
   Outgained 237-98 in a 7-7 first half, San Francisco took the lead for
   good with 2:40 left in the third quarter. Young, who was 12 of 21 for
   183 yards and ran for 60 more, found Rice covered man-to-man by Larry
   Brown. Brown stayed with Rice, but the throw was a little short and to
   the outside and Rice shielded Brown, grabbed the ball at the 17, broke
   Brown's tackle and went in for his 133rd career touchdown.
   
   Then it was up to the defense.
   
   A sack by Jackson ended one drive.
   
   After a 37-yard pass to Alvin Harper, playing with a sore knee, led to
   a first-and-goal at the San Francisco 9, Aikman tried to find Jay
   Novacek. Hanks, whose interception on the goal line ended a Dallas
   threat in the second period, broke in front of him and grabbed the
   ball, returning it to the 13.
   
   Hanks was supposed to cover Smith on the play, but Smith stayed in to
   block, allowing Hanks to roam free.
   
   "I didn't see him coming," Aikman said.
   
   From there, the 49ers drove the field for the clinching TD, Young's
   13-yard pass to Brent Jones with 2:32 left. Smith went in from the 2
   with 1:20 left, but the 49ers recovered the on-side kick and ran out
   the clock.
   
   Dallas scored first, a 90-yard connection from Aikman to Harper
   setting up Smith's 4-yard TD in the first quarter.
   
   Harper, who bruised his knee last Monday night, hardly looked hurt,
   splitting Eric Davis and Tim McDonald, then shaking off Davis before
   stepping out at the San Francisco 4.
   
   The 49ers, who couldn't pass -- minus-6 yards in the first quarter --
   took to the ground instead.
   
   They tied the game on their next possession, 74 yards on nine runs,
   with Young sneaking in from the 1. Rice had an 11-yard gain on a
   reverse and Young had bootlegs for 15 and 14 yards on the drive, which
   was helped by a 15-yard penalty for a late hit on Charles Haley, a
   former 49er.
   
   When the Cowboys moved into position for the go-ahead score at the end
   of the half, Aikman threw one time too many -- over the middle for
   Harper from the 49ers' 16. Hanks tipped the ball at the 1, then
   twisted into the air after it was tipped again by teammate Tim
   McDonald and grabbed it.
   
   With all the offense the 49ers can put forth, that was the defense
   they needed.
   
   They left it to one of the offensive stars to put the game in
   perspective.
   
   "It's just one step closer, but it's over with," Rice said. "This game
   is gone."
   
   And, for the time being, so is the Dallas jinx.