Summary of the Minnesota gameEmmitt Smith's 31-yard touchdown run 2:26 into overtime lifted the Dallas Cowboys to their third straight victory, a 23-17 triumph over the Minnesota Vikings.
"Coach (Barry) Switzer more or less wanted to get set up for the field goal, but when the Vikings put a lot of people on the line of scrimmage, includung Jack Del Rio, I just got outside and it was there for me," said Smith, who was untouched on the final play.
After winning the coin toss, the Cowboys marched 73 yards for the winning score. Troy Aikman's 22-yard pass to Michael Irvin advanced the Cowboys to their own 49-yard line. Aikman's 16-yard pass to Cory Fleming on third-and-six brought the ball to the Vikings' 31, setting up Smith's second touchdown of the game. Flemings' catch was his only one of the game.
"We just didn't get lined up quite right on that touchdown run", said Vikings coach Dennis Green.
The Cowboys, which have won 22 of their last 28 road games, outgained the Vikings, 397-252.
Dallas, which has won 12 of the 20 meetings between the teams, won its second game in three overtime contests against the Vikings. Dallas won, 16-10, in a 1977 marathon and Minnesota won, 44-38, in a 1987 thriller.
Smith, who also caught six passes, rushed for 150 yards on 20 carries. Smith has reached the century mark in rushing during his last 10 regular season games.
Cris Carter hauled in an eight-yard touchdown pass from Warren Moon with 30 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. The pass capped an eight-play, 55-yard drive and tied the score at 17-17.
Dallas erased a 10-9 deficit on a two-yard run from Smith to cap an impressive 80-yard drive. Aikman found tight end Jay Novacek for a two-point conversion giving the Cowboys a 17-10 lead.
"Novacek made the big plays and Aikman made the big throws," Switzer said.
Aikman completed 24-of-38 passes for 246 yards.
"We feel fortunate to get out of here with a win," Aikman said. "But we didn't play well. Minnesota played well and I don't want to take anything away from them."
Chris Boniol's 39-yard field goal with 7:12 left in the second quarter pulled Dallas within 10-9.
Minnesota took a 10-6 lead 51 seconds into the second quarter when Moon hit Jake Reed with a three-yard touchdown pass. Linebacker Ed McDaniel recovered a Smith fumble at the Cowboys' 26-yard line to set up the score.
Moon completed 22-of-38 passes for 185 yards. Reed caught seven passes for 107 yards.
"It was a very physical game," Moon said. "I'll be sore tomorrow, but I'll be ready to go next Sunday at Pittsburgh. Football is a game of bumps and bruises. I'm having mine and I'm sure Troy Aikman is having his."
Fuad Reveiz extended his NFL record with his 31st consecutive field goal with 2:14 left in the first quarter to cut the Vikings' deficit in half, 6-3. Reveiz missed a 48-yard field goal in the second quarter ending his streak.
The Cowboys struck first with 6:28 left in the first quarter. After Leon Lett recovered a Moon fumble on the Vikings' 19-yard line, Aikman needed just one play to capitilze in throwing a 19-yard touchdown pass to Irvin. Boniol's extra-point attempt was wide to the right.
Irvin caught eight passes for 107 yards.
