Smith breaks loose to dash Vikings' upset hopes By Ed Werder
Dallas Morning News
MINNEAPOLIS -- Nobody dismissed the potential of an undefeated season. Not Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith or Michael Irvin. The improbable prospect never seemed more possible than Sunday night when the Cowboys could not beat themselves.
In a clumsy performance turned clutch, the Cowboys defied common sense and defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 23-17, in overtime before 60,088 at the Metrodome.
Smith, the NFL rushing leader, topped his third consecutive 100-yard performance with a 31-yard sprint for the game-winning touchdown 2:26 into overtime. The run allowed the Cowboys to avoid depending upon unreliable Chris Boniol, who missed an extra-point attempt and a similarly short field-goal attempt.
"We were fortunate to get out of here with a victory," Aikman said. "If we keep playing like this, we're going to run into a lot of problems."
Frustrated with dropped passes and two fumbled snaps of his own, Aikman led the Cowboys into position for Smith's second touchdown. While often uncharacteristically flawed, Aikman performed with poise when most necessary. He completed nine of his 11 passes in the fourth quarter and the overtime period, including a 22-yarder to Irvin on the first play of overtime and a 16-yard third-down throw to Cory Fleming, who made his first NFL reception one play before Smith concluded the game.
"We just didn't play like the Dallas Cowboys can play," coach Barry Switzer said. "We shouldn't have been in overtime. We were terrible in the kicking game, made too many mistakes, dropped passes and left points on the field."
If Dallas cannot beat Dallas, then who can? Not the Vikings. The 3-0 Cowboys increased their lead in the NFC East to two games after three weeks of competition. Arizona, Philadelphia and Washington are at 1-2, while the New York Giants remain winless.
Dallas cornerback Clayton Holmes, in his third pro start, was beaten for two Warren Moon touchdown passes, the second to Cris Carter, who spun around and made a remarkable catch with 30 seconds remaining in regulation to tie it 17-17.
But there were numerous other Dallas misdeeds. For the first time in 761 touches, Smith lost a fumble in the first period that led to a Minnesota touchdown. There were Boniol's misses, two fumbles from Aikman, five dropped passes from receivers and a misdirected final sequence at the end of the first half that left the Cowboys behind, 10-9.
With 15 seconds and no timeouts remaining from the Minnesota 6, a pressured Aikman flipped the ball to Smith, who immediately was tackled as time ran out.
Still, the Cowboys prevailed. There were two primary reasons: A three-man offense and another overpowering defensive performance that included a key fumble recovery from Leon Lett and crucial sacks from Charles Haley and Tony Tolbert.
Aikman, Smith and Irvin, as usual, led the offense. Smith had 20 carries for 150 yards and two touchdowns, marking the first time in his career he has opened the season with three consecutive 100-yard performances. Irvin compiled 100 yards in receptions for the second time in three games. The Cowboys are 12-0 when Smith and Irvin both have 100 yards.
But perhaps never have they had to work so hard to maintain the streak. Dallas had a chance for the lead on its first possession of the third period. Smith, who has nine runs this season of 15 or more yards, raced 45 yards to provide the scoring chance. But Irvin, after making an incredible one-handed touchdown reception in the first period, dropped what should have been a third-down touchdown pass. Then Boniol, who missed the extra point after Irvin's touchdown in the first quarter, became unreliable with a 20-yard field-goal attempt wide left.
A team that converted its first nine scoring opportunities inside the opponent's 20 into nine touchdowns failed twice in succession.
But the Cowboys overcame that and so much more than could have deflated them. The Cowboys failed to convert their first seven third downs. With that in mind, Aikman smartly avoided them altogether with the first possession of the fourth period. He advanced his team 80 yards in seven plays, twice using screen passes offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese called to negate a relentless Vikings pass rush.
Aikman found fullback Daryl Johnston for 24 yards with the first, then went 26 yards to Jay Novacek for the second. Smith scored a rushing touchdown for the 10th consecutive game, leaping in from the 2 on the next play.
Then Aikman produced the first two-point conversion in Cowboys history. He threw a seemingly impossible pass to Novacek's reaching fingertips behind linebacker Broderick Thomas.
"I think our team is poised enough and has enough character and desire not to put our heads down when we're in situations like that," Smith said. "I was frustrated to see us play like that, knowing we're capable of playing much better."
