COWBOYS HOST CARDS;
LOOK TO CLOSE OUT UNDEFEATED SEPTEMBER

Prepared by Cowboys’ Public Relations
September 18, 1995

THIS WEEK: The Dallas Cowboys (3-0) will attempt to close out their first undefeated month of September since 1992 as they play host to division rival Arizona (1-2) at Texas Stadium. The game is scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. (Dallas time) kickoff. Dallas will be looking for its tenth straight victory over the Cardinals. A Dallas victory on Sunday would mark the first time a Cowboys club has started the season 4-0 since the 1983 team won its first seven games.

TELEVISION: The Cowboys will be making their first appearance of the year on FOX this week, with kickoff scheduled for 3:00 p.m. KDFW-TV (Channel 4) will carry the game locally. Pat Summerall and John Madden, currently in their 15th season as an NFL broadcast team, will handle the chores in the booth. The Cowboys Post Game Show will be televised at 11:15 p.m. Sunday on WFAA-TV, Channel 8 in Dallas-Fort Worth. The Post Game Show is a broadcast of the live KVIL post-game show that is hosted by Dave Garrett, Dale Hansen and Michael Rey. Cowboys Special Edition with Jerry Jones airs on KDFW-TV, Channel 4 each Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The Barry Switzer Show is shown on KDFW-TV, Channel 4 each Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m.

RADIO: KVIL-FM 103.7 will carry the live broadcast of the game, with pregame coverage beginning at 1:00 p.m. KVIL's game broadcast will be carried across the 18-state Dallas Cowboys Radio Network. Dave Garrett, the new voice of the Cowboys, will handle the play-by-play, while Dale Hansen brings his unique insights to the color commentary. The game will also be broadcast by the Dallas Cowboys Radio Network in Spanish, including KESS-AM (1270-AM in Dallas-Fort Worth), with Israel Aguilar and Mario Montez.

THE COACHES:

Barry Switzer (57) the third head coach in franchise history, was hired by Jerry Jones on March 30, 1994. In his initial season as the Dallas Cowboys head coach, he guided the team to a 12-4 record, an NFC Eastern Division title and the NFC Championship Game. Switzer now has an all-time head coaching record (college and pro) of 173-34-4 (.829). Prior to joining the Cowboys, Switzer was the head coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1973 to 1988. During that 16-year span, his Sooner teams amassed an .837 winning percentage while capturing national titles in 1974, 1975 and 1985. Following the 1988 season, Switzer retired from the college ranks after compiling the fourth best career winning percentage in major college football history.
Buddy Ryan (61) is in his second season as the head coach of the Cardinals. Last year he led the team to a 7-9 record. Prior to joining the Arizona franchise, Ryan served as defensive coordinator for Houston in 1993. From 1986 to 1990, Ryan was the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. He currently owns a head coaching record of 51-49-1. Before taking over the Eagles helm in 1986, Ryan was an assistant coach for the Chicago Bears (1978-85), Minnesota Vikings (1976-77) and New York Jets (1968-75).

THE SERIES: Sunday’s game marks the 66th meeting between the Cardinals and Cowboys. Dallas leads the series by a 42-22-1 margin, and the Cowboys have won the last nine games in a row. The Cowboys current winning streak over Arizona is the longest divisional winning streak for Dallas since they took 12 straight from the Giants from 1974 to 1980. Last year, the Cowboys defeated Arizona by scores of 38-3 (in Dallas) and 28-21 (in Phoenix). The Cardinals last victory in this series was a 20-3 win over the Cowboys in 1990. Dallas has swept its series with Arizona in each of the past four seasons.

A COWBOYS WIN OVER ARIZONA WOULD:

  • Give Dallas its first 4-0 start since the 1983 club won its first seven games.
  • Give Dallas its 48th win in the last 61 overall games (including postseason) since the start of the 1992 season.
  • Give Dallas a 27-7 record against NFC East opponents since the start of the 1991 season.
  • Increase the Cowboys regular season home record to 25-5 in its last 30 games at Texas Stadium
  • Give Dallas its 43rd victory over the Cardinals--tying Arizona with Philadelphia as the team that the Cowboys have defeated the most.

    • INJURY REPORT: CB Kevin Smith (achilles) is definitely out. Listed as doubtful is T Erik Williams (left calf sprain). Listed as probable are C Ray Donaldson (right quad contusion), LB Dixon Edwards (right pectoral strain), DE Charles Haley (left hamstring strain), DT Chad Hennings (right elbow inflammation), WR Ed Hervey (left fibula fracture), DE Tony Tolbert (right hand contusion), S Charlie Williams (right ankle sprain) and WR Kevin Williams (left quad contusion).

    SOLD OUT STADIUMS: Sunday's game at Texas Stadium will mark the 74th straight sell-out for a Dallas game (home or away). That streak, which includes playoff games, dates back to Sept. 22, 1991, at Phoenix (the last non-sell-out). This week's game marks the 38th straight sellout for a Cowboys game played at Texas Stadium (including playoffs). That streak, which includes playoff games, dates back to Dec. 16, 1990 vs. Phoenix. Dallas has also played in front of 37 consecutive sell-out crowds on the road (including playoffs).

    LAST WEEK: The Cowboys won the coin flip in overtime and scored on their first possession of the extra period to post a 23-17 victory over the Vikings in the Metrodome. Emmitt Smith scampered 31 yards for the game winner, capping a 150 yard rushing night on 20 carries including two touchdowns. Smith’s effort enabled him to reach the 100-yard rushing plateau for the third game this season, marking the first time he has ever opened an NFL season with three straight 100-yard games. Troy Aikman completed 24-of-38 passes for 246 yards and one touchdown. Aikman found Michael Irvin eight times for 107 yards (including a 19-yard TD hook-up in the first period. Irvin’s 107 yards in receiving marked his 27th career 100-yard game--establishing a new Dallas record in that department. Jay Novacek also had a solid evening with five catches for 68 yards and also added the first successful Dallas two point conversion attempt in club history. A strong Dallas defensive effort was anchored by Charles Haley who had seven tackles, two sacks, four quarterback pressures and a forced fumble. Strong safety Darren Woodson was the Cowboys leading tackler with 12 stops, while defensive end Tony Tolbert added eight tackles and a team-high five quarterback pressures.

    WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN 1995:

    In 1995, the Dallas Cowboys will attempt to become the first team in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in a four year period. The Cowboys will also be seeking their fourth straight NFC Eastern Division Championship--a feat that has only been accomplished once before in the NFC East, by Dallas (1976-1979).
    Although the Cowboys have experienced several personnel changes throughout the first two years of NFL free agency, the primary nucleus of the back-to-back Super Bowl Champions of 1992 and 1993 remains intact as the team prepares for another title run. Ten of the Cowboys 11 Pro Bowl players from 1994 return, giving Dallas at least one Pro Bowler at every position group on the field except linebacker.
    The Cowboys enter this season after posting a 37-11 record over the past three regular seasons. An NFC Eastern Division title in '95 would mark the Cowboys' 13th division crown since the merger in 1970. A trip to the NFC Championship Game would add to the team's current NFL record of 13 conference championship game appearances (since 1970), and a Super Bowl berth in Arizona would also add to the Cowboys' NFL-best total of seven previous Super Bowl trips.

    MORE TO LOOK FOR IN 1995:

  • Troy Aikman moving into first place on the Cowboys all-time passing list. Currently second, Aikman has a career quarterback rating of 82.2. Just ahead of him is Roger Staubach (83.5).
  • Troy Aikman moving into third place on the Cowboys all-time passing yardage list. Aikman has 16,973 career passing yards, currently fourth behind Don Meredith at 17,199.
  • Michael Irvin becoming the Cowboys all-time reception and receiving yards leader. Irvin now has 437 career receptions for 7,245 yards. Drew Pearson holds the club record for receptions with 489, while Tony Hill is the career receiving yardage leader with 7,988 yards.
  • Michael Irvin establishing a club record for consecutive games with at least one catch. Irvin has at least one reception in each of the Cowboys last 68 regular season games. Tony Hill holds the club record with a catch in 72 straight games.
  • Michael Irvin adding to his club record for career 100-yard receiving games (currently has 27).
  • Daryl Johnston moving into the top ten on the club's all-time reception list. He currently has 190 career receptions and Ron Springs (222 catches) stands tenth on the Dallas career reception chart.
  • Daryl Johnston and Tony Tolbert extending their current, team-best, streaks of consecutive games played for Dallas. Both Johnston and Tolbert have played in every regular season game of their careers with Dallas (99), a figure that is better than any other Cowboys player.
  • Jay Novacek setting a club record for 100-yard receiving games by a tight end. He is tied with Doug Cosbie for the record at four.
  • Emmitt Smith becoming the first back in club history with four seasons of 50-or-more receptions.
  • Emmitt Smith becoming the Cowboys all-time leader in career touchdowns. He currently has 82 touchdowns, trailing the club record holder, Tony Dorsett (86) by four.
  • Emmitt Smith extending his current string of 10 games with a rushing touchdown, which is the club record. Smith has also broken his own club record for consecutive games with a touchdown (rushing or receiving). The previous mark was nine.
  • Tony Tolbert extending his current team high mark for consecutive starts (70). Tolbert has started every Dallas regular season game since the 14th week of the 1990 season.
  • The Cowboys establishing a club record for consecutive punts without a block. The Cowboys current streak is 341, and the club record is 396.

    • 1995 COWBOYS NOTES

    Offense: After three weeks in 1995, the Cowboys are ranked second in the NFL in total offense, averaging 402 total yards per game. Dallas is first in the NFL in rushing offense (182.7 yards), and 13th in the league in passing offense (219.3 yards)...The Cowboys also are second in the NFL in first downs after two weeks with 73...RB Emmitt Smith opened the season with three 100-yard rushing games for the first time in his career...he is currently the NFL’s leader in rushing yards (427, for an average of 142 per game), rushing average (6.4), total yards from scrimmage (474), touchdowns (seven) and scoring (42 points)...he is currently leading the 1995 rushing race by more than 100 yards over Natrone Means (297) and Barry Sanders (290)... with each rushing TD in 1995, Smith adds to his Dallas record for career rushing touchdowns (currently at 78--which is ninth on the all-time NFL list)...his 82 total career touchdowns are just four short of Tony Dorsett’s club record of 86...Smith has now scored at least one rushing touchdown in each of his last 10 games, establishing a new Cowboys record for consecutive games with a rushing TD...he is currently tied for fourth place on the NFL’s all-time list of running backs who have scored rushing touchdowns in consecutive games:

    CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH A RUSHING TOUCHDOWN 

    
13	 John Riggins, Redskins (1982-1983)

13	 George Rogers, Redskins (1985-1986)

11	 Lenny Moore, Colts (1963-1964)

10	 Greg Bell, Rams (1988-1989)

10	 EMMITT SMITH, COWBOYS (1994-1995)
    The Cowboys are now 52-4 in games where Smith has 20 carries or more and 36-3 in games where Smith gains at least 100 yards...Smith’s 60-yard TD run in the opener against the Giants was his longest run since breaking a 62-yard scoring run at Philadelphia on Oct. 31, 1993...his four TDs against the Giants tied the club record that he equalled as a rookie against the Cardinals on Dec. 16, 1990...Smith’s 163 yards in New York tied the 11th best rushing day in Cowboys history...Smith has since added 100-yard games against Denver (114) and Minnesota (150)...Michael Irvin established a Cowboys club record for career 100-yard receiving games with 27 after collecting 107 yards against the Vikings (9/17)...he tied Tony Hill’s previous club record in the opener at New York by registering seven catches for 109 yards...QB Troy Aikman has thrown for at least one touchdown in 26 of his last 32 games...Aikman has also completed better than 60% of his passes in 22 of his last 28 games...he has thrown just 22 interceptions in his last 895 passing attempts (one for every 40 attempts)...he has now thrown 50 touchdown passes and just 22 interceptions in his last 39 games (1,095 attempts)...Dallas owns a record of 43-11 (.796) in the last 54 games that Aikman has started...The Dallas Offensive Line established a new team record in 1994 by allowing just 20 sacks--for losses totalling just 93 yards...thus far in 1995, the Cowboys have permitted just two sacks of Troy Aikman in three games...prior to Monday night’s game (Pittsburgh at Miami), only the Steelers and Dolphins had allowed fewer sacks than Dallas in 1995 (one each)...in the last 43 regular season games, the Dallas line has allowed just 61 sacks (1.4 per game)...the Dallas line has allowed one-sack-or-less in 25 of the team’s last 50 regular season games...Dallas has also permitted two-sacks-or-less in 40 of the last 50 games.

    Defense:The as Cowboys finished the third week of the NFL season ranked third in the league in total defense (having allowed just 250 yards per game). Dallas is now sixth in the NFL in rushing defense (82 yards) and fourth in the NFL in passing defense (168)...Tout: season opening 35-0 shutout of the N.Y. Giants marked the Cowboys first shutout since a 27-0 blanking of the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 11, 1992...the game marked only the third time in Cowboys history that Dallas has shutout an opponent in a season opening game....Charles Haleyoff to another brilliant start in 1995...he currently leads the team in sacks (four) and forced fumbles (2), while ranking second on the squad in quarterback pressures with eight...against Denver (9/10), Haley earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording five tackles, two sacks (for minus 22 yards) and forcing a John Elway fumble on one of his sacks...he kept up that pace the next week at Minnesota (9/17) with seven tackles, two sacks (for minus 19 yards), one forced fumble and four quarterback pressures...at the other end, Tony Tolbert been equally as effective...thus far in 1995, Tolbert leads the Cowboys in quarterback pressures with 14, and he also leads all Dallas defensive linemen in tackles with 18...he is second on the squad in sacks (one in each of the first two games), and he also forced one fumble...Leon Lett returned to the dominant style of play that earned him his first Pro Bowl trip last year...Lett leads the team in tackles for lost yardage (three for minus seven yards) He is currently eighth on the team in tackles with 12, and he blocked a field goal attempt in the New York game (9/4)... Robert Joneso led the 1994 Cowboys in tackles, is once again leading the team with 24 stops...Brock Marionsecond on the club in tackles 23...he had a team (and career) high 11 tackles against Denver (9/10)...in the season opener in New York, Marion collected his third career interception in his first game as a full-time starter...CB Larry Brown picked up his eighth career pass interception against Denver (9/10) with a second quarter theft of a deflected Elway pass.

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