NUMEROUS MISCUES HELP WASHINGTON BANG OUT A 24-17 WIN

In all their years at the top of the NFL heap, the Cowboys have been an offensive based team. Even in the years when their defense lead the league, the team relied on the offense to control the time of possession and keep the defense off the field. In an ideal game plan, the Cowboys got a lead. This allowed their speedy defenders to do what they did best --defense the pass.

Against Washington Sunday, the plan again seemed simple; get a lead on one of the worst defenses in the league, and let the defense tee off on second year quarterback Heath Shuler.

The defense held up its end of the bargain, at least for the first quarter and a half. The problem was that the Dallas offense sputtered mightily. In what was easily its worst performance of 1995, the Cowboy offense did nothing on its first four drives. It gained a 7-0 lead, but Washington was never compelled to abandon its ball control system. The Redskins were finally able to solve the Dallas schemes, and bullied their way back into the game. Dallas regained the lead, but it was short lived. While the Redskins slowly built on their early success, the Cowboys reverted to their early form. The result was a 24-17 loss. The season sweep by Washington was the first in a non-strike season in the history of the rivalry.

The main culprits were unlikely ones. Troy Aikman had his worst game in recent memory. He seemed unsteady in the pocket and made many bad decisions. His forced pass to Michael Irvin was intercepted by Stanley Richard early in the fourth quarter and and let Washington blow open a 14-10 game.

Aikman was joined in infamy by Emmitt Smith, who fumbled a carry on 4th and goal from the Redskin three with over six minutes left in the game. Smith almost recovered the miscue in the endzone, but possession reverted to Washington. A score here would have been big, as Dallas scored just after the two minute warning to cut Washington's lead to 24-17.

But the offense must not stand alone in blame. While the offense struggled, the defense looked just plain dumb. After its fast start, in which it blitzed Shuler and kept him off balance, the Cowboys looked powerless to stop the Redskins "power." The same play that did them in when the teams first met came back to haunt them again. Washington ran Terry Allen to the left of the Cowboys formation time and again behind the pulling LG Ray Brown. The Cowboys made Washington look like the Lombardi Packers, as they were unable to stop it for the second consecutive time.

A FESTIVAL OF PUNTS

Each team began with an indistinguished drive. Washington took the opening kickoff and held the ball for three plays. Tony Tolbert forced Shuler into an interception on third down, and Dallas took possession. The Cowboys could do nothing in turn and John Jett kicked the ball back to the visitors. David Lang made a quick stop of Brian Mitchell, and the Redskins were back on their 31.

Shuler opened the drive with a quick slant to Henry Ellard, who was dropped by Larry Brown. Terry Allen went off LT and sliced for a first down. Shuler dropped to pass on second and scrambled for nine yards after finding nothing. A sneak by Shuler pushed the Redskins to the Dallas 43. But here the Redskin offense was shut down. Allen's blast off LG was stopped by Robert Jones for one yard. Shuler's pass was dropped, and his toss on third down was broken up by Brown. Deion Sanders dropped back to field Matt Turk's punt, but let the high kick go. It was downed on the Dallas four, and Washington was winning the early battle of field position.

Dallas went to their ball control attack, and made some early yards. Smith followed Larry Allen for four yards. Aikman had Irvin on a comebackin front of LCB Tom Carter, but Irvin dropped the pass. Aikman went back to Irvin on third, and Dallas had a first down at the 18. Aikman continued his assault on Carter, as he found Kevin Williams on a stop pattern for ten yards. Smith took a lead draw for three. Aikman dropped and found Kevin Williams running a deep crossing pattern. The pass gained 16 yards to the Dallas 47. Smith took a lead draw left for four yards, and Dallas crossed midfield for the first time.

A Smith draw gained two more, but Dallas promising drive came to an abrupt end when Irvin dropped a sure first down toss in the left flat. Jett shanked his punt, and got a positive bounce to the Washington 18.

Shuler opened the Washington drive with a brilliant play action fake to Allen. With Dallas fooled, Shuler hit Ellard down the right sideline forsixteen. Allen got the ball on second down, but was quickly brought down by Hurvin McCormack, who was filling in for Charles Haley. Shuler returned to the air, and his pass to TE Jamie Asher went incomplete. Shuler tossed short to Leslie Shepherd, who was running a crossing route under the Dallas zone, but he was stopped by Darren Woodson, and the Redskins had to punt. The Turk punt bounced out at the eight, and Dallas again started with poor field position.

Aikman started by picking on Carter again. He found Irvin on an outalong the right sideline for seven. Smith carried for one on second down. Smith ran behind Nate Newton on third down, but was dragged down inches shy of a first down. Barry Switzer motioned the punting team in. Brian Mitchell got a healthy return, but the Redskins were flagged for clipping, pushing Washington back to the 22.

Allen tried a cutback on second down, but was cut down by Russell Maryland after two. After the teams exchanged sides, Dallas sent Dixon Edwards and Robert Jones on a blitz. They surprised Shuler and brought him down for a two yard loss. Shuler was again hurried, and his pass into the flat for Brian Mitchell was broken up by Scott Case. Matt Turk's fourth punt was fair caught at the Dallas 27.

Dallas tried a lead draw to Smith, who was caught after two yards. Dallas split Darryl Johnston out wide, and Aikman hit him for six yards. Emmitt Smith broke a third down run for a huge gain, but Jay Novacek was flagged for holding. Aikman's toss to Irvin bounced short, and Dallas lined up for its fourth punt.

Starting at the 22, Shuler threw incomplete to Allen in the right flat. Allen was shadowed by Tony Tolbert, who fell off his coverage. Shuler tried to find Asher over the middle, but his pass was broken up by Dixon Edwards. Shuler floated a deep pass to Shepherd, but he was well covered by Larry Brown and the pass fell harmlessly to the turf.

With Smith stuggling, Dallas took to the air. An Aikman toss to Irvin gained four and another toss two plays later took Dallas to its 47. Aikmanlooked to Irvin a third time, this time in front of Darryl Green and Dallas was at the Washington 41.

The Cowboys went to a three receiver look, and Aikman dumped off to Smith, who spun for three yards. Dallas spread the defense with a four receiver look, and Zampese crossed up the Redskins by running Smith on a trap draw for eleven. Aikman threw another time to Irvin, who drew an interference call on Green. The penalty moved Dallas to the Redskin seven.

After an imcompletion, Dallas ran a draw to Smith. Smith found a hole behind center Derek Kennard and blasted to the one. James Washington hit Smith high and stood him up. Kennard threw his weight behind Smith and the three of them bounced into the endzone. Chris Boniol's PAT was good, and the scoring drought was finally over.

After Brian Mitchell took the kickoff to the 27, the Redskins found a rhythm. Shuler had little success throwing on first down, so the Redskins stayed on the ground. An Allen dive lost a yard, as Woodson, who was crowding the line, made a strong stop. Shuler was flushed from the pocket on second down, and was dropped for a one yard gain. On third down, Shuler threw a shovel pass to Mitchell, who shook a bad tackle by Robert Bailey and gained 20.

Shuler again took to the air, but was pressured into an incompletion by Charles Haley. On second down, the Cowboys outguessed themselves. They assumed that Shuler would pass, and dropped DT Chad Hennings into a short zone. When Washington ran a draw at Hennings' hole, Allen found no resistance, and gained sixteen yards to the Dallas 37. Two plays later, the Redskins ran power right, and Allen followed LG Brown to the Dallas 22. Shuler ran a bootleg right, but did not fool Dixon Edwards, who pushed him out of bounds after a one yard gain. Shuler faked a counter right and ran a second bootleg. Larry Brown read the play and stopped Shuler after seven. On third and two, Shuler followed a great surge by C John Gesek and fell inches short of a first down.

On fourth down, Allen followed Brown on power right and slashed to the Dallas four. The play took the clock to the two minute warning. Shuler ran a trap dive to FB Marc Logan, who lunged to the two. Norv Turner has always known how to exploit a good play, and he did so on second down, calling power right again. Allen found great blocking on the right side, and hopped into the end zone for the score. Eddie Murray's PAT tied the score at 7-7.

Deion Sanders lined up deep and fielded Murray's kickoff. But he was dropped by Darrick Brownlow at the 20. Aikman tried a middle screen to Emmitt Smith, but had to dump off the pass when Smith was shadowed by Tim Johnson. Aikman looked over the deep middle and found Kevin Williams in front of James Washington at the Dallas 43. Dallas took a timeout with 58 seconds left.

After an Aikman incompletion, Aikman found Williams, who made a juggling catch in the blue star at the Dallas 48. Aikman threw to Irvin, who ran a hook on Green. Irvin spun away from Green and ran out of bounds at the Washington 37. 27 seconds remained. Two plays later, Aikman tossed to Cory Fleming, who had run a seam route at the 21. Dallas had time to spike the ball with eight or seven seconds left, but Aikman called timeout with two seconds remaining. Boniol banged in the 38 yard kick, and Dallas headed to the intermission with a 10-7 lead.

Dallas received the second half kickoff and felt some pressure to score. The Cowboys had moved the ball late in the first half, but Washington's suddenly explosive running game made it clear that Dallas could not sit on the ball and expect to maintain the lead.

BAD OMENS AND BAD BOUNCES

Emmitt Smith's first run carried an omen for the second half. Smith cutback off LG and found running room, but he dropped the ball. Larry Allen recovered, and Dallas had a nine yard gain to its 37. Johnston took the next carry for four and a first down. The Cowboys lined up in a split back formation and ran a power sweep to its left. Smith followed Newton and Allen for five yards. Aikman threw a slant to Irvin, who saw Green jump in front of the toss. Green could not make the grab, and Dallas was in third and five. Aikman threaded the ball to Novacek, and Dallas had three new downs at the Washington 48. Smith ran a lead draw, and gained ten yards tothe 38. Despite the gain, it was clear that Smith was not at full strength, as he lacked the spring he has displayed this year. Smith ran for three on first. Aikman wanted to dump off the ball on second down, but it was knocked down by Tim Johnston. A holding penalty pushed Dallas back ten yards. Aikman could find no one open on the next play and Dall7as aborted their once promising drive.

The Redskins, unlike Dallas, picked up where they left off. The Redskins opened with power left, but Allen was upset by Deion Sanders after two yards. Shuler's toss on second went incomplete and the Redskins faced third and long. Shuler got good protection, and converted when Leslie Shephard caught his short pass and faked out Scott Case in the right flat.

Turner unveiled the second phase of his game plan, which was short crossing routes on the Dallas zone. He found Asher with a toss which the TE took to the Dallas 47. Allen took a weakside counter for seven more yards. Woodson stopped a power right run for one. But on third and two, Allen took a power right for the needed two yards.

On the next play, Allen ran a draw, overpowered Brock Marion, and was dragged down at the Dallas 23. Shuler threw a fade to a wide open Olanda Truitt, and Dallas got a break when Truitt bobbled the ball out the back of the endzone. Turner took another old play out of his playbook when he ran Mitchell on a fullback option. The play gained ten to the Dallas thirteen. After a three yard Allen run, Shuler dropped and found Ellard crossing the short middle. Ellard blew past Robert Jones and put the Redskins in the lead. Murray's PAT pushed the lead to 14-10. The second long drive drained the clock, as only five minutes remained in the third quarter.

The Cowboys rode Smith, and appeared to have the muscle to match the Redskins. A toss to Smith gained eight. He ran behind Larry Allen on the following play for eight more yards. The Cowboys threw a screen to Johnston, but was dropped for no gain. On second down, Aikman was pressured in the pocked, and dove back to the 44. On third and ten, Aikman found Kevin Williams for nine. But Irvin was flagged for offensive pass interference. Aikman's deep toss to Williams on 3rd and 19 sailed high, and the Cowboys were forced to punt.

Dallas needed the defense to respond and it did. Starting at their 26, the Redskins went nowhere. McCormack, who was subbing for the injured Charles Haley (back-spasms), stopped Allen for a two yard loss. Darrin Smith recognized a Logan draw, and stopped it after two yards. Shuler was pressured into a short toss to Mitchell, and Sanders dropped him after four yards with a sure tackle. The third quarter came to an end, and the Cowboys looked forward to receiving the ball.

Turk's punt was fair caught at the Dallas 18, and the Cowboys went to work. Smith ran a lead draw for six before he was leveled by a Stanley Richard hit. Smith ran behind RT, and was stopped a yard short of the mark. Smith carried behind Mark Tuinei, and gained two yards.

Smith then gained two on first down. On second down, Aikman looked in the right flat, found his primary receiver covered, they hurriedly tossed to Irvin, who was running a post on the right side of the formation. Irvin had broken a step inside Tom Carter, but Richard came from the inside to intercept Aikman's forced throw. He returned the ball to the Dallas 27, and the Redskins had a short field. Aikman might have completed the pass had he floated the ball over the coverage, but it was clear from his rushed, flat pass that he neither saw, nor expected Richard to be in the deep middle.

Allen ran for seven on first down to the 20. Leon Lett cut through to stop him for no gain on second down. Allen followed Brown on power right, and gained the needed three yards. After an incompletion, the Redskins ran power right again and gained four yards. Shuler then went over the middle to Asher, who escaped Robert Jones. Asher cart wheeled to the Dallas one, and the Redskins were in great position to break open the game. They wasted no time, as Allen hurtled in on the following play. 8:45 remained, and Murray's PAT left the Cowboys 11 points behind.

Aikman opened the Cowboys ensuing drive with two indecisive plays. He shuffled in the pocked, then overthrew Novacek. He then tried to dump off the ball to Smith and threw high again. Aikman then settled down and found Novacek for eleven yards and a first down.

The Cowboys lined up in a no huddle and forced the Redskins to call timeout. When play resumed, Aikman found Irvin on an out in front of Green at the Washington 47. A holding call pushed Dallas back ten, but it did little to faze them. Aikman found Cory Fleming for fifteen of the yards. He gunned one over the middle to Novacek at the Redskin 24. Novacek took a blow to the head from Richard and left the field for a play. Aikman then threw to Fleming but again threw high. On the next play, Aikman threw in the right flat to Fleming, who had run a curl. Fleming spun out of Tom Carter's grasp and moved to the Redskin 13.

6:13 remained, and Aikman inexplicably spiked the ball into the turf. On second down, Aikman found Novacek at the seven. On third down he threw to Novacek, who was driven out of bounds at the four. With one down gone, the Cowboys faced fourth and a long one. They lined up in a two TE set with Smith behind Johnston in an I. As Smith broke outside to the right, he had the ball stripped by the diving Richard. The ball bounced through the hands of a receiver and towards the right front corner of the endzone. Smith dove for the ball as it crossed the plane of the goalline, and landed out of bounds. The angle of the dive carried him over the goal line in bounds. But an official standing just beyond the play ruled that Smith did not have possession while in the air. A touchback was called and the Redskins gained possession on their own 20.

5:37 still remained, and the Cowboys still had a slim chance if they could stop Washington quickly. Dixon Edwards dropped Allen for a one yard loss on first down. Shuler rolled out on second down, and his pass for Ellard flew off his fingertips. Shuler rolled right again and threw a deepfade left to Shephard, who had a step on Brown. Shepherd gathered in the throw at the Dallas 37, and Washington was again near scoring position. More importantly, they had a new set of downs with 4:41 left.

The Redskins kept the ball on the ground for the next three plays. In doing so, they forced the Cowboys to burn all of their timeouts. Murray booted a 47 yarder and put Washington up by 14 with 3:23 left.

The Cowboy offense started at its 34, and again progressed quickly. An Aikman dart to Irvin moved the ball to the Redskin 42. A toss to Smith put the Cowboys at the Redskin 32. Three plays later, Aikman found Kevin Williams crossing over the middle. Williams slithered through the secondary and was brought down at the Washington 8. As the team sprinted to the line, the clock was stopped for the two minute warning. Aikman threw incomplete for Novacek on first down, but connected on second down, finding Irvin on an out to the Redskin 3. Aikman got solid protection on second down, and found Irvin at the back of the endzone. Boniol's PAT cutthe score to 24-17, and Dallas was still alive.

The Cowboys hopes rested on their ability to field an onside kick. Boniol bounced the ball high, but it was grabbed by Redskin William Bell. 1:47 now remained, but the Cowboys were powerless to stop the clock. Shuler knelt down repeatedly, as the clock ran down on the Cowboys' third defeat of the season.

The questions will certainly be many, and the questions will challenge every aspect of Dallas play. How were they so flat after a long layoff? Why do the same plays still plague the defense? But to understand this defeat, one must learn how the offense could stuggle against a Redskin defensive unit that was on the verge of mutiny this past week. It's a question they are probably pondering in the Dallas locker room right now.

COWBOY NOTES

-- The Cowboys have been in very few comeback situations in recent years. It showed as Aikman threw the ball into the turf when Dallas had a first and ten at the Redskin 12. Aikman completed his next two throws, but a third and goal from the three became a fourth and goal. Spiking the ball is okay with two minutes left, but when a quarterback does this with 6:13 left in the game, one has to question his preparation.

-- Kevin Williams and Cory Fleming finally showed signs of life Sunday. Ernie Zampese called Williams number early, getting him the ball four times in the first half alone. Fleming made several big plays in the second half.

-- Robert Jones was limping in pass coverage in the second half, when the Redskins picked on him. Though Jones was injured, the Cowboys might be better off with Godfrey Myles in the middle.

-- The call will probably begin again for Dave Campo's head. The Redskin game plan was amazingly similar to that used in the first loss to Washington, suggesting that the team made very few adjustments.

-- The Redskin loss puts pressure on Dallas to win its last three games. One more loss would put Dallas in danger of losing home field advantage.

-- The biggest concern heading into next week's Philadelphia game has to be the pass rush. The Cowboys got some pressure on Shuler early, but they did not pressure him after Charles Haley left the game at the half with back problems. Leon Lett was not a factor in his first game back. He looked tentative on the rush, and made only one play in the Redskin backfield.