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00:00:00Troy Aikman 8 of 12 for 83 yards, so neither quarterback able to get much going in the first half.
00:00:05And also an interception for Troy Aikman, and they're making Aikman leave the pocket defensively, and they've sacked him.
00:00:12That's something Troy is not used to seeing, especially here at Texas Stadium.
00:00:15In fact, they sacked him three times, Saab, McGinnis, and Slade each coming up with sacks.
00:00:21There's Burke, saw him shaking his head as he headed to the Patriots' sideline.
00:00:27And New England starts out at the 30-yard line.
00:00:32Curtis Martin with the big hole has a first down.
00:00:37A 19-yard run by Martin.
00:00:40George Teague made the stop.
00:00:42And they come out looking like a spread-out four-wide receiver.
00:00:45Look, everybody's spread out.
00:00:46Of course, Coates is one man spread out.
00:00:48Keith Fiers is another, but there's not much left inside.
00:00:52And the run coming right up the middle.
00:00:53George Teague is the last one left to make the tackle.
00:00:55Hey, remember, Dallas is fast.
00:00:58Don't go outside.
00:00:59Go in the gut.
00:01:02Bledsoe to the sideline.
00:01:05Sean Jefferson on the reception.
00:01:08That is his first, covered by Darren Smith and Deion Sanders.
00:01:14You know, talking to the Patriots last night, Drew Bledsoe made the point.
00:01:17In fact, a lot of the guys brought up the point.
00:01:18They weren't going to be intimidated.
00:01:20I kind of questioned myself, why are you bringing this up?
00:01:22Oh, he didn't bring it up.
00:01:23But they're not.
00:01:24These guys are taking it to them.
00:01:26Now, they haven't gone deep.
00:01:27They haven't challenged them down the field.
00:01:28But they're making the shorter stuff work.
00:01:31Well, the Patriots want to show that they can win the statement,
00:01:35the so-called statement games, particularly after the loss to the Broncos.
00:01:39Martin this time is smothered.
00:01:41A combination of Tolbert and Hennings.
00:01:44New England has had two challenge-type games.
00:01:47And they lost both to the Washington Redskins and the Denver Broncos.
00:01:50On the other hand, Dallas able to rescue its season by coming up big after the slow start
00:01:56as they beat Miami.
00:01:57They won in San Francisco in overtime.
00:01:58They beat Green Bay.
00:02:00And they beat Washington to turn it around.
00:02:02And the Patriots have gotten speed-bumped both times.
00:02:05They had a challenge game by the Stins and the Broncos.
00:02:09Third and three.
00:02:11And pass deflected.
00:02:19Intended for Glenn.
00:02:20That's all set up by the blitz, though.
00:02:22I mean, they are coming after Bledsoe.
00:02:25They're blitzing a lot on the Dallas side.
00:02:27We've seen New England blitz a lot.
00:02:28And that's also set up by the fact that they're saying,
00:02:31OK, you want to try to go down the field?
00:02:32We're not going to give you the time to go down the field.
00:02:34We're bringing the blitz.
00:02:35They brought two blitzers from the same side of the ball.
00:02:39They both came to the offensive left side.
00:02:41That left one short for the blockers.
00:02:44And this is Kelvin Martin.
00:02:47Tenth year in the NFL out of Boston College.
00:02:50Awaiting the puck from Tom Tupac.
00:02:53Looking to angle it.
00:02:57And Martin stepped away.
00:02:59And is down inside the 15-yard line.
00:03:0237-yard punt.
00:03:06The Cowboys back to the offense.
00:03:10Emmett Smith back on the field for this opening third quarter series
00:03:15for the Dallas Cowboys.
00:03:17Took the stinger to the right shoulder.
00:03:19Was forced out.
00:03:20Eight-minute throw on first down.
00:03:22And he has Irvin.
00:03:24Michael Irvin.
00:03:26Covered by Ty Law.
00:03:27Fifth catch for Irvin.
00:03:29And a Dallas first down.
00:03:30Michael Irvin actually went past that 12- to 14-yard range.
00:03:35Right in here is where most defensive backs see the pattern start to break.
00:03:40You know, the inside or the outside.
00:03:41He goes about 16- to 18 yards deep.
00:03:43Breaks to the outside.
00:03:44Ty Law wasn't ready to move on.
00:03:46Ty Law also fell down.
00:03:47Remember, you have the sleet and the wet conditions.
00:03:49And it's cold.
00:03:50So, John Docher, we talked about the shoes and the cleats.
00:03:53We've seen a little bit of it there.
00:03:54Yes, and the sleet is falling once again.
00:03:58Emmett Smith with a short pickup.
00:04:01Went by the middle linebacker Ted Johnson.
00:04:05And there it is.
00:04:06Right through the opening in the roof.
00:04:10All the money down here, you'd think they'd have finished it.
00:04:12Oh, you sound like a player now, boy.
00:04:14The only people getting sleeted on right here are the players.
00:04:19The fans are covered up.
00:04:21I detect some bad feelings from those days with the 49ers and coming here to Dallas.
00:04:26Nothing but bad experiences for me when I was playing here at Texas Stadium.
00:04:29Second down and 10 from the 29.
00:04:34And Aikman's pass was slightly off the mark.
00:04:37Intended for the tight end, Eric Bjornsson.
00:04:39But a flag is down.
00:04:41Sab on the coverage of Bjornsson, who's playing with those two injured ankles.
00:04:46And the call against New England.
00:04:50Bjornsson may have pushed off.
00:04:52Number 95 to the defense.
00:04:54Five yards.
00:04:55Automatic first down.
00:04:59Well, there's Sab working right there on Bjornsson.
00:05:06Oh, he's got him, too.
00:05:07Got a hold of him.
00:05:09That would be more than just a push-off.
00:05:12And to this point, it has been a blank for both tight ends.
00:05:16Bjornsson has not caught a pass.
00:05:17Either has quotes.
00:05:20Jay Novacek, a key guy missing right throughout this Dallas attack.
00:05:28Darryl Johnston with the catch.
00:05:31That's his third taken down by Otis Smith, but short of the first down.
00:05:37Well, Otis does not get the better part of this one.
00:05:40And look at what happens here.
00:05:41Darryl Johnston's concentrating on the ball.
00:05:44He's concentrating on the catch.
00:05:45Smith on the tackle.
00:05:47I got him.
00:05:47I got him.
00:05:48I guess I got him.
00:05:49I think he got me.
00:05:51Well, it's 242 pounds.
00:05:53If I didn't see you coming, I'll tell you that.
00:05:55Otis Smith has worked his way into the starting lineup in front of Ricky Reynolds, bothered by an ankle problem.
00:06:01Here's Smith.
00:06:03A couple of yards short of the first down.
00:06:05Again, Ted Johnson makes the stop.
00:06:08Okay, to Randy, here's what they were doing in the first half.
00:06:10Running between the tackles with Emmitt Smith.
00:06:12Smith just using those big offensive linemen, creating just enough of a crease to get him through the line.
00:06:18Without him, we wouldn't see it.
00:06:19But he's back there.
00:06:20I've noticed one thing on the earlier run.
00:06:22He doesn't lower his shoulders quite like he did.
00:06:24He's just probably paining a little bit from that shoulder.
00:06:29Third.
00:06:30At about a yard.
00:06:33Smith has the first down.
00:06:37Seam was a little bit more upright that time.
00:06:39Earlier in the game, he was lowering his shoulders and exploding into the tacklers.
00:06:44Well, if you remember back a couple years ago, this guy had a bad, bad shoulder.
00:06:48Had to play in the last game of the year against the Giants in Giants Stadium.
00:06:52People said, oh, he can't play hard against them.
00:06:54He could barely carry the ball in his hand without being hit on it.
00:06:57This is a tough, tough running back.
00:06:59And when he does smart, when those shoulders are hurting, watch him at the end of the runs.
00:07:03He keeps both hands on the ball.
00:07:04And Deion Sanders has split out for the first time.
00:07:10Split to the right side.
00:07:13And Aitman looking in that direction.
00:07:17We were told that Deion would not be in the game plan offensively because of the bad back.
00:07:24Might see some action in several plays.
00:07:27Well, this is the first time he's been on the offensive side of the ball.
00:07:31Notice that Otis Smith is sitting way outside of him, looking back inside.
00:07:35Deion said he might go out there just to loosen up.
00:07:37And if he's on that sideline too long to keep that back loose, just to run off and run down the field.
00:07:41But he was the primary receiver.
00:07:43Hey, but you have a bad back and you want to run a drive-off pattern like that and you slip like that, that's got to hurt your back.
00:07:49And you saw it got off to the good start as a receiver, but very quiet in recent weeks.
00:07:55Second down and 10 for Dallas.
00:07:57And again, Aitman comes up incomplete intended for Bjornsson, who was covered by Saab.
00:08:03Let's check in with John Dockery downstairs.
00:08:06John.
00:08:08Thank you, Marv.
00:08:09A couple of things.
00:08:10I talked to Bill Barcells after the half, during the half, and he said,
00:08:13expects a lot more from special teams.
00:08:14He's very disappointed in the way they play, especially the Herschel Walker runback.
00:08:18I talked to Barry Switzer.
00:08:19He said, offense, same problem all season long.
00:08:22No consistency, especially in the red zone.
00:08:26All right.
00:08:26Thank you, John.
00:08:296-6 game with 10 minutes remaining.
00:08:31In the third quarter, ninth play of the drive for the Cowboys.
00:08:41And Aitman with the sideline pattern.
00:08:44Kevin Williams has the first down and more.
00:08:49Covered by Otis Smith.
00:08:52It's a 14-yard advance.
00:08:55And we're going to see more and more blitzing, trying to force them to throw quick.
00:08:58But they showed the blitz and didn't come, allowing a deep down-the-field pattern to develop like this.
00:09:04You know, when the corners know the blitz is on, they can cover tighter,
00:09:06because there's not going to be that much time that they have to cover.
00:09:08The ball's got to go.
00:09:10But in this case, there was plenty of time for that pattern to develop.
00:09:12And your blitz in Troy Aikman, he's able to stand back there, plant his feet, and make his throw.
00:09:17First down of the New England 36-yard line.
00:09:22And a hole for Emmitt Smith.
00:09:25It was very tough to bring down.
00:09:28Law and Clay finally did the job.
00:09:31You know, that completion just a moment ago, just prior to that,
00:09:34we saw on the sideline that Bill Parcells was very upset,
00:09:37listening over the headset with what was being said,
00:09:40as if he heard a coverage call that he didn't want at that time.
00:09:43And then, of course, they make the big play.
00:09:45Hey, and on that last big run, Sam, we talked about it already,
00:09:48that the cutback block, a great job by Mark Tune again.
00:09:53Watch Dallas.
00:09:53They're going to blast it inside, and the big block's a backside.
00:09:57Another Dallas first down at the New England 26.
00:10:0111th play of this drive.
00:10:03Smith, this time cut down from behind by Ted Johnson.
00:10:07Got him behind the line of scrimmage.
00:10:10Ted Johnson, a second-year man out of Colorado.
00:10:13Second-round pick a year ago leads the Patriots in tackles.
00:10:18Hey, Ted Johnson again, remember?
00:10:20Watch the tapes, see the formation, run through.
00:10:24And when you run through, there's nobody to pick you up like that.
00:10:28They're allowing for you on the outside, not on the inside of a play.
00:10:31We thought they were going to blitz a lot more in this half.
00:10:33That is the equivalent of a run blitz.
00:10:35When you see it, you're coming up on the other side of the ball.
00:10:38Second and ten.
00:10:46Akeman with a bullet intended for Smith,
00:10:48who was pulled down by Johnson and the crowd looking for interference calls.
00:10:53You know, actually, our umpire double-clutched.
00:10:56He double-clutched on the flag right there.
00:10:59You know, Scott Dawson's our umpire,
00:11:01and he looked like he wanted to go to the pocket.
00:11:03Watch the umpire, middle of the screen.
00:11:05You'll see Emmitt circle out, get matched up on Johnson.
00:11:09Contact.
00:11:10Contact.
00:11:11Almost went for the flats.
00:11:14Good defense.
00:11:16I thought for a long time, Randy,
00:11:17that that umpire ought to be on the offensive side of the ball.
00:11:20Offenses use him all the time as a pick man.
00:11:22He's in the way a lot of the time,
00:11:24and he can't make those calls
00:11:25because he's dodging players much of the time.
00:11:28And Troy Akeman did not like what he saw.
00:11:31An obstacle for time.
00:11:33But 8-13 remaining in the third.
00:11:37There's the key right now, guys.
00:11:39I mean, Willie McGinnis in this defense,
00:11:41in this situation,
00:11:423rd and 10 on the 26-yard line.
00:11:44You're talking blitz and everything for pressure,
00:11:47but they've gotten most of the pressure without the blitz.
00:11:50Willie McGinnis coming up with a sack in the first half,
00:11:53one of three on Troy Akeman.
00:11:56It is a 3rd and 10 at the 26 for the Cowboys.
00:12:00Patriots and Cowboys tied at 6.
00:12:04It's Ellen Smith.
00:12:09Smith right to the marker,
00:12:11stopped by Jerome Henderson.
00:12:17And short of the first down.
00:12:19So 4th and about a yard coming up.
00:12:22The Patriots had a 3-man line.
00:12:25Three defensive linemen.
00:12:26They hit it right up the middle,
00:12:27hoping to make enough yardage.
00:12:28But this marks now the third time
00:12:31that the Cowboys have had to go
00:12:33for the field goal down in here.
00:12:34They came into this game
00:12:35almost even up when they got into the red zone.
00:12:37Field goals and touchdowns,
00:12:38and now they're going for another one.
00:12:40And a 35-yard attempt by Chris Borno,
00:12:43who hit his first two,
00:12:45looking for the lead.
00:12:46He is 3-for-3,
00:12:52and the Cowboys have a 9-6 advantage
00:12:56on the Patriots.
00:13:00Across.
00:13:01A 9-6 lead for the Cowboys
00:13:03over the Patriots.
00:13:047-26 remaining.
00:13:06In this third quarter,
00:13:08Borno with the kickoff.
00:13:10Megan and Brown are back.
00:13:12And again, it is Megan.
00:13:13Crossed the 20.
00:13:16Can't take it down
00:13:18as he hits the 27-yard line.
00:13:20Wendell Davis made the stop
00:13:22to get the idea that Emmitt Smith
00:13:24very unhappy about not going
00:13:26for that fourth and one
00:13:28following this play.
00:13:29Listen, on third and 10,
00:13:30they lined up Willie McGinnis on the nose.
00:13:32They run a little draw.
00:13:33It's fourth and one.
00:13:35Let's take a little informal poll
00:13:37on the sidelines, Sam.
00:13:38What do you think Emmitt thinks?
00:13:39Let's watch.
00:13:39Listen right here.
00:13:40I think he said go for it.
00:13:43He said go for it.
00:13:44That's one for go for it
00:13:46and one for Barry Switzer
00:13:47said no, go for it.
00:13:48Well, at least the end
00:13:49of the sentence was go for it.
00:13:50We know that.
00:13:51And a penalty marker
00:13:52was thrown.
00:13:58Against New England
00:13:59on the kick return.
00:14:00So the ball is placed
00:14:01inside the 10-yard line.
00:14:04with a very short pick up.
00:14:21Fred Strickland, Roderick Thomas
00:14:23combined to make the stop.
00:14:26They're spreading him out a lot.
00:14:27The blitz is happening.
00:14:29Trying to show the blitz.
00:14:30Well, San Francisco
00:14:31in front of Pittsburgh
00:14:3222 to nothing
00:14:33in the third quarter
00:14:35and that is very good news
00:14:37for the Patriots
00:14:38who coming into today
00:14:39had a magic number of two.
00:14:42Any combination of two
00:14:43Patriot wins
00:14:44or a school of losses
00:14:45would give the home field
00:14:47for the divisional game
00:14:48to New England
00:14:49which would mean
00:14:49a first round bye.
00:14:51But the Patriots
00:14:52are trailing by three.
00:14:57Edson's pass
00:14:58picked off on the deflection.
00:14:59Darren Woodson
00:15:00inside the five.
00:15:15Through the hands
00:15:16of Ben Coates
00:15:17and intercepted
00:15:18by Woodson
00:15:19his fourth
00:15:20interception of the season.
00:15:22Yeah, Sam,
00:15:22we talked about
00:15:23they haven't gone
00:15:24to Coates much.
00:15:25Watch here.
00:15:25It's a little high
00:15:26to Coates
00:15:27just right through
00:15:28the fingertips.
00:15:28That's the ball
00:15:29that should have been caught.
00:15:30Well, that's the third time
00:15:31they've gone to him
00:15:32off his fingertips
00:15:33twice in the end zone
00:15:34in the first half.
00:15:37Second time
00:15:38Bledsoe has been
00:15:39picked off
00:15:4012 on the season.
00:15:42The Cowboys
00:15:43first and goal
00:15:44down at the four.
00:15:46Irvin has split wide
00:15:47to the right.
00:15:48Randy, right now
00:15:58is when you find out
00:15:59if they really believe
00:16:01they're not going to be
00:16:01intimidated.
00:16:03This is what you call
00:16:04adversity during the ballgame
00:16:05right here
00:16:06and on the road
00:16:07having to handle it.
00:16:08And this is exactly why.
00:16:10You know,
00:16:10you're in this situation
00:16:11with your defense.
00:16:13You're all pro tied in.
00:16:14Should have had that one.
00:16:15Woodson gets his interception
00:16:16and, you know,
00:16:17absolutely right here.
00:16:18We had questions
00:16:19about the defense.
00:16:20They played well
00:16:21so far for New England.
00:16:23Talk about a challenge.
00:16:26Second and goal
00:16:27at the three.
00:16:31Smith
00:16:31could not pick his way
00:16:33and he's hit back
00:16:34for a loss.
00:16:36This one could work
00:16:37as well for New England
00:16:38if they hold him
00:16:39here on third down
00:16:40as anything
00:16:41because this defense
00:16:42has gone out there
00:16:43and made a statement.
00:16:44Yeah, watch what happens
00:16:45here too, Sam.
00:16:46We've been talking
00:16:46about the cutback
00:16:47and there's a big
00:16:48there's a big gap
00:16:49on the back side
00:16:50the left side
00:16:51of the New England defense.
00:16:53There's nowhere to go.
00:16:55Everybody onside
00:16:56stuffs it.
00:16:57There's nowhere to cut back.
00:17:00Bill Parcells likes
00:17:01that.
00:17:02I can tell you
00:17:02from the sideline
00:17:03when you watch that unfold
00:17:04as long as that runner
00:17:05is still standing up
00:17:06you're not sure
00:17:06but when he's polished
00:17:07off like that
00:17:08big time.
00:17:09Third
00:17:09and goal at the sixth
00:17:11five minutes left
00:17:13in the third
00:17:14and throwing
00:17:15so the New England Patriots
00:17:22delighted
00:17:23to hold off
00:17:25the Dallas Cowboys
00:17:26which means
00:17:28another field goal attempt
00:17:30for Chris Bono.
00:17:32Oh, that's a win
00:17:33for Bill Parcells' team.
00:17:34He might give up
00:17:35a field goal
00:17:35but he knows
00:17:37right there
00:17:37that is huge.
00:17:40You know
00:17:40coming off the fact
00:17:41that Dallas
00:17:42didn't try
00:17:42for the first down
00:17:43a moment ago
00:17:44went for the field goal
00:17:45and now
00:17:45after the interception
00:17:46couldn't get in the end zone again.
00:17:48This is a 24-yard attack
00:17:50and the flanks
00:17:52come flying.
00:17:53The motion on Chad Henning
00:17:54lined up at that left tight end.
00:17:56Number 95
00:17:57five yards
00:17:58it's still fourth down.
00:18:00Well, what a difference too, Sam,
00:18:06when you're game planning
00:18:07and you're calling plays
00:18:08from the offensive standpoint
00:18:09the difference between
00:18:10you know, if they kick this
00:18:11going down 12-6
00:18:12instead of being down
00:18:1316-6.
00:18:15And now a 29-yard attempt.
00:18:18Bono has the stats
00:18:19of an hourglass model.
00:18:21He's hit from 36, 23, and 35.
00:18:24I don't understand that.
00:18:26Whoa.
00:18:29So it's a 29-yard field goal
00:18:32by Bono
00:18:33and it's Dallas 12,
00:18:35New England 6.
00:18:40Well, four field goals
00:18:42by Chris Bono.
00:18:4426 straight for Bono
00:18:45and the Cowboys
00:18:47with a 12-6 lead
00:18:48on the Patriots.
00:18:50Megan
00:18:50on the kick return.
00:18:52Reaching out close
00:18:54to the 30-yard line.
00:18:55Went for 18 on the play.
00:18:57Wendell Davis again.
00:18:59And Paul,
00:19:00how that's done.
00:19:04We saw Emmitt Smith
00:19:05a moment ago
00:19:06a little upset.
00:19:07Not going for it
00:19:07on fourth down.
00:19:08This time it's Michael Irving
00:19:09on the sideline
00:19:10showing a lot of emotion
00:19:12and leadership
00:19:13at the same time.
00:19:14This is part of it
00:19:14is you've got to have guys
00:19:15on that sideline
00:19:16that want to win bad enough
00:19:17to go over and talk
00:19:17to somebody about it.
00:19:18How about the other side
00:19:19of the field?
00:19:19I mean, they've got to be
00:19:20jumping up and down
00:19:21high-fiving
00:19:21on the defensive side
00:19:23after holding Dallas there.
00:19:27Patriots start
00:19:28from their 29-yard line.
00:19:30Bledsoe is 10 of 22,
00:19:3189 yards
00:19:32but intercepted twice.
00:19:35Now Bledsoe
00:19:35on a timing pattern
00:19:36intended for
00:19:38Sean Jefferson
00:19:39covered by the left corner,
00:19:41Kevin Smith.
00:19:42We expected to see
00:19:43more of that.
00:19:44Taking the ball
00:19:45down the field,
00:19:45challenging their wide receiver,
00:19:47the defensive backs
00:19:48with the speed
00:19:49of the wide receivers
00:19:50of the Patriots.
00:19:51And you could see
00:19:52Bill Parcells
00:19:53thought that one
00:19:54would work.
00:19:55Well, you know,
00:19:55and his receivers,
00:19:56you know,
00:19:56his receivers have more legs
00:19:58than Bledsoe's got arms.
00:19:59So it's not an issue
00:20:00of how far Bledsoe
00:20:01can throw this thing,
00:20:02but with that kind of coverage,
00:20:03you're better off
00:20:04going inside
00:20:05trying to find coats.
00:20:06Jefferson with the speed
00:20:08had a couple of drops
00:20:09last week
00:20:10in the end zone
00:20:11against the Jets.
00:20:12His first two this season,
00:20:13a draw play.
00:20:14Curtis Martin
00:20:15out to the 35-yard line.
00:20:19So they're four yards short
00:20:20on the first down.
00:20:22Darren Woodson
00:20:23on the stop.
00:20:24Right here,
00:20:25let's check in
00:20:25with John Dockery.
00:20:26John?
00:20:28Marv,
00:20:28interesting point.
00:20:29If you look at Ben Coates
00:20:30coming off the field now,
00:20:31you see he's not
00:20:32wearing gloves.
00:20:33When that ball went off
00:20:34with his fingertips,
00:20:35it was intercepted
00:20:35by the Cowboys.
00:20:37He was wearing gloves,
00:20:38and it was the moisture
00:20:39on the gloves
00:20:40that didn't allow him
00:20:40to get a grip on the ball.
00:20:42Back to you, Mark.
00:20:42All right, thanks, John.
00:20:44That Coates
00:20:45does not have a catch
00:20:46to this point.
00:20:47Third down and four.
00:20:53And it's Terry Glenn
00:20:54buffed out by Roger Hopper
00:20:57and picked up the first down
00:20:59for Glenn,
00:21:00the sensational rookie
00:21:02out of Ohio State.
00:21:03That's his third catch
00:21:04of the day.
00:21:05They are blitzing
00:21:06almost every play, Sam,
00:21:07and it's good protection
00:21:08by that whole unit
00:21:09on offense.
00:21:10Well, the blitz
00:21:11is forcing the ball
00:21:12to be thrown quick.
00:21:13They're not getting
00:21:14to the quarterback
00:21:14a lot for the sack,
00:21:15but they're forcing him
00:21:16to get rid of the ball quick.
00:21:17The Patriots have game
00:21:19planned well,
00:21:20adjusted well.
00:21:20They're throwing
00:21:21the ball quick.
00:21:24First at 10 of the 43.
00:21:27Mark.
00:21:29And Curtis Mark
00:21:30run out into the midfield
00:21:31by Darren Woodson.
00:21:35Case out of bounds
00:21:35by Darren Woodson.
00:21:373-38 remaining.
00:21:40In this third quarter
00:21:41of the Cowboys
00:21:41with a 12-6 lead.
00:21:43They've had to settle
00:21:44for the field goal,
00:21:45having their difficulties
00:21:46in the red zone
00:21:47this afternoon.
00:21:48That just tells me
00:21:49that New England defense
00:21:51has done one heck
00:21:52of a job.
00:21:52I mean, look at this.
00:21:53Coming into the game,
00:21:54we talked about it,
00:21:55where they have been
00:21:56and where they are
00:21:57and where they are
00:21:58is 0 for 4
00:21:58in the red zone.
00:22:02Second down
00:22:02and 4.
00:22:04Martin
00:22:05is short
00:22:07of the first down.
00:22:09Stopped by
00:22:10Tony Casillas,
00:22:12Roderick Thomas.
00:22:13The New England Patriots
00:22:16with a record of 10 and 4.
00:22:19They have won
00:22:197 of their last 8,
00:22:2110 of the last 12.
00:22:22They won 4 straight
00:22:23on the road.
00:22:25They've turned it
00:22:26since the thumping
00:22:27by Denver.
00:22:28They're blown out
00:22:29by the Broncos.
00:22:29It's 34-8.
00:22:31Followed that up
00:22:32by wins over the Colts.
00:22:34A 45-7
00:22:36clobbering of San Diego
00:22:37and the victory last week
00:22:39over the Jets.
00:22:41Third and a yard.
00:22:46Bledsoe
00:22:46going incomplete.
00:22:49Colts was in the area
00:22:50and not close.
00:22:53And again, the blitz.
00:22:55They threatened it.
00:22:56He knew it was coming
00:22:57as he dropped back.
00:22:58Protection finally gave way.
00:22:59He had to throw it away.
00:23:01You know, both these
00:23:02quarterbacks are pocket guys
00:23:04and pocket guys
00:23:05don't like to be moved
00:23:06out like that.
00:23:07You know, remember
00:23:08in the Denver game,
00:23:09Bill Parcells went for it
00:23:11against Denver.
00:23:12Critical situation
00:23:13about midfield.
00:23:14Looks like he's doing it again.
00:23:15Well, on 4th down,
00:23:16he has gone for it
00:23:1828 times,
00:23:19but easily the most
00:23:20in the NFL.
00:23:23It is a 4th and 1
00:23:25at the 48
00:23:27and a timeout
00:23:28called
00:23:29by the Patriots.
00:23:33229 left
00:23:34in the third.
00:23:36The Cowboys have
00:23:37a six-point lead.
00:23:40Part of the reason
00:23:40they can do this,
00:23:41Bill Parcells knows
00:23:42his defense is playing
00:23:43well enough to stop him
00:23:44if it doesn't work.
00:23:45But remember,
00:23:46Sam Gastham,
00:23:47the great lead block
00:23:48and fullback,
00:23:49you don't have him.
00:23:49out for the season
00:23:52replaced by Keith Byers.
00:23:53It's a 4th down and 1.
00:23:59And what's those pass drop?
00:24:01Coach could not hang on.
00:24:03Well covered by
00:24:04the free safety
00:24:05George T.
00:24:06pressure on the passer
00:24:08and they probably knew
00:24:09what Randy just said.
00:24:10They're going to throw
00:24:11the ball,
00:24:11not run it
00:24:12because they don't have
00:24:13that good lead blocker.
00:24:15Bill Parcells knows
00:24:16that that was a gamble.
00:24:17There's no question.
00:24:18There's no recovery down
00:24:19when you try one like this.
00:24:21George Teague makes
00:24:24a good play right there.
00:24:25Almost had that one.
00:24:26One more step.
00:24:27Touchdown down the sideline.
00:24:28Yes, Teague got a piece of it.
00:24:31Well, two things really told him
00:24:32when Bill Parcells' offense
00:24:34came out.
00:24:34One without Gash,
00:24:35who's injured,
00:24:36and two in that formation.
00:24:38It's 4th and 1
00:24:38and you're a little spread out.
00:24:40That doesn't tell anybody
00:24:41with a single back
00:24:42that you're going to run
00:24:43it up the middle.
00:24:44All right, Dallas
00:24:44taking over on down.
00:24:46Sherman Williams
00:24:46in the backfield.
00:24:51And Aitken completes to Irvin.
00:24:5921-yard pass play.
00:25:01Michael Irvin
00:25:02with his 6th catch of the day.
00:25:06The Patriots did not come
00:25:08with a blitz that time.
00:25:09They stayed in their
00:25:09normal coverage.
00:25:10You see the linebackers
00:25:11are in coverage
00:25:12straight down the field,
00:25:13but nobody underneath the throw.
00:25:15The person that takes away
00:25:16that throw is the linebacker.
00:25:17You know, also what that does, too,
00:25:19you know, Sam,
00:25:20is when you drive
00:25:21and drive and drive,
00:25:22that quarterback
00:25:23can tend to start sitting.
00:25:25And if you start sitting,
00:25:26you're asking for a post inside.
00:25:29Cowboys first down
00:25:30at the Patriot
00:25:3232-yard line.
00:25:35And Aitken.
00:25:38Irvin not able to hold on.
00:25:41I believe that was
00:25:41a post inside there.
00:25:43Yes, so is Swami.
00:25:44All right, Randy,
00:25:48you describe it.
00:25:48You called it in.
00:25:49Well, I had the playlist
00:25:50right here in front of me,
00:25:51but, you know,
00:25:51you got a receiver like Irvin.
00:25:52You have to respect
00:25:53what he's been doing.
00:25:54Look at that.
00:25:55Inside, outside,
00:25:56bap, get inside of Ty Law.
00:25:58The ball's there,
00:25:59but a nice defensive effort
00:26:00by Ty Law.
00:26:01And Aitken knew he had it,
00:26:03but Ty Law took it away.
00:26:04Second and ten.
00:26:10Sherman Williams
00:26:11playing for Emmitt Smith.
00:26:12He and Darryl Johnston
00:26:13are the running backs.
00:26:15And this is Williams.
00:26:18Broke a tackle.
00:26:19Broke another.
00:26:22And here's it
00:26:23from the crowd.
00:26:24Ted Johnson
00:26:24finally rode him out.
00:26:29Emmitt Smith
00:26:30down inside the 25-yard line.
00:26:32So, Troy Aikman
00:26:34has passed by
00:26:36Roger Staubach.
00:26:38That's a new
00:26:39Cowboy franchise record.
00:26:4122,709
00:26:44passing yards.
00:26:46This is eighth season
00:26:47out of UCLA.
00:26:50Troy Aikman,
00:26:51one of the most
00:26:52accurate passes
00:26:53in the history of the NFL.
00:26:56A third down
00:26:57and two.
00:26:59Hershel Walker
00:27:00peeling off to the right.
00:27:02And the pass
00:27:04cracked by Irvin.
00:27:06What a day
00:27:07for Michael Irvin.
00:27:08Tackled by Ty Law,
00:27:10but he's picked up
00:27:11the first down.
00:27:13And we won't know
00:27:13until we look at the film
00:27:14on Monday
00:27:15who he was throwing to
00:27:16because there were
00:27:16two receivers in the area.
00:27:18Michael Irvin, though,
00:27:19comes up with a big play
00:27:20on that one,
00:27:21breaking away from Ty Law.
00:27:23Ty Law has been locked
00:27:24on him all day long.
00:27:25Pushes off a little bit there.
00:27:27Actually, Ty Law
00:27:28is still all over,
00:27:29and that's just
00:27:29great execution.
00:27:30Hey, that's all Will.
00:27:31He's a Will player.
00:27:32He wants to do it.
00:27:33He wants the ball.
00:27:35He's done this all year.
00:27:37First down at the 16.
00:27:40Williams,
00:27:41with the big hole,
00:27:42gets inside the 10.
00:27:45Tackled by Malone.
00:27:47Sherman Williams is actually
00:27:48quicker and faster
00:27:50than Emmitt,
00:27:50but not the same ball.
00:27:51And the best way
00:27:53to make up
00:27:53for that change
00:27:54at running back
00:27:55with Emmitt Smith
00:27:55not in the ballgame
00:27:56is that offensive line
00:27:58takes control.
00:27:59And, boy,
00:27:59in that play,
00:27:59they took control
00:28:00of the line of scrimmage.
00:28:02And, you know,
00:28:02you make a big enough hole,
00:28:03that quickness
00:28:04will run to your effect.
00:28:05This third quarter
00:28:07winding down
00:28:08when we start the fourth.
00:28:10Dallas on the move.
00:28:12Second and two
00:28:14down at the eight-yard line.
00:28:15It's the Cowboys 12.
00:28:17The Patriots 6
00:28:18will be back
00:28:18after these words
00:28:19from your local station.
00:28:21Well, you see
00:28:26the stat line
00:28:27inside the 20
00:28:28for the Dallas Cowboys.
00:28:2943 percent.
00:28:30That's so-so.
00:28:31Middle of the pack.
00:28:32Second down at two
00:28:33at the eight-yard line
00:28:35as this fourth quarter
00:28:36gets underway.
00:28:37Williams
00:28:37going to put the head down
00:28:40and try to ram through.
00:28:41We'll have to see
00:28:41where they mark it.
00:28:43It looks like
00:28:44he's short
00:28:45of the first down.
00:28:46He's going to be
00:28:47a foot or two short.
00:28:48He was trying to sort of
00:28:48do an Emmitt
00:28:49and stretch it
00:28:49and then blast into a hole.
00:28:51He saw the hole
00:28:52was there
00:28:52when he was five yards away
00:28:53but it wasn't there
00:28:54by the time he got to it.
00:28:57Patriots blitzing.
00:28:58Very aggressive
00:28:58on defense again.
00:28:59Willie Clay was coming hard
00:29:00but he was coming
00:29:01from the wrong side.
00:29:03Had levels
00:29:04in penetration here.
00:29:05How often do you mention
00:29:05that to your
00:29:06offensive and defensive
00:29:07players in the red zone
00:29:08and short yardage, Sam?
00:29:09Apparently not enough.
00:29:13All right.
00:29:13Thornton short.
00:29:15Aikman with the tie.
00:29:18And it is intercepted
00:29:19in the end zone.
00:29:21Ty Law comes up
00:29:22with his second
00:29:23interception of the game.
00:29:25The pass intended
00:29:26for Johnny Mitchell
00:29:27the first time
00:29:28that Aikman
00:29:29has looked in the direction
00:29:31of Johnny Mitchell
00:29:32who is a recent
00:29:33acquisition.
00:29:35One time
00:29:36New York Jet
00:29:37had a shot
00:29:37with Miami.
00:29:39That was intended
00:29:40for Mitchell.
00:29:41What a play
00:29:41by Ty Law.
00:29:43So the Patriots
00:29:45will get it back
00:29:46at the 20.
00:29:47Welcome back
00:29:49to Texas Stadium.
00:29:51Opening minute
00:29:52of the fourth quarter
00:29:53the Cowboys
00:29:53with a 12-6 lead
00:29:55on the Patriots.
00:29:57And Bledsoe
00:29:58able to complete
00:29:59the glatt
00:30:00covered by Woodson.
00:30:02This a moment ago
00:30:03Ty Law
00:30:04with the second
00:30:04interception
00:30:05of the game.
00:30:07Ty Law is just
00:30:07sloughing off
00:30:08of his coverage
00:30:09back as his own coverage
00:30:10sloughs back
00:30:11underneath it.
00:30:12Just not worried
00:30:12about the tight end.
00:30:14I mean they're able
00:30:14to slough back
00:30:15because it's no
00:30:16Novacek.
00:30:16They're not worried
00:30:17about the tight end
00:30:18as a receiver
00:30:18and that's five trips
00:30:19now in the red zone
00:30:21for field goals.
00:30:22Who's that?
00:30:23Look at Billy.
00:30:24I knew it all the time
00:30:25when I went for it
00:30:25on fourth down
00:30:26and you could do it.
00:30:27Perfect setup
00:30:28to get the ball back
00:30:29at the 20-yard line.
00:30:31And a diving catch
00:30:32is made.
00:30:34Terry Glenn
00:30:35with the catch
00:30:36but apparently
00:30:38he was inbounds.
00:30:40They spot it
00:30:41at the 31-yard line
00:30:43and it's a first down.
00:30:44Nice play by Glenn.
00:30:46Kevin Smith
00:30:47has the coverage.
00:30:48They send him
00:30:49motion all day long
00:30:50but he's usually
00:30:50going all the way
00:30:51across the ball.
00:30:52This time he comes
00:30:53in for a few steps.
00:30:55Enough of possession.
00:30:56Very close
00:30:57but enough.
00:30:58Fifth catch of the day
00:30:59by Glenn.
00:31:00First down
00:31:01for New England
00:31:02and that off the mark.
00:31:03A whip pass
00:31:04by Blensoe
00:31:05intended
00:31:05for the running back
00:31:06Curtis Martin
00:31:07covered by Darren Smith
00:31:09and brings up
00:31:10a second
00:31:10and tenth.
00:31:11Randall Godfrey
00:31:14blitzed it again
00:31:14the last time.
00:31:15Both defenses
00:31:16stay aggressive.
00:31:20Thirteen and a half
00:31:21remaining
00:31:21in the fourth quarter.
00:31:24It has been
00:31:24a defensive duel.
00:31:26Troy Aikman
00:31:27picked off twice.
00:31:29Drew Blensoe
00:31:29intercepted twice.
00:31:33Dallas comes in
00:31:34number one
00:31:35in total defense.
00:31:36off the play fake
00:31:39intended
00:31:40for Keith Byers.
00:31:46Well Christmas Day
00:31:48join NBC Sports
00:31:50for NBA
00:31:51doubleheader
00:31:52starting with
00:31:52NBA Showtime
00:31:53and Prime Time
00:31:54at 5.30 Eastern
00:31:55and then
00:31:56Shaquille O'Neal
00:31:58and the Los Angeles
00:31:58Lakers
00:31:59will be in Phoenix
00:32:00going up against
00:32:01Kevin Johnson
00:32:02and the Suns
00:32:03who've turned it
00:32:03somewhat
00:32:04after the slow start.
00:32:06In game two
00:32:08Grant Hill
00:32:08and the Detroit Pistons
00:32:10will be in the
00:32:11Windy City
00:32:11going up against
00:32:12Michael Jordan
00:32:13and the defending
00:32:14world champion
00:32:15Chicago Bulls.
00:32:17A holiday
00:32:17NBA doubleheader
00:32:18Christmas Day
00:32:19right here
00:32:20on NBC.
00:32:22A third down
00:32:23and ten
00:32:24and that almost
00:32:25intercepted by
00:32:26a leaping
00:32:27George Key.
00:32:28Oh he had one
00:32:29in his hands
00:32:29last week
00:32:30against the Cardinals
00:32:31it would have been
00:32:31huge for the Cowboys
00:32:32and another one
00:32:34I think he was
00:32:34distracted by the
00:32:35receiver possibly
00:32:36but he should have
00:32:37had that.
00:32:37That was thrown
00:32:38just about numbers
00:32:39high.
00:32:40Dallas actually
00:32:41changed their tactics
00:32:41that time
00:32:42instead of blitzing
00:32:43being aggressive
00:32:43only three rushers
00:32:45eight men
00:32:46back in coverage.
00:32:47So this is Tom
00:32:48Tupa
00:32:48putting for the
00:32:49third time
00:32:50Kelvin Martin
00:32:50is back.
00:32:52across the 40 yard line
00:33:06some nifty footwork
00:33:07thirty four yard
00:33:10but seven yard return
00:33:11and a flag
00:33:12is down.
00:33:13and a game of field position
00:33:23Sam this is huge
00:33:24which way this goes
00:33:25it could be great field
00:33:26position for Dallas.
00:33:28Special teams is a big
00:33:29factor and there are a lot
00:33:30of penalties on special
00:33:31teams that affect that field
00:33:32position.
00:33:33illegal block from behind
00:33:39number thirty five of the
00:33:40receiving team during the
00:33:42run back ten yards
00:33:43first down.
00:33:45Well that's the
00:33:46rookie from Oklahoma
00:33:47Wendell Davis called on the
00:33:49penalty.
00:33:50We'll take a break
00:33:50back in a moment.
00:33:54Thirteen minutes
00:33:55eleven seconds
00:33:56remaining in the fourth
00:33:58quarter
00:33:58and the Cowboys
00:34:00start out at their
00:34:01thirty yard line.
00:34:02It's Dallas twelve
00:34:03and New England six.
00:34:05First time that they
00:34:06have met since
00:34:071987.
00:34:10Aikman
00:34:10at the time
00:34:11Emmitt Smith
00:34:12back on the field
00:34:13is dropped
00:34:14at the thirty two
00:34:15by Todd Collins.
00:34:17Emmitt Smith
00:34:18sat out the
00:34:19previous series.
00:34:20Sherman Williams
00:34:21did a good job.
00:34:23Pick up a four
00:34:24it'll be a second
00:34:25down and six.
00:34:26Well the 49ers
00:34:27with the lead over
00:34:28the Steelers
00:34:29which is very good
00:34:30news for the
00:34:32New England Patriots.
00:34:34Magic number
00:34:35for New England
00:34:36is two.
00:34:37Any combination
00:34:38of Patriot wins
00:34:40or Steeler
00:34:40losses
00:34:41adding up to two
00:34:42would mean home
00:34:43field for the
00:34:44divisional
00:34:44and a first round
00:34:46bye.
00:34:46That of course
00:34:47will continue
00:34:47into next week.
00:34:49Penalty marker
00:34:50is down.
00:34:51The pass
00:34:51intended for
00:34:52Michael Irvin
00:34:52covered by
00:34:53Ty Law.
00:34:54I think you get
00:34:55Ty Law and a
00:34:56little grab there
00:34:57on Michael Irvin
00:34:57as he was
00:34:58breaking out
00:34:58of his break.
00:34:59Just trying to
00:35:00be aggressive.
00:35:00If you remember
00:35:01just a few plays
00:35:02ago Michael Irvin
00:35:02was pushing off
00:35:03on Ty Law.
00:35:04He was trying to
00:35:05stay a little
00:35:05tighter this time
00:35:06and got called
00:35:07for it.
00:35:08Pass interference.
00:35:10Number 24
00:35:11of the defense.
00:35:12First down.
00:35:14And we talked
00:35:14about it a while
00:35:15ago you know
00:35:15Sammy it's a deal
00:35:17here where as
00:35:18many big plays
00:35:19and as well as
00:35:19the defense has
00:35:20played you get
00:35:21the feeling that
00:35:22they almost have
00:35:23to be the ones
00:35:24to make the
00:35:24difference and make
00:35:25the big play
00:35:25to turn this
00:35:26around because
00:35:26the offense is
00:35:27really getting
00:35:27stymied by
00:35:28Dallas's defense.
00:35:29Well they are
00:35:29and I just think
00:35:30they got robbed
00:35:31on a penalty
00:35:31right there too.
00:35:32That was Michael
00:35:32Irvin grabbing
00:35:33Ty Law.
00:35:34How many Pro Bowls
00:35:35has Ty Law been to?
00:35:36It's a different
00:35:37and a first down
00:35:40play.
00:35:41Smith stopped in his
00:35:43tracks by Farrak
00:35:45Collins.
00:35:48Let's look at it
00:35:49one more time
00:35:49because I think
00:35:50Michael Irvin now
00:35:51Ty Law has every
00:35:52right to sit down
00:35:53anywhere he wants
00:35:54to back here
00:35:54and he reaches
00:35:56out first but I
00:35:57don't think he's
00:35:57got the last grab.
00:35:59Yo!
00:36:00No.
00:36:02He's trying to
00:36:03look at him drop
00:36:03his hands down there.
00:36:04I didn't have the
00:36:05grip on that one
00:36:06but you know the
00:36:06Fisher was behind
00:36:08all of that and
00:36:09didn't see who did
00:36:10get the first and
00:36:11last grab.
00:36:12And this is at
00:36:12Texas Stadium.
00:36:13That too.
00:36:14That's got a little
00:36:15to do with it.
00:36:16Second down
00:36:17and nine at the
00:36:1845.
00:36:20And Aikman's
00:36:21pass is broken
00:36:22up.
00:36:23Otis Smith reaching
00:36:24around Kevin
00:36:25Williams to get
00:36:26a piece of it.
00:36:27Kevin Williams
00:36:28doing some serious
00:36:30lobbying and he goes
00:36:31hey wait a minute
00:36:31you gave you gave
00:36:33Michael Irvin that
00:36:33last call how
00:36:34about me?
00:36:35It's still Texas
00:36:36Stadium after all.
00:36:37It's the same
00:36:38question.
00:36:38How many Pro Bowls
00:36:39Kevin Williams
00:36:39been to?
00:36:40You're right but
00:36:41Otis Smith does
00:36:41reach out there with
00:36:42his hand to try to
00:36:43prevent him from
00:36:43coming inside.
00:36:44I don't think he
00:36:45followed him on the
00:36:45knockdown.
00:36:46He followed him
00:36:46just ahead of that.
00:36:48Aikman is now 14
00:36:49and 25.
00:36:50155 yards.
00:36:52He's been
00:36:53intercepted twice.
00:36:55Third and nine.
00:36:5711.45 remaining.
00:37:00Fourth quarter.
00:37:00Aikman is now 14
00:37:02on the reception but
00:37:07well short on the
00:37:09first down but a flag
00:37:11tossed again.
00:37:12Teddy Bruschi with the
00:37:14reps on Smith.
00:37:15holding number 79 of the
00:37:19offense that only has
00:37:21declined.
00:37:22So the holding call on
00:37:24the right tackle Eric
00:37:25Williams is declined.
00:37:27Can we call this a yank?
00:37:29There's Willie McGinnis the
00:37:30matchup of the little guy
00:37:31and the big guy.
00:37:32Watch the little guy pile
00:37:34drive into Williams break for
00:37:35the quarterback.
00:37:36Yank.
00:37:38See if the umpire was
00:37:39standing here he could see
00:37:40that very clearly.
00:37:41Well you know I love
00:37:42the umpire behind me
00:37:43then he couldn't see me
00:37:44holding.
00:37:45I didn't think you ever
00:37:46helped.
00:37:47You're revealing something.
00:37:48Only when they call him.
00:37:51All right here's John
00:37:52Jett.
00:37:56And the fair catch
00:37:58by Dave Mankato had some
00:38:00problems with it.
00:38:01It's a 40 yard putt.
00:38:04New England gets it back
00:38:05with four minutes gone by
00:38:06in the fourth quarter.
00:38:07Well for Bill Parcells
00:38:12certainly an eventful week
00:38:14with all the speculation
00:38:16as to where he will be
00:38:18next season.
00:38:20Curtis Martin on the
00:38:22stop a newspaper report
00:38:23in Boston speculated that
00:38:25Parcells might leave the
00:38:26Patriots when his contract
00:38:27is up after the season.
00:38:29Reporter Parcells had
00:38:30talked with friends about
00:38:31the Jett situation.
00:38:33Bill who once said the
00:38:34Patriot job would be his
00:38:36last.
00:38:37told the Boston radio
00:38:38station last Monday he
00:38:39reserves the right to
00:38:40change his mind and that
00:38:41broke forth all kinds of
00:38:43speculation in New York
00:38:44regarding both the Jets
00:38:45and the Giants.
00:38:47The return to the Giants
00:38:48would be highly unlikely.
00:38:51And Bledsoe able to
00:38:53complete Tim Jefferson
00:38:54for a first down.
00:38:56Strickland and Teague
00:38:57combined to make the
00:38:58stop it's good for for
00:39:0016.
00:39:01We talked about it with
00:39:02Bill last night and he
00:39:04would not add anything.
00:39:05He did not want to deal
00:39:06with it.
00:39:07This is what he faced
00:39:08throughout the week in
00:39:09Boston.
00:39:10Although he did point out
00:39:11that he and Patriots
00:39:12owner Bob Kraft will sit
00:39:13down after the season to
00:39:15discuss all aspects of
00:39:17this.
00:39:18And due to the great
00:39:19success he's had he has
00:39:20put himself I would say
00:39:21in an excellent position
00:39:23leverage wise.
00:39:24Plus guys I got the
00:39:25feeling of return to
00:39:26broadcasting at this point
00:39:27is out of the mix.
00:39:28That was being talked
00:39:29about earlier in the
00:39:30year.
00:39:30That's just because you
00:39:31were there Mark.
00:39:31Exactly.
00:39:33No question.
00:39:36But this is what took
00:39:38place in the New York
00:39:40media with the stories
00:39:44written about the
00:39:45possibility of the
00:39:45Giants and the Jets
00:39:47being interested.
00:39:49Now earlier in the
00:39:49season to recall there
00:39:50was a question it is by
00:39:51concerning continuing in
00:39:53coaching his health had
00:39:54something to do with that
00:39:55and the fact that he so
00:39:56thoroughly enjoyed this
00:39:57season has apparently
00:39:59molded his his thoughts
00:40:02and I get the idea he
00:40:05will remain in coaching
00:40:06but the question is where
00:40:07well I think he's gonna
00:40:08remain in coaching too
00:40:09but I know that a coach
00:40:11that is in the run for
00:40:12the playoffs you know
00:40:14chance to go to the
00:40:15Super Bowl doesn't want
00:40:15any of this kind of
00:40:16conversation going on
00:40:17right now.
00:40:18That's why he's saying
00:40:18I don't want to comment
00:40:19about anything because
00:40:20whatever he says will be
00:40:22either misinterpreted or
00:40:23what he doesn't say
00:40:24will then be interpreted
00:40:25somewhat.
00:40:26And at some point the
00:40:27media is gonna figure out
00:40:28especially up in the
00:40:29Northeast he knows how
00:40:30to play them like a
00:40:31fiddle.
00:40:32I mean he really does.
00:40:33A lot of the stuff that
00:40:34Bill does does for effect
00:40:36and he gets the effect
00:40:37he usually wants.
00:40:39Boy I wonder how many
00:40:40people in the media
00:40:41business in the Northeast
00:40:42you just made happy.
00:40:47You know one thing no
00:40:48matter where Bill
00:40:49Parcells is he loves to
00:40:51play field position
00:40:52football and right now
00:40:53his football team is
00:40:54being beaten in the
00:40:55second half at field
00:40:56position football.
00:41:03And that illustrates the
00:41:04point.
00:41:05It is a first at ten of the
00:41:08twenty nine yard line.
00:41:10Martin works his way
00:41:14across the thirty five
00:41:16just shy of a first down.
00:41:17Roderick Thomas made the
00:41:19tackle.
00:41:20We have just under ten
00:41:21minutes left in the fourth
00:41:23quarter.
00:41:23It's the Cowboys twelve of
00:41:25Patriots six.
00:41:27At this point it's been the
00:41:28Patriots defense versus the
00:41:32Cowboys and the offense now
00:41:33in the fourth quarter has to
00:41:34come in here and try to win
00:41:35this football game for us.
00:41:36How often does that happen?
00:41:37You go into the game and you
00:41:38got two offenses one
00:41:39struggling one great you go
00:41:41master an offensive battle
00:41:42and you look up with you know
00:41:44about ten minutes to go in a
00:41:45game and it's twelve to six.
00:41:48Second and less than a yard.
00:41:51Martin.
00:41:54Curtis Martin has the first
00:41:56round covered up by
00:41:57Roderick Thomas.
00:41:59You see the game plan now has
00:42:00been for a large part of this
00:42:02game to spread out the Dallas
00:42:04Cowboys with wide receivers and
00:42:06backs and tight ends spreading
00:42:08out not lining up in their
00:42:08traditional position and then
00:42:10running the ball.
00:42:11They're pitching it outside
00:42:12running it up the middle.
00:42:14Dion as you can see right here
00:42:15you can see that wrap around
00:42:17his back all the way around
00:42:19to try to give him support for
00:42:21this game.
00:42:21Woodson's a pretty good safety
00:42:23a pro ball if he's not much of
00:42:24an equipment man.
00:42:26First down at the 40 yard line.
00:42:29Off the delay.
00:42:30Bledsoe throwing off the back
00:42:32foot complete.
00:42:34Terry Glenn fielding that blue
00:42:37pass from Bledsoe.
00:42:38Kevin Smith on the coverage.
00:42:41It's a 30 yard pass play.
00:42:44A very short list of
00:42:46quarterbacks with enough arm
00:42:47to have those sort of
00:42:49mechanics you would say Sam to
00:42:50complete that pass.
00:42:51That is what you call a
00:42:53recovery throw right there.
00:42:55When I was playing with the
00:42:56Washington Redskins Sonny
00:42:57Jurgensen used to practice
00:42:58throws off balance because it
00:42:59happens in the ball game
00:43:00sometimes just like that and
00:43:02if you got a guy like Terry
00:43:02Glenn on the other side he can
00:43:04make your pass look good.
00:43:05And wasn't it George Keane the
00:43:06other day saying he's so
00:43:07impressed with Bledsoe that he
00:43:08can do that throw down field
00:43:10off the back foot.
00:43:12And Glenn on the reception
00:43:14that's his seventh catch of the
00:43:16game.
00:43:17He throws this with only one foot
00:43:19anywhere near the ground.
00:43:20He made a token fake so he
00:43:21didn't see the blitz coming
00:43:22until the last minute.
00:43:24And he turns around and lets it
00:43:25fly.
00:43:26Hey it's a lot of faith in your
00:43:27guy too Sam.
00:43:28I mean he knows Glenn's down
00:43:29there.
00:43:30Defender Woodson's got his back
00:43:31turned.
00:43:32He says hey my guy will come
00:43:33down with it.
00:43:34Second and six.
00:43:45And again a sideline pattern but
00:43:48short of the first down.
00:43:50Glenn had no room to operate.
00:43:52It was meant by Godfrey and
00:43:54Smith.
00:43:55I think that was a miscue.
00:43:57Bledsoe was looking downfield.
00:43:59Terry Glenn made a quick out move
00:44:01about a seven yard out pattern.
00:44:02He was wide open for the entire
00:44:04time that Bledsoe had the ball
00:44:05and he finally came to him as a
00:44:07last resort.
00:44:09Well this a drive that started
00:44:11back at the ten yard line.
00:44:13It is now a third down and three
00:44:15at the Dallas 24.
00:44:18Mark normally you'd say in this
00:44:19situation with Coates on a roll
00:44:21go to Coates but he hasn't done
00:44:23anything today.
00:44:24No receptions for Ben Coates.
00:44:27Coates off the roll completed to
00:44:32Byers but short of the first down.
00:44:35The ball may have come loose but
00:44:37it's covered up.
00:44:38Darren Smith and Kevin Smith
00:44:40combined to make the stop and so
00:44:42Bill Parcells is faced with a
00:44:44fourth and two.
00:44:46I don't think he even blinks.
00:44:48He goes for it a fourth down here.
00:44:49Trailing by six points.
00:44:55Fourth quarter.
00:44:56Six and a half minutes to go and
00:44:58he likes to go for it a fourth down
00:44:59anyway.
00:45:00Awful lot of time though Sam.
00:45:02The left in this ball game six and
00:45:03a half minutes or so and your
00:45:05defense is on a roll.
00:45:07You may be right.
00:45:08He blinks but he's still going for it.
00:45:11Fourth down and two.
00:45:13And Brooksville's pass is broken
00:45:20up.
00:45:22Intended for Colts who is covered
00:45:24aggressively by Hawker.
00:45:28Well that's what you live with as a
00:45:29coach.
00:45:30You know you make a tough decision
00:45:31there are going to be a lot of
00:45:32people that would argue one way or
00:45:34the other.
00:45:34Field goal or go for the first down
00:45:36and you can see that the official is
00:45:39getting an earful because Bill thought
00:45:41there was interference.
00:45:42Well I tell you what you came out in
00:45:43that same formation you did on fourth
00:45:45and one earlier.
00:45:46Look at that you're sort of spread out
00:45:47to the right side of the screen.
00:45:49You're not thinking run on a short
00:45:51one.
00:45:51You're thinking pass.
00:45:52There's Coates.
00:45:54A little climbage on the back I would
00:45:56say but I don't know if that's enough
00:45:58contact and and serious contact by
00:46:00Harper to warn a flag.
00:46:02Well the side judge Mike Borgiard
00:46:05hearing it from Bill Parcells just a
00:46:07moment ago.
00:46:08The Cowboys take over.
00:46:09Emmitt Smith runs it out.
00:46:12Now to the 30 yard line.
00:46:13Todd Collins on the on the stop.
00:46:16Here's the reaction of the Parcells
00:46:18off that pass that was broken up.
00:46:21I don't think he was asking that
00:46:22asking that official what his
00:46:23favorite color was.
00:46:25Not there but I'll tell you what his
00:46:26next reaction is.
00:46:27Is he saying to that defense okay
00:46:29guys you've done it all day.
00:46:31It has never been more important than
00:46:32right now.
00:46:34Five and a half remaining.
00:46:36In the fourth quarter the Cowboys have a
00:46:38second and three at the 30.
00:46:40They now have George Hegeman at left
00:46:43tackle for Mark.
00:46:44Two and a.
00:46:45Hegeman and Williams at the tackles.
00:46:47Newton and Allen at the guards.
00:46:48Donaldson is the center.
00:46:49Here's Smith.
00:46:55Stopped by Johnson.
00:46:56Short of the first down.
00:46:59Sam from the Dallas standpoint guys I
00:47:01mean if you're Dallas here you've got
00:47:03four Pro Bowl offensive linemen and
00:47:05there's five minutes left in the game
00:47:07now.
00:47:08You get first downs and you don't give
00:47:10the Patriots a chance to get the ball
00:47:11back.
00:47:11I mean it speaks volumes that they
00:47:14haven't run the ball well this year.
00:47:15I'm surprised they got four Pro Bowl
00:47:17linemen but if you got them you better
00:47:18take advantage of it.
00:47:20It is a third and one.
00:47:22We're told that two and a.
00:47:24Has ice on the knee and he's on the
00:47:27sideline with Hegeman the three-year
00:47:29man from North Carolina State at left
00:47:32tackle.
00:47:33Smith.
00:47:35He was stopped initially and then was
00:47:37able to move forward.
00:47:39The Cowboys feel they picked up the
00:47:41first down.
00:47:42And Mark they went right at that left
00:47:44side where Hegeman is.
00:47:45Can you believe that?
00:47:46I mean I would go over the big guy
00:47:47when they got it in Emmitt's second
00:47:49effort though.
00:47:50I think they think they can run it
00:47:52anywhere with that big offensive line
00:47:53anyway and remember the backside is
00:47:56as important as we pointed out earlier
00:47:57as a front side but short yardage
00:47:59usually take your your shortest ride
00:48:01over the biggest guys.
00:48:02You know we've both been around Bill
00:48:04Walsh.
00:48:04I mean I think he always refers to this
00:48:05part of the game as the the four
00:48:07minute offense.
00:48:08You get two or three first downs and
00:48:10you don't let him get a chance to get
00:48:12the ball back and it's up to those
00:48:13four guys up front to go into the
00:48:15Pro Bowl.
00:48:15So the Cowboys picked it up at the
00:48:1834-yard line.
00:48:19Aikman to throw.
00:48:21Throwing deep.
00:48:23And it's broken up.
00:48:24Penalty marker down.
00:48:26Ty Law in the coverage of Michael
00:48:29Irvin and it draws a flag.
00:48:32Now Michael Irvin is going to get
00:48:33called for this penalty.
00:48:34You can tell by his reaction.
00:48:35And if he didn't get away from that
00:48:37referee he could get called
00:48:38the bump in one of them.
00:48:43The great receivers like Michael Irvin
00:48:45and Jerry Rice in this league get away
00:48:47with mugging on cornerbacks sometimes
00:48:49because of who they are.
00:48:50But he didn't get away with it then.
00:48:51You know when they called this play
00:49:00they did it hoping that they could
00:49:01either complete a long pass or that
00:49:03this guy is going to commit a foul
00:49:04and they get the results.
00:49:06But as he goes down you see he reaches
00:49:07out first and knocked down Ty Law's
00:49:09hand.
00:49:09As he's running let's see what
00:49:11happens.
00:49:13Boy that's a judgment call.
00:49:15It's hard to tell from that angle
00:49:17that right arm of Irvin's what exactly
00:49:19he did push it off in that sideline.
00:49:22And for Dallas their eighth penalty
00:49:24it has cost them 67 yards.
00:49:27It sets it back to a first and 20
00:49:30at the 24.
00:49:31340 remaining in the fourth quarter.
00:49:34Emmitt Smith.
00:49:36Short pickup.
00:49:37Again it's Ted Johnson on the stop.
00:49:40We might be able to see the push off
00:49:42a little better right here.
00:49:43You can see his right arm pushing out
00:49:45and really got a little grip on that jersey
00:49:47trying to get a little space for that
00:49:49ball to drop in there.
00:49:51See it wasn't a judgment call Sam.
00:49:53No.
00:49:54Not after our fourth look at it.
00:49:56Bad judgment on Michael's part
00:49:58but it just got cut.
00:50:02It's a huge penalty because it takes
00:50:03Dallas out of that position of letting
00:50:05their line run the ball and taking
00:50:07control of the game.
00:50:07Now they got to throw.
00:50:09Second and 17.
00:50:12Both teams with two timeouts
00:50:14remaining.
00:50:17Aikman to the middle.
00:50:18It's dropped by Irvin.
00:50:20A drop there is bad because you
00:50:23dropped the ball and you lost the
00:50:24yards you would have gained but it
00:50:25stopped the clock as well.
00:50:26Now what they wanted to do and what
00:50:28they've been doing on this entire
00:50:29drive is Troy Aikman has done a good
00:50:31job of letting the 40 second clock get
00:50:32all the way down inside five seconds
00:50:34using up as much time as he can in
00:50:36that four minute drill.
00:50:38And you saw in that replay too.
00:50:39Ty La got away with a little hold and
00:50:41tug of himself there right at the end
00:50:43of the play or beginning of the play
00:50:44when Michael Irvin went into that
00:50:46break.
00:50:47He's trying to even everything up.
00:50:49Third and 17.
00:50:53Back at the 27.
00:50:54We're just under three minutes remaining
00:50:56in the fourth quarter.
00:50:59A quick pass for Smith.
00:51:03Emmett Smith running it out to the
00:51:0438-yard line.
00:51:06Made by Henderson and Bruder.
00:51:08And a timeout taken with 2.43 left in
00:51:13the fourth.
00:51:14Dallas now has a fourth down and six.
00:51:19It has been a battle of field goals.
00:51:22Excellent defense on both sides of the
00:51:24ball.
00:51:25Two for Vinatieri.
00:51:26Four for Bono.
00:51:28Fourth down and six.
00:51:30And John Jett will punt to Dave
00:51:32Beckett with 2.43 remaining in the
00:51:35fourth quarter.
00:51:35And the Cowboys leading the Patriots 12-6.
00:51:39The winner of this game will clinch their
00:51:41division.
00:51:43And a good punt.
00:51:44Beckett has to go back four.
00:51:46He's to the 15.
00:51:48And excellent coverage by the Cowboys.
00:51:5254-yard punt.
00:51:53Eight-yard return.
00:51:54Well, it is.
00:51:55New England Patriots will need some
00:51:57lightning-quick offense to drive down the
00:52:02field as they start out at their 18-yard line
00:52:05with 2.33 remaining in the fourth quarter.
00:52:11Bonzo's pass is caught by Troy Brown.
00:52:14That is his first reception of the day,
00:52:17covered by Darren Smith.
00:52:18Keep in mind, the Dallas Cowboys have not
00:52:20allowed a touchdown since back on Thanksgiving
00:52:24Day in that victory over the Washington Redskins.
00:52:26If they don't allow one today, they'll win this
00:52:28because they have to score a touchdown to win.
00:52:31The field goal won't do it because on fourth down
00:52:33a moment ago, they didn't take your advice, Randy.
00:52:35They decided to go for the fourth down
00:52:37for the attempt to make the first down.
00:52:40Second and one.
00:52:42The pass intended for Terry Glenn and Drew Bledsoe,
00:53:03who have been picked off only 10 times this season
00:53:06coming in, was just intercepted for the third time today.
00:53:11And you know, with one timeout remaining,
00:53:16they get the stoppage of the clock at the two-minute warning.
00:53:19They may get the ball again if Dallas does not make a first down,
00:53:23but they won't have it.
00:53:24But maybe time for one or two more plays.
00:53:27It was a slip.
00:53:29A slip set that up.
00:53:30Terry Glenn, 88, falls down,
00:53:33and Woodson is the only guy standing there for Bledsoe to hit.
00:53:36That was not a bad pass.
00:53:37That was just a fact.
00:53:38The receiver went down.
00:53:39It was timing, and the defender was there.
00:53:42Second interception of the day for Woodson.
00:53:44For the last two games, Emmitt Smith getting the call.
00:53:51And there he is, Darren Woodson,
00:53:54who is headed to the Pro Bowl as a starter
00:53:56for the third straight season.
00:53:58And you can read it on the face of Bill Parcells
00:54:02as he watched Drew Bledsoe get picked off.
00:54:06And there's nothing you can do as the coach on the sideline.
00:54:08You're making the calls.
00:54:09You've got your team trained.
00:54:11They're ready.
00:54:11You know they want to win.
00:54:12And when the play's underway,
00:54:14all you can do is watch and hope that all that training pays off.
00:54:17And the Patriots using their final timeout
00:54:21with 2-11 remaining in this fourth quarter.
00:54:29Well, coming up next on most of these NBC stations,
00:54:33game two of our NFL doubleheader.
00:54:36Most of you will see an AFC West matchup.
00:54:39The Denver Broncos and the Oakland Raiders.
00:54:41Others will see the Chiefs host the Colts
00:54:43or the Bengals face the Oilers.
00:54:46That's coming up next right here on NBC.
00:54:50So the Dallas Cowboys looking to hold on
00:54:53with 2-13 remaining.
00:54:55And if they can beat the New England Patriots,
00:54:58they will clinch their fifth straight NFC East title.
00:55:02And what a turnaround it's been
00:55:03after the way this club started the season,
00:55:06losing three of their first four games.
00:55:09Second down and eight.
00:55:11And here's Smith.
00:55:14You know, we described this game as a challenge to both sides.
00:55:18Dallas has met the challenge in previous contests like this.
00:55:21It looks like they're going to do it again today.
00:55:22And really, Barry Switzer's crew did it with the running game
00:55:25and the number one defense in the NFL.
00:55:28Two-minute warning provided.
00:55:33Well, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones
00:55:35just made his way to the sideline.
00:55:38Supposedly, the reign of the Cowboys was over.
00:55:42Beginning the season at one and three.
00:55:44Injuries taking place.
00:55:46Suspensions hitting the club.
00:55:51Kevin Williams on an end-around
00:55:54with the clock running a minute and 50 to go.
00:55:59And he picked up the first down.
00:56:04Watch Larry Allen.
00:56:0673.
00:56:07Stumbles.
00:56:08Falls.
00:56:09Gets up.
00:56:10Gets another one.
00:56:11I'll say one thing.
00:56:12Those linemen run good for Dallas.
00:56:13They might be jiggling in every direction possible
00:56:15because they're a little bit, uh, a tad, uh, non-svelte.
00:56:19Non-svelte.
00:56:20Fat.
00:56:21I'll say fat.
00:56:21Let me just tell you something.
00:56:22Only a lineman can talk about another lineman like that.
00:56:26You can't, if you can't, if you can see your shoes,
00:56:29you can't play line for Dallas.
00:56:31Well, I'll tell you what.
00:56:32That was a huge first down for them
00:56:34because had they not made that first down,
00:56:36the Patriots were going to have some time left
00:56:38to try to get back in it.
00:56:40And New England has used all its timeouts.
00:56:43Well, Pittsburgh losing to San Francisco.
00:56:46That'll cut the magic number down to one,
00:56:48but the Patriots will have to wait until next week.
00:56:51They finish up next Saturday against the Giants
00:56:54at Giants Stadium.
00:56:56Well, Barry Switzer, as he was telling us the other day,
00:56:59can use next week as a bye,
00:57:01and he can rest people.
00:57:03Next Sunday, the Cowboys finish the regular season
00:57:06at Washington beat the Redskins on Thanksgiving Day
00:57:09for down to 35 seconds.
00:57:12Marv, a Cowboy-Redskins game is a bye.
00:57:14I like the sound of that.
00:57:16And the crowd reacts as time has run out
00:57:20on Drew Bledsoe and the New England Patriots.
00:57:24All the scoring from the kickers,
00:57:27the Cowboys over the Patriots, 12 to 6.
00:57:31Emmett Smith, 27 carries, 86 yards.
00:57:38Troy Aikman finished 16 of 28, 161 yards, two interceptions.
00:57:45So Dallas, 12, New England, 6.
00:57:54The Patriots go to 10 and 5,
00:57:56and the Cowboys, 10 up and 5 down.
00:57:59For Sam Weiss and Randy Cross and John Dockery,
00:58:02Marv Auburn saying so long from Dallas.
00:58:04Hi, everyone, and welcome back to our studio for the postgame
00:58:16along with Joe Gibbs, Mike Ditka, and Chris Collinsworth.
00:58:19I'm Greg Gumbel.
00:58:20The game that you just saw,
00:58:23first of all, let's remind you that for most of you,
00:58:26these games coming up, doubleheader action,
00:58:28one of these games, and Raiders and Broncos,
00:58:31Colts, Chiefs, Bengals, Oilers,
00:58:33some will see Indy Kansas City or Cincy Houston,
00:58:35all of these key games in the playoff picture.
00:58:39Now, 12 to 6, the final score,
00:58:41the Dallas Cowboys beating the New England Patriots today
00:58:44in what essentially was a field goal contest,
00:58:47four of them for the Dallas Cowboys
00:58:48and two for the New England Patriots.
00:58:50Let's show you the highlights.
00:58:51One of those teams going in was bound to clinch a division title
00:58:54with a victory.
00:58:55Drew Bledsoe to Curtis Martin, who cuts left,
00:58:59breaks a couple of tackles, but no running room there,
00:59:02so he got a little creative and turned it into a 21-yard gain.
00:59:05It led to an Adam Vinatieri field goal
00:59:06to give the Patriots a 3-0 lead.
00:59:10But now, Troy Aikman's pass, intended for Michael Irvin.
00:59:13Ty Law steps in to make the interception.
00:59:15It led to another field goal and a 6-0 Patriots lead.
00:59:18That was the score.
00:59:20On the kickoff, Herschel Walker,
00:59:22averaging 26 yards a return on kickoff,
00:59:25third in the NFL, breaks it for 70 yards
00:59:27all the way to the 19-yard line of New England,
00:59:29finally taken down by Vinatieri from behind.
00:59:32Cowboys settled for a field goal.
00:59:339-6 Dallas in the third.
00:59:35Bledsoe's pass through Ben Coates into the hands of Darren Woodson,
00:59:37who returns it 21 yards to the Patriot.
00:59:40Four-yard line, Cowboys settle for another field goal.
00:59:42As it turns out, it was enough.
00:59:4412-6 Dallas.
00:59:46They win their fifth consecutive NFC East championship,
00:59:49and the New England Patriots will have to wait
00:59:51just a little bit longer if they're to get the title
00:59:53in the AFC East.
00:59:54But one of the standard rules in the National Football League,
00:59:59you can't turn the ball over and win.
01:00:00No, and I think that you learn a lesson
01:00:02about young players in the National Football League
01:00:05between Drew Bledsoe and Curtis Martin and Terry Glenn,
01:00:09all those young guys that they have on New England.
01:00:11They go down to Dallas,
01:00:13and everybody, I think, the first time they go play
01:00:16the Cowboys in Dallas, you get a little big-eyed,
01:00:18you start looking up at that hole in the ceiling
01:00:20and all the lore that has to do with that football team.
01:00:23They look like they just weren't quite themselves out there today.
01:00:25You said at the top of the day that you wanted to see
01:00:28how a team like the New England Patriots,
01:00:31with a little bit of AFC swagger to them so far this season,
01:00:33were going to perform going into Dallas.
01:00:35Do you think now that the Patriots are seriously hurt by this?
01:00:38No, because actually I think this game
01:00:40is going to be good for them,
01:00:41because the one positive that came out of the football game
01:00:44for Bill Parcells is the fact that defensively,
01:00:46they stepped up, they stopped Emmitt Smith for the most part,
01:00:50came up with some big plays on the defense,
01:00:51and you've got to believe that this offense
01:00:53is going to mature off this game.
01:00:54Mike?
01:00:55Well, if you would have told Bill Parcells
01:00:56that his defense would play this good against that offense
01:00:59and they would lose a football game,
01:01:01he wouldn't have believed it, really,
01:01:02because he felt, you know,
01:01:03they're averaging 28 points a game.
01:01:05That's the Patriots.
01:01:05Now, they come up with an average,
01:01:07with a total of six today.
01:01:08That killed them.
01:01:08And what it was, squandered opportunities early.
01:01:10Well, I said right at the beginning of the game,
01:01:12when they didn't get one of those touchdowns early off,
01:01:14turnover, and when he got down deep into Dallas' territory,
01:01:17they were in trouble.
01:01:17When he got in trouble,
01:01:18and Bledsoe, he started pushing the ball.
01:01:20He had three interceptions.
01:01:21You can't win doing that.
01:01:22Joe?
01:01:22And I think we probably need to say right now,
01:01:24this is a different kind of Dallas team.
01:01:26Let's face it.
01:01:27These guys are the ones winning with defense.
01:01:29Their offense really doesn't seem to be able
01:01:30to get things going.
01:01:31I want to say something, though, about Emmitt.
01:01:33Give him a call here.
01:01:34This guy, you can tell watching him run,
01:01:36he is hurt.
01:01:37He doesn't finish runs.
01:01:38But that guy hung in there all day.
01:01:40He had somewhere around 85 yards rushing.
01:01:42He had four more passes for somewhere around 35 yards.
01:01:45He accomplished, you know,
01:01:46he got over 100 yards for him, and he's hurt.
01:01:49Hey, I think the guy's a stellar performance.
01:01:51All right.
01:01:51Bottom line is, is the Dallas Cowboys come up a winner
01:01:55by a score of 12 to 6.
01:01:57Michael Urban, wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys,
01:02:00is standing by with John Dockery.
01:02:01Doc?
01:02:05Thank you, Michael.
01:02:06A game like this, what does it mean to the Cowboys?
01:02:08Well, I tell you what, it means a lot.
01:02:11After the way we started
01:02:13and the way things were going at the beginning of the season,
01:02:15and it's been a rock and roll.
01:02:17It really has been a rock and roll.
01:02:18I think it says something about our football team.
01:02:20I mean, we fought through a lot of adversity
01:02:22and a lot of hard times.
01:02:23I mean, I started a lot of those hard times,
01:02:25and we still won the East.
01:02:27And your number one goal is always to start out
01:02:29winning your division.
01:02:30And we got a fight to go,
01:02:31but it's just like we were saying on offense.
01:02:33If we continue to play like that,
01:02:35the fight's going to be for naught
01:02:36because we'll be out of the playoffs as soon as they start.
01:02:38We've got to pick it up on offense and help our defense.
01:02:40I know I talked to Coach Switzer at halftime,
01:02:42and all season alone has been problems on offense.
01:02:44Can you put your fingers on them,
01:02:45and can you put it behind you?
01:02:47Well, there's a lot of things.
01:02:49I think the glaring spot is, you know,
01:02:52we're missing Jay Novacek.
01:02:53You know, I talked to Jay all week on the sideline.
01:02:56There's no doubt.
01:02:57Jay was an integral part of this offense,
01:02:58and we definitely missed him.
01:03:00You know, Eric's doing a great job.
01:03:02I think Titans we got doing a great job.
01:03:03But, you know, Jay's all pro,
01:03:06and we definitely missed him.
01:03:07It gives our defense chances to do more things
01:03:10to the wide receivers without Jay and them.
01:03:12But we just got to grind down and find a way.
01:03:14And I think once we have that one game thing clicks,
01:03:17things will click and we'll be okay.
01:03:18All right.
01:03:19Thank you very much.
01:03:20Good luck.
01:03:20Thanks, Doc.
01:03:22All right, Doc and Michael Irvin.
01:03:24So the Dallas Cowboys with a 12-6 win.
01:03:26Let's update the playoff pictures for you now.
01:03:28And we'll begin in the AFC.
01:03:30Denver still to see action today.
01:03:31New England loser drops to 10-5.
01:03:33Pittsburgh on the losing end at San Francisco.
01:03:36Also 10-5.
01:03:38Kansas City still to play today.
01:03:39Buffalo and then Indianapolis.
01:03:41In the NFC, the Dallas Cowboys improve now to 10-5
01:03:45with the victory today and the NFC East title.
01:03:47Green Bay on the winning side today.
01:03:49Carolina at 10-4.
01:03:50San Francisco 11-4.
01:03:52Philadelphia and Minnesota.
01:03:54Let's continue down the scoreboard now.
01:03:56And in Pittsburgh, the Steelers hosting the San Francisco 49ers.
01:04:00This has been all 49ers today.
01:04:0125-15 is the score late in the game.
01:04:04At Carolina, the Panthers riding a five-game winning streak,
01:04:08leading Baltimore.
01:04:10And Kevin Green leading a pack of seven Panthers,
01:04:12headed to the Pro Bowl.
01:04:13Vinny Testaverde's first pass of the day picked off by Chad Cota,
01:04:16who returns to the Baltimore 30.
01:04:18It led to a John Casey field goal and a 3-0 Panthers lead.
01:04:22Testaverde then scrambled to his right and put one up for Michael Jackson,
01:04:27who will make the juggling catch for a 23-yard touchdown.
01:04:30Testaverde's 30th touchdown pass of the season, 7-3 Baltimore.
01:04:35Anthony Johnson capped a 66-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run for Carolina,
01:04:40his sixth TD of the season, 10-7 Panthers.
01:04:43It was 13-10 Baltimore in the third.
01:04:45Kerry Collins flushed out of the pocket, rolls right,
01:04:48hits Mark Carrier with a 6-yard scoring strike, 17-13 Carolina.
01:04:53It is now a 27-16 lead for the Panthers, who are 10-4 on the year.
01:04:58At the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, it is all over.
01:05:01The Lions lose it to the Packers, who roll again, 31-3.
01:05:05The score, Reggie White pumped for the postseason,
01:05:06as well as the next five years with his new contract earlier this week.
01:05:103-0 Green Bay, Desmond Howard still showing some Heisman form.
01:05:13Five years after winning that award, some nice moves here.
01:05:17He gets some good blocking en route to a 92-yard punt return for a touchdown,
01:05:20his third of the season.
01:05:22Howard breaking Fulton Walker's record for most punt return yardage in a season.
01:05:28Packers up 10-0.
01:05:30In the third quarter, Brett Favre helping his own cause here.
01:05:32With a 1-yard touchdown run, he capped an 8-play, 80-yard drive,
01:05:3631-3 Packers over the Detroit Lions.
01:05:40The Vikings, winners of three of their last four.
01:05:42A win today and a win next week puts them in.
01:05:44They are leading 20.
01:05:45They win it by a score of 21-10.
01:05:48In the Meadowlands, the New Orleans Saints with a 17-3 lead on the New York Giants
01:05:52and the St. Louis Rams in Atlanta winning it 34-27.
01:05:56Some coaching news out of Houston, where the Cincinnati Bengals play a few minutes from now.
01:05:59Bruce Coslett has been offered a four-year contract by Bengals owner Mike Brown.
01:06:04The contract has not been signed, but it is expected to be signed this coming week.
01:06:08There is a provision that if the Bengals make the playoffs in either the third or the fourth year,
01:06:13Coslett gets a fifth-year guarantee.
01:06:16A full slate of games coming up in our doubleheader game.
01:06:19Most of you will see Oakland at Denver.
01:06:20Jeff Hostetler had three touchdowns as they are around the league.
01:06:23The final in from Texas Stadium.
01:06:26The Cowboys knock off the New England Patriots by a score of 12-6.
01:06:29The Cowboys needed a win to clinch a division title, and they got it.
01:06:329-6 Dallas third quarter.
01:06:33Drew Bledsoe's pass right through Ben Coates into the hands of Darren Woodson,
01:06:37who returns 21 yards to the Patriots, 4.
01:06:39They settled for one of four field goals by Chris Bonio,
01:06:42and the Cowboys clinched their fifth straight NFC East title, 12-6 over the Patriots.
01:06:47In Pittsburgh, the Steelers have just been beaten by the San Francisco 49ers, 25-15.
01:06:53The score there, the 49ers improved to 11-4.
01:06:55The Steelers fall to 10-5.
01:06:58In Carolina, the Panthers, 27-16 over the Baltimore Ravens.
01:07:03Kerry Collins flushed out of the pocket, rolls right, hits Mark Carrier for a six-yard touchdown pass.
01:07:0817-13, Panthers the score there, and the Panthers on a roll looking for their sixth straight win.
01:07:14They lead it 27-16 over the Ravens.
01:07:17In the Silver Dome in Pontiac, the Lions falling to the Green Bay Packers today, 31-3.
01:07:23The final score, the Packers improved to 12-3.
01:07:26In Minnesota, the Vikings, winners again, 21-10.
01:07:29They remain in the playoff hunt.
01:07:31They need a win next week, and they are in the postseason.
01:07:33In the Meadowlands, the New Orleans Saints about to snap a seven-game losing streak.
01:07:37They lead the Giants late, 17-3.
01:07:40And in Atlanta, the St. Louis Rams looking to go 5-10 on the year, lead the Falcons 34-27.
01:07:46We'll send you to the kickoffs in Denver, Kansas City, and Houston right after this.