COWBOYS COMEBACK TO BEAT CARDINALS 17-16 (new photos of E. Smith figure)

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TODAY IN THE NJLMFL- “WHERE THE LEGENDS LIVE”

NFC WILDCARD PLAYOFF

ARIZONA CARDINALS AT DALLAS COWBOYS

RECAP- The Dallas Cowboys came from behind in the 4th quarter to defeat the Arizona Cardinals 17-16 to win the second wildcard spot in the NFC. The Cardinals scored early in the 1st quarter on a Curt Warner to Steve Breaston 45 yd bomb for an early lead. Neil Rackers missed the extra point and the Cardinals lead was 6-0. The Cowboys had a long drive late in the 1st quarter but were held by Arizona and on the first play of the second quarter K Raphiel Septien kicked a 32 yd FG to put Dallas on the board 6-3. On Arizona’s next possession RB Terry Metcalf was hit by Harvey Martin and fumbled. Everson Walls recovered on the Cardinals 17. Again the Cardinals kept the Cowboys out of the endzone but this time Septien’s 27 yd FG attempt hit the right upright and Dallas missed a golden opportunity. The Cardinals took advantage driving the ball to the Cowboys 23 highlighted by a 32 yd pass to Larry Fitzgerald. This set up a 23 yd TD run by Metcalf and Arizona led 13-3 and it stayed that way to the half.

The Cowboys opened the second half with a beautiful drive and scored on a 41 yd pass play from Troy Aikman to Tony Dorsett who was able to score thanks to a great downfield block by Michael Irvin to make it a 13-10 game. The Cardinals started their next drive and the Cowboys defense began to look more inspired. On 3rd down however Warner who was hot all day hit the speedy Fiztgerald who outran 4 Cowboy defenders before stepping out of bounds at the Cowboy 26. The Cardinals moved inside the Dallas 10 as the quarter ended. On 3rd and goal from the 5 Warner found Fitzgerald again for a TD but had it called back on a critical holding call. Warner hit Breaston on the next play but came up short of the first down as the quarter ended. The Cardinals had to settle for a 25 yd FG from Neil Rackers which left the Cardinals only ahead by 6 at 16-10 with 14:16 left. Dallas got the ball at their own 36 and after Emmitt Smith ran twice for 8 yds to the Cowboys 44 Aikman dropped back to throw and hit Michael Irvin on a slant and Irvin raced 56 yds for the TD to knot the game at 16. Septien made the extra point and Dallas had their first lead of the game 17-16. Arizona was able to drive the ball into Cowboys territory and on a 1st and 10 play from the Cowboys 35 Warner threw for Breaston but was intercepted on a perfectly timed move by Deion Sanders who returned it 5 yds to the Dallas 33. with 3:35 left. The Cowboys used their running game to get a first down and make Arizona use all of their timeouts and had a 3rd and 4 from the Cardinals 35 with 1:49 left
On the critical 3rd down Aikman hit Dorsett out of the backfield and he took it all the way to the Cardinals 9. From there the Cowboys were able to run out the clock for the 17-16 win. The Cowboys must now go on the road to Hartford to play the upstart Hartford Renegades in the next round.

SCORING- TURNOVERS- ARIZONA-2…DALLAS-0
ARIZONA 6 7 0 3 16
DALLAS 0 3 7 7 17

1ST QTR
ARZ- Breaston 45 yd pass from Warner ( kick ng)…………………….6-0 12:30

2ND QTR
Dal- Septien 32 yd FG………………………………………… ………..6-3 14:31
ARZ- Metcalf 23 yd run (Rackers kick)………………………………..13-3 6:22

3RD QTR
DAL- Dorsett 41 yd pass from Aikman( Septien kick)…………………13-10 9:05

4TH QTR
ARZ- Rackers 25 yd FG………………………………………… ………16-10 14:16
DAL- Irvin 56 yd pass from Aikman (Septien kick)…………………….17-16 9:47

INT- DAL- Sanders.

Photos
1. Emmitt Smith on the go.
2. Metcalf TD
3. NFL FILMS SHOT- Emmitt Smith
4. Dorsett scores on great block by Irvin
5. Fitzgerald outruns Cowboys
6. Irvin scores on 56 yd TD
7. Dorsett catch and run seals game