11. 1952 LOS ANGELES RAMS at 6. 1994 DALLAS COWBOYS
6. 1994 DALLAS COWBOYS
Record: 12-4
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 2nd
Def: 3rd
1st NFC East
d. Packers Div Rnd 35-9
Lost NFC Title Niners 38-28
HC Barry Switzer OC Ernie Zampese DC Butch Davis
Texas Stadium: 60 degrees
Brad Sham/Dale Hansen
Offense
QB Troy Aikman (28 UCLA)
RB Emmitt Smith (25 Florida) All Pro
RB Moose Johnston (28)
WR Alvin Harper (26)
WR Michael Irvin (28 Miami)
TE Jay Novacek (32)
LT Mark Tuinei (34)
LG Nate Newton (33) All Pro
C Mark Stepnoski (27)
RG Derek Kennard (32)
RT Larry Allen (23-R Sonoma St)
Defense
LDE Tony Tolbert (27)
LDT Russell Maryland (25 Miami)
RDT Leon Lett (26)
RDE Charles Haley (30 J Madison) All Pro
LLB Dixon Edwards (26)
MLB Robert Jones (25)
RLB Darrin Smith (24)
LCB Kevin Smith (24)
RCB Larry Brown (25)
SS Darren Woodson (25) All Pro
FS James Washington (29)
K Chris Boniol (23)
P John Jett (26)
KR/PR Kevin Williams (23)
The '86 Giants will host the winner of this one; the '94 Cowboys failed in a three-peat attempt, they were 2nd in offense, 3rd in defense. 8 Pro Bowlers on offense. 28 year old Troy Aikman had 14 scores and 12 picks. The two All Pros on offense are 33 year old Nate Newton and 25 year old Emmitt Smith; 22 scores for Emmitt, over 1800 yards of total yards from scrimmage. Over 1200 yards receiving for a 28 year old Michael Irvin. 2 All Pros on defense, 30 year old Charles Haley with his 12.5 sacks and 25 year old Darren Woodson with 5 picks. No Jimmy Johnson on the sidelines, Barry Switzer coaches these Cowboys. If this game sounds familiar, it should, the '93 Cowboys beat up on the '53 Rams in Region 2.
11. 1952 LOS ANGELES RAMS
Record: 9-3
Pythag: 9-3
Off: 1st
Def: 6th
2nd NFL National Div
Lost Lions Div Rnd 31-21
HC: Hampton Pool
Offense
QB Norm Van Brocklin (26)
FB Dan Towler (24 All Pro)
RB Skeets Quinlan (24-R)
RB Tank Younger (24)
WR Crazy Legs Hirsch (29)
WR Tom Fears (30)
LT Don Simensen (26)
LG Dick Daugherty (23)
C Leon McGlaughlin (27)
RG Harry Thompson (26)
RT Tom Dahms (25)
Defense
LDE Larry Brink (29)
LDT Jim Winkler (25)
MG Stan West (26) All Pro
RDT Ken Casner (22-R)
RDE Andy Robustelli (27)
LLB Tank Younger (24)
RLB Don Paul (27)
LCB Jerry Williams (29)
RCB Night Train Lane (24-R)
LS Woodley Smith (27)
RS Herb Rich (24)
K/P Bob Waterfield (32)
KR Skeets Quinlan (24)
PR Woodley Lewis (27)
Last year's Super Bowl Champs and a Greatest Show on Turf Rams have advanced, here's another chance for one of these 50s Rams squads. They're driven by the best offense from 1952, Norm Van Brocklin is 26, 14 scores and 17 picks. The first team All Pro is Dan Towler, 24, with 10 scores in a 12 game season. The defense is midding and really likely to struggle against the Cowboy offense; they've got one All Pro, 26 year old Stan West.
Winner heads to New York to face the '86 Giants in round 2. Let's go to Dallas for the kick.
1st Qtr
Dallas at the 27.
1/10 - Emmitt gets the carry to start and goes for 9.
2/1 - Emmitt buried in the backfield and it's 3rd and 4.
3/4 - Troy Aikman's first pass is to Moose Johnston, 9 and the first.
1/10 - Emmitt gets 3.
2/7 - Emmitt gets 3
3/4 - Aikman finds Jay Novacek, it's 9 yards and another first down.
1/10 - Dallas is at the Rams 43, Emmitt gets 1.
2/9 - Aikman finds Novacek for 5. One more third down.
3/4 - Aikman hits Alvin Harper on the sideline, he is out of bounds at the Ram 23.
1/10 - Emmitt powers his way for 10.
1/10- Emmitt gets 9, the next play backs Dallas up 5 on a false start.
2/6 - Stan West sacks Aikman and it is 3rd and long.
3/10 - Pitch to Emmitt - running right behind Larry Allen - And Emmitt will go into the End Zone -- TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS - Dallas chews up over 8 minutes, 13 plays, 73 yards.
Rams at the 28. 3 and out.
Dallas at the 33. 3 and out including an Andy Robustelli sack.
Rams at the 43.
1/10 - Dan Towler for 3.
2/7 - Tank Younger loses a yard.
3/8 - Norm Van Brocklin's first completion is to Tom Fears - 14 yards and LA is at the Dallas 41.
The last play of the quarter is a Towler 4 yard gain.
2nd Qtr
Dallas had a long, long TD drive to open the game and that's where it stands. LA with 2nd and 6 at the Cowboy 37.
2/6 - Skeets Quinlan for 1.
3/5 - Incomplete
LA not going to attempt the 53 yard FG - nor go for it - instead it's a punt - and Dallas will open at the 16.
1/10 - Emmitt gets 3.
2/7 - Lincoln Coleman gets a carry, he gets a yard.
3/6 - Emmitt busts one. The Rams were going to struggle with the Dallas offense and you see that now - 42 yards for Emmitt Smith to the LA 38.
That's it. 3 plays get 0 and Dallas punts to the LA 24.
1/10 - Tank Younger gets a yard.
2/9 - Towler gets 6 and it's another 3rd down.
3/3 - Van Brocklin hits a home run - 61 yard yards to Crazy Legs Hirsch - NVB right down the heart of the defense - Hirsch is all the way to the Cowboy 8 yard line for a first and goal.
But it ends right here. LA settles for the chip shot and it's 7-3.
Dallas at the 30. 3 and out. LA gets it back at the 36, little under 5 left in the half.
LA gets first downs on back to back pass plays - 10 to Hirsch and then 10 to Fears -- but that's all and it's another punt.
Dallas at the 12. 1:38 left.
1/10 - Aikman downfield to Harper - 26 yards - Dallas stops the clock at their own 38.
1/10 - Aikman gives to Johnston - Stan West flashes into the backfield - hits Johnston - punches the ball loose -and the Rams have the football! The Rams turn the Cowboys over with 1:20 left in the half.
1/10 - Younger gets 1, LA goes back 5 on the next play
2/14- Van Brocklin dumps off to Younger for a yard, he's out of bounds, 3rd and a bunch.
3/13 - Van Brocklin finds the rookie, Bob Carey, for a 16 yard gain, first down to the 25, Rams stop the clock.
1/10 - NVB to Fears, 3 quick yards and out of bounds. 37 seconds left.
2/7 - Incomplete
3/7 - Incomplete
Waterfield comes on....hits the 39 yard FG... Dallas runs the ball into the line and is content to go into the locker room, Cowboys still up 7-6.
Third Qtr
Dallas took the opening drive down the field to go up 7-0 as the game began - but that's the extend of their offense, LA puts up a couple FG and now it's 7-6.
Rams at the 16.
3 and out. Dallas in really good field position at the 41.
3 and out. Rams deep in their own end at the 5 yard line.
1/10 - Charles Haley sacks NVB right at the goal line, almost a safety, but the officials rule that NVB is out of the endzone, but the Rams have a 2nd and 15.
2/15 - Towler with the nice gain, he gets a dozen to make it 3rd and short.
3/3 - Give to Younger - he is crunched by Leon Lett and Russell Maryland. Fumble -- - Fumble -- Dallas takes over at the LA 9 yard line, Dallas with a first and goal.
1/goal - Aikman to Emmitt in the flat - breaks a tackle and Emmitt is into the End Zone -- TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS - The Rams forced a late second qtr fumble - Dallas returns that favor and the turn it into a TD. 13-6.
Rams at the 17.
1/10 - NVB hits Hirsch. 13 yards to the 30.
1/10 - Towler punches forward for 9.
2/1 - 15 more for Towler, strong run for Towler and LA is across midfield.
1/10 - Quinlan takes a pitch and goes for 16 -- Rams picking up good yards on the ground - Rams at the Cowboy 29 yard line.
But that's it - 3 plays get a yard -- and then Waterfield.....misses....a 45 yard FG and Dallas regains possession at the 36.
3 and out. The Rams maligned defense has shown up since that first drive of the game. And when Woodley Lewis returns the punt to midfield - the Rams are in good shape.
They get one first down, NVB hitting Quinland - but the drive stops at the 31 -- long 48 yard FG for Waterfield is good - and so Dallas starts with under a minute left, it's 14-9, really nice runback for Kevin Williams to the 46.
Time for one play, it gets zero and we head to the final qtr.
4th qtr
Super tight here, Dallas took advantage of a turnover deep in LA territory to add that second TD, but their lead is only 14-9. Cowboys have a second and 10 at their own 46.
2/10 -- Aikman has barely looked at Michael Irvin today, he is getting locked down by the rookie Night Train Lane - he throws to Irvin here and it is Picked Off by Lane -- Lane intercepts Aikman and the Rams take over at their own 46. Big, big, big play.
2 Rams plays net 3 yards.
On the third play, NVB is Picked Off by Darren Woodson - Woodson gets the football right back for the Cowboys - and they will take over at their own 35 yard line.
Dallas ball at the 35, 12:30 left, Dallas up 14-9.
1/10 - Emmitt is stopped at the line, and there's a holding call on the next play that makes it 2nd and 20 at the 25.
2/20 - Aikman has to settle for Emmitt for 3 yards and here's a big play - 3rd and forever --
3/17 - Aikman dialing it up -- home run to Alvin Harper -- 47 yards and thats a big bomb - there's no Michael Irvin today, just totally locked up by Lane - but here's a huge play by Alvin Harper.
The next 3 plays net 7 -- Boniol FG makes it 17-9 Dallas.
Rams at the 38. A TD/2 pt conversion would force OT.
1/10 - Quinlan busts one - 35 big yards - Quinlan all the way to the Cowboy 27. Holding on the next play and its 1st and 20.
1/20 - NVB finds Tom Fears for 14.
But that's it. Incomplete on both second and third -- LA chooses FG on 4th and 6....and it is no good....Dallas regains possession at the 30 yard line, 7 minutes left, up 17-9.
1/10 - Coleman gets a yard.
2/9 -- Emmitt...here he goes -- Emmitt Smith bounding up the sideline -- Emmitt Smith rumbling up the sideline -- it's a 50 yard shot through the Los Angeles heart.
1/10 - Blair Thomas gets a carry. 1 yd.
2/9 - Aikman goes to Kevin Williams for 16 - that's a first down and the Cowboys now have a first and goal.
1/goal - Emmitt. End Zone. TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS - and that will be that - Dallas up 24-9 with just 3 and a half minutes to go. The Dallas Cowboys will move to round 2.
LA starts at their own 45. 3:25 left. They pick up a first down on a 16 yard pass to Hirsch, but on a 4th down and 8, Chad Hennings gets a sack and Dallas takes over on downs at their own 42.
They run the ball on every play, burn all the Rams timeouts - get one first down and punt with just a handfull of seconds left. It's Bob Waterfield who takes a couple of shots to no end as the gun goes off.
Final: Cowboys 24 Rams 9
Defense+Emmitt Smith was the formula in this one. Dallas will head to New York to play the '86 Giants.
Aikman: 10 for 15, 150 1 TD/1 INT
NVB 12 for 26, 169 yds 1 INT
Emmitt: 22 carries, 146 yds, 3 TD
Towler: 15 for 66
Harper: 3 catches, 89 yds
Hirsch: 4 catches, 100 yds
Player of the Game: Emmitt Smith
