7. 1998 NFC CHAMPION ATLANTA FALCONS at 2. 1993 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION DALLAS COWBOYS
2. 1993 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION DALLAS COWBOYS
Record: 12-4
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 2nd
Def: 2nd
1st NFC East
d. Packers Div Rnd 27-17
d. Niners NFC Title 38-21
d. Bills Super Bowl 30-13
d. '53 Rams 35-12 (PotG-Troy Aikman)
HC: Jimmy Johnson, OC: Norv Turner, DC Butch Davis
Texas Stadium: 55 degrees
Brad Sham/Dale Hansen
Offense
QB Troy Aikman (27 UCLA) 15 td/6 int 69.1% 7.9 y/c 221.4 y/g 99.0
RB Emmitt Smith (24 Florida) All Pro 1486 yds 5.3 y/c 57 catch 414 yds 7.3 y/c 10 td
FB Moose Johnston (27 Syracuse) 74 yds 3.1 y/a 50 catch 372 yds 7.4 y/c 4 td
WR Alvin Harper (25 Tenn) 36 ctch 777 yds 21.6 y/c 5 td
WR Michael Irvin (27 Miami) 88 ctch 1330 yds 15.1 y/c 7 td
TE Jay Novacek (31 Wyoming) 44 ctch 455 yds 10.1 y/c td (1 rush)
LT Mark Tuinei (31 Hawaii )
LG Nate Newton (32 Florida A&M)
C Mark Stepnowski (26 Pitt)
RG Kevin Gogan (29 Wash)
RT Erik Williams (25 Cen St) All Pro
Defense
LDE Tony Tolbert (26 UTEP) 7.5 sacks
LDT Tony Casillas (30 Oklahoma) 2 scks
RDT Russell Maryland (24 Miami) 2.5 scks
RDE Charles Haley (29 J Madison) 4 scks
LLB Dixon Edwards (25 Mich St) 1.5 scks
MLB Ken Norton (27 UCLA) 1 int 2 sck
RLB Darrin Smith (23-R Miami) sck
LCB Kevin Smith (23 A&M) 6 int
RCB Larry Brown (24 TCU)
SS Darren Woodson (24 Ariz St)
FS Thomas Everett (29 Baylor) 2 int
K Eddie Murray (37 Tulane)
P John Jett (25 E Carolina)
KR/PR Kevin Williams (22 Miami) 2 td
Here's the 2nd seeded team in the Region - the 31st overall seed in the tournament - the 1993 Dallas Cowboys. 2nd in both offense and defense. 8 offensive starters named to the Pro Bowl, 27 year old Troy Aikman threw for 15 scores and 6 picks; nearly 1500 yards on the ground for 24 year old All Pro Emmitt Smith. RT Erik Williams is 25, he also was named All Pro. Defensively, 23 year old Kevin Smith had 6 picks. 26 year old Tony Tolbert had 7.5 sacks. The Cowboys whipped the '53 Rams in rnd 1, just 2 incompletions for Aikman. Jimmy Johnson's last Cowboys team, so whenever the tournament ends for Dallas, it ends his Dallas run.
7. 1998 NFC CHAMPION ATLANTA FALCONS
Record: 14-2
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 4th
Def: 4th
1st NFC West
d. Niners Div Rnd 20-18
d. Vikings NFC Title 30-27
Lost Broncos Super Bowl 34-19
d. '21 Bucs 30-23 (PotG-Jamal Anderson)
HC: Dan Reeves OC: George Sefcik, DC Rich Brooks
Georgia Dome
Jeff Hullinger/Jeff Van Note
Offense
QB Chris Chandler (33 Wash) 25 td/12 int 58.1% 9.6 y/a 225.3 y/g 100.9 2 td rush
RB Jamal Anderson (26 Utah) All Pro 1846 yds 4.5 y/c 27 ctch 319 yds 11.8 y/c 16 td
FB Bob Christian (30 Nwestern) 21 yds 19 ctch 214 yds 11.3 y/c 3td
WR Tony Martin (33 Colo Mesa) 6 ctch 1181 yds 17.9 y/c 6 td
WR Terance Mathis (31 N Mexico) 64 ctch 1136 yds 17.8 y/c 11 td
TE OJ Santiago (24 Kent) 27 ctch 428 yds 15.9 y/c 5 td
LT Bob Whitfield (27 Stanford)
LG Calvin Collins (24 Tex A&M)
C Robbie Tobeck (28 Wash St)
RG Gene Williams (30 Iowa St)
RT Ephraim Salaam (22-R S Diego St)
Defense
LDE Lester Archambeau (31 Stanford) 10 scks
LDT Travis Hall (36 BYU) 4.5 scks
RDT Shane Dronett (27 Texas) 6.5 scks
RDE Chuck Smith (29 Tenn) 8.5 scks
LLB Cornelius Bennett (33 Alabama) sck
MLB Jessie Tuggle (33 Valdosta St) 3 scks
RLB Henri Crockett (24 Florida St) 1 sck
LCB Ray Buchanan (27 Louisville) 7 int
RCB Ronnie Bradford (28 Colorado) 3 int
SS William White (32 Ohio St) 2 int
FS Eugene Robinson (35 Colgate) 4 int
K Morten Andersen (38 Mich St)
P Dan Sryzinski (33 Indiana)
KR/PR Tim Dwight (23 Iowa) td
The '98 Falcons lost the Super Bowl to Denver; they were top 4 in both offense and defense. One All Pro on the Falcons, 26 year old back Jamal Anderson, 1846 yards rushing and 16 combined scores. The QB is 33 year old Chris Chander, 25 scores, 12 picks. 31 year old Terance Mathis caught 11 TDs. The 4 man defense line combined for 29.5 sacks. 27 year old corner Ray Buchanan had 7 picks. Anderson rushed for 230 yds in rnd one beating the '21 Bucs. Former Cowboy Dan Reeves coaches these Falcons, he had a quadruple bypass late in the season.
Winner will face the '06 Patriots in the second regional semi for region 2, 76.2; Dallas is a 10 pt favorite. Let's head to Texas Stadium for the kick.
1st Qtr
Dallas starting at the 25.
1/10 - Emmitt Smith with the game's first carry. 1 yard.
2/9 - Incomplete, a defensive holding call on the next play makes it a first down
1/10 - Emmitt stopped.
2/10 - Troy Aikman's first pass is a 28 yard gain to Jay Novacek, Dallas to the Falcons 41 yard line.
The drive ends here - after the punt, Falcons at the 14.
1/10 - Jamal Anderson had the huge first round, Atlanta needs a similar game from him today. He goes for 14.
1/10 - Anderson gets 1.
2/9 - It's the fullback, both of these squads with traditional fullbacks, Bob Christian 11 yards to the 40.
1/10 - Anderson, 5 yards.
2/5 - Incomplete
3/5 - Chris Chandler to Anderson out of the backfield and he fights his way for a 9 yard pickup, Falcons into Dallas territory. Illegal motion then makes it 1st/15.
1/15 - Anderson - it's Jam Anderson, 14 yards, big start for Anderson, Falcons at the Dallas 37.
2/1 - Chandler to Tony Martin in space, 19 yard gainer and the Falcons first down at the 18 yard line!
1/10 - Chandler forced out of the pocket, gets 2.
2/8 - Anderson stopped at the line.
3/8 - Chandler -- Terance Mathis over the middle - he takes a bone rattling hit but holds on - the Falcons first and goal at the 7.
1/goal - Nothing for Christian.
2/goal - Anderson -- Anderson bulldozing his Way Into the End Zone -- TOUCHDOWN FALCONS - 7 yard TD run for Anderson, 41 yards on the ground for Anderson on the drive - Falcons off to the great start.
Dallas at the 15.
1/10 Emmitt gets 2.
2/8 - Aikman to Moose Johnston, 3 yards.
3/5 - Aikman hits his third receiver, Kevin Williams - 10 yards and the first.
1/10 - Aikman downfield - he's got Michael Irvin - 19 yards, Dallas crosses midfield
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Chuck Smith belts Aikman - the quarter ends with the ferocious sack.
2nd qtr: Falcons 7 Cowboys 0
Long drive, taking up half the quarter, gives the Falcons the lead, Dallas has a third and long at their own 44.
They don't pick it up, after the kick, Falcons at the 20.
1/10 Nothing for Anderson
2/10 - Chandler to Mathis, big pickup, 24 yards -- Falcons at their own 44, already up a score!
But - that's it. After the punt, Dallas at the 21.
1/10 - Incomplete and then a false start drops Dallas back 5
2/15 - Incomplete
3/15 - Aikman throws it on a string to Irvin, he is right at the sticks, out of bounds and a first down - just a helluva throw for Troy and Dallas it as the 33.
But - the drive ends here - we are already halfway through the 2nd when Atlanta starts their drive at the 23, still 7-0.
Quick 3 and out. Dallas defense stepping up. Dallas in good field position after the punt, at the 40.
Quick 3 and out. Falcons ball at the 20, 5 and a half left in the first half, 7-0 Falcons.
3 and out, Jim Jeffcoat gets home on third down - Kevin Williams ran 2 back for scores during the season and he takes the punt to the Falcon 36 - Dallas in great field position.
1/10 - Aikman to Novacek, 9 yards.
2/1 - Emmitt -- Emmitt breaks it - Emmitt breaks it -- AND EMMITT SMITH WILL GO INTO THE END ZONE --- TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS - 27 yard TD run for Emmitt Smith - that punt return gave Dallas the great field position and with less than 3 minutes left in the half, we are tied.
Falcons at the 32.
3 and out -- the Dallas defense is dialed in now, really stacking the box against Anderson. Dallas gets the ball back again after a good return, they're at their own 42 with 1:37 left.
1/10 - Emmitt 3 yards, out of bounds.
2/7 - Emmitt picks it up, Dallas stops the clock at 1:17.
1/10 - Aikman to Emmitt -- Emmitt thumping his way for a 19 yard pickup, he's out of bounds at 1:01, Dallas at the 28.
1/10 - Emmitt again, 7 yards and Dallas calls timeout again.
2/3 - Aikman brought down by Lester Archanbeau, Dallas has to use its final timeout, it's 3rd and 10 at the 28, 38 seconds left in the game.
3/10 - Aikman - Irvin - he's going to get out of bounds, but short of the first down - the veteran Eddie Murray hits the FG and the half ends at 10-7 Dallas.
3rd Qtr: Cowboys 10 Falcons 7
The Dallas defense asserts itself after that first Atlanta drive, the offense now starts to get going as well - we hit the second half and the 2nd seeds in the region lead by 3.
Falcons at the 28.
Chris Chandler's first pass is PICKED OFF by Kevin Smith; Smith intercepts Chandler - Smith to the Falcon 29 -- Big Play by the Dallas Defense - up 3 and now in great field position.
1/10 - Aikman, screen to Moose -- Johnston's gonna go all the way to the 12.
1/10 - Aikman - Irvin, 6 yards.
2/4 - Emmitt for 1. Third down.
3/3 - Aikman -- EndZone -- Johnston -- TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS -- Aikman 5 yard TD pass to Moose Johnston and Dallas goes up 17-7.
Falcons at the 29. On the third play, Charles Haley STRIP SACKS - Chandler - Dallas takes over at the Falcons 27. The Dallas defense comes right out and goes pick/fumble.
1/10 - Emmitt for 14, Dallas is threatening to pull away.
1/10 - Johnston for 1.
2/9 - Aikman - Emmitt out of the backfield, first and goal at the 3.
1/goal - Aikman --- Novacek --- TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS -- Dallas has ripped off 24 consecutive points and the second seeded Cowboys are starting to roll.
Falcons at the 29.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Anderson for 9, an incidental facemask tacks on 5.
1/10 - Leon Lett with the sack.
2/17 - Anderson draw goes nowhere
3/17 - Chandler picks it up, he had to have it -- 22 yards to Mathis, the Falcons are across midfield.
But - it dies here, great punt, Dallas at their own 6.
1/10 - Emmitt gets 3.
2/7 - Cornelius Bennett gets to Aikman - Bennett knows a little about this Cowboy team as a former Bill - and Dallas is DEEP in their own end.
3/13 - Aikman --- Aikman Looking Deep --- AIKMAN TO ALVIN HARPER -- AND HARPER'S GOT GREEN GRASS! ALVIN HARPER ON THE LOOSE! ALVIN HARPER GOES 87 YARDS, KNOCKED OUT OF BOUNDS AT THE 10!
It's the biggest gainer of the tournament, Aikman 87 yards to Alvin Harper and after an offsides, Dallas has first and goal at the 5.
1/goal - Nothing for Emmitt
2/goal - Give to Johnston -- Moose is In the End Zone -- TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS - and this is done -- a 21 point explosion in the third quarter, with less than a minute left in the third, Dallas 31 Atlanta 7.
Falcons at the 32 - Charles Haley gets his second sack of the day and the quarter ends.
4th Qtr: Cowboys 31 Falcons 7
The '97 Super Bowl Champion Broncos just got knocked out, but that won't happen here, the '93 Cowboys will head to the regional semi. Falcons 2nd and long at the 28.
They won't pick it up - after the punt, Dallas at the 37.
3 and out. Falcons at their own 23. They'll get two first downs, Chandler 13 to Santiago, a 27 yard Anderson run the big plays - but Jeffcoat gets his 2nd sack, Dallas's 5th, Dallas takes over on downs at their own 42.
On the first play, Aikman finds a wide open Emmitt on a busted coverage -- Emmitt has nothing but grass ahead - 30-20-10 -- TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS - 58 yards, Aikman to Emmitt -- Dallas leads 38-7 with 8 minutes left in the game, a tremendous blowout here.
Falcons start at the 22 -- Larry Brown intercepts the 3rd play - Dallas at the Falcon 45.
Dallas stays on the ground, keeping the ball until the 2 minute warning when Eddie Murray kicks a chip shot to make it 41-7.
Falcons get the ball at the 30, Russell Maryland gets a sack, Dallas's 6th - but the Falcons will end the game with a Chandler to Christian 10 yard TD pass and that is the final.
Final: Cowboys 41 Falcons 14
A beating; Dallas dominates in every phase and moves on to host the '06 Patriots in the region 2 2nd semi final.
Aikman: 18 for 27, 302 yds 3 TD
Chandler: 13 for 27, 203 yds td/2 int
Smith: 21 carries, 83 yds, 4 catches, 73 yds, 2 TD
Anderson: Anderson: 24 carries, 98 yds, TD
Irvin: 6 catches, 67 yds
Mathis: 4 ctchs, 75 yds
Haley/Jeffcoat: 2 sacks
Player of the Game: Troy Aikman
