in so late. Aikman was here from the beginning, was faxing the training camp pages daily to this
guy Jay Novacek, hoping that Novacek could work out with Neil Lomax back in Phoenix, but that's not
the same. Second and ten, Emmett Smith picking and threading his way for a minimal gain. If one thing is
critical offensively for Dallas though tonight, it's to keep Emmett Smith absolutely a thousand
percent healthy because when it comes to backups, he doesn't have any. Kervin Richards is the only
guy behind him and Richards has a lacerated kidney. He could play in a pinch. Blocking over
at the point of attack, number 84 Novacek. We talked about him a moment ago. He is a fine receiving
tight end, but he does not have the stature nor the size to really blow somebody out of there,
particularly the Redskins, Wilbur Marshall. You saw a lot of Dallas people throwing themselves
at the Redskins and the Redskins not giving any ground. Third and eight from the 18-yard line.
Aikman with a lot of poise, hits Johnson, seeks the first down and gets it. Knew exactly where he had
to go, lunged forward, stopped by Mays, first down Dallas for the unheralded Daryl Johnson who
doesn't carry much but blocks well and he'll catch the ball out of the backfield. He reminds me of a
Brad Muster type fullback. I mean he's 236 pounds but with the soft hands and he's a valuable asset
to a quarterback and a good nose for the flag and where the first down was and if the team needed a
first down that was that was a key pickup for Aikman and the Cowboys. Not much on first and
second, converting on third and long. Five minutes into the game, two-nothing Cowboys.
Emmett Smith is a nice block from Johnson and then picks his way up to the 34-yard line turning
next to nothing into about a six-yard pickup stopped by Brad Edwards. That was a great block by
Daryl Johnson. He really plowed into Fred Stokes and he just took him right off his feet and you
have somebody as quick as Emmett Smith. He is going to make the quick move off. Look at that block.
Smith with a step inside breaks it through the outside and gets a quick seven yards out of it.
It's actually the second time Dallas has run this play where Johnson has picked off the end guy on
the line and in both instances it was Fred Stokes. Much to Stokes dismay because the first one looked
just like that as well. And in second down and three as Emmett Smith gets to the 35-yard line he's
about two yards short of the first down. Kurt Guvea in on the tackle so third and short yardage
coming up for the Cowboys and that was a huge tackle by Guvea. He hit Emmett Thomas, Emmett
Smith rather and you got the impression that if he wouldn't have had Smith, Smith was off. How many
times have we seen Smith kind of slide through those types of tackles? He runs so low at that
lowest center of gravity and you're right Dan this is a perfectly, it's a textbook tackle is what it
is. He has a head up shoulder right into the crotch and down goes Smith short of the first
and Guvea was alone. Third and a short two at the 35-yard line with Novichek in motion and
Aitman's going to throw for it and get to hit Novichek and Novichek after being bounced back
thrust forward again first down at the 38-yard line hit first by Mayhew and then finally tackled
by Guvea. Novichek such a key part of this offense 59 receptions in each of the last two years he
is really when he comes in motion like that or goes to a wide out he is like a wide out he is
big at 6'4 and 2'31 but he can run when he gets the football good soft hands fine receiving tight in
and that is the type of play guys that you might expect to see him cough up the ball without a
training camp. I mean that's a Jimmy Johnson has to be excited to see Novichek pull that off.
From the 39-yard line Aitman throws the pass is too high up at the 50-yard line intended for Alvin
Harper he's covered by Martin Mayhew second and ten with 7.42 to go in the first quarter
and the Cowboys on top 2-0. Jimmy Johnson came here in 1989 amidst of course a lot of fuss Tom
Landry's gone when Jerry Jones buys the team the Cowboys had him three and 13 in Landry's last
season a new organization top to bottom they begin rather ingloriously you might say one and 15
and right now they're talking about a Super Bowl. The one game they won was Washington again.
Amazingly at ORFK. Second and ten again good protection the pass is caught by Irvin up at the 43-yard line of the Redskins.
A few moments ago you saw Mayhew play very tight against Alvin Harper this was Michael Irvin he of
the nine receptions and 131 yards in last November's win over the Redskins in ORFK stadium. You just
respect this kind of talent not great speed but enough to make you back off as Mayhew did. He
turned right inside the linebacker found the opening Aitman was right in there. You saw
Michael Irvin actually lose his balance almost stumbled to the turf and yet regain his
concentration in the blink of an eye and catch the ball. On first down here Smith he gets four so this drive which
began at the 16-yard line after a penalty on a runback has advanced to the Washington 39
with 645 to go in the opening quarter. Collins made the last tackle. Talked about how effective
Irvin was against Washington last year. Well Emma Smith had over 240 yards rushing in the two games
and for some reason the Cowboys just seemingly have the Washington defense's number. They've been
able to move the football they've been able to do pretty much what they wanted to do when other teams
couldn't. They put up some amazing numbers when you consider how tough Washington was defensively
against other teams last year. You saw Richie Pettibone as his defense now is in there for the 10th
play on this drive. Second and six and Aitman a short drop throw that's another first down Alvin
Harper wrestled back from the 30 and here comes the late flag.
I believe the flag is on Brad Edwards who came in late.
Edwards came in and put his right shoulder.
We were told early in the year that one of the things the NFL was going to watch was protecting
a receiver. Watch the right of your screen there comes Edwards in as Harper was held up and really
just in a very vulnerable position and you can't argue with that call whatsoever.
Every training camp was visited by the NFL officials and told one of the things we're going
to really hone in on are defensive backs taking unnecessary shots at exposed receivers. Double
tight end set with Roberts now in motion first down at the 14 and it's Smith gets knocked
backwards by Brad Edwards coming up from the safety spot at the 12 second and eighth.
And here we have the Cowboys on the verge of moving inside the Redskins head yard line and
remember their first two offensive plays gained one yard and then they picked up the first down
on that release pass to Darryl Johnston and look how this drive has continued.
A drive on which they have now marched 73 yards in six and a half minutes five minutes to go
opening quarter two nothing Dallas. Second and seven at the 11th.
He takes it to the five yard line he's a little short of the first down Charles Mann with the
tackle it'll be third and one. Dallas November able to move the ball on the ground the remember
the cast not in there defensively for Washington and Eric Williams so tough against the run there
is Smith again he just dances looks for the spot and just explodes with great acceleration. Well
awesome blocking up front by Gizek Cornish and Newton they just blew Tim Johnson and Bobby Wilson
off the line great blocking by the Cowboy offensive line. Smith through his short career
enjoying banner days against Washington third and one from the five. I think back to a Dallas
Cowboy offensive line that gave up eleven sacks to the Eagles last year and so far in this game
they are dominating I mean dominating the line of scrimmage and you do not arm tackle this man
three red friends had a shot at him you don't catch him you have got to hit him and he is a
difficult target indeed and we better factor Jay Novichek into that blocking on that play as well.
He was at the point of attack and boy that was just crisp Linnelli and a rookie who's won the
place kicking job boots it through and they could not have conceivably scripted a better open to the
Cowboy taking nine to nothing lead.
All the football from more than half of the first quarter 357 remaining opening period in Dallas
nine nothing Cowboys. 23rd season of Monday night football Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Deardorff
Texas Stadium, Irving Texas, Redskins have the ball Dallas lead nine nothing 357 to go in the quarter
and on first down Ernest Feiner from the 20 up to the 23 yard line where he's tackled by Ken Norton Jr.
after a pick up of three second down and seven Russell Maryland has a dislocated toe he was the
first pick in the 1991 draft a great defensive tackle so he's out tonight and Tony Casillas is
standing next to him Casillas with a sprained knee could play in a pinch but they'd like to keep him out tonight
and then you factor in that there's a rookie at middle linebacker a lot of change up the middle.
Second and seven it's a dump off to Feiner and with a nice move Feiner turns it back up field
and after getting the first down we've got a flag coming in. I think they're going to flag Mark Schlereth
for a late hit he came along and picked off Larry Brown well after the play was over.
That's one they didn't need way late whistle had blown and he's still unloaded. Boy it's helmet to helmet too.
Brown 182 Schlereth 283 and Mark put the extra 101 right on Larry Brown's head.
Unnecessary roughness number 69. Repeat the down second down.
That takes away a first down out over the 30 yard line. There's Larry Brown number 24. Watch this.
Moments later. Hello. Hello. I weigh a hundred more than you.
More than that if the Redskins had any idea of going back to their no huddle offense it's very difficult
down this close to the goal line close to the crowd because the crowd will really get into it
you thought earlier. So far in this series they decided not to go with the no huddle offense.
Instead of a first down it is a second down of 15 from the 15.
Ripon hits Feiner but the coverage is there and he is tackled by Ken Norton and Robert Jones. Jones 55.
One of two first round draft choices a rookie from East Carolina the other first round pick Kevin Smith
who eventually will be a starting quarterback for them but he's been stymied with injuries in camp.
But there's a lot of pressure on Robert Jones who playing against the Washington Redskins with all their moves
and formations he has to be the man who keys on and he's playing without the two starters Marilyn and Casillas
that we just talked about in front of him and the middle linebacker to four three depends so much on those detects
because he tackles right in front of him. Third and 13 crowd not making it easy for Ripon and the skins.
Ripon setting up in the pocket and the throw is incomplete intended for Feiner over the middle.
So the penalty is costly. Instead of keeping that drive moving the Redskins it turns out goes three and out
and Kelly Goodburn into punt again. Was that ball deflected or did it just slip out of Ripon's hands.
I'm not sure but it was ugly. Feiner might have been giving him a different move but that was ugly.
I think he's discussing with Feiner now. Feiner gave him a move to his right and he was not expecting it.
Kelly Goodburn to kick. Kelvin Martin back to receive. Not a good kick. A short one.
Bouncing at the 49 but it does take a very good Redskin bounce. Big break for Goodburn instead of it being about a 36 yard kick.
Dead at the 24 yard line and it's a 59 yard kick. Dallas up 9-0, 2-0-3 to go in the quarter
and now it's time for a regular feature on what's new in the world of sports science and technology.
Boys in 1990 a routine start in his first start against Washington that year but then a great game in game two.
Last year on a Monday night in that third game those 11 carries for 112 yards and he got sick in the second quarter
very late after that and then a huge day at RFK in November.