NFL Recap (Carolina-Dallas)
Posted: Sun October 11, 1998 at 6:15 p.m. EDT
DALLAS 27, CAROLINA 20
IRVING, Texas (Ticker) -- Cornerback Deion Sanders thwarted a
potential game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter with an interception
as the Dallas Cowboys
erased an 11-point deficit before holding off the winless Carolina Panthers,
27-20.
Former Cowboy Steve
Beuerlein pulled Carolina within 27-20 with his third touchdown pass at
9:15 of the fourth quarter, but Sanders picked him off with under three
minutes left. Beuerlein's desperation pass with no time left sailed out of
the end zone.
Beuerlein threw a pair of TD passes to Rocket Ismail as Carolina built
a 14-3 lead 6:06 into the second quarter. But Emmitt Smith set up a TD
pass with a 32-yard scamper and later added a two-yard scoring run, helping
the Cowboys to a 24-14 advantage.
Dallas took advantage of two critical third-quarter turnovers to
regain control. William
Floyd's fumble early in the period led to the go-ahead score. Later in
the third, with the Panthers trailing 24-14, Ismail fumbled at Dallas'
21-yard line after a 35-yard reception.
"We went out in the second half and made critcal mistakes," Carolina
coach Dom Capers said. "You can't go out in the NFL and continue to shoot
yourself in the foot like we did today. "
The loss allowed the Panthers (0-5) to match the worst start in
franchise history while the Cowboys (4-2) retained sole possession of first
place in the NFC East.
"It doesn't feel very good, and I think everyone on the team feels the
same way," Capers added. "We have our backs against the wall and we have
to fight, fight, fight, fight our way out of this."
Carolina, which has allowed 115 points in the last three games,
surrendered 428 yards of total offense. Smith carried 21 times for 112
yards, his second straight 100-yard game and third of the season, one more
than his 1997 total.
Garrett completed 14-of-22 passes for 287 yards with two TDs. Michael Irvin and Ernie Mills, a former
Panther, combined for 11 catches for 256 yards and a score.
The Cowboys cut Carolina's lead to 14-10 with 4:52 left in the third
quarter thanks to a nine-play, 93-yard drive. Smith broke off a 32-yard
run before Mills hauled in an 18-yard over-the-shoulder TD.
"I made a fake in the end zone, and Jason made a really terrific
throw," said Mills, who caught five passes for 110 yards in his first
career 100-yard game. "Even turning around, I had no trouble picking it up.
"It felt good to play against the guys that I was in the trenches with
last year."
Dallas followed Floyd's fumble, on the third play of the second half,
with the go-ahead score. On 3rd-and-goal from the 6, Garrett hit Chris Warren with a shovel
pass for a touchdown and a 17-14 edge.
"I take full responsiblity for the fumble," Floyd said. "I was
supposed to take the ball, but I never got hold of it."
The Cowboys took a 10-point lead on their next possession, marching 56
yards on five plays. Garrett hit Irvin with a 30-yard pass and Smith
carried three times for 22 yards, finishing the drive with a two-yard run.
Beuerlein, who completed 18 of his first 19 passes, went 3-for-3 for
42 yards on the ensuing drive, throwing a 35-yard strike to Ismail. But George Teague forced the
speedster to fumble at the 21.
"We shot ourselves in the foot," Carolina linebacker Kevin Greene claimed.
Starting for Kerry
Collins, who decided during the week he was unfit to lead the team,
Beuerlein went 22-of-32 for 286 yards with an interception and three TDs.
"It's my job now to try and help us win these football
games,"Beuerlein said. "But we came up a little short today. I have
confidence in myself and in my teammates to win these games. I don't think
anybody can question the heart we played with today."
Playing without running back Fred Lane, however, the
Panthers managed only 29 yards on 22 carries.
"We have rules and they haven't changed since day one, and those rules
apply to all players, no matter who it is," Capers said of Lane, who was in
uniform but did not play after missing the team plane. "The players are
responsible to be in a certain place at a certain time, and that includes
getting to the plane on time."
Richie
Cunningham's 38-yard field goal 2:01 into the fourth quarter gave
Dallas a 27-14 lead, but Rod Smith later recovered
Garrett's fumble and sprinted 35 yards to the Cowboys' 43. Two plays after
a 40-yard interference penalty on Dallas safety Darren Woodson, Beuerlein
found Floyd for a three-yard TD.
Cowboys defensive end Chad Henning blocked the extra point, but
Carolina got a chance to tie the game, reclaiming possession with 3:28
left. Beuerlein ran for a first down and completed two passes for 17 yards
before Sanders came up with the key interception.
"Deion has a knack," Capers said. "He knows the distance that he can
be away from a player and still make a play."
© 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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