That was a fun season. Winning a playoff game in Chicago was awesome, too, even though the dud in Detroit the next week was a sour ending.
But man, did that set the stage or what?
It absolutely did! I mean, Beuerlein is under center and I am thinking, "How are we getting past Washington?" They're absolutely murdering people." Well, Jimmy answered that one for me right quick. Let's bury their defensive front beneath an avalanche of Williams, Step, Tuinei, Newton, and Gesek. Control the clock and move the chains with Emmitt. Oh, and let's also post up Michael against what many believed to be the top cover corner in the business. With that, Dallas controlled the second half, putting the only blemish to that point on the Commanders' ledger.
Then this game on Thanksgiving. The Steelers weren't really a contender, but they still had a very good defense with plenty enough to make life difficult against the youngest team in football coming off a HUGE division win four days earlier. Once again, Jimmy applies this new recipe. The defense keeps us in it, making a couple of big plays before Irvin goes yard, booting Rod Woodson in the process
Next week, in come the Saints - a playoff team. Dome Patrol. No problem. Cowboys put together a workmanlike effort and got out 9-5. So without our leader, we took this season from a very questionable place at 6-5 with a tough December stretch looming to a winner-take-all showdown at the Vet. Okay, why not?
The Eagles without Randall, us without Troy. Both clubs 9-5 going in. A win means an NFC Wildcard berth. We were facing Jeff Kemp, but that was Gang Green over there. I remember watching Philly play on Monday night in Houston a few days earlier. They put the best offense in football in shackles. It was intimidating if not impressive. And then there was the drubbing they laid on Dallas earlier in the season. Aikman took, what, a dozen sacks that day?
A December game at the Vet. Not the prettiest setting for us. But hold that thought. Dallas' defense does it's job. The offense doesn't do anything until late when, again, Irvin seals it. How timely was that? Of course, Kelvin Martin made perhaps his biggest play as a Cowboy - thanks in part to a red-light block laid by Ike Holt. Nearly thirty years later, I still get goosebumps as I relive that Sunday evening.
The Atlanta game in Irving was more of a celebration, at least to me. By this point, we were making plans for January. A month earlier, who would've thunk it? It was really fun watching that bunch grow up. I don't know that I will ever have that much watching NFL football again. And if not, that's quite alright. That's how magical this time was.
