Cowboys’ Pass Defense Intercepts Packers, 20-17

The Dallas Cowboys struck quickly Sunday, but the catalyst of the action was not the Cowboy offense.

Ten seconds after Ray Horton intercepted a pass from Green Bay Packer quarterback Blair Kiel and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown, Issiac Holt intercepted another pass that set up a 13-yard touchdown pass play from Troy Aikman to Jay Novacek.

The touchdowns, which came 73 seconds apart, sent the Cowboys on their way to a 20-17 victory.

The Cowboys (4-2) are off to their best start since going 6-2 in 1986.

“The interception by Horton really gave us a comfortable feeling, and then we got the other interception with them going against the wind and got the 14-point lead,” Cowboy Coach Jimmy Johnson said.

The Cowboys also recovered Kiel’s fumble in sending the Packers to their fifth loss in six games. Kiel, who completed 18 of 35 passes for 212 yards, was starting in place of injured Don Majkowski.

Emmitt Smith gained 122 yards in 32 carries for the Cowboys. Aikman completed 31 of 41 passes for 287 yards and Novacek had 11 receptions for 121 yards.

Trailing 14-0, the Packers got a 42-yard field goal on the last play of the first half and then Charles Wilson returned the second-half kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-10.

Then Green Bay was on the move for a go-ahead score with a first down at the Cowboy 14, but Kiel was sacked twice, the second time on a hit by Jim Jeffcoat that jarred the ball loose. Tony Tolbert recovered at the Dallas 29.