Beuerlein, Cowboys Extend Saints’ Skid : NFC: Backup who is filling in for Aikman leads Dallas to a 23-14 victory over fading New Orleans.

If Troy Aikman doesn’t return to the lineup soon, Steve Beuerlein might take the Dallas Cowboys to the playoffs without him.

Beuerlein, the former Raider quarterback, threw two touchdown passes Sunday and directed four other scoring drives, lifting the Cowboys to a 23-14 victory over the New Orleans Saints, who have lost four in a row.

“It’s fun to be a part of this,” said Beuerlein, who drifted into Al Davis’ doghouse with the Raiders and was traded in August for a fourth-round pick. “I even surprised myself with some of the moves I made out there.”

The Cowboys, who can control their own wild-card destiny by winning the rest of their games, improved to 9-5. New Orleans fell to 9-5 in the NFC West.

“Steve wasn’t with us in training camp, but he has operated the team extremely well,” Dallas Coach Jimmy Johnson said. “He has made some outstanding plays, just on ability alone.”

Once again the Saints, who once were 9-1, had a faint-hearted fourth quarter. They took a 14-13 lead with 2:30 to play in the third quarter when Steve Walsh completed four of five passes on an 80-yard drive, including a four-yard scoring toss to Gill Fenerty.

But Beuerlein, winning his third game since Aikman suffered a knee injury, took charge in the fourth.

Aikman, suited up for the first time since the injury and available for emergency duty, watched Beuerlein’s flawless performance from the sidelines.

Aikman said last week in practice “it would kill me” if he wasn’t leading the team when they reached the playoffs.

“Troy is feeling a lot better, and we’ll see how next week goes,” Johnson said. Aikman would have played Sunday only if Beuerlein and Craig Kupp were injured.

Beuerlein, from Servite High in Anaheim and Notre Dame, has said he won’t be upset if Aikman returns as the starter. “I know my place on this team,” he said.

Ken Willis kicked his third field goal of the game from 40 yards to give Dallas a 16-14 lead. Beuerlein’s 29-yard pass to Michael Irvin set up the field goal.

The Saints then drove to the Dallas 37, where on fourth and eight, Saint Coach Jim Mora opted to go for a first down instead of allowing Morten Andersen to attempt a 54-yard field goal. Walsh’s pass was broken up by Bill Bates.

“I just had a little better feeling we could get the first down,” Mora said. “I just felt it was better than trying to kick a 54-yard field goal.”

Dallas came back with a 63-yard drive, Tommie Agee scoring from four yards with two minutes to play. Beuerlein hit Irvin with a key 19-yard pass.

Mora acknowledged that the Saints dug themselves a deep hole.

“We’re not out of it, but this hurts our chances,” Mora said.

The Saints lost another cornerback when Toi Cook suffered a broken arm.

The Saints didn’t get a sack for the first time this year.

Saint linebacker Rickey Jackson said: “We’re just standing around waiting for something to happen and we need to go out and win a game.”

Beuerlein, who completed 17 of 29 passes for 184 yards, said: “Our offensive line was awesome.”

Said Irvin: “We’re lucky to have a backup like Steve with starter ability who understands his role.”

Walsh completed 26 of 39 passes for 238 yards.

The Cowboys’ Emmitt Smith rushed 27 times for 112 yards.

The Cowboys drove 78 yards for a touchdown on their first possession, with Beuerlein completing seven of nine passes for 44 yards. The payoff came when Beuerlein rolled out and found Daryl Johnston on a one-yard scoring pass.

Dallas made the score 10-0 on a 50-yard field goal by Willis.

The Saints scored late in the first half on an eight-yard pass from Walsh to Eric Martin.