Walker, Eagle Defense Run Over Cowboys, 31-7

Before Monday night’s game against Dallas, Herschel Walker dodged questions about his desire for revenge against the Cowboys for trading him.

Then he went out and dodged the Cowboys, scoring touchdowns on runs of nine and 16 yards and rushing for 86 yards in 19 carries as he and the Philadelphia defense combined to beat Dallas, 31-7, in a game between the NFC’s last two unbeaten teams.

That defense, led by linebackers Seth Joyner, Byron Evans and William Thomas, got four turnovers--three interceptions and a fumble recovery--that led to three touchdowns and denied the Cowboys another. The Eagles broke away with three touchdowns in the final 20 minutes.

“Philadelphia is the most talented team in the league,” Dallas Coach Jimmy Johnson said. “They force you into mistakes. Nothing they did surprised me. They’re too good a team to come back on.”

Said Philadelphia Coach Rich Kotite: “We were swarming to the ball. We were playing smart, particularly in the second half. We played the game the way it’s meant to be played.”

Walker continued to dodge the Dallas question after the game.

“This was just another football game,” he said. “As I said when I joined the team in preseason, my mission is to help this team win and go 16-0 if possible.”

It was just another chapter in the sad saga of Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman against the Eagles, who lead the NFC East with a 4-0 record. The Cowboys fell to 3-1.

Aikman, sacked 11 times by the Eagles in Dallas last year and knocked out of a game here two years ago with a separated shoulder, was flushed from the pocket by Reggie White on the first play of the game and forced to ground the ball, setting a pattern.

Two plays later, John Booty intercepted a pass over the middle, returned it to the 14 and set up a two-yard bootleg for a touchdown by Randall Cunningham.

The most important turnover came with Dallas at third and goal at the Eagle two, behind, 10-7. Aikman rolled right and threw toward the end zone. The ball was deflected by Thomas into the hands of Wes Hopkins.

Midway through the third quarter, Joyner hit Aikman’s arm as he threw and Evans intercepted the ball and took it back 12 yards to the Dallas 45.

Eight plays later, Walker went nine yards into the end zone to make it 17-7.

He scored again in the fourth quarter from 16 yards out four plays after after Evans knocked the ball loose from Daryl Johnston.