No Offense, but Cowboys Still on Top

They have become America’s Drug Team, a decaying NFL icon with human frailties now overshadowing athletic brilliance, but for all that has gone wrong with the Dallas Cowboys, there will be one last hurrah.

The Cowboys, who stumbled to 1-3 to open the season after losing wide receiver Michael Irvin to a drug suspension, clinched a fifth consecutive NFC East Division title Sunday with a 12-6 victory over the New England Patriots, the league’s hottest team, before 64,578 at Texas Stadium.

Dallas has played without injured tight end Jay Novacek, and injured defensive end Charles Haley and has been handicapped by an expended Emmitt Smith this season. The Cowboys’ Troy Aikman-guided offense has sputtered, averaging only 12 points a game in its last four contests. Free agency has taken its toll, sapping the offense’s depth, and anticipated salary cap restrictions already has some key players--such as fullback Daryl Johnston--talking about playing elsewhere next season.

“I’m very concerned about this team’s offense,” said Irvin. “Concerned, scared and embarrassed. It’s flat-out embarrassing for us to be playing the way we have been playing.”

More than that, beginning with Irvin, Dallas has had to overcome its inclination to self-destruct. And a few weeks ago the Cowboys lost their best defensive player, Leon Lett, to a year-long drug suspension--the fifth player in two years to be suspended for substance abuse. Recent rumors here and around the league suggest more drug suspensions might be forthcoming.

Throw in an undisciplined Barry Switzer as head coach, and the Cowboys’ run of success, which has included three Super Bowls in the past four years, should have been derailed long ago.

“We were supposed to be dead, but somehow we resurrected ourselves and won the NFC East,” said Smith, who failed to make the Pro Bowl for the first time in his seven-year career. “This has been definitely the toughest season I have had with the Cowboys, not only physically, but mentally because of all the obstacles thrown before us.”

As long as Dallas is alive, and Jerry Jones can be seen walking the sidelines and pounding his superstars on the back, there can be no peace for any other team with designs of securing a Lombardi Trophy. The Patriots (10-5), winners of 10 of their last 13 games and the NFL’s highest scoring team, had only to score a touchdown in the second half to win the AFC East Division crown and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, but every time a big play was needed, a Cowboy made it.

“That’s why they are the world champions,” said New England cornerback Ty Law, who had two interceptions. “We had a great game plan, but hey, that’s the best defense we played all year.”

The Cowboys, ranked No. 1 on defense, made play after play. Cowboy safety Darren Woodson collected a tipped pass off the hands of New England tight end Ben Coates with Dallas clinging to a 9-6 lead, returned it 21 yards to the Patriots’ four-yard line in the third quarter and set up Chris Boniol’s fourth field goal of the game, and his 26th straight kick without a miss this season.

On New England’s next possession, Coach Bill Parcells made a daring decision to go for a first down, but Dallas safety George Teague knocked down a fourth-and-one pass at the Cowboy 45-yard line intended for Coates.

“I didn’t think we would be able to get down there again and that’s why I went for it,” Parcells said. “Yeah, after this, I think they have a very good chance of going to the Super Bowl again.”

While Parcells gambled, the Patriots did get another chance to creep into Cowboy territory. But on fourth and two at the Dallas 23 with a little more than six minutes to play, Cowboy reserve safety Roger Harper broke up another pass intended for Coates.

“The defense is playing at a championship level,” said Aikman, who had to be consoled by Switzer after completing 16 of 28 passes for 169 yards with two interceptions. “If our offense doesn’t pick it up, we’ll be out of the playoffs really early.”

The Patriots, ranked No. 29 against the pass, had the Cowboys stomping to the sideline in frustration with Smith and Irvin yelling at the coaching staff after failing to push the ball forward. And so despite the Cowboys’ success on defense, New England still had the ball with 2:33 to play and the chance to score a touchdown and bury Dallas.

But then New England wide receiver Terry Glenn slipped, and as it seems to happen with good teams, Woodson was there to make the interception.

“Our defense has the talent to shut down anyone and keep us in the game,” Woodson said, “but sooner or later our offense is going to have to put some points on the board.”

The Cowboys, while befuddled by their ineffective play on offense, will wait to the playoffs before trying again to explode. The Cowboys will play the Redskins in the last game to be played in RFK Stadium next week, but Switzer said his team will treat it as a bye--resting players like Smith--because it will have no impact on its playoff position.

“We weren’t playing well offensively in December last year,” Switzer said, “so maybe it takes 15 games and the playoffs to get going.”

A year ago, however, the Cowboys had the best record in the NFC and the home-field advantage to fall back on. Dallas now will play host to a wild-card team on the first weekend of the playoffs, but then it will have to travel and win two games on the road to represent the NFC again in the Super Bowl.

“All that matters,” said Dallas guard Nate Newton, “is that once again, we’re in the hunt.”