Cowboy Season Is Off Like a Rocket

In the history of the Dallas Cowboys-Washington Redskins rivalry, give this game four stars--and color them blue and silver.

Dallas matched its biggest comeback ever Sunday, rallying from a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Washington, 41-35, on Rocket Ismail’s 76-yard touchdown catch in overtime.

Ismail, signed as a free agent to add speed to the receiving corps, split the safeties and was wide open for Troy Aikman’s fifth touchdown pass 4:09 into the extra period.

“I think this is probably the wildest game I’ve ever been a part of,” said Aikman, who was 28 for 49 for 362 yards, with three interceptions.

Dallas rallied from 21 points down to win, 30-27, in overtime against New Orleans in 1984. It was also the third time the Cowboys have made up a big deficit to beat the Redskins, coming back from 20 points down in 1983 and 17 in 1979.

The Cowboys trailed, 35-14, going into the fourth quarter, but sent the game into overtime on Michael Irvin’s 12-yard reception with 1:46 left. The extra point by Richie Cunningham hit the left upright before going through.

Washington had a chance to win the game on the last play of regulation, but holder Matt Turk fumbled the snap on what would have been a 41-yard field-goal attempt by Brett Conway.

The loss hit the Redskins hard. They collapsed in last year’s season-opener against the New York Giants and then lost their next six in a row.

“Having things fall apart, especially in a big game like this, it was a hard loss,” defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson said. “We’re by no means going to throw in the towel, but this hurts right down to your heart.”

New Redskin owner Dan Snyder, who bought the team this year for $800 million, has also has demanded that Coach Norv Turner make the playoffs or else. “I don’t think the owner was putting $800 million on this game,” cornerback Darrell Green said. “I haven’t prepared the entire off-season just for this one game. I’m in it for the long haul.”

With Deion Sanders, Kevin Smith, Leon Lett and Quentin Coryatt missing from the Dallas defense, Washington had no problems moving the ball for three quarters.

The Redskins were in Cowboy territory on nine of their first 10 possessions, failing to score only when Stephen Davis and Brad Johnson both lost fumbles inside the 15 in the first half.

Picking on reserve cornerbacks Kevin Mathis and Charlie Williams, Johnson--in his Redskin debut--completed 22 of 30 passes for 382 yards with touchdowns of 41 yards to Michael Westbrook and 50 yards to Albert Connell. Davis had his first 100-yard rushing game--109--and two touchdowns in 24 carries.

The Cowboys were down 35-14 before they scored on Emmitt Smith’s 1-yard run with 10:43 to go in the game.

Dallas then recovered an onside kick, but had to punt. On their next possession, the Cowboys drove 66 yards to score on a 37-yard touchdown pass to Irvin with 3:51 left, closing to 35-28.

Irvin had two touchdown catches--one more than he had all last season. Three receivers had career highs in yards receiving: Westbrook (159), Connell (137) and Ismail (149).