Chargers, Cowboys Keep Heading Separate Ways
Seldom will you hear an NFL team crow about being 2-0. Then again, it’s not too often teams start out with two victories after going 1-15 the previous season.
So it was somewhat understandable after the San Diego Chargers’ 32-21 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday that their locker room was filled with rhythmic chants of “2 and 0! 2 and 0!”
“This is really big for us,” Coach Mike Riley said. “We have long-standing scars from last season. The only way to get rid of them is to win.”
Linebacker Junior Seau, who has been with the team for the highs of reaching a Super Bowl and the low of last season, said simply, “Things are a lot different around here this year.”
After starting last season 0-11, San Diego has opened with two impressive wins. This one was tougher than the 30-3 wipeout of Washington in the opener, as a 17-0 lead was trimmed to 20-14--with Dallas driving early in the third quarter.
But the defense held and the offense answered with another touchdown. The Cowboys (0-2) remained within striking distance until an interception by Ryan McNeil with 2:35 left set up Wade Richey’s fourth field goal, a 43-yarder.
While the Cowboys may be headed toward a season like the Chargers had last year, this game will be remembered for Emmitt Smith passing Barry Sanders for second place on the NFL’s career rushing list.
Smith, needing 64 yards against a defense that gave up only 44 in the opener, reached that total with a 12-yard run off left end late in the second quarter. He finished with 85 yards, giving him 15,291 yards. He is 1,435 yards behind all-time leader Walter Payton.
“It’s a great feeling, but at the same time it’s kind of dull because we didn’t win the game,” Smith said.
San Diego’s turnaround is directly linked to a roster turnover. Among the newcomers are Richey, McNeil and Doug Flutie, who completed 23 of 38 passes for 353 yards, with touchdowns on the first two drives.
One of his touchdown passes went to Curtis Conway. His longest pass, a 78-yard play, went to Tim Dwight, who was acquired in a draft-day trade with Atlanta. Dwight also scored on a 16-yard end-around.
“All of my guys stepped up today,” said Flutie. “That’s the thing about this team, we’ve got a bunch of playmakers.”
The Cowboys, meanwhile, finally found a playmaker in Rocket Ismail, whose 80-yard scoring reception in second quarter was the Cowboys’ first touchdown in 13 quarters.
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NFL Career Rushing Leaders
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Attempts Yards Avg. TDs 1. Walter Payton 3,838 16,726 4.4 110 2. Emmitt Smith 3,567 15,291 4.3 145 3. Barry Sanders 3,062 15,269 5.0 99 4. Eric Dickerson 2,996 13,259 4.4 90 5. Tony Dorsett 2,936 12,739 4.3 77
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