The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas • Page 29

THE SALINA JOURNAL NFL SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1996 DS PLAYOFFS Cowboys overwhelm Vikings Defending Super Bowl champs capitalize on five Minnesota turnovers DENNE H. FREEMAN fhe Associated Press jt IRVING, Texas The Dallas Cowboys finally played like de'. JJBhding Super Bowl champions. Dallas discovered its missing offense, George Teague was a one- man gang on defense, and the knocked the Minnesota I Vikings out of the playoffs 40-15 in an NFC wild-card game Saturday. The Cowboys, who struggled to a 10-6 regular-season record be- fyukM fore winning the nufwro NFC East for the Vikings 15 fifth consecutive time will Play the Carolina Panthers at Charlotte at 3 p.m.

next Sunday in the NFC divisional round. "This team is still what it is and hasn't fallen out of sight," said coach Barry Switzer. "We made a statement today. We're still the team to beat for the Super Bowl." The Cowboys took out all their frustrations on the Vikings after a chaotic regular season of suspensions, injuries and underachieving performances. "We turned it up a level," Switzer said.

"We played a total offensive game, and the defense was just great. George Teague had an game. The Vikings in the biggest scoring half in Dallas playoff history as the Cowboys rolled to a 30-0 lead at intermis- 40 The Associated Press Dallas Cowboys running back Emmltt Smith rushes for a second-quarter touchdown Saturday. sion. The Cowboys forced five turnovers and cashed them into 23 points.

On offense, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith executed like they did in winning three Super Bowls in the last four Who? YOU What? Mvstcrv Tour Where? 999 When? February 5 Days $439 I think we have found just the right place and location for a unique experience and EVENT in I a town which you have probably already visited I We'll be in the same motel two of the four nights with two dinners and three breakfasts included. So join us for a couple days of fun and surprises. SURPRISE BE READY FORA GOOD Call or Write for more information 1-800-364-2320. P.O. Box 135.

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T-Bone with fan Tail Shrimp Mexican Combo Plates Rocky Mountain Oysters $16.50 $25.00 $14.00 $11.50 years. Teague made three big defensive plays to stun the Vikings, who qualified for the playoffs with a 9-7 regular season and were seeded sixth. "This time of year is what we look for," Aikman said. "We're judged by what we do in the postseason. Few wild-card teams make it.

It will be tough, not unlike this season has been for us." "This is a message for whoever has been talking trash about the Cowboys," said Smith. Smith, dogged by injuries and even benched at one time during the season, scored twice and set or tied five NFL playoff records for rushing and scoring. He rushed for 116 yards on 17 carries. Aikman ran for a touchdown, passed for one and completed 19- of-29 passes for 178 yards. He is 111 in playoff starts and is second only to Green Bay's Bart Starr in playoff ratings.

Irvin, who missed five games under NFL suspension, had his best game of the year by catching eight passes for 103 yards. "The defense has been winning games and it's time the offense got started and we did today," Irvin said. Aikman, Smith and Irvin sat out most of the fourth quarter resting for next week's game. Dallas, ranked 24th offensively in the NFL, struck on its first possession as Aikman completed four passes for 65 yards to Irvin in an 88-yard touchdown drive. The payoff came when Aikman rolled right and scored from 2 yards out.

Then came a bizarre play that took the heart out of the Vikings. Amp Lee took a short pass over the middle and appeared on the way for a 43-yard touchdown. However, Teague caught Lee at the Dallas 1 and poked the ball out of his hands and out of the end zone for a touchback. "I don't think Lee knew I was there," Teague said. "I just punched the ball out of his arms." Lee knew Teague was there and tried to tuck the ball away.

"I take full responsibility," Lee said. "That early in the game if we get seven points we make a statement. If we score there it's 7-7. they came out with a lot of emotion but we could take it away. "From that play everything snowballed against us." Chris Boniol then kicked the first of his four field goals, a 28- yarder.

Minnesota coach Dennis Green said "whatever they needed to get done offensively or defensively they got done. Green said the game turned on Lee's mistake. i Our thanks for your patronage in 1996. We look forward to serving your Travel needs in 1997. Salina Charter Coach, Inc.

Owner P.O. Box 1571, Salina, KS 67402-1571 (913)825-4410 NFL playoffs By The Associated Press Wild Cards Saturday's Results Jacksonville 30, Buffalo 27 Dallas 40, Minnesota 15 Today's Games Indianapolis at Pittsburgh, .11:30 a.m. (NBC) Philadelphia at San Francisco, 3 p.m. (FOX) Divisional Playoffs Saturday, Jan. 4 San Francisco or Philadelphia at Green Bay, 11:30 a.m.

(FOX) Jacksonville or Indianapolis at Denver, 3 p.m. (NBC) Sunday, Jan. 5 Pittsburgh or Jacksonville at New England, 11:30 a.m. (NBC) Dallas at Carolina, 3 p.m. (FOX) Conference Championships Sunday, Jan.

12 TBA Super Bowl Sunday, Jan. 26 At New Orleans TBA, 5:18 p.m. "Amp made one of the best plays of the day but got careless," Green said. Minnesota gave the Dallas the ball again when Teague hit Leroy Hoard, who fumbled to Deion Sanders. On the next play, Smith followed textbook blocking 37 yards for a touchdown.

Teague, a free agent refugee from Green Bay, struck again as Brad Johnson, making his first playoff start, threw across the middle. Teague picked off the pass and went 29 yards for a touchdown to make it 24-0. Sanders' interception off Johnson, his former Florida State teammate, set Dallas up for a 31- yard Boniol field goal. "Teague was starting to make me jealous so I had to have Sanders said. Teague set up in ambush for Johnson's pass.

"I kept hoping he would try to throw it back over the middle because I was just waiting," Teague said. "There were some balls Brad shouldn't have thrown and that was one of them," Green said. Then came another Minnesota goof. Orlando Thomas intercepted Aikman's pass but fumbled the ball back to Dallas when Herschel Walker tackled him. Dallas turned that gift into a 30-0 on Boniol's 22- yard field goal.

Boniol made it 31 consecutive field goals in the fourth quarter with a 25-yarder. The Vikings finally got on the board in the third quarter on a 30- yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Cris Carter and a 5-yard touchdown run by Johnson. Wild card teams that made It to the Super Bowl Buffalo Bills Bowl XXVII (Lost to Dallas, 52-17) N.E.Patrlota Super Bowl XX (Us to Ohlcsgo, Qaklond Raiders (Beat Philadelphia, 27-10) (Uost to Pittsburgh, New year's Eve Specials 5 pm Closed New Year's Your Choice each 12 oz. KG Strip 4 oz. Lobster Tail 8 oz.

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1 tin kiiis 111111 111111 IVluy. No iliiltlu-n I yi unel, I uutlilc.num-, sl.ow.iu I'G 13 ml.vii", ulk-l Source: NFL Record and Fact Book AP.