Super Bowl XXVII

The game

The Bills' Super Bowl record 9 turnovers -- 4 interceptions and 5 lost fumbles -- led to their third consecutive Super Bowl loss. The Cowboys lost 2 fumbles themselves, tying the Super Bowl record for the most turnovers by both teams in a game (the Cowboys and the Baltimore Colts also committed a combined 11 turnovers in Super Bowl V).

Related Topics:
Baltimore Colts - Super Bowl V

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Things started out well in the beginning for Buffalo. Early in the first quarter, Bills special teams expert Steve Tasker blocked a punt that went out of bounds at the Cowboys 16-yard line. Four plays later, Bills running back Thurman Thomas scored on a 2-yard touchdown run, giving Buffalo a 7-0 lead.

Related Topics:
Steve Tasker - Thurman Thomas

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Then the turnovers started to happen. With 4:40 left in the first half, Dallas safety James Washington intercepted a pass from Buffalo quarterback Jim Kelly and returned it to the Bills' 47-yard line. The Cowboys then tied the game with quarterback Troy Aikman's 23-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jay Novacek.

Related Topics:
James Washington - Jim Kelly - Troy Aikman - Jay Novacek

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On the Bills' next play, Dallas defensive end Charles Haley forced Kelly to fumble. Cowboys defensive tackle Jimmie Jones picked the ball out of the air at the 2-yard line and scored a touchdown to give his team a 14-7 lead. Dallas had scored 2 touchdowns in a span of 15 seconds, the fastest pair in Super Bowl history.

Related Topics:
Charles Haley - Jimmie Jones

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Within a minute into the second quarter, wide receiver Andre Reed's 40-yard completion helped the Bills to advance the ball inside the Dallas 5-yard line. But the Bills failed to get into the end zone with 3 rushing attempts, and after deciding to "go for it" on fourth down, Kelly's pass was intercepted by safety Thomas Everett.

Related Topics:
Andre Reed - Thomas Everett

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Kelly was knocked out of the game on Buffalo's next drive after reinjuring his knee that he sprained earlier in the playoffs. Backup quarterback Frank Reich, who had lead the Bills to 2 of their 3 playoff victories including a successful comeback from a 35-3 deficit in their wild card playoff game against the Houston Oilers, took Kelly's place.

Related Topics:
Wild card playoff game - Houston Oilers

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Reich started out well, completing his first 2 passes, including a 38-yard completion to Reed to advance the ball to the Dallas 22-yard line. But the Cowboys halted the drive on third and 1 at the 4-yard line, forcing the Bills to settle for Steve Christie's 21-yard field goal to cut their deficit to 14-10 with 3:24 left in the half. The Cowboys then stormed down the field on their next possession, scoring in just 7 plays, with running back Emmitt Smith's 38-yard gain followed up by a 19-yard touchdown pass from Aikman to wide receiver Michael Irvin. On the first play of the Bills' ensuing drive, Thomas fumbled the ball and the Cowboys recovered it at the Bills 18-yard line. Aikman then threw his second touchdown pass to Irvin to give the Cowboys a 28-10 lead by halftime.

Related Topics:
Steve Christie - Emmitt Smith - Michael Irvin

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Both teams had trouble scoring in the third quarter. Dallas could only get a field goal to make the score 31-10. But on the period's final play, Reich threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Bills receiver Don Beebe to narrow the score 31-17. Despite committing 5 first half turnovers, the Bills only trailed 14 points going into the final period. And after their comeback from the 32-point deficit in the playoffs, a 14-point comeback seemed perfectly within their capabilities.

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But early in the fourth quarter, Aikman threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Alvin Harper. Then Reich threw an interception that led to another touchdown on Emmitt Smith's 10-yard run. Later in the period, Reich fumbled a high snap while in a shotgun formation. Linebacker Ken Norton Jr recovered the loose ball and returned it for a touchdown, increasing the Cowboys lead to 52-17.

Related Topics:
Alvin Harper - Shotgun formation - Ken Norton Jr

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The most inspirational moment of the game came well after the Cowboys' lead had become insurmountable. Late in the fourth quarter, Dallas defensive lineman Leon Lett picked up a Bills fumble and appeared to be headed for a 64-yard touchdown. As Lett started to showboat just before crossing the goal line, Beebe raced in from behind and knocked the ball out of Lett's arm and into the end zone. The ball then rolled out of bounds for a touchback. This play showed that even in this era of overcommercialization in sports, some people still play for pride. If Lett had scored the touchdown, it would have given the Cowboys a Super Bowl record 59 points in the game.

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Smith was the top rusher of the game, rushing for 108 yards and a touchdown, while also catching 6 passes for 27 yards. Irvin was the Cowboys' leading receiver with 6 receptions for 114 yards and 2 touchdowns. Novacek added 7 receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown. Reich and Kelly combined for 22 out of 38 completions for 276 yards and a touchdown, but also 4 interceptions. Thomas, who gained 2,113 combined rushing and receiving yards during the season, was held to just 29 combined rushing and receiving yards in the game. Reed was the Bills's top receiver with 8 receptions for 152 yards. Bills running back Kenneth Davis was their leading rushing with 86 yards.

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Scoring summary

• BUF- T. Thomas 2 run (Christie kick)
• DAL- Novacek 23 pass from Aikman (Elliott kick)
• DAL- J. Jones 2 def. fumble rec. (Elliott kick)
• BUF- FG Christie 21
• DAL- Irvin 19 pass from Aikman (Elliott kick)
• DAL- Irvin 18 pass from Aikman (Elliott kick)
• DAL- FG Elliott 20
• BUF- Beebe 40 pass from Reich (Christie kick)
• DAL- Harper 45 pass from Aikman (Elliott kick)
• DAL- E. Smith 10 run (Elliott kick)
• DAL- Norton 9 def. fumble rec. (Elliott kick)