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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- The artistry of previous meetings between
the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys was missing. The
bitterness wasn't.
|  | | Emmitt Smith of Dallas was held to just 31 yards rushing in Sunday's loss. |
This meeting was ugly and emotional. These teams were playing
more for pride, far removed from the NFC titles they played each
other for six times in the past.
San Francisco defeated the Cowboys 41-24 Sunday, and receiver
Terrell Owens rubbed it in by going to midfield after both of his
touchdown catches to celebrate on the Cowboys' star logo.
Emmitt Smith responded to Owens' first outburst with his own
midfield celebration after a 1-yard TD just before halftime that
closed the Cowboys to 17-10.
When Owens caught a 1-yard TD pass with 4:05 left to make it
41-17, he again took off toward midfield. This time, Dallas safety
George Teague followed Owens and leveled him as he went to kneel on
the logo.
Teague was ejected.
"You don't disrespect someone in front of their home crowd, but
I guess that's his style," Smith said of Owens. "This game is
played with a lot of emotion, and it shows when you are both
winning and losing.
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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In years past, this was a classic rivalry.
These teams have met six times for the NFC title and have been involved in some great games. This wasn't one of them.
The 49ers are a young team, and this win could give them some confidence. Jeff Garcia had a strong game directing the attack and Jerry Rice came up with a performance reminiscent of those classic 49ers-Cowboys games.
For the Cowboys, there has to be major disappointment after a tremendous win last week over the Redskins.
Dave Campo has committed to Troy Aikman as his QB, but it may be that Randall Cunningham -- with his mobility and play-making ability -- could have produced more offense in this game.
Tom Donahoe, ESPN.com's NFL analyst, was formerly the Steelers' director of football operations.
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"Teague did not make a good decision by going after Owens, but
he did what he had to do, and I liked it."
San Francisco coach Steve Mariucci and Cowboys coach Dave Campo
both apologized to each other when they met at midfield after the
game. Both refused to elaborate what was said then, or to their
players after the game.
"I went to the star the first time because it was the right
part of the game and I wanted to get a spark going in my team,"
Owens said. "It was a spur of the moment thing. I guess I should
have picked my time better (on the second one). I wanted to get
back at Emmitt."
Just minutes before Teague was thrown out of the game, Dallas
cornerback Darren Woodson was also ejected. Woodson, upset that
referees didn't call a penalty when 49ers center Jeremy Newberry
stepped on his chest after the whistle blew, kicked the ball and
then threw his helmet.
San Francisco and Dallas, two teams that played each other in
six NFC championship games and have combined to play in 13 Super
Bowls, are both 1-3 this season.
"We are nowhere where we should be, but it gives us a boost,"
Mariucci said.
As for as the play on the field, Jerry Rice's two touchdown
receptions provided the only resemblance to the memorable games of
the past.
Not even Troy Aikman or Smith, who like Rice are veterans of the
three straight NFC championship games between the teams in the
mid-1990s that preceded Super Bowl titles, could turn around
Dallas' fortunes.
Aikman returned as the Dallas starter after missing two games
because of his ninth concussion. He was 14-of-25 passing for 197
yards with a touchdown, an interception and a fumble.
Smith had just 31 yards rushing on 11 attempts as the Cowboys
were beaten badly at home for the second time. The Cowboys lost
their home opener to Philadelphia 41-14.
Jeff Garcia was 16-for-26 passing for 178 yards and four
touchdowns, his third straight multi-TD game, and Charlie Garner
ran for a San Francisco record 201 yards, matching what
Philadelphia's Duce Staley did against the Cowboys just three weeks
earlier.
The 49ers scored on their first three possessions of the second
half, putting the game out of reach with a 17-play, 98-yard drive
that took more than 9½ minutes. Rice's 5-yard TD catch in the
opening minute of the fourth quarter made it 34-10.
Wade Richey's 38-yard field goal late in the first quarter gave
San Francisco a 3-0 lead. The Cowboys responded on their next drive
with Tim Seder's 40-yard field goal -- four plays after linebacker
Dexter Coakley ran 26 yards on a direct snap out of punt formation.
Tight end Jackie Harris caught two touchdown passes in the
fourth quarter for Dallas, an 11-yarder from Aikman that made it
34-17, and then a 16-yarder from third-string quarterback Clint
Stoerner with 3:28 left.
Garner and Smith had their TD runs after pass interference calls
in the end zone.
Garner's TD broke the 3-3 tie and put the 49ers ahead to stay
with 7:02 left in the first half. That came two plays after Ryan
McNeil grabbed Owens in the end zone for a 32-yard penalty.
Smith's TD run came after a 34-yard pass interference penalty
against San Francisco's Monty Montgomery.
Game
notes
Seder has made all six of his field-goal attempts for the
Cowboys. Chris Boniol has the team record for a Dallas newcomer
when he made his first nine field goals in 1994. ... Harris has
four TDs, tying his career high for a season. ... Rice has
receptions in 213 consecutive games, and his two TDs increased in
NFL career high to 182.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
San Francisco Clubhouse
Dallas Clubhouse
Niners tell taunting Terrell to sit down for a week
Teague says he'd make revenge hit again
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Troy Aikman talks about his condition and performance on Sunday against the 49ers.
RealVideo: | 28.8
 Emmitt Smith responds to Terrell Owens celebrating at mid-field.
wav: 138 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Terrell Owens is asked what coach Steve Mariucci said to him about celebrating on the field.
wav: 132 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Dave Campo does not see any light at the end of the tunnel unless Dallas improves its play.
wav: 359 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Terrell Owens explains his celebration tactics on the Dallas star.
wav: 198 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Dave Campo says apologies were in order after the game.
wav: 54 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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