Cowboys Avoid Ambush

The Dallas Cowboys almost got caught looking ahead to Miami and Jimmy Johnson.

It took Troy Aikman’s 60-yard touchdown pass to Kelvin Martin with 1:42 left Sunday to rally the 15-point favorite Cowboys to a 32-28 victory over the winless Atlanta Falcons at Irving, Texas.

The Cowboys, who advanced to a 4-3 record, are heading for a showdown in Miami against Johnson, their former coach. The Falcons dropped to 0-7, the second-worst start in franchise history, surpassed only by their 0-9 start in 1966, the team’s first year.

“We had to have this game,” Aikman said. “A lot will be made out of our game against Jimmy, but it doesn’t matter who we’re going to play. We’re 4-3 and can’t afford to lose to anybody. “

Aikman added, “I’m proud of the way we rallied. This was the reason I wanted us to go after K-Mart after Michael Irvin got suspended.”

Martin, a former Cowboy who played at Seattle and Philadelphia when the Cowboys wouldn’t match his salary figures, returned to Dallas as a free agent just before the season, playing for the minimum.

“Troy still has a lot of confidence in me,” Martin said. “This was a good way for me to pay him back. The defense had carried us for six games. It was time we (the offense) won one. I’ve still got a little bit left in me. Nobody caught me until I scored.”

Dallas owner Jerry Jones said, “The Miami game wouldn’t have meant much if we didn’t win today. We know Miami will be inspired by that coach down there… . I can’t think of his name.”

Jones fired Johnson after the team won two Super Bowls.

Eagles 35, Dolphins 28

Irvin Fryar, who went to Philadelphia after coach Jimmy Johnson told him he wasn’t a part of Miami’s future, caught four touchdown passes from Ty Detmer as the Eagles beat Johnson’s Dolphins at Philadelphia.

Ricky Watters chipped in with 173 yards on 25 carries, including a 49-yard touchdown run with 2:28 left in the game that gave the Eagles a 35-21 lead.

Redskins 31, Giants 21

Terry Allen scored three touchdowns and Darrell Green returned an interception 68 yards for another score in the first half to give Washington a 28-0 halftime lead that was enough to hold off a furious New York rally at Washington.

Broncos 45, Ravens 34

John Elway threw three touchdown passes to Ed McCaffrey and ran for another score, and Terrell Davis ran for a club-record 194 yards and two TDs as Denver held off visiting Baltimore.

Vinny Testaverde brought the Ravens back from a 28-14 halftime deficit, throwing three TD passes in a furious third-quarter rally, to give Baltimore its only lead, 34-31.

Oilers 23, Steelers 13

With the largest home crowd of the season (50,122) cheering its approval, Houston ended a five-game losing streak to Pittsburgh and tied the Steelers atop the AFC Central Division standings.

Panthers 19, Saints 7

Anthony Johnson, filling in as Tshimanga Biakabutuka recovers from season-ending knee surgery, had his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game to lead Carolina past New Orleans at Charlotte, N.C.

Patriots 27, Colts 9

Curtis Martin ran for two touchdowns and New England turned two Indianapolis fumbles into TDs to win on the road.

Bills 25, Jets 22

At East Rutherford, N.J., Buffalo’s second straight poor performance was good enough to hand New York its eighth consecutive loss thanks to Steve Christie’s sixth field goal, a 47-yarder with 10 seconds to go.

Rams 17, Jaguars 14

Anthony Parker scored his second defensive touchdown in two weeks on one of his team’s five interceptions as St. Louis ended a five-game losing streak with its home victory over Jacksonville.

Cardinals 13, Buccaneers 9

Matt Darby, acquired in the offseason from Buffalo, blocked an extra point after Tampa Bay’s only touchdown, and Tommy Bennett stopped the Buccaneers on two key fourth-quarter plays to preserve Phoenix’s win at Tempe, Ariz.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Sunday’s best < Quarterbacks Mark Brunell 37-52-421-1-5 Vinny Testaverde 27-45-338-4-1 John Elway 25-39-326-3-1

Running backs Terrell Davis 28-194-2 Ricky Watters 25-173-21 Anthony Johnson 29-123-0

Receivers Keenan McCardell 16-232-0 Shannon Sharpe 9-161-0 Charles Johnson 5-155-1