ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, December 23, 1996 football TAG: 9612230168
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
For the last time on a Sunday afternoon, RFK Stadium rocked and rolled to the strains of ``We hate Dallas!''
The possibility of a fairy-tale ending for the Washington Redskins at their home of 35 years was ruined Dec.15 when they were eliminated from the playoff race, and Dallas made it easy Sunday by playing its second-stringers. But the result was the best the home team could do under the circumstances: a 37-10 rout of the archrival Cowboys.
The victory matched the Redskins' biggest margin against their fiercest rival, equalling a 41-14 blowout at RFK in 1986. The crowd of 56,454 spent the fourth quarter serenading the Cowboys, and, after the game, thousands overwhelmed police and invaded the field.
For the record, the NFL's tenure at what had become the smallest stadium in the league ended at 7:01 p.m., when Ken Harvey tackled Herschel Walker on the worn grass at the Dallas 45-yard line. Next year, the Redskins will move into a 78,600-seat facility in Raljon, Md.
Before the final snap, Terry Allen ran for three touchdowns and Scott Blanton kicked three field goals as the Redskins (9-7), whose second-half slide left them without a postseason berth despite a 7-1 start, completed a winning season for the first time since 1992.
Individual consolation prizes went to Allen, who broke John Riggins' team single-season rushing mark; Henry Ellard, who moved past Steve Largent into third place on the league's career receptions list; and Brian Mitchell, who became the third player in NFL history to lead the league in combined net yards for three consecutive seasons. Jim Brown (1958-61) and Gale Sayers (1965-67) are the other players to accomplish the feat.
``The fans don't care who you beat,'' Mitchell said. ``As long as you beat Dallas. You can say second-team this and second-team that, but we are all NFL football players.''
The Cowboys (10-6), already assured of the NFC East Division title, rested offensive stars Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Mark Tuinei and Eric Bjornson.
Dallas had failed to score a touchdown in three of the previous five games, so it wasn't surprising the ``B'' team that included Wade Wilson, Sherman Williams, George Hegamin and Tyji Armstrong was able to generate only 235 total yards.
``The game didn't mean anything,'' said Barry Switzer, the Cowboys' coach. ``I didn't want to extend our players. We were in the playoffs. No one cares.''
Dallas, which will play host to Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs Saturday, did start most of its first-team defense, although Deion Sanders left after the first series when he appeared to aggravate his sore back while covering Michael Westbrook on a routine play.
``It's cool,'' Sanders said of his back after the game.
The Redskins also fielded an undermanned offense, with Bob Dahl, Marc Logan and Leslie Shepherd out because of injuries, but they had their highest scoring output of the year and had more than two touchdowns in a game for the first time in seven weeks. Gus Frerotte completed 22 of 31 passes for a career-high 346 yards, and Allen carried 26 times for 87 yards to finish with 1,353 yards on the season.
Two of Allen's touchdowns were set up by long passes to Ellard, who caught seven passes for 155 yards. Not only did he pass Largent on the all-time list, but he also joined James Lofton as the only two players with 1,000-yard seasons at age 35 or older.
For the Cowboys, kicker Chris Boniol broke his own team record by making his 27th consecutive field-goal attempt, and Walker's late 39-yard run was Dallas' lone touchdown. But those two achievements were about the only bright spots on the Dallas stat sheet.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. The Redskins' Brian Mitchell is tripped by Cowboysby CNBsafety Charlie Williams during Washington's 37-10 victory Sunday at
RFK Stadium.