Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 1, 1993 TAG: 9302010110
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: IVAN MAISEL DALLAS MORNING NEWS
DATELINE: PASADENA, CALIF. LENGTH: Medium
COWBOYS CORRAL BUFFALO 52-17
After the hard work and the hype, the Dallas Cowboys made winning Super Bowl XXVII look easy. Actually, the Buffalo Bills made it look easy.The Cowboys pounced on the Bills' unceasing errors to win the National Footbal League championship 52-17 on Sunday at the Rose Bowl. The Bills committed a Super Bowl-record nine turnovers, six of which the Cowboys convertedinto touchdowns.
The Cowboys (16-3), going from worst to first in four seasons, extended the National Football Conference's winning streak to nine seasons. The last three have been lost by the Bills (14-6), a feat, or perhaps a fate, that had never happened before.
Dallas, which won Super Bowls VI and XII, became the fifth franchise to win at least three championships. The Cowboys' first two titles came during the 1970s, when the team reached the Super Bowl five times.
The Bills committed five turnovers in the first half, three of which the Cowboys converted into touchdowns en route to a 28-10 lead.
Dallas scored two touchdowns in 15 seconds of the first quarter. The Cowboys needed 18 seconds to score two touchdowns in the second quarter.
The Cowboys' defense contributed more than turnovers. Stout goal-line defense limited the Bills to three points on two second-quarter drives inside the Cowboys' 5-yard line.
The Cowboys committed several blunders in the first 10 minutes of the game. The Dallas jitters gave Buffalo an early 7-0 lead. The first mistake, at the Dallas 16, cost the Cowboys dearly.
Steve Tasker, Buffalo's All-Pro special teams player, blocked Mike Saxon's punt out of bounds.
Then, a defensive holding penalty on third down gave the Bills new life at the Cowboys' 5. Thurman Thomas rushed twice to give the Bills a 7-0 lead.
At this point, Bills fans should have turned off their sets and celebrated. Dallas quit making mistakes and made the next 20 minutes of football very, very ugly for Buffalo, including interceptions, fumbles, penalties and Dallas touchdowns.