Sunday’s script would have been rejected by Hollywood.
Mighty Joe Montana versus spunky Steve Young contained more billboard promise, more compelling theater, more uncontrived human interest.
But NBC paid too many millions in advance to be offended by the Super Bowl XXVIII rematch of Dallas and perennial bridesmaid Buffalo next Sunday at the Georgia Dome.
The Cowboys and Bills will play in the National Football League’s first back-to-back Super Bowl rematch. And the Bills will toss out their own welcome mat for an unprecedented fourth straight time, hoping this time to at least close the margin of last January’s 52-17 mismatch.
Let the hype begin.
After the Bills canceled the storybook return of Montana earlier Sunday by thrashing the Kansas City Chiefs, the Cowboys dismantled the San Francisco 49ers and Montana’s former understudy in similar fashion, cruising to a 38-21 victory in front of 64,902 fans at Texas Stadium.
Dallas coach Jimmy Johnson guaranteed a victory earlier in the week on a local radio show and dutifully made his players fulfill his promise in convincing fashion.
“I was really doing it for our football team,” Johnson said. “One of the reasons I made the comment earlier in the week was that I wanted our team to respond to the challenge . . . the underlying attitude that we were not going to have any excuses. The bottom line was win and we go to the Super Bowl.”
The Cowboys dominated the 49ers with the darting running and adroit pass-catching of Emmitt Smith, who showed no signs of favoring the shoulder he separated a few weeks ago and reaggravated in the playoff win over Green Bay last week.
Smith rushed 23 times for 88 yards and one touchdown and caught seven passes for 85 yards and another score.
Quarterback Troy Aikman completed 14 of 18 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns before being sacked and catching a knee to the head. He left the game with a concussion. He was replaced by Bernie Kosar, who was 5 of 9 for 83 yards and one TD.
Aikman, who is 5-0 as a playoff starter with a 116.9 passer rating, was taken to Baylor Medical Center for overnight observation.
“Troy just wasn’t sure about the plays (along the sideline) and he was dazed,” said Johnson. “Bernie came in and played super.”
The Cowboys whipped the 49ers for the third straight time and second in a row in the NFC title game.
“I don’t think anybody in a million years thought it would be this type of a ballgame,” said 49ers coach George Seifert. “We just met up with a team that played a great football game in all phases.”
The Dallas defense held the NFL’s top-rated offense in check when it counted. Running back Ricky Watters (37 yards on 12 carries), who ran for five touchdowns against the New York Giants a week ago, was a non-factor Sunday. So was Pro Bowl wide receiver Jerry Rice, who caught six passes for 83 yards but no TDs.
“Johnson’s comment was insane, but I guess it was accurate,” said Rice.
Young was 27 of 45 for 287 yards and one TD. He was intercepted once and sacked four times.
The Cowboys took a 7-0 lead on their opening drive, marching 75 yards in 11 plays. A 5-yard run by Smith capped the drive.
San Francisco lost defensive tackle Ted Washington with a broken left leg during the drive.
The 49ers retaliated with an impressive nine-play, 80-yard drive. Young passed 7 yards to fullback Tom Rathman for a TD on the first play of the second quarter.
Dallas went on to score three unanswered touchdowns to take a 28-7 halftime lead. Fullback Daryl Johnston ran 4 yards for a TD, an Aikman pass of 11 yards found Smith wide open for another score, then Aikman passed 19 yards to Pro Bowl tight end Jay Novacek for a touchdown with :58 left in the half.
“That was a tremendous effort by our team and coaching staff. We played extremely well in all phases of the game,” said Johnson.
But then again, Johnson seemed to know that would happen several days before anyone else.
