Star receiver Michael Irvin was suspended by the league for the first five games and before the playoffs was accused along with lineman Erik Williams of sexual assault.
Adding to their difficulties, star wide receiver Michael Irvin was suspended for the first five games due to his highly publicized off-season incidents.
Star cornerback Deion Sanders became the first player in the modern era of the NFL to start several games on both offense and defense.
In overtime a big Emmitt Smith run set up Chris Boniol's winning field goal.
Also, with the win against the Miami Dolphins at Joe Robbie Stadium, this was the first time the Cowboys franchise won a football game in South Florida.
Dallas’ season as defending champions got off to a terrible start between the five-game suspension of Michael Irvin and a poor performance by Troy Aikman with two interceptions and just 21 passes completed.
At home the Cowboys rebounded by intercepting Giants quarterback Dave Brown three times and limiting him to just 55 yards.
Chris Boniol booted the ball for the 57-yard field goal but it bounced off the crossbar; asked in post game about his range he said it was “fifty-six and a half.” Following an ugly loss at Pittsburgh the week before the Bills had to start young Todd Collins in injured Jim Kelly's stead hosting the team that had denied them in two Super Bowls.
The Bills defense took over; Troy Aikman was intercepted three times and he suffered an ankle injury on his final throw as he was sandwiched by Bruce Smith and Shawn Price.
Returning to the site of the controversial twin attempt to convert a late 4th down the year before, the Cowboys fell behind 10-0 then raced to lead 20-10 and ultimately won 23–19 in a game with seven turnovers, five of them by the Eagles.
After an exchange of punts the Cowboys in the final 2:46 needed just one minute and a 60-yard Troy Aikman touchdown to Kelvin Martin to ultimately win 32–28.
But Jimmy Johnson, questioned incessantly all week about his former team, could only watch as his Dolphins collapsed from a 10–6 lead in the second to a 29–10 loss.
Seven Chris Boniol field goals were more than enough to beat the Packers 21–6, but the game was marred by a sideline argument between Switzer and head trainer Mike Woicik.
A 20–6 loss to the now-5-7 Giants in which the Cowboys yet again failed the score a touchdown left Dallas still on course for the NFC East but eliminated from a playoff bye.
Emmitt Smith rammed in three touchdowns, the first for Dallas since the San Francisco game, in a 21–10 win over a Redskins team in free fall after starting 7–1.
Aikman had a touchdown to Irvin while George Teague and Darren Woodson picked off Boomer Esiason in a 10-6 Dallas win.