Cowboys, Smith Finish Fast After Slow Start, 30-3

IRVING, Tex. —  The New York Giants stopped Emmitt Smith early, but, like everyone else, they couldn’t do it for an entire game.

Smith, smothered by an eight-man front in the first half, scored two touchdowns in a span of 2:50 during the third quarter Thursday, and the Dallas Cowboys rolled to a 30-3 victory.

Smith broke three tackles to score on a 26-yard swing pass play from Troy Aikman and went 68 yards untouched for a touchdown the next time he got the ball.

Dallas (10-2), improving to 14-7-1 on Thanksgiving Day games, can clinch a playoff berth if Tampa Bay defeats Green Bay on Sunday.

“We gave Emmitt too much room on that sideline pass, but we’re not the first team to miss a lot of tackles against him,” Giant Coach Ray Handley said. “Smith keeps coming at you.”

Smith’s best moves came on his touchdown reception on a day he rushed 17 times for 120 yards. It was the first 100-yard day against the Giants by a Dallas runner since Tony Dorsett in 1980.

Smith, who had 12 receptions for 67 yards last week against Phoenix, forced Reyna Thompson and Greg Jackson to miss him and he carried linebacker Corey Miller into the end zone for the score. Smith had six catches for 41 yards.

“I changed my shoes at halftime because the field was so slick and it really helped me cut better on that play,” Smith said.

“I decided to take myself out of the game after that (touchdown) run. We’ve had three games in 10 days. I figured it was time to rest.”

Because of injuries, the Giants (5-7) started rookie quarterback Kent Graham, who completed 12 of 28 passes for 151 yards, and was pressured by the Cowboys even after Dallas had taken a big lead.

“Blitzing a rookie quarterback after the game is out of hand is one of the unclassiest moves in pro football,” said Leonard Marshall, Giant defensive end. “We’ll remember that someday.”