Cowboys Thrash Cardinals Gain Home-Field Advantage For Nfc Playoffs Over Niners

The Dallas Cowboys earned home-field rights throughout the conference playoffs, and got Emmitt Smith one of the NFL’s most prized records in the process.

Smith had the NFL rushing title wrapped up before Monday night’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. But he needed one touchdown to break the league record of 24 in a season, set by Washington’s John Riggins in 1983.

Smith’s 3-yard scoring run came with 5:49 left in the 37-13 victory, the final game of the NFL’s regular season.

“When we got down to the 20, Troy (Aikman) said we should make a rushing touchdown,” Smith said. “The coaches said we should make a rushing touchdown. And the receivers said we should make a rushing touchdown. In my mind, I definitely thought we needed a rushing touchdown.”

Kevin Williams of the Cowboys closed his third year in the league with a career day, catching touchdown passes of 25 and 48 yards from Troy Aikman among his nine grabs for 203 yards.

Brock Marion contributed to the Cowboys’ quick start by returning an interception 32 yards for a TD in the first quarter.

The right to play at home until the Super Bowl was the only thing at stake for the Cowboys (12-4), who claimed their fourth straight NFC East title and got next week off when Chicago beat Philadelphia on Sunday.

Arizona’s Larry Centers caught 12 passes to set the NFL season record for receptions by a running back. He finished the game with 101, surpassing Roger Craig’s 10-year-old standard of 92 in the first half.