Fans of America's Team have seen some of the greatest plays in NFL history. Here we cover the franchise's 25 best, according to Dallas Cowboys Star Magazine. Today we continue with play No. 24.
In June 2011, Dallas Cowboys Star Magazine decided to count down the best of the best, the top 25 plays in franchise history. Obviously, this wasn't the easiest of tasks, but some 30,000-plus words later, we feel pretty good about the results. Now here in a 25-part summer series, we share our list for one and all. Without further ado, we continue with No. 24, and a snippet from the Dallas Cowboys Star Magazine story:
24) Riding a Rocket, Sept. 12, 1999:
A perfectly-executed play-action to Emmitt Smith leads to a wide-open Raghib "Rocket" Ismail taking a Troy Aikman pass 76 yards for the game-winning touchdown in overtime as the Cowboys defeated the host Washington Redskins, 41-35, in the season opener. Dallas had trailed 35-14 with 11 minutes remaining.
The key to the play, which came on third-down-and-2 on the first possession of the extra session, was the hard sell of a fake handoff to Emmitt Smith, who had rushed for 109 yards and a score. The defense bit, bought the play-action hook, line and sinker, and really, why not? How many times had opposing defenses seen the Cowboys do just that when needing two yards. Not to mention, has there ever been a better option in the backfield in the history of the league on third-and-2? Perhaps Jim Brown, but that's more or less the list.
While breaking the huddle before what would-be the game-winning snap, Smith said to Ismail, "Get it."
He did.
