If you were around to watch the Cowboys in 1993 (actually, January 2, 1994), you know already that the greatest game by a Dallas Cowboys running back took place at the Meadowlands by Emmitt Smith. Below are a couple of videos that focus on that game. The first clip is from the America’s Game feature of the 1993 Cowboys. The second shows clips from the original broadcast. The story of the game is at the bottom of this post.

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Bringing It All Home

After 64 regular-season quarters, nothing had been resolved. The Cowboys and New York Giants remained in a dead heat on the season’s final Sunday with only overtime to reveal the NFC East champion.

Most everything seemed to be going in New York’s favor. Having recovered from a 13-point halftime deficit, the Giants had the momentum, they had the home crowd and they even had the ball first. All Dallas had on its side was a one-armed running back.

In the end, Emmitt Smith outweighed all of the Giants’ weapons. Smith produced 41 of Dallas’ 52 yards on its one overtime possession. Then Eddie Murray’s 41-yard field goal with 4:16 left in overtime provided Dallas with a 16-13 victory before a record crowd of 77,356 (79 no-shows) at Giants Stadium.

“It was a heavyweight fight,” Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson said. “And it was a hell of a heavyweight fight.”

Then let Smith wear the title belt for the next two weeks, as long as it doesn’t place any undue strain on his shoulder. Smith sustained a first-degree separation (the least serious) of his right shoulder just before halftime. That didn’t keep him from his busiest day as a professional. Smith ran 32 times for 168 yards, earning his third consecutive league rushing title in the process, and caught 10 balls for another 61 yards. Of his 229 total yards, Smith gained 78 after the injury.

“I came in with the intention of doing whatever it took to win,” said Smith. “At halftime, the injury was pretty rough. I had to make a decision. I wanted to keep playing.”

Smith won’t have to worry about being ready to play for two weeks. The 12-4 Cowboys will play host to a playoff game the weekend of Jan. 15-16 against Green Bay, Minnesota or the Giants. Cowboys’ physicians said they will prescribe ice and rest for Smith the next few days, and he probably will be X-rayed again in Dallas. Having played with the injury Sunday, it’s likely he’ll be ready to go again in 12 or 13 days.

In winning the NFC East for the second consecutive season, the Cowboys also earned the luxury of playing at home throughout the NFC playoffs. New York, despite having the second-best record in the conference, must play host to a wild-card game next weekend against the Vikings.

“I think this will take away from people saying we’d fall on our face this year,” said Johnson. “We won the division two years in a row. I don’t know how far we’re going to go now, but I like our chances.”

By halftime Sunday, the Cowboys appeared to have a lock on the division title. With Smith running for 109 yards and catching a five-yard touchdown pass from Troy Aikman, Dallas led, 13-0. Aikman was on his way to an outstanding afternoon as well, eventually completing 80 percent of his passes (24-for-30, 180 yards) for the second straight game.

But after managing just two first downs in the opening half and handling the ball for fewer than eight minutes, New York got its league-leading ball-control act into gear. Rookie Kevin Williams provided the Giants with their first break when he made a daring dash for the ball on a bouncing punt that resulted in a fumble at Dallas’ 39-yard line.

“If it hadn’t taken a wicked bounce, I’d have been out the door,” Williams said. “Like coach told me, ‘You don’t play with scared money.’ ”

Johnson was willing to overlook Williams’ mistake, but the Giants were ready to capitalize. They covered the 39 yards in 11 plays, with fullback Jarrod Bunch diving in from a yard out to make it 13-7.

The New York defense made a good step on the next series with defensive end Keith Hamilton batting away a third-down pass to force a punt. Then Rodney Hampton made the key plays for the Giants’ offense, including a 34-yard pass reception down the right side with end Charles Haley in pursuit. New York settled for a 29-yard David Treadwell field goal to make it 13-10 with 1:20 to go in the third quarter.

At this point, the Cowboys knew there were two heavyweights on the field.

“They came at us with renewed vengeance in the second half,” said guard Nate Newton. “But we had been there before.”

The Cowboys hadn’t been to overtime for two years (not including pre-season) but that’s where the Giants were taking them. With 5:35 to play, starting from their 17, the Giants worked their way to the Dallas 14, from where Treadwell tied the score on a 31-yard kick with 10 seconds left.

That sent the game to overtime, in which New York’s first possession was pretty much stopped by a 15-yard chop-block penalty on Brian Williams. After the Giants’ punt, Johnson asked Smith once more if he could go.

“He said, ‘Let me play until I can’t play,’ ” Johnson said.

And Smith played until no one had to play any more.