Cowboys inspired by class of Cunningham

Randall Cunningham threw two touchdown passes as the Dallas Cowboys avoided their worst start since 1989 by serving their arch-rivals, the Washington Redskins, a demoralising 27-21 defeat in front of a record crowd of 84,431 in the American capital on Monday night.

Randall Cunningham threw two touchdown passes as the Dallas Cowboys avoided their worst start since 1989 by serving their arch-rivals, the Washington Redskins, a demoralising 27-21 defeat in front of a record crowd of 84,431 in the American capital on Monday night.

"It was a big-time win for us." the Dallas running back Emmitt Smith said. The Cowboys have now beaten Washington six times in a row while gaining their first away victory in 10 games. Their last away win was also in Washington, in the opening game of 1999.

The confrontation between Deion Sanders and his former team fizzled as he had little impact, although he did rouse the crowd before each of his punt returns by gesturing to the skies and jumping up and down in his "Prime Time" style.

Sanders, a Cowboy for the previous five seasons, suffered the ultimate indignity early in the fourth quarter. He got the crowd on its feet before a punt only to muff the catch and fall on the ball as boos cascaded from the triple-tiered stadium.