ABC MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: DALLAS COWBOYS VS. NEW YORK GIANTS (TV)
Summary
One in this seasonal series of weekly football games. This match, broadcast live from Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, pits the Dallas Cowboys against the New York Giants. The game features the broadcast crew of Al Michaels, Boomer Esiason, Dan Dierdorf and sideline reporter Lesley Visser. Following the program's traditional music-video montage opening number, the program begins with "Monday Night Blast" from the ESPN Zone in Baltimore. Host Chris Berman begins by wondering if Giants coach Jim Fassel can continue his impressive record against the NFC East before speaking with Michaels about the night's game. Then, in "Outside the Zone," Frank Gifford discusses the career of Cowboys back-up quarterback Jason Garrett, who is replacing the injured Troy Aikman for the game. Next, a segment examines Giants linebacker Jesse Armstead. Then, Esiason and Dierdorf assess the Cowboys' chances in the night's game. Next, "Spin City" star Michael J. Fox visits the Giants' training facility to examine the life of football players by trying out their training practice. Before the game begins, Visser speaks with the injured Aikman, asking about his health and wondering when he expects to be back playing. The Giants and their quarterback Danny Kanell start the game with the ball. However, they are only able to pick up a single first down and are forced to punt to the Cowboys' flamboyant, game-breaking return man Deion Sanders. On that ensuing drive, the Cowboys are unable to pick up many yards and are forced to punt as well. The quarter continues with neither team able to get much traction on their drives. Later, Visser discusses how Garrett's father, Jim, is not in attendance at Giants Stadium, but rather watching the game from his home so that he won't put extra pressure on his son. The opening quarter ends with the score 0-0 and the Giants' ball at their own 31.
After the Giants are forced to punt, Brad Maynard kicks a short one and Deion Sanders makes a remarkable return, scrambling for a touchdown to help give the Cowboys a 7-0 lead. Afterward, Visser tells a story about Danny Kanell being recruited to Florida State with a little help from Sanders. Later, Dierdorf notices that Sanders appears to be ailing on the sidelines, unable to return to action. The teams continue to struggle in the second quarter with brief drives, numerous penalties, and a lot of punting. With 9:22 to go in the half, there has been a total of ten drives, all of which have ended in punts. Michaels notes that the NFL record for punts is thirty-one between both teams. Later, Visser discusses how Kanell's baseball coach as a youth was former Los Angeles Dodgers' legend Tommy John. Eventually, the Giants get a little momentum, finally crossing midfield behind Tyrone Wheatley's strong runs. That drive ends with Kanell "threading the needle" in a touchdown pass to Amani Toomer. Brad Daluiso tacks on the extra point to even the score at 7-7. On the ensuing Cowboys' drive, a mix-up in the Giants' secondary leads to Jason Garrett completing a 80-yard touchdown to Billy Davis to help regain the lead at 14-7. On the next Giants' drive, Kevin Mathis intercepts Kanell, giving the Cowboys terrific field position as the two-minute warning approaches. That drive ends with Richie Cunningham banging home a 41-yard field goal with seven seconds on the clock. The half ends with the Cowboys up 17-7. At halftime, during the "Lexus Halftime Show," Chris Berman presents ESPN's Top 10 Plays of the Week.
The conclusion of the halftime show features Willie Nelson performing a reworked song in tribute to the 29th season of "Monday Night Football." The second half begins with the Giants, trailing by ten points, kicking off to the Cowboys. Visser reports on the status of Deion Sanders and star running back Emmitt Smith's injuries, with Sanders thinking he can play in the second half and Smith still on the fence due to a pulled groin muscle. She also reports that Giants head coach Jim Fassel is "disgusted" by the plays of his offensive line. On the Giants' first possession of the third quarter, they are forced to punt to Sanders -- who is finally able to return to play -- but this time he is unable to field the punt. However, on the ensuing drive, Sanders make a rare appearance as a wide receiver and makes a stunning catch on a long bomb from Jason Garrett. That drive results in an 18-yard touchdown jaunt from Sherman Williams, helping push the Cowboys lead to 24-7. On the next Giants' drive, Leon Lett injures himself after a remarkable sack of Danny Kanell. The ensuing Cowboys' drive ends in Richie Cunningham shanking his field goal attempt. Later in the third, Cowboys special teams player Nate Hemsley, a rookie out of Syracuse, severely injures himself on punt return coverage. The quarter ends with another magnificent punt return from Sanders, pushing the ball deep into Giants' territory. The fourth quarter begins with the Cowboys having a first and 10 on the Giants' 35-yard line. However, that drive results in a Cowboys pooch punt, penning in the Giants near their end zone. Later, Visser speaks on the sidelines with New York Mets star Mike Piazza about his team's playoff hopes, and why he's rooting for Sanders. On the next Giants drive, Kanell completes a pass to Chris Calloway which gets them deep into Cowboys territory.
The Giants get a false-start penalty as they attempt to make a comeback down 7-24. Later in that drive, Ike Hilliard fumbles the ball and the Cowboys recover. On the Cowboys' drive, Sherman Williams continues his impressive running, pushing his team into Giants' territory. However, the Cowboys are forced to eventually punt. The Giants try to put more points on the board as rain begins to fall late in the game. As Giants fans start filtering out of the stadium, Michaels shows a 1960 clip of the first Cowboys-Giants game, featuring Giants quarterback Lee Grosscup. Danny Kanell then throws an interception to the ubiquitous Deion Sanders, who is able to return it 71 yards for a touchdown. That helps push the Cowboys lead to 31-7, which is how it remains. After the game, Visser speaks with Sanders about his remarkable performance and gets his comments on Jason Garrett stepping in for Troy Aikman. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: September 21, 1998 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 3:32:54
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:54619
- GENRE: Sports
- SUBJECT HEADING: Football; She Made It Collection (Lesley Visser); Sports
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1970-
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - AT&T phone call rates
- TV - Commercials - Advil painkillers
- TV - Commercials - Autobytel.com car buying
- TV - Commercials - BF Goodrich tires
- TV - Commercials - BMW automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Bud Light beer
- TV - Commercials - Burger King restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Cadillac automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Charles Schwab investments
- TV - Commercials - Cigna health insurance
- TV - Commercials - Claritin allergy medication
- TV - Commercials - Dockers khakis
- TV - Commercials - Dr. Pepper soft drinks
- TV - Commercials - E-Trade stock trading
- TV - Commercials - ESPN website
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- TV - Commercials - Fidelity investments
- TV - Commercials - Ford automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Gap khakis
- TV - Commercials - Jeep autombiles
- TV - Commercials - Lexus automobiles
- TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Microsoft software
- TV - Commercials - Miller Genuine Draft beer
- TV - Commercials - Miller Lite beer
- TV - Commercials - National car rental
- TV - Commercials - Nike athletic wear
- TV - Commercials - Nissan automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Norelco shavers
- TV - Commercials - Partnership for a Drug-Free America
- TV - Commercials - Philips electronics
- TV - Commercials - Pontiac automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Prestone antifreeze
- TV - Commercials - Prudential insurance
- TV - Commercials - Rogaine hair loss medication
- TV - Commercials - Southwest Airlines
- TV - Commercials - Stanley tools
- TV - Commercials - Targon mouthwash
- TV - Commercials - The Home Depot home stores
- TV - Commercials - The National Football League
- TV - Commercials - U.S. Postal Service
- TV - Commercials - United Way charities
- TV - Commercials - Visa credit cards
- TV - Promos - "20/20"
- TV - Promos - "Brother's Keeper"
- TV - Promos - "Cupid"
- TV - Promos - "Dharma & Greg"
- TV - Promos - "Executive Decision"
- TV - Promos - "Holy Man" motion picture
- TV - Promos - "Home Improvement"
- TV - Promos - "Monday Night Football"
- TV - Promos - "Nightline"
- TV - Promos - "Politically Incorrect"
- TV - Promos - "Ronin" motion picture
- TV - Promos - "Sex with Cindy Crawford"
- TV - Promos - "Spin City"
- TV - Promos - "Sports Night"
- TV - Promos - "Sunday Night Football"
- TV - Promos - "The Drew Carey Show"
- TV - Promos - "The Hughleys"
- TV - Promos - "The Practice"
- TV - Promos - "The Secret Lives of Men"
- TV - Promos - "The Wonderful World of Disney: George of the Jungle"
- TV - Promos - "Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizza Place"
- TV - Promos - "Vengeance Unlimited"
- TV - Promos - "Whose Line is it Anyway?"
- TV - Promos - College Football
CREDITS
- Al Michaels … Commentator
- Boomer Esiason … Commentator
- Dan Dierdorf … Commentator
- Chris Berman … Commentator
- Frank Gifford … Commentator
- Lesley Visser … Commentator
- Willie Nelson … Performer
- Mike Piazza … Guest
- Troy Aikman
- Jesse Armstead
- Jim Fassel
- Michael J. Fox
- Jason Garrett
- Jim Garrett
- Danny Kanell
- Deion Sanders
- Tommy John
- Tyrone Wheatley
- Amani Toomer
- Brad Daluiso
- Billy Davis
- Richie Cunningham
- Emmitt Smith
- Leon Lett
- Nate Hemsley
- Chris Calloway
- Ike Hilliard
- Sherman Williams