The defending Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers aren't dead. Just ask the shocked Dallas Cowboys after the crippled 14-point underdogs whipped them 38-20 on Sunday on their home field.

The 49ers, who had lost the last two games, even moved into a tie with St. Louis and Atlanta for the leadership in the NFC West with a 6-4 record. Dallas dropped to 8-2.This was supposed to be a big revenge game for the Cowboys against the 49ers, who didn't have quarterback Steve Young for a fifth straight week because of a shoulder injury.

It was a rout, just as many predicted. Only it was the Cowboys who were outplayed and outcoached.

Second-string quarterback Elvis Grbac and wide receiver Jerry Rice devastated Dallas on the game's first possession.

San Francisco stunned the Cowboys early, much as it did in the NFC championship game when the 49ers built a 21-0 lead in the first 6:25 of the game. The 49ers went on to win 38-28 and eventually defeat San Diego in the Super Bowl.

Rice, the NFL's career leader in receiving, slipped open behind linebacker Darrin Smith for a slant pass over the middle from Grbac and steamed 81 yards for a touchdown on the second play of the game. Rice confused the Cowboys by lining up in the slot and nobody could catch him until safety Darren Woodson tackled Rice at the goal.

Rice had been involved in a pregame exchange of words with the Cowboys' $35 million cornerback Deion Sanders, a former 49er, who was lost in coverage at times by the clever San Francisco offensive sets. Rice had complained that Sanders took credit for the Super Bowl win. Sanders said Rice was "ignorant."

The 49ers struck again 13 seconds later when Michael Irvin fumbled the ball away to Merton Hanks, who scooped it up on the run and dashed 38 yards for a touchdown.

Linebacker Rickey Jackson intercepted a pass off Troy Aikman, the NFL's top-rated passer, at the Dallas 27 and the 49ers cashed the mistake into a 26-yard field goal by Jeff Wilkins, a free agent who was picked up during the week. It gave San Francisco a 17-0 lead with only 4:58 expired.

Aikman was injured on a first quarter sack by Dana Stubblefield. Aikman fell heavily on his left knee. Doctors decided it was a bad bruise and ordered him not to return. Wade Wilson subbed and threw two interceptions before he left with an injury late in the fourth period.

Aikman was 4-of-6 for 29 yards and Wilson was 15-of-26 for 134.

Grbac, who completed 20 of 30 for 305 yards, took the 49ers 82 yards in 13 plays for a 24-0 lead. Grbac hit Rice on passes of 20 and 28 yards before Derek Loville scored on a 1-yard run.

San Francisco answered a 1-yard touchdown run by Dallas' Emmitt Smith with a 92-yard drive. The key was a 26-yard pass from Grbac to Rice, who had five catches in the game for 161 yards. Grbac found Loville wide open over the middle for 19 yards and a touchdown for a 31-7 halftime edge. A surly crowd booed the Cowboys off the field.

San Francisco had 292 yards offense in the first half. The Cowboys were giving up only 293.6 yards per game.

Besides his two touchdown passes, Grbac also scored on a 1-yard run with 8:40 to play to cap a 72-yard drive.

In the NFC championship game last January, Eric Davis intercepted Aikman's pass on the third play of the game and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown. Irvin and Kevin Williams also lost fumbles that turned into 49ers scores for a quick 21-0 lead. It was almost a rerun on Sunday.

Smith ran for 100 yards in 18 carries, but Irvin failed in his quest to set an NFL record with an eighth consecutive 100-yard receiving game, catching four passes for 37 yards. He got small consolation with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Jason Garrett with 4:19 to play.

Vikings 30, Cardinals 24

At Tempe, Ariz., Warren Moon threw a 50-yard touchdown pass, his fourth of the day, to Qadry Ismail with 12:44 left in overtime to lift Minnesota to a victory over Arizona.

Minnesota (5-5) won its second straight game following a three-game losing streak. The Vikings are 2-2 in overtime games this year.

Moon completed 24 of 43 passes for 342 yards. He had touchdown passes of 32 yards to Jake Reed, and 5 and 2 yards to Cris Carter.

Chiefs 22, Chargers 7

At San Diego, Steve Bono and Marcus Allen scored on short runs as Kansas City beat bitter AFC West rival San Diego to improve to 9-1, the same start the Chiefs had in 1969 en route to winning the Super Bowl.

It was Kansas City's sixth straight win, one short of the club record set in '69. Kansas City was tied with Dallas for the NFL's best record, but the Cowboys lost to San Francisco 38-20.

Allen scored the clinching touchdown on a 1-yard run with 6:16 to play in the third quarter, giving Kansas City a 19-7 lead. Bono's conversion pass to Lake Dawson failed.

Packers 35, Bears 28

At Green Bay, Wis., Brett Favre tied a team record with a career-best five touchdown passes as Green Bay won a shootout with Chicago to move into a tie for the NFC Central lead with the Bears at 6-4.

Favre connected with halfback Edgar Bennett for scores of 17 and 16 yards on screen passes, the second coming with 9:17 left to break a 28-28 tie.

The Bears, swept for the second straight year against their bitter foe, drove to the Packers' 22 with two minutes left. But on fourth-and-2, safety LeRoy Butler intercepted Kramer in the end zone.

Saints 17, Colts 14

At New Orleans, Jim Everett threw for 228 yards and two TDs as New Orleans (4-6) won for the fourth time in its last five games after an 0-5 start.

The Saints barely held on, as Jim Harbaugh, replacing the injured Paul Justin, got called for an illegal pass on an 18-yard pass that would have put the ball on the Saints 1 with 1:11 left. Cary Blanchard's subsequent 41-yard field goal attempt was wide left with 13 seconds left.

Doug Brien's 25-yard field goal with 6:33 left was the winning margin. Marshall Faulk had 98 yards on 17 carries for the Colts (5-5).

Raiders 17, Giants 13

At East Rutherford, N.Y., Jeff Hostetler withstood 35 mph winds in leading Oakland (8-2) past his former teammates.

Harvey Williams capped a long against-the-wind drive with a 6-yard TD run with 6:52 left.

The Giants (3-7) took a 13-10 lead on Dave Brown's 11-yard draw in the third quarter. Hostetler was 13 of 19 for 152 yards.

Bills 23, Falcons 17

At Orchard Park, N.Y., Jim Kelly completed 22 of 36 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns to Bill Brooks as Buffalo defeated Atlanta.

Rookie Darick Holmes, backing up Thurman Thomas, gained 100 yards on 23 carries. Thomas gained 66 yards on 17 carries in his first game since returning from a hamstring injury.

Jeff George was 17 of 34 for 279 yards for the Falcons (6-4).

Patriots 34, Dolphins 17

At Miami, Dan Marino threw for 333 yards and broke Fran Tarkenton's record, but Ben Coates caught a pass deflected by a teammate for the tie-breaking score to help New England (4-6) to its first win at Joe Robbie Stadium since 1988.

Patriots rookie Curtis Martin rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns and Drew Bledsoe had two TD passes.

Marino completed 27 of 37 passes and threw for two scores, but was intercepted twice and lost a fumble. He broke Tarkenton's record by completing a 9-yard pass to Irving Fryar four minutes into the game. Marino has thrown for 47,299 yards in 13 seasons. Tarkenton threw for 47,003 yards in 18 years.

Bengals 32, Oilers 25

At Houston, Jeff Blake threw two TD passes to Carl Pickens and Cincinnati (4-6) - with the NFL's worst defense - forced four turnovers and had four sacks in a win over Houston.

Pickens now has a club single-season record of 12 TD catches, while Blake extended his team mark of TD passes to 17 consecutive games. The Oilers (4-6) lost quarterback Chris Chandler in the third quarter with a leg injury.

Seahawks 47, Jaguars 30

At Jacksonville, Fla., Joey Galloway ran a team-record 86 yards for a score and caught TD passes of 38 and 23 yards from Rick Mirer as Seattle (4-6) had its highest point total in 10 years in defeating Jacksonville.

Galloway finished with 5 catches for 114 yards. Chris Warren added 121 yards on 27 carries. Jacksonville fell to 3-7.

Rams 28, Panthers 17

At St. Louis, the Rams forced six turnovers and Isaac Bruce had his sixth straight 100-yard receiving game as the team successfully christened the Trans World Dome at the expense of Carolina (4-6).

The Rams (6-4), who had lost three in a row, ended the Panthers' four-game winning streak. Carolina's Kerry Collins was picked off four times and lost two fumbles - one that was returned 26 yards for a score by Torin Dorn. Chris Miller was 19 of 32 for 216 yards and two TDs.

A sellout crowd of 65,598 showed for the dome opener. The Rams played their first four home games at Busch Stadium.

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Lions 27, Buccaneers 24

At Pontiac, Mich., Willie Clay had two interceptions to help Detroit (4-6) give coach Wayne Fontes another week of job security by knocking off Tampa Bay.

Brett Perriman (10 catches for 125 yards) made a diving catch for a 37-yard gain to the Tampa Bay 1 to set up Scott Mitchell's TD with 5:21 left.

Mitchell was 21 of 34 for 260 yards and one TD. Trent Dilfer (8 of 13 for 142 yards) was hit in throat in the fourth quarter and replaced by Casey Weldon (9 of 16 for 108 yards). Barry Sanders had 19 carries for 92 yards, including a 55-yard TD.

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