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By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com



IRVING, Texas – With the season on the line, the Dallas Cowboys most likely will have to rely on Kyle Orton to deliver a victory Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles with Tony Romo battling an injured back.

It won't be the first time they have needed a backup up big in the Jerry Jones' era.


In 1990, the Cowboys faced a win-and-in scenario without Troy Aikman because of a knee injury and turned to Babe Laufenberg against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Cowboys lost 26-7 and Laufenberg completed 10 of 24 passes for 129 yards with two interceptions, including one that was returned by Deion Sanders 61 yards for a touchdown. Laufenberg was also sacked three times in his first start of the season.

"It still bothers you," said Laufenberg, who is the sports director at KTVT in Dallas and in his 21st year as the color analyst for the Cowboys radio network. "This time of season it's like the death of your mother when the anniversary comes up. Seriously. It still bothers you. Now that was my last game too as it turned out."

Orton would be making his first start with the Cowboys and the 70th of his career. He is 35-34 as a starter but has not started a game since the 2011 season finale when he played for the Kansas City Chiefs.

While Laufenberg's memories are not positive, the Cowboys have had backups deliver for them in big moments before.

A year after Laufenberg's starts, Steve Beuerlein replaced an injured Aikman and won his four regular season starts as the Cowboys finished 11-5 and made the playoffs for the first time since 1985. He also helped the Cowboys win their first road playoff game since 1980 when the Cowboys beat the Chicago Bears in the wild-card round.

Coming off the bench after Aikman hurt his knee, Beuerlein connected on a touchdown pass to Michael Irvin in the fourth quarter to beat the then undefeated Washington Redskins 24-21. He finished the regular season with five touchdown passes and two interceptions.

What changed for the Cowboys in Aikman's absence was the increased workload of Emmitt Smith. He carried the ball at least 25 times in Beuerlein's starts and had at least 109 rushing yards in three of the games. The defense also played its best, allowing more than 14 points just once in Beuerlein's four starts.

Two days after he was cut by the Cleveland Browns for "diminishing skills," Bernie Kosar was signed by Jimmy Johnson and four days later he delivered the Cowboys a 20-15 win against the Phoenix Cardinals. With Aikman out with a hamstring and the offense sluggish under Jason Garrett, Johnson turned to Kosar.

Kosar completed 13 of 21 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown. A week later he made his only start against the Falcons and the Cowboys lost 27-14. He completed 22 of 39 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns.

The Cowboys would lose only one more game that season – the famous ice game on Thanksgiving against the Miami Dolphins – before winning Super Bowl XXVIII.

Garrett had his moment in the sun in the Thanksgiving game in 1994. With Aikman and Rodney Peete out, Garrett outdueled Brett Favre, throwing for 311 yards and two touchdowns as the Cowboys put up 36 second-half points to beat the Green Bay Packers 42-31.

While that game is often remembered, Garrett had a 6-3 record as a starter with the Cowboys.

"Shoot, you live for that," Laufenberg said. "I just hate [hearing], ‘Ah, backup quarterback is the best job in the world.' Ask them. Ask Jason. All you want to do is play."
 
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