Cowboys Survive Scrambling Richardson, 20-17 : Interconference: Switzer does Landry, Johnson one better in first year in Dallas with the victory over Oilers.

IRVING, Texas —  In only two games, Barry Switzer has won more times than any other first-year coach for the Dallas Cowboys. He discovered Sunday how difficult it can be to win in the NFL.

The two-time Super Bowl champion Cowboys held off Bucky Richardson in his first start and beat the Houston Oilers, 20-17.

“It’s a win but we’re not going to brag about it,” Switzer said. “We did what we had to do.”

Tom Landry was 0-11-1 with the expansion Cowboys, while Jimmy Johnson was 1-15 in his first year with the team. Although Switzer inherited a championship club, there were questions about how he’d handle his first coaching job in five years.

While Richardson had the Cowboys worried, Dallas still managed four sacks and two interceptions in its home opener. Richardson was subbing for Cody Carlson, who wasn’t activated because of a shoulder injury.

Emmitt Smith, who had 171 yards last week in going for his fourth consecutive NFL rushing title, had 90 yards in 27 carries. Richardson completed 20 of 42 passes for 242 yards. Troy Aikman was 14 of 25 for 228 yards.

Darren Woodson and Charles Haley had interceptions for the Cowboys, who beat Houston (0-2) in the regular season for the first time since 1985. But Richardson took Houston on two touchdown drives and his scrambling kept the Oilers in the game.

“We underestimated Bucky and he proved to everybody he can play in the NFL,” Woodson said. “Houston is going to win a lot of games with him.”

The Oilers stacked the line of scrimmage and it proved to be their downfall when Aikman connected with Alvin Harper on a 53-yard touchdown pass play in the third quarter for a 20-10 lead. Harper had single coverage on the play.

Richardson twice scrambled for first downs, once on fourth-and-18 from the Dallas 38, to position Houston for Gary Brown’s 2-yard touchdown run, his second score of the game, with 4:03 left.

“Before the game, I didn’t want to play against him (Richardson),” Switzer said. “He scares me to death the way he scrambles.”

Houston coach Jack Pardee was pleased with Richardson.

“Bucky gave a gutsy performance,” Pardee said. “He took a couple of rough hits. Cody is still our quarterback and, if he is healthy next week, he will start.”