Romo overcomes pain as Cowboys top Redskins 18-16

I haven’t commented on the Cowboys (America’s Team and my favorite team) since their Week 1, fourth quarter debacle, and loss, to the New York Jets. It isn’t because I’m a fair-weather fan, it’s just that my frustration with the team in general and Tony Romo in particular gave me that eerie “here we go again” feeling. A team with so many talented players once again finding ways to lose a game, and throw away yet another season; those were my thoughts.

Now, just two weeks later, my outlook on the Cowboys has completely changed; and why not? For the first time since Romo came onto the scene in Dallas, replacing Drew Bledsoe during the short-lived Parcells era, I can honestly say that he is an elite quarterback. He’s always had the physical skills, but in my opinion has lacked leadership qualities as well as poise. Well, after watching his gutsy performances in last week’s win in San Francisco (with a broken rib and punctured lung) and last night’s equally tough win at home against the division rival Washington Redskins, that dark cloud hanging over Romo’s head seems to have finally disappeared.

By the way, last night’s performance by the Cowboys was anything but flawless; quite the contrary. Receivers substituting for the injured Miles Austin seemed overwhelmed (basically lost) when Romo changed the play at the line. And their center, Phil Costa, did everything in his power to give the Redskins a win as he repeatedly snapped the ball prematurely. But Tony Romo stepped up, and thanks to him the Cowboys are now 2-1. And after what may prove to be a shootout at their home field this coming Sunday when the Detroit Lions are in town, should the Cowboys play up to their potential, they should be 3-1 and in their rightful place on top of their division. TGO

Refer to story below. Source: Associated Press

APBy JAIME ARON – AP Pro Football Writer | AP

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Tony Romo had no choice. He had to play, broken rib and all.

His new bride wouldn’t have tolerated anything less.

“She said, ‘Are you kidding? You’re playing. I can’t have a weak husband lying around the house here,'” Romo said — smiling and wincing after leading the Dallas Cowboys to an 18-16 victory over the Washington Redskins on Monday night.

Romo had a mostly forgettable night except for the fact Dallas won.

He was hurting so much he needed two pain-killing injections. His center had a tendency to snap the ball too soon or to the wrong spot. And he couldn’t get into the end zone no matter what, not even with a first down on the 2-yard line.

Yet he set up Dan Bailey for six field goal tries, and the rookie made them all, including a go-ahead 40-yarder with 1:52 left.

When linebacker Anthony Spencer forced a fumble that teammate Sean Lee recovered with 28 seconds left, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett dropped to a knee and pumped his fist wildly. He had good reason to celebrate: Dallas was about to be 2-1, guaranteeing no repeat of last year’s miserable 1-7 start.

The Cowboys are even tied for first place in the NFC East, along with Washington (2-1), which was seeking its first 3-0 start since 2005.

“We’re better than last year — already,” Dallas linebacker Bradie James said.

This was the second straight game that a Romo-Bailey tandem pulled out a victory. Against San Francisco a week ago Sunday, Bailey made a tying field goal at the end of regulation, then the winner in overtime.

Bailey’s other kicks Monday night covered 41 (twice), 32, 27 and 23 yards.

“We had good snaps, good holds, great protection. I had the easy job,” said Bailey, an undrafted rookie who was named the nation’s top kicker in college last season at Oklahoma State. “Whenever you can string a couple of kicks together, it’s a confidence booster.”

Romo was hardly hit in the first half, then the Redskins got in several crushing blows starting just after halftime. That’s also when the snaps became an issue. He couldn’t hide his frustration with new center Phil Costa, and clearly wasn’t happy with receiver Kevin Ogletree after an incompletion at the end of the drive that reached the 2. That failure forced Dallas to settle for its fifth field goal and a 16-15 deficit instead of a go-ahead touchdown.

Rob Ryan’s re-energized Dallas defense got the ball back quickly, and Romo took advantage. Another bad snap left the Cowboys with a third-and-21, and Romo followed with a rollout to his right and a deep pass to Dez Bryant for a 30-yard gain. Another 15 yards were tacked on because of a facemask penalty on the beaten defender — cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who last week said he was hoping “to put my helmet on whatever’s hurt” on Romo and all other wounded Cowboys.

Hall had plenty more to say after the game. In an expletive-filled interview, he questioned the eight-man front on Bryant’s catch and the official’s decision to flag him.

“I told the ref after that call, that might have been his worst call of the game,” Hall said. “He’s going to get demerit points for that call. Because that wasn’t no facemask.”

Romo was 22 of 36 for 255 yards. His best stat was simply lasting all four quarters.

“I want to play,” Romo said. “We only get to go out and do this 16 times, 16 days out of 365 days a year. You want to be out there. You put so much effort, when you go, you go.”

Romo wasn’t the only Dallas player who gutted it out.

Bryant missed the previous game because of a thigh injury, yet had four catches for 63 yards. Felix Jones, who separated a shoulder against the 49ers, ran for a career-high 115 yards and caught three passes for 40 more. Jason Witten fought through a rib injury to catch six passes for 60 yards.

“It wasn’t a perfect performance by any means, but enough to win the game,” Garrett said.

The Dallas defense limited the Redskins to field goals on two of their first three drives, the latter reaching the Dallas 9.

Rex Grossman really only had one solid drive, a 76-yarder capped by a 1-yard touchdown pass to Tim Hightower that put Washington up 16-9. The Redskins never even crossed midfield after that, punting on three straight drives then losing the fumble.

“It feels like the waste of a week,” tight end Chris Cooley said. “We’re capable of winning a division game on the road. I’m disappointed with the way we finished.”

Grossman was 22 of 37 for 250 yards. He was sacked three times — once by DeMarcus Ware, his NFL-leading fifth — and threw an interception.

Explaining his game-deciding fumble, Grossman said, “I was trying to make a play. I felt like I could get the ball to Santana (Moss). I obviously couldn’t.”

Most of the Redskins’ points came from Graham Gano, who made field goals of 50, 46 and 27 yards. Another was blocked after a poor hold.

“We’re going to find out what type of football team we have,” Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said. “When you lose like that it hurts. We don’t have time to feel sorry for yourself.”

About The Great One

Am interested in science and philosophy as well as sports; cycling and tennis. Enjoy reading, writing, playing chess, collecting Spyderco knives and fountain pens.
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