Archer - Tony Romo: Cowboys 'feel fortunate'

boozeman

28 Years And Counting...
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
123,063
Tony Romo: Cowboys 'feel fortunate'


Updated: December 19, 2013, 7:03 PM ET

By Todd Archer | ESPN.com

IRVING, Texas -- With a defense that is beaten up physically and mentally, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo admitted it has had an effect on the offense down the stretch.

"I think we're a football team that has small margin for error," Romo said. "I think we understand that we have to play a very sound football game with little or no turnovers each football game we play in. We've done a good job of that all season and we didn't do that as well last week, so we got to go back to that."


Romo was intercepted twice late in the fourth quarter of last weekend's 37-36 loss to the Packers, setting up Green Bay's winning score and ending the Cowboys' chances at a comeback. The Cowboys are 1-2 when they score at least at least 35 points in a game this season. The rest of the NFL is 51-2 when it scores at least 35 points.

The Dallas defense has given up a franchise record for yards in a season (5,982) and is on pace to give up the most points in a season in team history. Despite the woes, Romo carries belief into Sunday's game against the 3-11 Washington Redskins.

"Everything that you've done this whole offseason and throughout the season is to build to this point," Romo said. "I think we have an opportunity to do something these next two weeks that get us in the playoffs and win the NFC East. And not a lot of teams can say that in our division right now. Two of them are done, two of them have a chance."

With a win Sunday, the Cowboys would be in their third straight winner-take-all Week 17 matchup for the NFC East. If they lose to the Redskins, they would need the Philadelphia Eagles to lose to the Chicago Bears on Sunday night to set up a division championship meeting.

The Cowboys lost in 2011 and '12 to the New York Giants and Redskins, respectively, on the road. The Dec. 29 meeting against the Eagles is at AT&T Stadium.

"We feel fortunate to be in a position to control our destiny," Romo said. "Last year we obviously didn't [get it done]. We had to sit with the Washington feeling all offseason. This year it's a great feeling to know we can go out and be a better team than we were last week and be able to do what we want to do ... Would you rather have that [Green Bay loss] be the last game of the year or would you rather have two games left to go win the NFC East? If you don't feel good about what you can still do, then you just haven't played the game long enough. It's a positive to have games left still and have an opportunity to do what we want to do."
 

Cotton

One-armed Knife Sharpener
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
120,271
I'm so close to rooting for a loss on Sunday. I'm sure I will get to game time and won't be able to help but cheer for a win, but as I stand here right now, losing out doesn't sound all that bad.
 

Cotton

One-armed Knife Sharpener
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
120,271
Bryant says Cowboys have to be honest with themselves: 'Can't focus on past, we still have a chance'

Dez Bryant said there has been no slip in attitude this week as the Cowboys try to recover from a blown 23-point lead against the Packers, in a game that would have assured them a chance to play for the division in Week 17 had they won.

“None at all,” Bryant said. “What we have to do is, you’ve got to be real, and you’ve got to be honest with yourself. There’s nothing we can do about what’s happened in the past. All of that’s over. The good thing about it is, we still have a chance. That’s what we have to look forward to. I think that’s everybody’s attitude. We can’t focus on the past. We’ve got to worry about what’s going on right now, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

Bryant is one of the players who took the loss the toughest. He left the field before the game was over because he didn’t want anyone to see him cry, he said.

Bryant, not fined or punished by the team for the walkout, said he doesn’t think the loss will linger.

“I haven’t really spoken to anybody, but I can just tell by everybody’s demeanor, in some way, it has to affect you in a good way to know you’ve got an opportunity to go out here and do something special,” he said. “I’ve been excited all week. The only thing I can think about is just having an opportunity to go out here and play, and hopefully we can get this W and prepare for the battle for the NFC East championship.”

If the Cowboys win at Washington on Sunday, they’ll get a chance to play for the division title at home next week against Philadelphia. If the Cowboys lose, they must have Philadelphia also lose (on Sunday night at home against Chicago) to have a chance at the division. If the Cowboys lose and Philadelphia wins, the Cowboys will be eliminated.

-- Carlos Mendez
 

ravidubey

DCC 4Life
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
20,221
The players mostly played to their potential last Sunday. Seriously. They can't help it if their management left them under-staffed and their coaches failed to use what they did have well enough.

I'm rooting for my team this weekend, and especially the players.
 
Top Bottom