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Romo's admirable effort to return from injury hinders Cowboys
Matt Mosley
FOX Sports Southwest
OCT 28, 2014 2:39a ET
ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys saw their season flash before their eyes when Tony Romo took a knee to the back while being sacked in the third quarter Monday. After getting X-rays, Romo lobbied hard to return to the game.
Too bad the Cowboys listened. It's admirable that Romo's willing to play through painful injuries. We've seen him play after suffering broken ribs and a punctured lung. But it would've been wise for the 34-year-old quarterback to watch his backup, Brandon Weeden, try to deliver a win. Instead, the Cowboys saw their six-game winning streak end with a 20-17 overtime loss to the Washington Redskins.
In a scene that has happened far too often, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones left his luxury box to check on Romo. He then made a beeline for head coach Jason Garrett to inform him that Romo could return to the game. The Cowboys have a highly regarded medical staff, but Jones often feels it necessary to act as a liaison in these situations.
Romo didn't look sharp when he re-entered the game in the fourth quarter. On second-and-1 from his own 12-yard line, Romo coughed up the ball when he was sacked by safety Brandon Meriweather. DeMarco Murray pounced on the ball, but two plays later Romo nearly threw an interception on a crossing route to Terrance Williams.
Romo was trying to gut it out, having taken an injection before returning to the game. But in his absence, Weeden led the Cowboys on two scoring drives. His 25-yard touchdown touchdown pass to Jason Witten helped Dallas tie the game at 17.
"He did a great job," playcaller Scott Linehan said of Weeden. "The job of a backup quarterback is to be ready at any moment without a lot of reps during the week, so I was proud of him."
Garrett had every reason to stick with Weeden for the rest of the game. There was simply no reason to further compromise Romo's health. Former Redskins coach Mike Shanahan learned the hard way what happens when you listen to your quarterback rather than common sense. And it's not the first time Jones was talking to his head coach during the game, but it's still absurd.
I'm not sure how much Romo will be able to practice during a short week. He struggled to climb the stairs before his postgame session with reporters. His father Ramiro had a Mercedes waiting near the Cowboys' locker room. I'd be surprised if Romo practices before Friday. He needed someone -- say, his head coach -- to save him from himself Monday.
Garrett echoed Linehan with his praise of Weeden's performance, but the sight of Romo warming up on the sideline was too much for him to resist. He threw caution to the wind and went with a quarterback who clearly was not himself.
"Obviously, Tony's our quarterback," Garrett said. "So if Tony's healthy and ready to go, he's going to play."
He certainly didn't look like a healthy quarterback late in regulation and overtime. And when the Cowboys had a chance to lean on the hottest running back in the NFL in overtime, they suddenly veered from Murray.
The Redskins kicked a field goal to take a 20-17 lead, but the Cowboys had an opportunity to respond. Murray, who averaged 7.4 yards per carry Monday, ripped off 8 yards on first down. The Cowboys then threw a pass to Murray for a 1-yard loss. They followed with two incompletions, the second of which set off a wild celebration from Redskins players.
"I'm probably going to wish I had run the ball on the second play," Linehan said, "but that's the way the game goes sometimes."
The Cowboys certainly aided the Redskins by losing two fumbles, but that doesn't mean this loss was some type of fluke. Former University of Texas star Colt McCoy completed 25 of 30 passes for 299 yards. He connected with DeSean Jackson on two deep balls. He and Weeden had a nice battle going in the second half.
Unfortunately, the Cowboys are at the beck and call of Romo, even when it's not in his best interest. A loss to the Redskins doesn't have to derail a promising season, although it reminded everyone how flawed this team can be.
The Cowboys lost to an inferior opponent. It's not all that uncommon in the NFL. But letting your quarterback talk his way back into a game when he's obviously not right is a major issue.
The Cowboys may have dodged a bullet with Romo's injury Monday, but they might not be so lucky next time.
Matt Mosley
FOX Sports Southwest
OCT 28, 2014 2:39a ET
ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys saw their season flash before their eyes when Tony Romo took a knee to the back while being sacked in the third quarter Monday. After getting X-rays, Romo lobbied hard to return to the game.
Too bad the Cowboys listened. It's admirable that Romo's willing to play through painful injuries. We've seen him play after suffering broken ribs and a punctured lung. But it would've been wise for the 34-year-old quarterback to watch his backup, Brandon Weeden, try to deliver a win. Instead, the Cowboys saw their six-game winning streak end with a 20-17 overtime loss to the Washington Redskins.
In a scene that has happened far too often, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones left his luxury box to check on Romo. He then made a beeline for head coach Jason Garrett to inform him that Romo could return to the game. The Cowboys have a highly regarded medical staff, but Jones often feels it necessary to act as a liaison in these situations.
Romo didn't look sharp when he re-entered the game in the fourth quarter. On second-and-1 from his own 12-yard line, Romo coughed up the ball when he was sacked by safety Brandon Meriweather. DeMarco Murray pounced on the ball, but two plays later Romo nearly threw an interception on a crossing route to Terrance Williams.
Romo was trying to gut it out, having taken an injection before returning to the game. But in his absence, Weeden led the Cowboys on two scoring drives. His 25-yard touchdown touchdown pass to Jason Witten helped Dallas tie the game at 17.
"He did a great job," playcaller Scott Linehan said of Weeden. "The job of a backup quarterback is to be ready at any moment without a lot of reps during the week, so I was proud of him."
Garrett had every reason to stick with Weeden for the rest of the game. There was simply no reason to further compromise Romo's health. Former Redskins coach Mike Shanahan learned the hard way what happens when you listen to your quarterback rather than common sense. And it's not the first time Jones was talking to his head coach during the game, but it's still absurd.
I'm not sure how much Romo will be able to practice during a short week. He struggled to climb the stairs before his postgame session with reporters. His father Ramiro had a Mercedes waiting near the Cowboys' locker room. I'd be surprised if Romo practices before Friday. He needed someone -- say, his head coach -- to save him from himself Monday.
Garrett echoed Linehan with his praise of Weeden's performance, but the sight of Romo warming up on the sideline was too much for him to resist. He threw caution to the wind and went with a quarterback who clearly was not himself.
"Obviously, Tony's our quarterback," Garrett said. "So if Tony's healthy and ready to go, he's going to play."
He certainly didn't look like a healthy quarterback late in regulation and overtime. And when the Cowboys had a chance to lean on the hottest running back in the NFL in overtime, they suddenly veered from Murray.
The Redskins kicked a field goal to take a 20-17 lead, but the Cowboys had an opportunity to respond. Murray, who averaged 7.4 yards per carry Monday, ripped off 8 yards on first down. The Cowboys then threw a pass to Murray for a 1-yard loss. They followed with two incompletions, the second of which set off a wild celebration from Redskins players.
"I'm probably going to wish I had run the ball on the second play," Linehan said, "but that's the way the game goes sometimes."
The Cowboys certainly aided the Redskins by losing two fumbles, but that doesn't mean this loss was some type of fluke. Former University of Texas star Colt McCoy completed 25 of 30 passes for 299 yards. He connected with DeSean Jackson on two deep balls. He and Weeden had a nice battle going in the second half.
Unfortunately, the Cowboys are at the beck and call of Romo, even when it's not in his best interest. A loss to the Redskins doesn't have to derail a promising season, although it reminded everyone how flawed this team can be.
The Cowboys lost to an inferior opponent. It's not all that uncommon in the NFL. But letting your quarterback talk his way back into a game when he's obviously not right is a major issue.
The Cowboys may have dodged a bullet with Romo's injury Monday, but they might not be so lucky next time.