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To advance, Cowboys need this Romo
QB altered weekly routine, which is now paying dividends of health and production
Updated: December 5, 2014, 3:27 AM ET
By Jean-Jacques Taylor | ESPNDallas.com
CHICAGO -- Tony Romo had a full week to prepare his body to play Thursday against the Chicago Bears. The result: He played like Tony Romo, not the impostor we saw Thanksgiving Day against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Romo we saw against Chicago was the same efficient maestro we've seen much of the season, as he passed for 205 yards and three touchdowns.
Romo's performance meant he was in a good enough mood to spend 15 minutes after the game talking and taking pictures with a throng of family, friends and college buddies outside the locker room.
Dallas 41, Chicago 28.
For now, any talk of an annual December swoon has been put on hold.
The Cowboys needed this game to win their ninth game and ensure they wouldn't finish 8-8 for the fourth consecutive season. They needed a win also to stay within a game of Philadelphia in their continuing quest to win the NFC East.
To achieve those things, the Cowboys needed Romo to play like, well, Romo.
"Getting a full week is a game changer," Romo said. "I think it'll be that way the rest of the year."
The 34-year-old Romo played poorly the first two games of the season as he recovered from his second back surgery in a year. He looked old and slow, his passes lacked snap and he struggled to move in the pocket.
As he prepared for the third game of the season against the St. Louis Rams, Romo started using each Wednesday to do back-strengthening exercises instead of practicing.
Romo, who has played the past several weeks with two fractures in his back and a rib injury, had been sensational since the schedule change until last week, when he had only three days to get his body ready for the Eagles game.
And he played like it.
It was never more evident than on the play that allowed the Cowboys to seize control of the game.
Romo, feeling pressure from the left side, used a subtle shoulder feint to slow down defensive end Willie Young and maneuver around him. As he continued rolling right, Romo pointed to Cole Beasley, directing him downfield, before lofting a pass over safety Chris Conte. Beasley made a leaping grab and lunged into the end zone to give the Cowboys a 21-7 lead.
It was a marvelous play, one that showed just how much Romo must adhere to his regular schedule so he can play his best football.
"It was a remarkable play," coach Jason Garrett said. "Tony did a great job making the end miss and really laying the ball over the safety. We've seen him make these kinds of plays before.
"It's amazing how in a kind of spontaneous type of situation, he can get himself righted to make that kind of throw over the safety."
The Cowboys extended their lead to 28-7 on a beautiful touch pass from Romo over three defenders to Gavin Escobar, who was running along the back of the end zone.
Romo will have 10 days to prepare for the Cowboys' game against Philadelphia, which they must win to have any realistic shot at the division title. Understand that when the Cowboys play the way they did against Chicago, they're difficult to beat.
Frankly, they looked like the team that went 6-1 to start the season.
DeMarco Murray ran for more than 100 yards for the 11th time this season, which meant Romo could pick and choose when to assert himself.
He completed 21 of 26 passes -- good for 80.7 percent -- the fourth-best completion percentage of his career. Romo has thrown 30 passes or fewer in six consecutive games, the longest streak of his career.
Just so you know, the Cowboys are 29-8 when Romo throws fewer than 30 passes. More importantly, he was patient against the Bears' defense, which uses a lot of soft zone coverages designed to take away the deep throws.
Murray had a career-high nine receptions because Romo refused to force the ball into coverage.
Romo finished with a passer rating of 138.0, the sixth time he's been above 100.0 this season and the 10th time he's had a better passer rating than the opposing quarterback.
The Cowboys feel good about themselves, and the quarterback simply feels good.
The Cowboys have started December strong, and they'll need Romo to continue playing his best football this month to make the playoffs.
QB altered weekly routine, which is now paying dividends of health and production
Updated: December 5, 2014, 3:27 AM ET
By Jean-Jacques Taylor | ESPNDallas.com
CHICAGO -- Tony Romo had a full week to prepare his body to play Thursday against the Chicago Bears. The result: He played like Tony Romo, not the impostor we saw Thanksgiving Day against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Romo we saw against Chicago was the same efficient maestro we've seen much of the season, as he passed for 205 yards and three touchdowns.
Romo's performance meant he was in a good enough mood to spend 15 minutes after the game talking and taking pictures with a throng of family, friends and college buddies outside the locker room.
Dallas 41, Chicago 28.
For now, any talk of an annual December swoon has been put on hold.
The Cowboys needed this game to win their ninth game and ensure they wouldn't finish 8-8 for the fourth consecutive season. They needed a win also to stay within a game of Philadelphia in their continuing quest to win the NFC East.
To achieve those things, the Cowboys needed Romo to play like, well, Romo.
"Getting a full week is a game changer," Romo said. "I think it'll be that way the rest of the year."
The 34-year-old Romo played poorly the first two games of the season as he recovered from his second back surgery in a year. He looked old and slow, his passes lacked snap and he struggled to move in the pocket.
As he prepared for the third game of the season against the St. Louis Rams, Romo started using each Wednesday to do back-strengthening exercises instead of practicing.
Romo, who has played the past several weeks with two fractures in his back and a rib injury, had been sensational since the schedule change until last week, when he had only three days to get his body ready for the Eagles game.
And he played like it.
It was never more evident than on the play that allowed the Cowboys to seize control of the game.
Romo, feeling pressure from the left side, used a subtle shoulder feint to slow down defensive end Willie Young and maneuver around him. As he continued rolling right, Romo pointed to Cole Beasley, directing him downfield, before lofting a pass over safety Chris Conte. Beasley made a leaping grab and lunged into the end zone to give the Cowboys a 21-7 lead.
It was a marvelous play, one that showed just how much Romo must adhere to his regular schedule so he can play his best football.
"It was a remarkable play," coach Jason Garrett said. "Tony did a great job making the end miss and really laying the ball over the safety. We've seen him make these kinds of plays before.
"It's amazing how in a kind of spontaneous type of situation, he can get himself righted to make that kind of throw over the safety."
The Cowboys extended their lead to 28-7 on a beautiful touch pass from Romo over three defenders to Gavin Escobar, who was running along the back of the end zone.
Romo will have 10 days to prepare for the Cowboys' game against Philadelphia, which they must win to have any realistic shot at the division title. Understand that when the Cowboys play the way they did against Chicago, they're difficult to beat.
Frankly, they looked like the team that went 6-1 to start the season.
DeMarco Murray ran for more than 100 yards for the 11th time this season, which meant Romo could pick and choose when to assert himself.
He completed 21 of 26 passes -- good for 80.7 percent -- the fourth-best completion percentage of his career. Romo has thrown 30 passes or fewer in six consecutive games, the longest streak of his career.
Just so you know, the Cowboys are 29-8 when Romo throws fewer than 30 passes. More importantly, he was patient against the Bears' defense, which uses a lot of soft zone coverages designed to take away the deep throws.
Murray had a career-high nine receptions because Romo refused to force the ball into coverage.
Romo finished with a passer rating of 138.0, the sixth time he's been above 100.0 this season and the 10th time he's had a better passer rating than the opposing quarterback.
The Cowboys feel good about themselves, and the quarterback simply feels good.
The Cowboys have started December strong, and they'll need Romo to continue playing his best football this month to make the playoffs.