As the energy and adrenaline seeped trough the hole in the roof of Texas Stadium, many couldn’t believe that the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the Dallas Cowboys, had just loss to the New York Giants.
After all, the Cowboys had beaten those same New York Giants by double-digits twice during the regular season, and with a minute to go in the first half, a seven-point lead was capped by a 10-minute drive. The Cowboys looked well on their way to another double-digit win over the Giants.
But it wasn’t meant to be.
The Giants began to attack Cowboys' cornerback Jacques Reeves on every play, and after a facemask penalty gave the Giants the ball at the Dallas 23-yard line, they were able to score a touchdown and tie the game before halftime. That touchdown completely changed the game.
Now, Romo didn’t have his best day—18 for 36 for 201 yards, one touchdown, and one interception—but he didn't lose the game.
The defense couldn’t make stops at critical moments, and the running game, which dominated the first half, quickly lost steam in the second half, and penalties continued to plague them throughout the game.
Not one of those aspects of the game were a direct reflection of Tony Romo, but because on the last play of the game, when the Cowboys needed a touchdown to tie the game and he threw an interception, the blogosphere and all the idiots that think their opinion count, began to label Tony Romo a choker.
To further prove their beliefs they used the bobbled snap in the playoffs at Seattle in 2006 as exhibit No. 2. However, that was Tony Romo as a field-goal holder, not a quarterback. If people want to call that play a choke job, then so be it, but to say that Romo will not amount to anything is absolutely ludicrous.
The performance in the playoff game against the Giants, partnered with the fact that the Cowboys haven’t won a playoff game since 1996, has fueled the comparisons to former Cowboys' quarterback Danny White.
White, much like Romo, was blamed for playoff losses that didn’t completely reflect his own performance (e.g. 1982 NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers), and he will forever be labeled as a good quarterback who couldn’t get the job done when it counted.
23 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Wesley Marshall 11 months ago
Good article...
Romo did have a great first season as a starter as a matter of fact I had checked the stats against some other top level QB's in thier first full season as starter...
First Full Year As a Starter
Comp. Atm. Comp. Pct. Yds td int Reg. Playoffs
Romo 2007 335 520 64.4 4211 36 19 13W 3L Loss Div.
Brady 2001 15 gms 264 413 63.9 2843 18 12 11W 4L SB Win
Manning 1998 326 575 56.7 3739 26 28 3W 13L
Farve 1993 318 522 60.9 3303 24 30 9W 7L Loss Div.
Palmer-2004 13 gms 263 432 60.9 2897 18 18 6W 7L
Romo's Rank 1 3 1 1 1 3 1
Edit Comment Cancel
Wesley Marshall 11 months ago
First Full Year As a Starter
comp. attempts pct. yards tds int record
Romo 2007 335 520 64.4 4211 36 19 13-3 Brady 2001 15 gms 264 413 63.9 2843 18 12 11-4 SB win
Manning 1998 326 575 56.7 3739 26 28 3- 13
Farve 1993 318 522 60.9 3303 24 30 9- 7
Palmer-2004 13 gms 263 432 60.9 2897 18 18 6- 7
Romo's Rank 1 3 1 1 1 3 1
But he still is overrated??
(Sorry about the double post)
Edit Comment Cancel
James P. Conway 11 months ago
Right on Wesley.
Edit Comment Cancel
Spenser T. Harrison 11 months ago
Look I don't think Tony Romo is Danny White either, but at this very moment he's still a choker in everyone's eyes.
Hopefully for his sake he'll be able to shed that label come playoff time in january.
Edit Comment Cancel
James P. Conway 11 months ago
i couldn't agree with you more Spenser
Edit Comment Cancel
Angela Hendrickson 11 months ago
And why is he labeled a choker? I don't get it. Please don't say because of the Seattle game, #1 that was his first ever appearnce in a playoff game and your starting quarterback should not have had the pressure of holding that snap to win the game. Also he didn't allow that infamous snap destroy him like everyone predicted. He came back the next season HIS FIRST SEASON AS A STARTING QUARTERBACK, just in case anyone forgot because people act like he has been a starter for years and has had so many opportunites to win a playoff game.(Plus look at Peyton Mannings history) Second Romo did not loose that game against the Giants all by himself, how about the defense who gave up the end of the periopd touchdown going into half time giving the Giants back mometum. Second how about the offenseive line letting Tony get sacked more than other games, how about our recievers missing passes thrown right at them, how about TO not being 100% even though he tried his hardest, how about our running game not doing anything in the second half. Yeah right but Romo is the choker and the reason for our losses. I'm not saying Romo played great but neither did anyone else on the Cowboys, it was not just him. Some people's IQ is just ridiculous. Most don't know anything about football and most are bandwagon fans who became fans because the type of season the Cowboys were having and then want to place the blame on one individual even though it is a TEAM sport. And all these people will be loving him when he wins a Super Bowl and if was him I would say KISS MY BUTT!
Edit Comment Cancel
James P. Conway 11 months ago
That's what I call bringing it Angela!!
Edit Comment Cancel
Spenser T. Harrison 11 months ago
Because he's the quarterback cmon now. They get more credit than they deserve and more blame then they deserve. It comes with the position.
As for Peyton Manning, i still think he's somewhat of a choker. Outside of his KC game he has never looked that exceptional in the playoffs in my opinion. At least the drop off from his season play is huge. Moreover he is the ONLY quarterback in history to win the Super Bowl while throwing more INT's than TD's in that playoff run. What guided that team? Defense as usual. O and that guy named Adam Vinatieri; you know the one the Pats got rid of and haven't won a super bowl since without.
I sure as hell won't be loving Tony Romo no matter what he does. But that's because I don't like the cowboys and i refuse to become one of their 238473467 bandwagon fans.
Edit Comment Cancel
Ryan 11 months ago
He didn't choke against the Giants last year in the playoffs, they just got out played, but against Seattle he choked... it was a routine play and he simply couldn't get the ball down
Edit Comment Cancel
James P. Conway 11 months ago
You are correct. I'm not one for conspiracy theories, but that k ball in Seattle didn't look right
Edit Comment Cancel
Shaun Ahmad 11 months ago
Until Tony Romo wins a playoff game, his regular season stats and accolades mean little. It's just like Tracy McGrady in the NBA. You've got to win in the playoffs to be considered one of the best. Plain and Simple.
The bobbled snap against Seattle doesn't mean Romo choked as a QB, but as a player. It was a high pressure situation and he goofed. That's why people point at that particular play.
Edit Comment Cancel
James P. Conway 11 months ago
I agree
Edit Comment Cancel
TexasCowboy 11 months ago
Ryan did you even bother to watch the entire game when Dallas played Seattle? because even if the hold is perfect and the kick was good..the defense hadn't been able to stop the Seahawks offense, picking up large chunks of yards and making it look awfully easy doing it
on top of which the game didn't end contrary to when most turned off the TV and said that is it see you next year Dallas, 1:14 seconds was left and Dallas with all 3 of it's time outs left still had a chance to make the stops necessary to get Romo and the Cowboys offense back on the field to try and get down the field to line up for another chance at a game winning field goal
however on first down Alexanders 22 yard scamper sealed the deal effectively ending the Cowboys season, not Romo's botched snap
and Shaun
even if Romo wins a playoff game the knock will be just like it was for Danny White couldn't win the big one..so the concept is for Romo to show he has what it takes to be ranked up there with the Aikmans and Staubachs and win the big one
Edit Comment Cancel
James P. Conway 11 months ago
You are right about how bad the defense was. if I recall after the bobbled snap they still had 2-3 timeouts and had they got a stop they might have had another chance, but again that defense couldn't stop a pop warner team
Edit Comment Cancel
Tanner Kluth 11 months ago
James, you did not back up your point. You merely said that Romo isn't a choker. Well, WHY isn't he?
You say he wasn't the reason for the Cowboys' loss to the Giants. Well, he may have not been the only cause, but a fifty percent completion percentage and only 201 yards isn't going to win most games in the NFL without an elite running back.
At this moment, all you can say is that Romo had a fantastic regular season but has failed twice now in the Playoffs. Nothing backs up your notion that he isn't a choker.
Edit Comment Cancel
James P. Conway 11 months ago
I think I gave several reasons to why Tony Romo wasn't a choker. I ran down both the games that have given him that label which was at Seattle and against the Giants. And he may have not reached an elite level yet, but Marion Barber has the potential and is that caliber of player, and he ran for 129 yards in that game, but wore down in the first half. You can win a playoff game with your qb completing 50 percent of his passes, for example Eli Manning at Green Bay in the NFC championship was 21 of 40 for 251 yards, its not about completion percentage, but rather completing the important passes at critical times.
Edit Comment Cancel
Spenser T. Harrison 11 months ago
The last thing i will say about Romo is that he has a better supporting cast than Elway or Favre ever had at any point in their career. Ya TD was better than Barber, but neither had a Jason Witten, a massive oline, or a receiver that was even close to T.O. (Sterling Sharpe didn't last). And frankly the Dallas defense on paper right now is better than anything the Packers or Broncos had in their heydays with those qb's.
Basically Romo and the Cowboys have no excuse to not get a ring in the next 2 or 3 years. It would be an absolute failure.
Edit Comment Cancel
Tanner Kluth 11 months ago
>>I think I gave several reasons to why Tony Romo wasn't a choker.<<
Hmmm... I must have not read your article carfefully. My apologies. Anyway...
I personally do not believe Romo is necessarily a choker. But I do somewhat believe the team as a whole is. The team was losing its spunk near the end of the year, and the embarrassing loss to the Redskins (even though the game had no meaning for Dallas) put the Cowboys in a place to be knocked out quickly. I don't think the issue has anything to do with talent, but instead with chemistry. Chemistry seems to be absent from the team.
Edit Comment Cancel
Wesley Marshall 11 months ago
In what way does chemistry seem to be missing?
I understand that this summer the "thing" to do is write or talk about how the Cowboys can't win a playoff game or have to win the Super Bowl this year or the team will explode but someone please give an educated opinion on the Cowboys.
Yes the last playoff win was in 1996, but this team is 0-2, one loss to Seattle in Seattle, a second loss to the Super Bowl champs who stopped the best Offense in NFL history...And why we are looking back the Redskins have not won the division since 1999, and only one other time were they even close...
What happened is the Giants defense harrassed Romo and the o line to the point of exhaustion and the D couldn't keep even the Skins out of the endzone toward the end of the season, let alone the Giants...
NO DOUBT it is time to take the next step and win in the playoffs but anyone who has watched Cowboys football knows things have not been better in Dallas in 10 years
Chemistry was at an all time high last season, it was lacking under Parcells who lead by fear and boosted by a more relaxed athmosphere under Phillips. What has happened to show a lack of chemistry?
Almost every big star has signed a long term deal and there has been nothing to report on TO, Pacman or Tank Johnson (sorry ESPN and Cowboy haters) besides how good they look during workouts...
Edit Comment Cancel
Tanner Kluth 11 months ago
>>Yes the last playoff win was in 1996, but this team is 0-2, one loss to Seattle in Seattle, a second loss to the Super Bowl champs who stopped the best Offense in NFL history...And why we are looking back the Redskins have not won the division since 1999, and only one other time were they even close...<<
I don't see how this is relevant to the issue.
>>What happened is the Giants defense harrassed Romo and the o line to the point of exhaustion and the D couldn't keep even the Skins out of the endzone toward the end of the season, let alone the Giants...<<
Yes. The team was choking.
>>Chemistry was at an all time high last season, it was lacking under Parcells who lead by fear and boosted by a more relaxed athmosphere under Phillips. What has happened to show a lack of chemistry?<<
When I look at the chemistry the Redskins have (almost as a tradition), I find the chemistry of the Dallas Cowboys to be rather pathetic. Ladell Betts resigned with the Redskins before the 2007 season because he wanted to be a member of the team, even though he knew he could have a starting job somewhere else. Todd Collins could have started on any number of teams out there who lack a solid quarterback, but he chose to renew his contract.
>>Almost every big star has signed a long term deal and there has been nothing to report on TO, Pacman or Tank Johnson (sorry ESPN and Cowboy haters) besides how good they look during workouts...<<
I don't doubt that TO has calmed down, but that's because he's finally found an offense he can tolerate. If his team's offense sucks, he ruins everything. And just because Pacman and Johnson haven't stirred up anything, that doesn't mean your team has chemistry.
Let's hypothetically say your team goes 5-11 this year (It won't happen, but just go along...). That "chemistry" your team has goes down the toilet. TO goes insane, and everyone, including the team now, REALLY questions Romo's abilities. Perhaps Wade Phillips' job becomes jeopardized. In other words, the only holding your teammates together is its talent.
Edit Comment Cancel
Tanner Kluth 11 months ago
***
In the last sentence, I mean to say, "In other words, the only thing holding your teammates together is their talent."
Edit Comment Cancel
Wesley Marshall 11 months ago
Tanner I can respect the hatred but make a valid point and answer the question: WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO SHOW THAT THE COWBOYS HAVE NO CHEMISTRY??
And again why would players like Barber,Romo, Ware, Newman, Hamlin all sign long term deals when they were in much higher demand than players like Betts and Collins, so thats a weak point...
"If and when this happens...then the team will fall apart." is not a good argument
Talk about chemistry, it starts with mangement, the Skins have had more coaches under Synder than the Cowboys have in their entire history.
Betts has also said during the offseason that he would like to get more touches because when he was signed he was promised he would get 10-15 and last year got 5-8. Springs has been unhappy for two years and it has been widely reported in DC of a Clinton Portis run Miami/young player click that has seperated itself in the locker room, even after the death of Sean (RIP).
Collins will never start again, even though he outplayed your franchise QB last season...
I do not disagree that anything short of a strong run in the playoffs will be a failure but if the Cowboys choked than so did the Packers and Pats...
Always ready to go at it with a Skins fan, just come with some good stuff...
Edit Comment Cancel
Jack Anderson 11 months ago
As a Skins fan it pains me to say that the Cowboys have far and away the most talented team in the East, but they just haven't put it all together yet. Once they get over the hump, it will be tough to stop them.
Romo seems to struggle down the stretch as he passed early tests with flying colors, but as the season winds down he hasn't looked sharp, but this season he'll probably hone in on that part. Once the Cowboys learn it's not how they start, it's how they finish, things will unfortunately fall into place.
However, I do expect all four teams in this division to make runs at the postseason so anything can happen. This is just like the old NFC East and it makes me happy!
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.