Tony Romo's 10 Most Horrendous Turnovers…So Far

Tony Romo is an immensely talented quarterback who puts up great statistics, although the knack on him is that he can’t win the big game. Romo has made a trio of Pro Bowls, thrown for over 4,000 yards in a season twice and tossed as many as 36 touchdown passes in a year.

He’s also committed some extremely costly turnovers in his six seasons as a starting quarterback.

Here's a list of the 10 worst turnovers Romo has ever committed.

10. L 34-27 vs. Tennessee Titans (2010: Week 4)

Tony Romo threw for three touchdowns and over 400 yards on this day, but three interceptions doomed his Dallas Cowboys.

The most costly of the three came in the closing minutes of the game. The Dallas defense had just held Chris Johnson and company, forcing a punt with under a minute to play, giving the high-powered Cowboys offense one last chance to try for a game-tying touchdown.

Romo’s first pass was intended deep for Roy Williams in the middle of the field, but it was picked off by Tennessee Titans linebacker Stephen Tulloch.

9. L 34-3 vs. Minnesota Vikings (2009: NFC Divisional Playoffs)

To be fair, this wasn’t just Tony Romo who blew the game. The entire Dallas Cowboys team turned in an abysmal performance against Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC divisional playoffs.

Romo is the quarterback though, and he’s going to get the blame, and deservedly so, for his play in this game. He threw an interception and lost two fumbles—the most costly of which came on the Cowboys’ opening drive.

After eight plays, the Cowboys had marched 34 yards and were in Vikings territory, when Romo was sacked and fumbled the ball away. This set the tone for the whole game, as Romo fumbled the ball again on the next drive—a total of three times in the first half.

8. L 10-6 vs. Philadelphia Eagles (2007: Week 15)

The Dallas Cowboys were substantially better than the Philadelphia Eagles this year, as the Cowboys held a 12-1 record, and the Eagles were just 5-8.

Midway through the second quarter of a scoreless game, Tony Romo marched the Cowboys to the Philly 4-yard line before throwing an ill-advised pass that was picked off by safety Quintin Mikell and returned for a 20-yard gain, before Mikell fumbled the ball, giving it right back to the Cowboys.

Romo lucked out there, but late in the game, he made his biggest mistake. With the Cowboys down 10-6 and just under three minutes to play, Romo threw a deep ball to Terrell Owens that was picked off by Brian Dawkins, effectively ending the game and Dallas’s chance of a win.

7. W 25-24 vs. Buffalo Bills (2007: Week 5)

This is the only game on Romo’s top-10 list the Dallas Cowboys won, but it certainly wasn’t because of him. He played arguably his worst game as a pro, throwing a career-worst five interceptions, including four in the first half and two that were taken back for touchdowns. Each of his first two passes of the game was picked off, setting the stage for the game.

His worst play was his first pass, a deep ball intended for Jason Witten that was vastly overthrown. Buffalo Bills safety Gibril Wilson intercepted the pass at the 25 and took it to the end zone for a quick touchdown.

6. L 33-31 vs. New York Giants (2009: Week 2)

This was the first game at a brand spanking new Dallas Cowboys stadium, and in typical Tony Romo fashion, he spoiled the day.

Romo threw three interceptions in a two-point loss to the New York Giants, prompting former Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett to say after the game, “I don’t know why on God’s earth Tony Romo has been anointed a superstar in the National Football League.”

Romo’s most costly of the picks was one he threw late in the first quarter, hitting New York Giants cornerback Bruce Johnson, who took it 34 yards for a pick-six that ended up being the difference in the game.

5. L 27-24 vs. New York Jets (2011: Week 1)

This was supposed to be a battle between two top teams, but Tony Romo committed a pair of extremely costly turnovers that ultimately gave the New York Jets the win.

First, Romo fumbled from the Jets’ three-yard line, turning the ball over when the Dallas Cowboys were in prime position to score. His worst play came with a minute to play, however, as he threw a deep ball to Dez Bryant that was picked by Darrelle Revis.

The Jets marched to a go-ahead field goal and took the game by three points.

4. L 20-13 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (2008: Week 14)

The Dallas Cowboys entered this game 8-4 and in prime position for a spot in the NFC playoffs. They battled the eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers all day, holding a 13-6 lead late before a Ben Roethlisberger touchdown pass tied the game with two minutes to play.

Tony Romo got the ball back with a chance to match the late-game heroics of Roethlisberger, and he promptly threw a game-losing interception to DeShea Townsend. The pass was a horrendous pass, and I’m honestly not sure who Romo was targeting.

3. L 34-30 vs. Detroit Lions (2011: Week 4)

You take your pick which one of Tony Romo’s interception touchdowns was the worse play.

He marched the Dallas Cowboys out to an overwhelming 27-3 lead against an undefeated Detroit Lions team before suffering a colossal choke.

First, Romo was picked by former teammate Bobby Carpenter, who took it 34 yards for a touchdown. Minutes later, Romo was intercepted by cornerback Chris Houston, who took this one 56 yards for a touchdown.

The Lions went on to win by four, sacking Romo late in the game to preserve the victory.

2. L 44-6 vs. Philadelphia Eagles (2008: Week 17)

This was ultimately a playoff game, as both the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys entered the game in the same scenario—win and go to the playoffs, lose and go home.

The Eagles staked out a dominating 27-3 lead against Tony Romo and the Cowboys, but much of it was due to poor play by the Cowboys defense and a costly special teams fumble by Pacman Jones.

Romo made sure he took his share of the blame in the third quarter though, fumbling the ball away on a hit by Brian Dawkins. Chris Clemons picked it up and sprinted 73 yards for a touchdown.

Marion Barber fumbled the ball away on the next drive—again on a strip by Dawkins—with Joselio Hanson taking it 96 yards for a touchdown. That certainly wasn’t Romo’s fault, but Romo wasn’t done with his ineptitude, as he proceeded to lose a fumble again on the next drive.

1. L 21-17 vs. New York Giants (2007: NFC Divisional Playoffs)

For the second straight year, Tony Romo turned in a miserable play with a playoff game on the line.

Down by four points with 16 seconds to play, the Dallas Cowboys faced a 4th-and-11 from the New York Giants’ 23-yard line. It was—and probably still isthe biggest play Romo has had in his NFL career.

Fittingly, he threw an interception, underthrowing Jason Witten in the end zone, allowing R.W. McQuarters to pick it off and send the Giants to the NFC Championship Game.