Breaking Down What Tony Romo Must Do to Silence Doubters

No quarterback takes as much of a beating on the field and in the media as the Dallas Cowboys’ Tony Romo.

The often-criticized signal-caller has been one of the most productive passers in the NFL, but his toughness and ability to perform under pressure are constantly called into question.

His regular-season statistics across his career are fantastic. According to Pro Football Reference, Romo is second in NFL history in career passer rating behind Aaron Rodgers. Last season, his 102.5 QB rating was higher than every other player's except Rodgers, Drew Brees and Tom Brady.

In 2011, Romo played in all 16 games (but missed the majority of Week 16), completed 66.3 percent of his passes, while throwing for 4,184 yards, 31 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. This was the third time in his career that he has started all 16 games, and he has been similarly productive in his other two full seasons.

The concerns surrounding Romo being injury-prone and unwilling to play hurt are overhyped and often unreasonable. He took over as the starter for Drew Bledsoe in 2006 and finished out that season. He missed three games in 2008 due to a broken pinky finger, and this is where many of the criticisms over his toughness started.

In 2010, he broke his collarbone and was placed on injured reserve after playing in just six games. Both cases involve broken bones and there is no chronic or degenerative problem with Romo. 

Other than those two injuries, he has been on the field for every game after being given the starting job. Last year, he played with a fractured rib, and this silenced many critics who doubted his toughness. Going forward, any doubts of his commitment to being on the field for the Cowboys are simply unfair.

An area in which Romo can fairly be criticized is his ability to perform in pressure situations. In the postseason, he is 1-3. After taking over for Bledsoe in 2006, Romo led the Cowboys to the playoffs. He had a decent game against the Seattle Seahawks in his postseason debut, but all that will be remembered from this game is Romo bobbling the snap for a 19-yard field goal attempt that would have put the Cowboys in the lead with just over one minute to play.

The next year, he returned to the playoffs, but completed just 50 percent of his passes for 201 yards, one touchdown and one interception as the Cowboys’ season ended against the New York Giants. 

Romo won his first playoff game in 2009 against the Eagles, but followed that game with a disappointing performance against the Minnesota Vikings that included three fumbles, and Dallas lost 34-3. 

In the 2008 season, the Cowboys faced a regular-season game against the Philadelphia Eagles that they had to win in order to make playoffs. Romo passed for just 183 yards and an interception in a 44-6 loss.

However, there are signs of growth from Romo in important games that started last season. In two important late-season matchups with the Giants, Romo played well, but the Cowboys failed to come away with victories.

In Week 14, he passed for 321 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, but the Cowboys lost 37-34. In a Week 17 game that would determine the NFC East champion, Romo was still dealing with a severely bruised throwing hand, but completed 78 percent of his passes for two touchdowns and an interception. However, Dallas was beaten 31-14.

To silence his doubters, Romo must continue to play like he did against the Giants last season, but make crucial plays late in the game and most importantly, lead his team to victory. 

Much of the criticism heaped on Romo is unfair, but he remains open to these shots as long as he is unable to win important games. The Cowboys are likely to face more crucial games this season, and he will have his opportunities to erase his label as a player who can't be clutch.

If Romo can come through with impressive games late in the schedule and in the postseason, there will be little evidence for denying him a new label—elite NFL quarterback.