Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo Can't Be Labeled a Choker After Game vs. Broncos

I woke up this morning to an article on Bleacher Report’s front page labeling Tony Romo as the reason the Dallas Cowboys lost to the Denver Broncos.

Despite a stellar performance, Romo’s "last-minute choke" undid the great work he put in all day.

“That’s not fair,” I thought. “That just can’t be right.”

Romo has had his fair share of bad moments over his career; he's had trouble closing out some teams in the fourth quarter and has earned a reputation as a choke artist. That said, his performance Sunday against the Broncos was nothing short of spectacular.

Peyton Manning was just better.

The truth is that it’s not fair to blame Romo for the fact that Dallas' defense gave up 51 points to the Broncos offense. In fact, the quarterback should be praised for keeping his Cowboys in the game all the way until the end.

The two teams combined for 1,039 yards in a game that came down to a last-second field goal. There’s nothing "choke-esque" about that; two competitors simply played at a high level, and one of them, invariably, lost.

On any day that Tony Romo throws for 506 yards, five touchdowns and just one turnover near the end of the game (after, you know, he’s put up 48 points), the Cowboys should win. If they don’t, is it really fair to blame him for not being able to throw a sixth touchdown?

That’s simply unrealistic and highly unfair.

Yes, it’s fun to call Tony Romo a choker. When the Cowboys build a billion-dollar stadium, call themselves "America’s Team" and talk a big game throughout the offseason, ripping on their star quarterback is just necessary.

However, after his spectacular Sunday, it shouldn’t be.

Let’s let Romo choke on Sunday Night Football this week against the Washington Redskins. In front of a national audience against a divisional rival, it’d be great to watch one of America’s most hated athletes crumble and fall.

Until then, give him this week off from the harsh criticism. It’s undeserved.