Down in Dallas: How Much Blame Does Tony Romo Deserve?

After the Dallas Cowboys' 24-21 defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings Sunday in what was dubbed, "the Panic Bowl," here's an idea of just how bad things are approaching Week 7 for Dallas:

They are only one game better than the Buffalo Bills.

They are currently 23rd in the league in rushing and Marion Barber appears to be looking into his post-career plans.

Tony Romo has 10 TD, but seven INT.

They have a take-give turnover differential of minus-five, third worst in the NFL.

The referees stock up on flags when they know the Cowboys are playing.

With the New York Giants coming to town for Monday Night Football, the Cowboys have their work cut out for them.

They have been terrible on special teams, running the football and just downright sloppy and careless with the penalties they've gotten.

Two weeks in a row they've been flagged for excessive celebrations, acting as if they are 4-1 and not 1-4 by guys who usually keep it cool (Jason Witten?).

Tashard Choice fumbled to end the half against the Redskins with a lead and absolutely nowhere to go with the football, only to be returned for a touchdown by DeAngelo Hall.

Alex Barron, a guy who should be working for Walmart and not playing tackle in the NFL, gave up a holding penalty trying to block Brian Orakpo on the final play of the same game, which nullified the game-winning touchdown.

Mike Jenkins, believed to be an emerging star at corner, has given up countless pass interference penalties, particularly two in a row on the first drive against the Tennessee Titans and one on the Minnesota Vikings' final drive in crunch time.

Not to mention, Romo is turning the ball over too much. I could keep going, but for the sake of the readers I won't.

Who's to blame for this mess?

When it all begins to fall apart, everyone blames the head coach and the screams come calling for his head.

Wade Phillips has sure seen his share of that, but is this really his fault?

Is it his fault that his players aren't paying attention to detail, getting too hot under the collar and making poor and stupid mistakes?

Perhaps he deserves some of the blame for his team's lack of discipline, but the players have to be responsible for themselves.

It seems as though the coronation of Tony Romo by Jerry Jones has made the attention shift elsewhere, and maybe that isn't so fair.

Romo deserves far more blame than he is receiving from both the media and the team itself.

Once considered to be a budding offensive mastermind, offensive coordinator Jason Garrett has seemed to not be able to find a way to get the run game going, or at least has no faith in it.

In the past three games, Romo has attempted 108 passes for eight touchdowns and six picks, while the running game has contributed one measly touchdown and just one 100-yard performance.

Apparently Garrett believes that Romo can win these games just tossing the ball around the lot, but just one win in five games should prove that isn't the case.

Romo has thrown hurtful picks at horrible times, including the one he threw to E.J Henderson where he was fooled like an April fools prank.

Nobody is talking about the turnovers that the talented Mr. Romo is giving away to opposing defenses. His interception to Alterraun Verner that was returned to the one-yard line against the Titans was a killer.

Romo has continued to hurt his team at the worst time with silly mistakes that have only exacerbated his fellow teammates' yellow flag parties.

The Cowboys have to look at themselves and take equal responsibility for what has became the 2010 debacle in Dallas if they want to turn it around.

That includes Tony Romo.

All of the calls for the firing of Wade Phillips, talk of penalties and lackluster running game all have a place in what has happened so far.

But Tony Romo has not received his share of the blame for continuing to make mistakes that have caused his team to falter so far this season.

If Romo doesn't fix his appetite for the turnover, the Cowboys will find themselves in the NFC East cellar after this season.

We know how Jerry Jones reacts to failure. Let's just say he knows how to create some mean turnovers.