Tony Romo and the 15 Gutsiest Efforts in NFL History

All seemed lost for the Dallas Cowboys faithful once their franchise quarterback left the game against the San Francisco 49ers last week, that was until he came back and led the 'Boys to a last-minute victory.

Romo was later diagnosed with a collapsed lung and bruised ribs upon examination, proving to be one of the gutsiest performances in NFL history. Here are 15 other similarly gutsy performances in the history of the gridiron.

Brett Favre Leads Green Bay to Victory After Losing His Father

If any NFL player defines the word "gutsy," it's Brett Favre.

One of the greatest quarterbacks to ever take the field, Favre would add to his legacy on December 21st, 2003 when he would suit up for the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football after losing his father, Irv, a day prior.

Many thought that No. 4 would be shaky at best given his emotional state, but he put those worries to sleep after throwing four touchdown passes in the first half against the Oakland Raiders' defense.

Terrell Owens Super Bowl XXXIX Performance

After suffering a sprained ankle and fractured fibula against the Dallas Cowboys in December of the 2004 season, many believed that game would mark the end of Terrell Owens' season.

Owens would consistently tell the media that he planned to play again in the postseason and shocked the NFL world when he started Super Bowl XXXIX just weeks after suffering his injury.

Not only did the controversial wideout start the game, he would torch the New England Patriots defense while playing injured. T.O. and the Eagles would lose by a field goal to New England, but Owens would total nine receptions and 122 receiving yards that Super Sunday.

Ben Roethlisberger Plays Super Bowl XLIII with Two Broken Ribs

Ben Roethlisberger had himself a commendable game statistically against the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII and an all-around tough performance when you consider he was playing through two broken ribs.

Roethlisberger would rack up 256 yards with one passing touchdown and only nine incomplete passes through the whole contest.

If you caught the San Francisco vs. Dallas game and caught Romo wincing in pain over his cracked ribs last weekend, you can imagine the pain Big Ben was going through on football's biggest stage.

Jack Youngblood Plays Through Broken Leg

Jack Youngblood is a true throwback football player, playing 14 seasons in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams and only missing one game.

Youngblood was what many would call an "iron man," playing through many injuries for his team. Perhaps his most famous performance would come in the 1979 playoffs despite braking his fibula against the Dallas Cowboys early in the postseason.

Terrell Owens needed weeks to rehabilitate from his fibula injury, but Youngblood played an entire contest with the same pain T.O. had felt just after his injury happened.

In a decade where the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cowboys were constant Super Bowl favorites, the Rams would defeat Dallas and go on to play in the big game that season in part thanks to their Hall of Famer's selfless actions.

Troy Aikman's Career

Troy Aikman's career is remembered not only for his pin-point accuracy and his Super Bowl championships but also, unfortunately, for his many concussions.

Aikman, along with Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith, were able to lead America's Team back into NFL relevancy with three Super Bowl titles in four seasons, becoming the first team ever to accomplish this feat.

However, his success did not come without a price, as the Hall of Fame quarterback would suffer 10 concussions during his career, the last of which put an end to his days as a Dallas Cowboy.

Despite constant head injuries, the California alum was able to have a historic career, but one must wonder what his career could have been without the plaguing concussions.

Donovan McNabb Plays Through Broken Ankle

Say what you want about Donovan McNabb, but the guy knows how to win, even on a broken ankle.

In Week 11 of 2002, McNabb suffered a broken ankle during the game but played on anyway, throwing for four touchdowns with only five incompletions in what resulted in an Eagles victory.

McNabb has suffered through plenty of criticism during his career—for not winning the Super Bowl with Philadelphia or for his vomiting during the big game against New England—but he deserves respect for his '02 performance.

Arian Foster Plays 2010 Season with Torn Knee Meniscus

Arian Forster turned in his career year last season and helped plenty of fantasy owners win their leagues while injured all year. Foster had 1,600-plus yards on the ground with 18 total touchdowns, all with a torn knee meniscus.

While the 2011 season has proven to be a bit more injury plagued for the Houston Texans' running back, playing at such a high level with a bad wheel more than qualifies No. 23 for this list.

Aaron Rodgers Two Concussions During SuperBowl Season

Aaron Rodgers had as good a season through the air as Arian Foster had on the ground last season, en route to Green Bay's first Super Bowl victory since the 1990's.

After suffering two concussions at different points during the 2010 season, Rodgers lead his team to the grandest stage and took down the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Rodgers finished the year with 28 passing touchdowns, close to 4,000 yards and four rushing touchdowns. Oh, and did I mention the Super Bowl ring?

Kellen Winslow's "Epic in Miami" Game Performance

Dubbed "The Epic in Miami," the 1981 AFC Championship game has been iconic, summarized by this photo of then Chargers tight end Kellen Winslow, Sr.

Winslow was the prototype modern tight end, with the body of a lineman but the skill and quickness of a wide receiver, and he showed off every skill he had in this game.

During the game, Winslow would suffer from extreme exhaustion and dehydration but would also record a then NFL record 13 receptions for 166 yards.

Once the game finally concluded, this lightning bolt was so drained by the physicality and the Miami heat that he needed assistance to walk off the field.

Philip Rivers Plays 2008 AFC Title Game with Torn ACL

The 2008 playoffs were finally the season that the San Diego Chargers would knock off the Indianapolis Colts in the divisional round, but it would come with a torn ACL to their franchise quarterback Philip Rivers.

Rivers has earned the right to be mentioned in the upper echelon of elite NFL quarterbacks next to Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers, and his performance in the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots is visual proof.

Though the Chargers would lose this game, their quarterback put on a commendable performance, with 211 yards on the day despite his painful injury.

Matthew Stafford Leads Lions to Victory over the Browns After Collarbone Injury

Injuries have been synonymous with the career of young Matthew Stafford so far, but don't take that to mean he's a fragile quarterback.

The former first-round pick by the Detroit Lions would help his team capitalize on a miscue by the Cleveland Browns' secondary who committed a penalty on the last play of the game.

Stafford was knocked to the ground during the aforementioned play, suffering a collarbone injury, but came back in for the next play and delivered a game-tying touchdown pass before kicker Jason Hanson sealed the victory with his extra point.

Tony Romo Leads Cowboys Comeback with Multiple Injuries

Coming off a fourth-quarter meltdown on national television against the New York Jets in Week 1, Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys came into Candlestick Park against the San Fransisco 49ers with plenty to prove to the NFL audience.

Romo would put on a clinic during the first half before suffering an injury after a knockdown by one of the San Fransisco defenders, subsequently missing the third quarter due to two cracked ribs and a collapsed lung.

Those injuries wouldn't prove to be enough to keep the Cowboys' starter on the sidelines, however, as he'd reenter the game despite Fox Sports announcing he was labeled out for the remainder of the contest.

Romo would come onto the field and march his team to victory over a very game 49ers team.

Chris Simms Plays Through Injury, Has Spleen Removed After Game

Look, say what you want about Chris Simms and his NFL career, but one thing you can't call him is weak.

During his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Simms would leave a 2006 game against the Carolina Panthers with a ruptured spleen and bruised ribs, only to return in the fourth quarter, attempting to lead his team to victory.

The Bucs would unfortunately lose this contest despite the valiant effort of their quarterback, but it doesn't take away from his intestinal fortitude.

Simms would have his ruptured spleen removed following the Panthers game.

Ronnie Lott Amputates Finger to Continue Playing

In the ultimate act of dedication to his team, Hal of Famer Ronnie Lott voted to amputate the tip of his pinky finger following the 1986 season instead of having surgery in order to be ready for the season opener.

Lott has many moments that help define his historical career, many being his hard hits on opposing wide receivers and his decision to lose part of his finger rather than playing time.

Emmitt Smith Carries Cowboys to Playoff Victory Despite Separated Shoulder

There's several reasons Emmitt Smith is the NFL's all-time leading rusher, one of which being he wasn't shy about playing through pain, as shown during his 1993 Week 17 performance against the New York Giants.

It was a battle for the NFC East title, and Dallas' running game proved to be too much for the Giants defense to stop, even with Smith playing with a separated shoulder.

The Cowboys legend would run for 168 yards during the contest, also catching 10 receptions on the day with the NFC No.1 seed on the line.

Smith would take his team to victory despite constant punishment from the G-Men defense and hitting the cement-like artificial turf again and again. Many analysts believe that the Hall of Famer's performance that day was what sparked the Cowboys' Super Bowl run in the postseason that year.