You Cannot Blame Dallas Quarterback Tony Romo This Time

Dallas Cowboys' fans have seen this act year after year in the month of December.

The Cowboys—and their team of mega-superstars, omnipresent owner (Jerry Jones), billion-dollar stadium, title-starved fans and their famous moniker, "America's Team"—may be under yet another December implosion.

After the Cowboys' 19-13 overtime road loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, whispers of another December meltdown may be on the horizon, but Dallas fans cannot put the onus this time on quarterback Tony Romo.

Since taking over as the starting quarterback in 2006, Romo has taken the brunt of everyone's (fans and media) criticism over his play on the football field in December. The quarterback's December record was 7-10 going into the Arizona game, but if the Cowboys fail to make the playoffs this season, Romo, may yet be the target of another Dallas late-season collapse.

Romo—who posted good numbers against the Cardinals, with 28-of-42 for 299 yards, one touchdown and no turnovers—put the Cowboys in a good position to win in regulation, but a decision by head coach Jason Garrett backfired.

Facing a 3rd-and-11 from the Arizona 46, Romo hit receiver Dez Bryant with a pass over the middle for a first down with 26 seconds remaining. With two timeouts, Dallas let time tick away and Romo would spike the ball with seven seconds left. Instead of calling a timeout to possibly run another play, Garrett opted for a 49-yard field-goal try by rookie kicker Dan Bailey. 

Bailey—who already had four game-winning kicks this season—looked to redeem himself from an earlier 53-yard miss. Redemption would almost come, as Bailey hit the apparent game-winner, except for one problem: Garrett called a timeout right before the snap.

Garrett had called the timeout after citing the play clock was almost about to run down. Most opposing coaches will attempt to ice the kicker, but this time it was Garrett icing his own kicker. Once again Bailey attempted to win the game for Dallas, however, he was denied the second time around, as the ball fell short. Arizona took over and after a kneel-down, the game went to overtime.

Dallas (7-5) never got a chance to get the ball back as Arizona won the toss. The Cowboys defense, who had been torched for 203 yards in the second half by Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb, imploded in the extra session.

On 1st-and-15 from its own 48, Kolb dumped a short pass to running back LaRod Stephens-Howling. Howling would do the rest, as the unknown runner from the University of Pittsburgh, evaded Cowboy would-be tacklers and darted 52 yards for the game-winning touchdown.

It was the third consecutive home win in the series for the Cardinals (5-7) over the Cowboys. Despite being outplayed for the majority of the game, Arizona would find a way to win. Dallas had its chances throughout the first half to put the game out of reach, but could only score 10 first-half points. Their offense failed in the first half, but the Cowboys defense was nowhere to be found in the second half.

Dallas had a golden opportunity to distance itself from the New York Giants in the NFC East. The Cowboys entered the game with a one-game lead and had the division right where they wanted it—especially with the Giants playing undefeated Green Bay. The Giants would lose to the Packers 38-35. With both teams losing, the battle for supremacy in the division has just gotten more interesting.

Both the Cowboys and the Giants will face each other twice in the final four weeks. Dallas will host the Giants in a Sunday night showdown next weekend.

Sandwiched between the two games with New York, the Cowboys play at Tampa Bay and face a Philadelphia Eagles team which beat Dallas 35-7 in Week 8.

Romo, despite his decent showing against Arizona, will be scrutinized even more in the next month. If the up-and-down Romo is to overcome his December critics, the quarterback will have to put up astounding numbers.

December has been unkind to Romo. The quarterback has thrown for 22 touchdowns and 20 interceptions; he's also been sacked 45 times (including five against Arizona).

However, football is a team-sport and Romo's supporting cast will have to help him in the final month, if the Cowboys are to reach the postseason.

Although Dallas opened this December month with a loss, Tony Romo is not the one to blame this time.