NFL Fact or Fiction: Tony Romo is Under More Pressure To Win Than Jason Garrett

Regardless of what year it is and who the head coach or quarterback is for the Dallas Cowboys, there's always going to be that pressure to live up to the rich history of the organization.

Tony Romo has been feeling that pressure for several seasons since taking over for Drew Bledsoe back in 2006, and received his fair share, if not more for his playoff woes and December swoons.

Jason Garrett knows the pressure of being a Dallas Cowboy, being the backup to Troy Aikman during the glory years of the 1990s, but now he gets to see just how big of a microscope the head coach of this team gets put under.

Cowboy nation has been a bit puzzled to say the least by some of Garrett's play clock managing as of late and has had the hot seat on his job turned up, but the man still has yet to finish his first full season as head coach. Owner Jerry Jones realizes the embarrassment that comes with firing a coach you've been grooming for more than a few seasons after just one year so I think on that principal alone the former QB is safe.

Romo's job is also one I believe to be safe, but the naysayers are out in full force this year, saying that No. 9 is anything from a choke artist to overrated. The Eastern Illinois alum is used to the criticism by now, but the sheer fact that fans and NFL analysts are writing his career off just a handful of seasons in makes Romo under far more pressure than his head coach.

He's had talent like Terrell Owens, Jason Witten, Miles Austin, Dez Bryant and a few running backs behind him to reach that elite level but the playoffs have been Romo's kryptonite. Dallas needs to make the playoffs to keep the boo birds away, and they'll need their quarterback to do much of the heavy lifting with DeMarco Murray injured and the offensive line inconsistent at best.

If Romo is able to bring this 2011 squad deep into the playoffs, I believe he calms the critics but if the Cowboys don't make it to the postseason or lose in the first round, expect plenty of questions to surround the soon to be father come offseason.