Welcome Back
- Updated: November 23, 2015
Thanks to Tony Romo, Cowboys fans finally got to enjoy a fourth quarter on Sunday.
During Romo’s eight-week absence, the Cowboys played seven games and in six of those games, the fourth quarter turned into a nightmare for Dallas.
In losses to the Falcons, Saints, Giants, Seahawks, Eagles and Buccaneers, the Cowboys were either tied or led in the fourth quarter, only to lose each game, usually in dramatic fashion.
Those were Brandon Weeden’s Cowboys that were losing though, and Matt Cassel’s Cowboys. Those weren’t Tony Romo’s Cowboys. Tony Romo’s Cowboys win in the fourth quarter, just like they did on Sunday.
Romo has made a career of being clutch in the fourth quarter and he did it again on Sunday. The Cowboys quarterback went 4 of 5 for 45 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter against Miami. Romo’s touchdown pass broke up a 14-14 tie and propelled the Cowboys to a 24-14 win at Sun Life Stadium that was played partly in a torrential downpour.
Obviously, Romo being on the field makes the Cowboys a better team, but it also seemed to give them a much better spark. Darren McFadden looked like he was running harder. The Cowboys defense almost looked relieved knowing that it had an offense that might actually put up points.
All of that led to what was probably the Cowboys’ best all-around game of the season. McFadden rushed for his second-highest total of the season (129 yards) and the Cowboys’ defense only gave up 210 yards, marking only the second time in three years that the Cowboys gave up under 215 total yards.
The Cowboys quarterback threw for 227 yards and seemed to shake off more and more rust as the game went on. Someone who was glad to see that rust come off was definitely Dez Bryant, who was on the receiving end of Romo’s fourth quarter touchdown pass.
Romo and Bryant have now connected for 50 total touchdowns, breaking the Cowboys record of 49 that was previously held by Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin.
The most important thing that happened this week is that Cowboys seem to have their swagger back and it started with Romo. Six days before playing the Dolphins, Romo sent out a tweet with a clip from Major League and that clip said, “Well, I guess there’s only one thing left to do, win the whole f—— thing.”
The journey to winning the whole thing started on Sunday and it started in the best way possible. The Cowboys hit NFC East bingo in Week 11: Not only did they win, but the Redskins and Eagles both lost, moving Dallas to within one game of second place. The Cowboys also picked up a half game on the Giants, who have a bye this week.
The Cowboys have to make up two games over the next six weeks and with Romo under center, it definitely feels like it’s possible.