NewsBot
New Member
- Messages
- 111,281
- Reaction score
- 2,947
On the eve of training camp, let's relive some of Tony Romo's best comeback stories. An epic wildcard win creates controversy and a new social media craze.
[In the ten seasons that Tony Romo has been the starting quarterback, he's engineered some great fourth-quarter heroics to bring the Cowboys to victories. Since 2006, no quarterback has had more fourth-quarter comeback victories, 25 to be exact, than Tony Romo. His passer rating in the final quarter of football is an astounding 102.9, five points higher than the number two guy (Aaron Rodgers). Romo also holds the mantle of most game-winning drives among active quarterbacks (29) as well as passer rating in the final two minutes (93.1).
Over the next several weeks before the team heads out to Oxnard and starts it all up again, I thought we could take some time to look back at Mr. Clutch Quarterback himself. We're going to rank all of his comeback tales from good to great, from awesome to completely amazing. Here's looking at you, Mr. Romo.]
3.) Romo-ing Sweeps The Nation (Jan. 4th, 2015)
At the beginning of this matchup, we see this ultimate hype video featuring Michael Irvin to get cowboyszone involved in making a deep postseason run as the Cowboys' cruised to a 12-4 record on the year. The Lions were 11-5 in their own right and put forth a menacing defensive line that could scare the pants off anyone. This vicotry wasn't going to be an easy task for the Cowboys to accomplish.
The game just gave you a nervous feeling because of everything that was at stake and the Cowboys came out and made you even more nervous. On the first Cowboys' drive, Dez Bryant fumbles the ball but is able to recover it and the Cowboys end up punting it back to the Lions.
Three plays later, Matthew Stafford hits a wide-open Golden Tate for 52 yards and the touchdown to take the lead 7-0. Orlando Scandrick picked up an offsides call on the PAT. Dallas couldn't make a thing out of their next drive and were forced to punt again. After the Cowboys are able to force a three and out, Dekoda Watson ruins it by roughing the kicker and giving the Lions a fresh set of downs.
Detroit picks right back up where they left as Stafford leads a 10-play drive to get down to the Cowboys 18 yard line. On 2nd and 10, Reggie Bush burns the 'Boys as he runs around the left side for the 18-yard touchdown. Lions lead is now 14-0. The Cowboys are back on offense but still suffer from their own mistakes. Romo is sacked twice and fumbles the ball but thankfully Cole Beasley bails him out and recovers the fumble.
Lions get the ball back and are having their own offensive issues thanks to a Jeremy Mincey sack. Both the Lions and Cowboys can't make anything of their next drives. Lions punt it back to the Cowboys with 2:15 left in the half, three plays later Romo tosses a slant to Terrance Williams who takes it 76 yards to finally get the Cowboys on the scoreboard. Lions lead 14-7 with 1:50 left in the half and Detroit has all of their timeouts. Stafford tosses it all over the field and Matt Prater gives the Lions' three more points before the intermission, the score is 17-7 in favor of Detroit.
The Lions get the ball back after the half but Stafford throws an interception on first down to Kyle Wilber. Three plays later, Romo is sacked for the fourth time and Dan Bailey misses the 41-yard field goal. The Lions march right down the field with the help of a 28-yard completion to Calvin Johnson. Stafford fails to connect with Tate on 3rd down. Prater drills another field goal to make the lead 20-7 with under nine minutes left in the third.
The Cowboys' start this drive with determination as DeMarco Murray runs the ball three straight times for 23 yards. Romo then hits Dez for 43 yards to get the Cowboys to the Detroit 7. On the next play, Dez is called for holding on a Murray rush attempt but Beasley saves the day again with a 15-yard gain on 1st and 17. Two plays later, Murray walks the dog into the end zone for the touchdown with under three minutes in the third quarter. The score is 20-14, Lions still lead. Detroit is struggling to move the ball and find themselves with another three and out.
Cowboys get the ball back and are driving with another big completion to Beasley for 19 yards. Romo hits Beasley again for 12 and the Cowboys pick up an extra 15 for unnecessary roughness on the Lions. Romo is then sacked for his 5th and 6th time consecutively before Bailey hits a 51-yard field goal on 4th and 25. Lions lead 20-17 over the Cowboys.
Inside the fourth quarter, Stafford is torching the Cowboys' secondary left and right as Calvin Johnson and Corey Fuller make some big plays. On 3rd and 1 from the Dallas 46, Stafford is looking for Brandon Pettigrew who is covered by Anthony Hitchens. The ball is incomplete and Stafford is fuming at the officials wanting a pass interference call because Hitchens never turns to look the quarterback but instead keeps his back turned to Stafford.
He's technically playing the man, not the ball, but seeing as he doesn't make contact with Pettigrew as the ball is coming, it's not a PI. In fact, this will be unpopular, Stafford just misplaced that ball and it hit Hitchens in the back. The officials agree with my sentiments and the Lions are forced to punt. Stafford also picks up a delay of game penalty for arguing with the official on-field.
The Cowboys start with a 13-yard completion from Romo to Murray. On 4th and 6, Romo finds Witten for 21 yards and the first at the Detroit 21. Romo is leading a really long drive that just eats up this clock and desperation is certainly setting in for Detroit. The Lions start to lose their cool and begin committing defensive penalties aiding the Cowboys to a red zone trip.
On 3rd and 8, Romo is almost sacked but finds Williams as he's going to the ground for Williams' second touchdown of the game and Dallas' first lead at 24-20. Romo is seen face down on the turf with his arms stretched out in the victory pose. This gesture would later be called "Romo-ing" and joined such moves as "planking" or "Tebowing" in the vast world of the internet.
The Lions will get the ball with just over two minutes left in regulation. On 2nd down, Anthony Spencer sacks Stafford who fumbles the ball and DeMarcus Lawrence picks it up. However, Lawrence is stripped and Riley Reiff gets the ball back for the Lions to save the drive. Five plays later, Stafford is still driving on the Cowboys and is at the Dallas-42. It's 4th and 3 for the Lions when Stafford is sacked again and fumbles the ball but this time, Lawrence makes up for his mistake and holds onto the ball effectively ending this game 24-20 for the Cowboys. Romo kneels the ball twice and it's onto the divisional round where the Cowboys were robbed.
Continue reading...