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Over the next several weeks before training camp, let's relive some of Tony Romo's best comeback stories. This game can only be called 4th and 10.
[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.]
8.) 4th & 10 For The Win (Dec. 22, 2013)
We've been through a lot of games thus far but this one is be one of my favorites. Romo literally gave everything he had to keep his team in position to win this game and keep them alive in the NFC East. This game will forever be simply known as 4th and 10. This will also be the fifth and final time the Commanders-Cowboys rivalry has graced this series.
Washington was a very bad team at 2-12 but they wanted nothing more than to knock off the 7-7 Cowboys and take away their chances to fight for the NFC East in the final week of the season against the Eagles.
Washington was off to a rough start as they were forced to punt on 4th and 14. Michael Spurlock returned the Commanders' punt for 62 yards to set the Cowboys up with good field position and the Commanders' 3-yard line. Two plays later, DeMarco Murray punches it in to give the Cowboys a 7-0 lead. Washington would go three and out on their next drive as would Dallas.
Washington was in good position after Santana Moss returned the punt for 18 yards inside the Cowboys 37. Alfred Morris was able to carry the rock and give the Commanders a fresh set of downs inside the Cowboys 25. However, on 3rd and 10, Pierre Garcon was only able to get 7 and the Commanders settled for the Kai Forbath field goal. Dallas is still ahead 7-3.
The Cowboys were driving but on 3rd and 4, Romo is called for delay of game. Then he's sacked on 3rd and 9 effectively ending that drive and the first quarter. Kirk Cousins goes back to work at the beginning of the second quarter and he's carving up the Cowboys with the help of Morris and Garcon. Again, facing 3rd and 12, Washington fails to convert and Forbath drills another to put the Commanders within one point. 7-6 Dallas.
On 1st and 10 from their own 7-yard line, Murray runs right for 43 yards to the 50-yard line. Two plays later, Romo hits Dez Bryant wide open for 31 yards. On 3rd and 9 from the Washington 14, Romo to Bryant for the touchdown and the Cowboys lead 14-6. Cousins gets the Commanders rocking and rolling into Cowboys' territory in a few short plays but is intercepted by Jeff Heath at the Dallas 7, the Cowboys take this lead to the half.
After the half, Dallas has the ball and their own 11, after two Murray runs and another first down, Romo throws a four-yard pass to Tyler Clutts but he fumbles and the Commanders recover at the Dallas 28. It takes Washington nine plays but on 3rd and 8 from the Dallas 8, Cousins finds Garcon in the end zone for the score as Dallas' lead is cut 14-13.
After the kickoff, Romo connects with Bryant for 11 then Cole Beasley for another 9. Murray is able to gain the first down on a 2nd and 1. Unfortunately, on the next play, Romo is looking for Bryant but instead finds DeAngelo Hall for the interception at the Washington 47. It's Morris for two and Cousins to Garcon for 19 yards and a first down. Then Morris picks up another 22 yards on three straight runs. On 2nd and 3 from the Dallas 4, Morris runs left for the score to give Washington their first lead at 20-14 with four minutes left in the third quarter.
The Cowboys and Romo are sacked on third down on their next possession and have to give the ball back to the Commanders. That Ryan Kerrigan sack really got the best of Romo as he is visually limping and his sock is all the way down his ankle. Aided by a nice return from Santana Moss and an unnecessary roughness penalty on J.J. Wilcox, Washington is knocking on the door once again. Thankfully, the defense holds the Commanders to a field goal and it's Washington with the lead 23-14.
Romo follows Washington's drive with a long drive of his own but he's still not looking like he's feeling all too well. Still limping around, Romo is somehow connecting with receivers that have been asleep at the wheel most of the game. In 15 plays, on 4th and 7 at the Washington 7 with 6:14 left to play, Dallas elects to take the points and cut Washington's lead to one possession at 23-17 with the help of Dan Bailey. The Commanders stall on their next drive and Romo seizes the opportunity though he can barely run up to the line of scrimmage.
On 2nd and 10 from the Dallas 13, Romo finds Terrance Williams for 15 yards and a new set of downs. After Romo and Dez fail to connect on 2nd down, Romo uses all his might to find Williams streaking for 51-yards to the Washington 21. Romo and Dez make up for the incompletion with a 17-yard completion and Washington takes their second timeout of the half.
On 1st and 4, Murray gains 3 yards and then fails to get the first on 2nd and 1, Washington takes their final timeout. Murray then runs backwards as he's hit for -9 on 3rd and 1. Facing 4th and 10 from the Washington 10 with the game on the line, Romo is looking for a way out as he slowly rolls right bracing for a hit. He somehow manages to get the ball out to DeMarco Murray who's sitting at the pylon, Murray turns and punches it in as Romo (still limping) congratulates his teammates and heads to the sideline with 1:16 left on the clock.
With no timeouts for Washington, the Cowboys hold on and this game is over. It's not for a few days that we find out how serious that sack on Romo is, as he's ruled out for the final game against the Eagles, a game where Dallas loses with Kyle Orton at the helm. Still, watching Romo limp for the better part of the fourth quarter, then finding out that he had a herniated disk in his back, it was amazing to think of what this guy does to win for the Dallas Cowboys. Romo is a warrior and on this day, he did whatever it took to keep his team alive and get to 8-7 on the season.
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