NewsBot
New Member
- Messages
- 111,281
- Reaction score
- 2,947
Over the next several weeks before training camp, let's look back at the glorious comebacks engineered by quarterback Tony Romo. The year is 2006 and the undefeated Colts come to town in Romo's fourth start.
[In the ten seasons that Tony Romo has been the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, he's engineered some great fourth-quarter heroics to bring the Cowboys to victory. 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.]
25. Colts Catch That First L (Nov. 19, 2006)
Romo had been the starter for less than a month when his first Goliath task presented itself, dethrone Peyton Manning and his undefeated Indianapolis Colts. Indy was riding high at 9-0 and Manning had been having a great season. To guess this game was going to be an ugly one would be a discredit to ugliness. The Cowboys first drive ended at the Colts 48-yard line after Romo was sacked by Dwight Freeney and fumbled the ball, Colts recover.
On the ensuing drive, 2nd and 15 - Marvin Harrison would catch a screen and turn upfield before he was hit and stripped by Bradie James, Jay Ratliff would recover that fumble. A few incomplete passes later, a punt by Matt McBriar would give the Colts the ball at their own 11-yard line. After getting the first first-down of the game, Manning would be sacked by DeMarcus Ware and guess what? A fumble, but it was recovered by Indy. Manning would start moving the ball all the way to the Dallas-46 but on 2nd and 8, Manning was sacked again, this time by Ratliff who forced a fumble with James recovering it. Indy would challenge the play but it was upheld in the booth.
It didn't matter because three plays later on a pass intended for Terry Glenn, Romo would throw an interception that the Colts would not capitalize on so no harm, no foul. The Cowboys began to drive down the field and set up a 43-yard field goal attempt that Mike Vanderjagt shanked and missed. On the next Colts' drive, Manning would force a pass to Dallas Clark that would be picked off by Roy Williams at the Dallas-6. What followed would be an exchange of silly penalties by both teams until the Cowboys were forced to punt.
The Colts got the ball back with about three minutes remaining in the half and they would finally find some offense as they drove down the field and scored the first touchdown on a 22-yard pass to Reggie Wayne. Dallas' drive would be aided by the Colts and start at the Cowboys' 44-yard line with only 8 seconds left in the half. Romo would masterfully connect with Terrell Owens on a 28-yard pass to set up a 46-yard field goal try in the closing seconds that Vanderjagt would miss yet again. At the half, it's 7-0 Indy.
The first drive after halftime would end abruptly after Manning would toss his second interception, this time, a pick-six by Kevin Burnett to tie the game. The Colts would go up by seven points two drives later as a result of a four-yard touchdown pass to Clark. The Cowboys would respond on a 14-play drive that bled into the fourth quarter with Romo leading the way and Marion Barber punching a five-yard run for the touchdown in to tie the ballgame.
Indy would stall on their next drive giving Romo the ball with a little over nine minutes left to play. Romo to Glenn for 19, Romo to Glenn for 33 and boom they are in Colts' territory just like that. Julius Jones runs for eight, then five more. Romo to Jones for 15-yards and 1st and goal from the one. Barber off the right side...Touchdown Cowboys. Dallas leads 21-14 with 5:54 on the clock. Manning then executes a beautiful drive culminated by a 38-yard pass to Harrison. The defense starts closing in around Manning but he manages to get his team to the Dallas-8. On 4th and 2 from the eight, Manning misses on a wild throw and the Cowboys can close out with 2:59 on the clock.
1st down- Barber runs for 20-yards and picks up another 15 on a facemask drawn by Marlin Jackson. At their own 43-yard line, Romo tosses a deep pass to Fasano for 22-yards. Two plays later, the Colts have used all their timeouts. On 3rd and 7 from the Colts' with 2:09 on the clock, Romo connects with Glenn for seven yards and a first down. Three Romo kneel-downs and this one is over.
Tony Romo knocked off one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever lace up the cleats in only his fourth career start.
Romo would lead his team to a 9-7 record, a postseason berth, and his first Pro Bowl selection while Manning would go on to win Super Bowl XLI and the game's MVP honors. As ugly as a game as it was, it helped jump-start the Romo era in Dallas and is an important victory for his first season at the helm.
Continue reading...