Did the QB switch surprise you?

[EndGame]

I don't want this to turn into a bash session, and therefore end up over at the Rant Zone. I'm just curious ... did the switch to Romo in the second half surprise you?

I know it shocked me a bit. We were obviously still very much in the game at that point. I could see the leash tightening around Bledsoe's neck with the second critical error in the red zone in as many weeks, but I really didn't think Tuna would pull the trigger in the middle of this game.

 

[Rampage]

yup should have done it against houston though.

 

[acheman]

Not with all the pre-game press it got.

 

[kTXe]

Yes...I was beyond shocked.

Not because I disagreed with the decision, but because I never thought BP would pull the trigger.

 

[peplaw06]

Absolutely... I thought it could have happened, but not when we're down by 5 at the half and had shown some life on offense.

 

[EndGame]

Yes...I was beyond shocked.

Not because I disagreed with the decision, but because I never thought BP would pull the trigger.

That's pretty much where I was. I actually recorded the game on my DVR because I played hockey last night. I was fast-forwarding through the commercials and such during halftime. When I came out of the last halftime commercial break I was just going to fast forward to the kickoff, but I stopped dead when I saw Bledsoe in his visor and Romo in a helmet. I didn't even catch it the first time around, nor did I believe it. My eyes got as big as saucers and I immediately backed up the recording.

 

[Aikmaniac]

Yes...I was beyond shocked.

Not because I disagreed with the decision, but because I never thought BP would pull the trigger.

Same here.

 

[Wolfpack]

Nope, it was clear. Even my wife said that Drew is not coming out to start the 2nd half.

 

[Slammin Bran 23]

Yes. It doesn't seem like Bill Parcells.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

I was not surprised because of the protection we were giving Bledsoe

 

[wileedog]

Absolutely... I thought it could have happened, but not when we're down by 5 at the half and had shown some life on offense.

I don't understand this reasoning.

Bledsoe just threw another team-killing interception. Why WOULDN'T you put Romo in while the game was still manageable, instead of waiting until your down by 14 and he will probably get killed?

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Yes...I was beyond shocked.

Not because I disagreed with the decision, but because I never thought BP would pull the trigger.

Agreed felt the exact same way.

I remember Bill saying in the past when he left the starter in when we were getting killed (much worse than this game as the score was close) that he would let the QB go down with the ship.

What I was thinking was that he had seen enough of Bledsoe and would start getting Romo ready to start next week.

Never thought he would do it coming out of the half.

 

[2much2soon]

Absolutely... I thought it could have happened, but not when we're down by 5 at the half and had shown some life on offense.

Down by 5 at the half, but had just suffered a huge momentum swing with Bledsoe's int.
That 5 point deficit should have been at least a 2 point deficit(FG) or at best a 2 point lead(TD).
I was surprised at the move, though. I really suspected BP would remain stubborn and play Bledsoe until it was beyond embarassing and the season was over.

 

[peplaw06]

I don't understand this reasoning.

Bledsoe just threw another team-killing interception. Why WOULDN'T you put Romo in while the game was still manageable, instead of waiting until your down by 14 and he will probably get killed?

I didn't think Romo ever stood a chance to win the game. I don't think it's reasonable to expect what is basically a rookie QB in his first game action to come in and win you a game at ANY point.

My thinking was if the game was in doubt, Romo would never come in. If the game was out of reach one way or the other, then I thought he might come in.

 

[peplaw06]

Down by 5 at the half, but had just suffered a huge momentum swing with Bledsoe's int.
That 5 point deficit should have been at least a 2 point deficit(FG) or at best a 2 point lead(TD).
I was surprised at the move, though. I really suspected BP would remain stubborn and play Bledsoe until it was beyond embarassing and the season was over.

You don't know how the momentum was affected by the interception. The half ended and Bledsoe never came back. The offense could have still been able to move the ball. We'll never know.

 

[wileedog]

I didn't think Romo ever stood a chance to win the game. I don't think it's reasonable to expect what is basically a rookie QB in his first game action to come in and win you a game at ANY point.

My thinking was if the game was in doubt, Romo would never come in. If the game was out of reach one way or the other, then I thought he might come in.

I think Bill figured we weren't going to win it anyway getting sacked 6 times per half and throwing away chances like that in the red zone.

He wanted to spark the team and stop the relentless blitzing of Bledsoe, which was only going to cause more mistakes. I don't think Romo was put in to be given a look-see. Bill was trying to change the way the game was going, which was towards another inexorable loss anyway.

Just didn't work out.

 

[EndGame]

Remember guys ... this is simply a discussion of whether you were surprised, not whether you agree with the decision.

 

[sharph20]

I was at the game last night and everybodys face in the stadium looked like this . There was a weird feeling of excitement and nervousness and altough the majority of the crowd cheered to see Romo there was at least 1/4 of the crowd booing and yelling "The season is over". Everyone in my section stood up in anticipation of Romo's first throw but the interception sucked the wind out of everyone. After that play I called a friend to see if they had explained anything on t.v. and he couldn't believe how quiet it was due to the shock of it all. I kept on looking around in the crowd for those first few plays and there was a glazed over look in everyone's eyes so it was definetly a complete shock for the majority of the people who were at the game.

 

[2much2soon]

You don't know how the momentum was affected by the interception. The half ended and Bledsoe never came back. The offense could have still been able to move the ball. We'll never know.

True, but I have to say the probability was greater that the momentum was affected negatively than positively or neutrally.
Team is driving in a tight game, really needs a score after playing poorly most of the half, and Bledsoe throws a horrible pass that is intercepted.
Just considering those factors I'd have to say it was a momentum killer.
And considering that BP made a change that no one really thought he would make kinda seals it in my estimation. Parcells felt the game slipping away after the interception.

 

[big dog cowboy]

The only thing that surprised me was it took this long.