Recommended Loss Forensics: Romo vs. the League's Top QB

[gimmesix]

Something to consider since you are in the minority. Can you honestly say that if Romo chokes away several more games that your mind can be changed? I doubt it. You have to much of a emotional investment to change. I think most Romo lovers will never admit that he does it. For better or worse, he is just another player to me. If he pulls some of the pressure games out, I will give him credit. I doubt it happens at this stage of his career though.

I have blamed Romo when a mistake has been his fault, when he failed when he should have succeeded, etc., and I will continue to do so. However, I'm not going to give undue blame to any player when others are the reason the team failed.

I'm not going to blame him for a loss when he throws an interception like he did against Denver after the defense let him down time after time when he kept coming through for them. Those who look at that game and say, "Ah, that's Romo," are very skewed in their perspective to place blame where it is undeserved. I'm not going to blame him for an interception where a receiver ran the wrong route and admitted to running the wrong route, ignoring the evidence to fit my perspective. Some have blinders on to see only Romo's "errors." I see Romo's errors when he makes them and see others' errors when they make them and give credit where credit is due. That some cannot do this is what's led to what people like to call Romo haters and lovers. I prefer to watch the whole game, rather than looking for one player to blame.

 

[KJJ]

When a guy has led his team to as many 4th qtr comeback wins as Romo, how can any sane person say "every bit of evidence" says he always gags late in games?

The truth is, the evidence states more toward the opposite.

It's the magnetite of the games he's gaged in that's created the stigma he has. Why some of you can't see this is beyond me. Romo's had a number of clutch performances but they occurred in games that didn't have a huge impact on the Cowboys season. The comeback vs SF in 2011 was one of his most clutch performances but it occurred in week 2 not the playoffs. Some of his best performances have come in less meaningful games and a few of those seasons ended for the Cowboys with less than stellar performances by Romo in the season finale. Although the fumbled snap in Seattle occurred with Romo as a holder and not a QB it's been the biggest black eye of his career because it happened in a playoff game in the final minutes. Had that blunder occurred in week 6 of that season no one would remember it. During the 07 playoffs vs the Giants the game ended with Romo throwing a pick in the end zone from 23 yards out. Granted it was a 4th down desperation throw but he had several downs to try and pull the game out and unfortunately it didn't end with a 4th quarter comeback.

On opening night in 2011 vs the Jets in New York City on a night when our country was commemorating the 10th anniversary of 911 Romo helped throw the game away with an int in the final minute. Although that game was the opening game of the season there was more of a spotlight placed on it due to our country remembering the tragic events of 911 10 years earlier. The NFL chose the Cowboys to play in that game and Romo gaged when the game was on the line. In the season finale in 2012 he gaged in the final minutes of an elimination game when he had a great opportunity to pull the game out. He could have put an end to this stigma he has in big games but once again he reinforced it by turning the ball over when the game was on the line.

Joe Montana had his share of gags in lesser regular season games but no one remembers them because of how clutch he performed in the playoffs and SB's. Every great QB has had games end with an int in a comeback situation but most are remembered for their great performances in big games. Being clutch in week 3 and week 7 of the regular season is not going to erase the stigma Romo has in big games. To change the perception many have of him he's going to have to be clutch in the games that matter most. Being clutch in week 5 only to meltdown in week 17 with the season on the line is only going to continue to reinforce this ugly stigma he has.The evidence that's being uncovered in every thread like this is how misleading certain stats/passer ratings are.

 

[Denim Chicken]

It's the magnetite of the games he's gaged in that's created the stigma he has. Why some of you can't see this is beyond me. Romo's had a number of clutch performances but they occurred in games that didn't have a huge impact on the Cowboys season. The comeback vs SF in 2011 was one of his most clutch performances but it occurred in week 2 not the playoffs. Some of his best performances have come in less meaningful games and a few of those seasons ended for the Cowboys with less than stellar performances by Romo in the season finale. Although the fumbled snap in Seattle occurred with Romo as a holder and not a QB it's been the biggest black eye of his career because it happened in a playoff game in the final minutes. Had that blunder occurred in week 6 of that season no one would remember it. During the 07 playoffs vs the Giants the game ended with Romo throwing a pick in the end zone from 23 yards out. Granted it was a 4th down desperation throw but he had several downs to try and pull the game out and unfortunately it didn't end with a 4th quarter comeback.

On opening night in 2011 vs the Jets in New York City on a night when our country was commemorating the 10th anniversary of 911 Romo helped throw the game away with an int in the final minute. Although that game was the opening game of the season there was more of a spotlight placed on it due to our country remembering the tragic events of 911 10 years earlier. The NFL chose the Cowboys to play in that game and Romo gaged when the game was on the line. In the season finale in 2012 he gaged in the final minutes of an elimination game when he had a great opportunity to pull the game out. He could have put an end to this stigma he has in big games but once again he reinforced it by turning the ball over when the game was on the line.

Joe Montana had his share of gags in lesser regular season games but no one remembers them because of how clutch he performed in the playoffs and SB's. Every great QB has had games end with an int in a comeback situation but most are remembered for their great performances in big games. Being clutch in week 3 and week 7 of the regular season is not going to erase the stigma Romo has in big games. To change the perception many have of him he's going to have to be clutch in the games that matter most. Being clutch in week 5 only to meltdown in week 17 with the season on the line is only going to continue to reinforce this ugly stigma he has.The evidence that's being uncovered in every thread like this is how misleading certain stats/passer ratings are.

LOL, new metric: 911 games.

How about when he beat the Egals twice in a row? How about week the Vikings games last year? Washington? no pressure, right?

 

[DanteEXT]

I can only speak for myself, but I defended Romo for a long time before I saw what his critics were seeing. I started losing faith in him when he blew the big Sunday night game against the Jets when the Ryan brothers was a big deal. The fumble and especially the interception opened my eyes. I expect him to turn the ball over and lose those type if games now. If you open your eyes, you may see it too.

I give more credit to the Jets player on that fumble than blame to Romo. He puched that thing out just a fraction of a second before Romo's knee would have been down.

 

[DallasEast]

The Critic Handbook

Section 2: Quarterbacks

A. Quarterbacks shall be judged by their performance. Performance shall be exulted for all touchdowns and non-turnovers committed in games resulting in a victory only. Performance shall be devalued for each interception, incompletion, fumble, or sack committed. Performance shall be summarily judged as abysmal for games resulting in defeat regardless of circumstance.

B. Non-quarterback performance shall not alter criticism mandated by paragraph A. Non quarterback performance shall include, but not limited to: missed blocks; dropped, missed, or tipped passes by receivers; fumbles committed by offensive teammates; non-sustained blocks; changed football trajectories committed by receivers, tight ends, running backs, or helmets of offensive linemen; drive-changing penalties committed by offensive or defensive teammates; dropped or missed interceptions by defensive players; erroneous official decisions resulting in drive-changing penalties; opposing defensive coaching and team effort; special teams miscues; inopportune bounces of the ball; or offensive, defensive, or special teams coaching mismanagement.

C. Anything not stated in paragraph B.

 

[DFWJC]

LOL, new metric: 911 games.

How about when he beat the Egals twice in a row? How about week the Vikings games last year? Washington? no pressure, right?

It's mind boggling, isn't it.

 

[iceberg]

i guess to me, a casual fan as i think most of us are, i find it amazing we can develop our own controversy.

romo is the best qb we've had since aikman. we've not had a team like the one aikman was a part of since that time.

blame jones, bad drafts, coaching, whatever. it doesn't matter. people will say aikman was a great qb cause he was a part of a great team.

people will say romo sucks cause he doesn't have that same benefit of being a part of a great team. i mean, face it. we're not. you can cry out that a great qb will lift up other players but that's crap. did aikman make irvin great or was irvin a great player on a great team? smith?

our OL?

*anyone* looking for 1 place to lay the blame to me is simply an idiot. no 1 player ever won the superbowl. the pats 1st superbowl they all came out at once to show they were a team.

not a player.

romo isn't perfect. no 1 player is. but the team damn near needs to be to win. that takes great players in necessary positions to make it happen when it counts the most. not 1 player to sprinkle some magic qb dust on the team and give a fancy speech about pride of winning. do the romo haters really think a good rudy speech will lift the team?

yes romo has made some mental mistakes.

name me 1 player that hasn't? go ahead and include every single super bowl winning player as well.

it's making all the pieces fit and to me that's coaching and i find that to be our issue these days. if you want 1 person to lift the team up it should be the coach. i don't think garrett can do it but not my call. my only call is do i still waste time on the cowboys or do i give up on the only real sporting event i still care to follow and watch?

not yet.

but as a casual fan, even a semi-educated one, it's ******** to blame 1 player for not making greatness when you root for a team.

it's a cop out and you're an idiot (to me) if you do.

have a nice day.

 

[percyhoward]

Man, I really like the work you do here but what you are trying to do is take his do or die games and put them with the rest to dilute the fact that, more times than not, he plays some of his worst ball when it matters most. We'll just have to agree to disagree.

Evidence doesn't "dilute" a conclusion, it's actually supposed to lead to one. The facts need to inform the opinion -- not the other way around. Unless, of course, you've reached your conclusion before looking at the evidence. Then you either have to change your conclusion, or start leaving out the evidence that would force you to change it. Or maybe there's some other reason you want to ignore 7 of the 8 losses, and focus on one of them?

I'll address your other two points (1) that Romo doesn't play well against good defenses, and (2) that it's easy for QB to consistently put up great regular season numbers in forthcoming posts, but I would like to clear up this basic logical point first. If you can't explain the thought process here, maybe someone who understands it can.

 

[iceberg]

Something to consider since you are in the minority. Can you honestly say that if Romo chokes away several more games that your mind can be changed? I doubt it. You have to much of a emotional investment to change. I think most Romo lovers will never admit that he does it. For better or worse, he is just another player to me. If he pulls some of the pressure games out, I will give him credit. I doubt it happens at this stage of his career though.

yea, you have no emotional investment in your anti-romo stance. face it, each side does. people who defend romo likely always will and those who bash him have already lost faith and unless he becomes superman, you won't change your mind either.

i love romo. i've got a romo jersey still and i wear it with pride. but yes, he's made his share of mistakes.

but he's not made *all* of them. and in my emotionally invested mind, he's cost us a few games, but he's won us much more. our defense has folded when it counted most making him look even worse but hey, blame a player.

all the cool kids are doing it.

without an "emotional investment". (biggest ******** excuse i've heard so far, congrats)

 

[Super_Kazuya]

It's mind boggling, isn't it.

Just me, but personally I hope Tony doesn't get a chance to redeem himself in a "9-11" game.

 

[Aurican]

Yes, and it stands to reason that all of Tony's 4Q comeback wins are in non-pressure games.

Wait I thought it was the team's wins and not Romo's, so which way is it? When the team wins it's all Romo and when it loses it's the team LOL you guys are just as bad as the haters. Please also list how many of these great 4th quarter comebacks came against teams with winning records as I recall Jason Garrett is something like 4-19 against those teams so it couldn't have been many.

 

[KJJ]

LOL, new metric: 911 games.

How about when he beat the Egals twice in a row? How about week the Vikings games last year? Washington? no pressure, right?

The 2 wins vs Philly weren't in come from behind clutch situations. The Cowboys dominated them in both games we're talking about him being clutch in big games. The win over the Vikings happened in week 9 and didn't have the Cowboys season riding on it try reading what the discussion is about. The Washington game was in week 16 vs a 3 win team that had packed it in for the season. I mentioned Romo has had many clutch performances but not in elimination/playoff games.

 

[Idgit]

This thread is like watching a beloved family pet die, then get buried in a bizarro pet cemetery where it comes back to life and then walks into your living room all zombified only to poop on your rug before chewing it's own tail off.

 

[KJJ]

Just me, but personally I hope Tony doesn't get a chance to redeem himself in a "9-11" game.

By the 20th anniversary he'll long be retired.

 

[DFWJC]

The 2 wins vs Philly weren't in come from behind clutch situations. The Cowboys dominated them in both games we're talking about him being clutch in big games. The win over the Vikings happened in week 9 and didn't have the Cowboys season riding on it try reading what the discussion is about. The Washington game was in week 16 vs a 3 win team that had packed it in for the season. I mentioned Romo has had many clutch performances but not in elimination/playoff games.

The fact that you devalue the Washington win and even suggest they were even trying their best wipes out everything else that you are suggesting. Road division game where if you lose the season is over..hated rival who would give anything to ruin your season...yet it doesn't even count in your mind.

Good grief, KJJ, you've lost all perspective here.

 

[CCBoy]

Man, I remember when 30 pages that they had to call out the fire department to put out the burn barrels.

 

[burmafrd]

The fact that you devalue the Washington win and even suggest they were even trying their best wipes out everything else that you are suggesting. Road division game where if you lose the season is over..hated rival who would give anything to ruin your season...yet it doesn't even count in your mind.

Good grief, KJJ, you've lost all perspective here.

Romo haters have no perspective. That is the only way they can be haters. Using logic and common sense would destroy them.

 

[burmafrd]

This thread is like watching a beloved family pet die, then get buried in a bizarro pet cemetery where it comes back to life and then walks into your living room all zombified only to poop on your rug before chewing it's own tail off.

don't they usually try and chew your leg off first? My experience with zombified dogs is limited.

 

[CCBoy]

Child locks on computers are a joke to the kids of today...

 

[KJJ]

The fact that you devalue the Washington win and even suggest they were even trying their best wipes out everything else that you are suggesting. Road division game where if you lose the season is over..hated rival who would give anything to ruin your season...yet it doesn't even count in your mind.

Good grief, KJJ, you've lost all perspective here.

I'm not trying to devalue the Washington win but let's be honest the Commanders were a crappy team that had given up on the season and was playing with their backup QB. The Cowboys should have never been in the position to have come back in the final moments of that game as important as that game was. It's unfortunate Romo couldn't have performed at the same level at the end of the 2012 season finale vs Washington when the season was on the line for both teams.

I want to see Romo perform at a high level against a good football team that has as much riding on the game as the Cowboys do. Being clutch against bad 3 win teams in week 16 isn't going to erase the stigma Romo has. Had he played in week 17 last season and committed the turnover Orton did in the final moments of the game many of you would still be going back to his performance vs Washington in week 16.