Packers Vs Cowboys Celine Dion Again

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Last calendar week, Tony Romo signed 1 of the most lucrative contracts in NFL history. Yeah, that Tony Romo. The guy with merely one playoff victory to his proper noun. The guy who supposedly shrinks in large games and hides when the spotlight is directed at him. That inconsistent, mistake-prone loser who has the opposite of ice (fire?) in his veins.

Regular readers know that I recollect Romo has earned an extremely unfair reputation within and outside of Dallas, based primarily on circumstances across his control. In diverse columns, I've listed them all.

Jerry Jones, the coaching staff, the defense force, the running game, the pass protection, bad luck, injuries, Celine Dion. Whether or not they're "excuses," they've all been large-picture factors. Factors which I believe the majority of fans choose to ignore because they desire—they demand—somebody or something to blame for the fact that, since 1996, the Dallas Cowboys haven't gotten their way.

And so I decided to go back to the beginning and work forward in an attempt to gain a better, hindsight-assisted feel for what exactly Romo has and hasn't been able to reach during his ten seasons in the National Football game League.

2003-2005

Information technology's all Quincy Carter's fault, y'all angry Romo haters. Afterwards serving as Dallas' 3rd-cord quarterback backside Carter and Chad Hutchinson, it looked every bit though Romo was going to be released when Vinny Testaverde and Drew Henson were added to the roster in 2004.

But suddenly that summer, Carter was released. Failed drug examination, poor attitude. Whatever. He was gone, and the Cowboys kept their futurity franchise quarterback on the roster. Strong preseason performances in 2005 and 2006 elevated him to the backup function backside Drew Bledsoe, and the residuum is pretty much history.

Romo didn't throw a single pass during his offset three years in the league, merely everything changed when he relieved a struggling old Bledsoe in '06.

2006

The undrafted free agent out of Eastern Illinois looked like he'd be a career backup, merely then Romo got his risk in October of '06. The Cowboys had nothing to lose in a blowout victory, and he stepped in and completed ii passes—one for a big gain to Sam Hurd and the other for a touchdown to Terrell Owens.

Ii weeks later, he had supplanted Bledsoe. And xviii weeks afterward, he was taking snaps with the NFC Pro Bowl squad in Hawaii.

Overall, his first semi-season every bit a starter was very promising. Romo won over the fans, completing 69 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 110.viii in his first seven games. Simply some of the shine came off during the last iv games of the season, with Romo turning the ball over eight times as the 'Boys finished 1-iii.

Little did nosotros know at that indicate that such a dip was a sign of Decembers to come.

"Big" games

Dec. x vs. New Orleans Saints: The defense surrenders 21 second-quarter points. Romo does throw a pick leading to i of those touchdowns, but he's still tasked with having to play catch-up throughout the second half. He winds upwardly throwing a second option in the second half, but the Saints put 42 points up on the Dallas D.

Dec. sixteen at Atlanta Falcons: Romo posts a 113.9 passer rating and completes 11 of his 15 2nd-half passes every bit the Cowboys score 17 unanswered 2nd-half points to beat the Falcons on the road in prime time.

Dec. 25 vs. Philadelphia Eagles: Romo has a terrible performance in a huge home divisional game, throwing two picks and completing merely 14 of 29 passes. The Eagles play extremely well on defense force, merely information technology'due south a rookie-like performance in a 23-seven loss.

Dec. 31 vs. Detroit Lions: Romo throws an interception and loses two fumbles as the Cowboys lose to the lowly Lions, killing a chance to win the NFC Due east. He however completes 72 percent of his passes, though, and the defence force surrenders 39 points. In those final two games, Romo is sacked vii times.

Jan. half-dozen at Seattle Seahawks: This game will forever be remembered for this...

Only that play had nothing to do with Romo's ability as a quarterback. People say he lost the Cowboys that game, and they take a point. Simply it'southward more nuanced than that. Continue in mind that he had played a turnover-free game to that bespeak, putting the Cowboys in position for an upset victory on the road.

And also consider that Seattle still had about 75 seconds on the clock. The Seahawks had dashed down the field efficiently on their last ii possessions and had one of the best kickers in the league. Even if the Cowboys make that field goal, at that place'southward a decent chance they withal lose.

Conclusions: People forget that Romo also completed 19 of 23 passes equally the Cowboys beat the undefeated Colts in November. It was a great breakout season overshadowed past the embarrassing mode in which it concluded.

2007

In his first total season under middle, Romo threw 36 touchdown passes but also had nineteen interceptions. Both remain career highs. He finished as the fifth-highest-rated passer in the NFL and had the second-best yards-per-attempt boilerplate, earning another Pro Bowl berth.

Romo also led the Cowboys to the top seed in the NFC with a 13-3 record, just the offense went cold late, failing to score more than than xx points in each of their last four games. That includes an upset divisional playoff loss to the New York Giants.

"Big" games

Six of Romo'southward 20 total picks (including the playoffs) came in those final four games. He was the butt of many jokes for his botched hold the previous January, only this is the bespeak at which people decided Romo the quarterback couldn't perform in clutch situations.

Dec. 9 at Detroit: Romo completes fourscore percentage of his passes and posts a 110.four passer rating equally the Cowboys survive against the Lions on the road. They don't win if Romo doesn't hit Jason Witten on a 16-k touchdown strike with eighteen seconds left. The defence allows the Lions to score their 3rd-highest bespeak total of the season, and the Cowboys tin can't do anything on the footing this week or adjacent week.

Dec. 16 vs. Philadelphia: At dwelling house and in forepart of new girlfriend Jessica Simpson, Romo has the worst game of his career, completing just 13 of 36 passes as the Cowboys lose 10-half dozen. It has no begetting on the standings, but information technology's a bad sign. "If we become on and win the Super Bowl, the loss is a good thing," Romo said afterwards. "If we lose outset circular of the playoffs, the loss is not a skilful thing."

Dec. 22 at Carolina Panthers: Romo has a quiet but efficient game without pinnacle receiver Terrell Owens as the Cowboys win 20-13. The basis game returns, which helps. The Cowboys' finale against Washington is moot, because they wrap up the tiptop seed in the conference.

Jan. 13 vs. Giants: Later beingness criticized for spending Wild Card Weekend on holiday in Mexico with Simpson, Romo completes but 18 of 36 passes for 201 yards and throws a pick into the end zone with the game on the line as Dallas falls to the eventual Super Bowl champion Giants.

Romo doesn't lose the game (Dallas took a ridiculous 11 penalties and Romo was burned past a dropped pass in the end zone in the third quarter), but he always fails to grab it past the reins and win it.

Conclusions: You know what they say near first impressions. Romo might have performed extremely well the majority of the time during his first 2 seasons, but when it mattered, he was not able to lead the Cowboys to victories. Did he receive enough support from the offensive line and the running game and, at times, the defense? No.

But great quarterbacks overcome those obstacles.

The fact that he faded down the stretch in the Cowboys' nearly promising season since 1995 stuck with Dallas fans, and they nonetheless draw conclusions well-nigh Romo based on these events, despite the fact they took place one-half a decade agone.

2008

Romo was solid during the start half-dozen weeks of the flavor, posting a 103.5 passer rating as the Cowboys started four-2. Merely then he was injured against the Arizona Cardinals, missed the next iii games and wasn't quite the same the residue of the twelvemonth.

Information technology was Romo's worst twelvemonth as a pro and a true choke job for the entire squad. After starting 8-four, they lost 3 of their 4 December games to miss the playoffs.

"Large" games

Dec. vii at Pittsburgh Steelers: Romo completes just 19 of 36 passes and throws 3 interceptions, including ane that turns into a game-clinching pick-6 in the final minutes, as Dallas loses by seven points.

Dec. 14 vs. Giants: Romo is on point, posting a 113.7 passer rating as Dallas cruises past the defending champs.

Dec. 20 vs. Ravens: Romo throws ii touchdown passes in the terminal iv minutes, but it's still non enough to overcome two earlier interceptions and a poor defensive operation. Dallas falls 33-24, with Romo completing just 24 out of 45 passes.

Dec. 28 at Philadelphia: Romo falls to 0-three in his career in emptying games as the Cowboys are crushed 44-half dozen in the flavour finale. The loss isn't completely on Romo, considering the D gave up 27 points before halftime, just his performance (21-of-39, zero touchdowns and three turnovers) is very poor.

Conclusions: Iii seasons down and a 5-viii tape in December. That'southward only partially on Romo, simply he absolutely deserved a reputation as a poor finisher at this point in time.

2009

This is the flavour when everything changed for Romo. He was probably 1 weak campaign or another failed December away from losing his job, and he finally delivered in both respects.

A key: He finally got help from the league'south second-rated scoring defense and an extremely productive running game.

Co-ordinate to numbers from Pro Football Focus, he was the league's third-about pressured quarterback in 2008, but Romo's pressure rate dropped off by 11 percent in 2009.

With all of that support, he flourished, posting career highs across the board. He threw only nine interceptions in xvi starts and finally came through when it mattered.

"Large" games

Dec. 6 at Giants: Technically some other December loss, only Romo throws for a career-high 392 yards while posting three touchdowns and a 112.1 passer rating in the losing effort. The Dallas D surrenders 31 points on a rare rough day at the office.

Dec. 13 vs. San Diego Chargers: Romo has another turnover-free game and another 112 passer rating, but Dallas falls just short against a very practiced San Diego team.

December. 19 at New Orleans Saints: Romo'southward passer rating exceeds 100 for the fourth straight week as the Cowboys ruin the Saints' perfect season at the Superdome.

Dec. 27 at Washington: Romo isn't asked to do much but holds things down every bit the Cowboys D pitches a shutout in an easy road victory.

Jan. 3 vs. Philadelphia: Another methodical operation from Romo, who throws two early on touchdown passes while the defense force gets the task done in a blowout victory to wrap upward the regular season. The win gives the Cowboys the segmentation title.

January. ix vs. Philadelphia: Romo posts a 104.9 passer rating as the Cowboys crush the Eagles in what is to this day his but playoff victory. It's too the franchise's first playoff win since 1996.

Jan. 18 at Minnesota: Romo spends the entire divisional playoff game running for his life. Ultimately, he'due south sacked six times and his defense gives upwardly 34 points in a route game they probably shouldn't take been expected to win. He may have turned information technology over three times, just this loss was not on Romo.

Conclusions: It's funny, because Romo isn't called a winner, yet he even so won two division titles in those first three seasons every bit a full-fourth dimension starter. The Cowboys weren't supposed to beat the Seahawks on the road in Romo's first flavour, and that loss isn't completely on him as a quarterback anyway. To this indicate, the just playoff game the Cowboys have "choked" in during the Romo era was that 2007 loss to the Giants.

When people cite Romo's disability to shine in big games, they're generally referring to moments from these showtime 4 seasons, concluding with his three-turnover operation against the Vikings in the divisional playoffs in 2009.

Since then, the Cowboys have been competitive because of Romo, rather than despite him. They've fallen short of the playoffs despite him, not because of him.

2010

Tough to include this 1 in the big film. The Dallas defense was an absolute disaster and, with picayune support, Romo was only performing at a and then-and so level before suffering a flavour-ending injury to his clavicle in Week 7. The Cowboys were 1-four when the injury took identify, and their season was doomed subsequently that.

2011

Romo got back on track in 2011, finishing with the league'southward fourth-all-time passer rating despite little back up from the defence force, as well equally the fact he played a large chunk of the flavour while recovering from a cleaved rib and a punctured lung suffered in Week ii.

The offensive line actually began taking a plough for the worse this year, with Romo taking a career-high 36 sacks.

"Big" games

Dec. 4 at Arizona Cardinals: Romo throws for 299 yards and completes 67 pct of his passes in a turnover-free affair, merely they lose in overtime. This is on head double-decker Jason Garrett, who iced his ain kicker before what would have been a game-winning field goal at the terminate of regulation.

December. 11 vs. Giants: Romo posts the sixth-highest passer rating of his career, only the defense gives up 37 points, choking on a 12-point lead inside of five minutes to paw the game to New York. Once behind late, Romo leads the 'Boys down the field in swift fashion in the final minutes, setting up a 47-yard field goal to strength overtime...but that is blocked by Jason Pierre-Paul.

Dec. 17 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The team finally gets out of its quarterback's way, equally Romo posts a 133.9 rating in a blowout victory over the Bucs.

Dec. 24 vs. Philadelphia: Romo is forced to get out after suffering a hand injury in the first quarter. The Cowboys lose.

Jan. i at Giants: The Cowboys drop some other elimination game with Romo at the captain, but it shouldn't have come to this. They should accept beaten Arizona and New York in Dec and locked up the division well before this. Despite playing after taking a pain-killing shot in his hobbling throwing manus and beingness hammered from beginning to finish by New York pass blitz, Romo completed 29 of his 37 pass attempts in the losing attempt.

Conclusions: He was lights-out during his final four complete games, but the Cowboys managed to win just i of them. No way y'all tin pin either of those first two Dec losses on Romo, though. He was victimized in both cases by a snakebitten team.

2012

While the defence was meliorate on newspaper, Romo received little support again in 2012. Dallas once once again surrendered 36 sacks, tying a career-loftier for Romo from the previous season, and the Cowboys' running game—impacted by an injury to DeMarco Murray—had the 2nd-worst yard-per-attempt boilerplate in the NFL.

What hurt the most was that the D was ravaged by injuries. Co-ordinate to the Dallas Forenoon News, simply two teams lost more starter games to injury than the 'Boys did in 2012.

"Large" games

Dec. 2 vs. Philadelphia: The defence gives upwardly 33 but Dallas scores 38. Romo posts a near-perfect 150.v passer rating in the victory.

Dec. ix at Cincinnati Bengals: Dallas struggles for much of the day confronting a stingy defence force on the road, but Romo leads them on 2 scoring drives in the fourth quarter to eke out a 1-betoken comeback victory.

Dec. sixteen vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Romo once again has a huge day on the stat sheet, completing over 70 percent of his passes and posting a 111.iii passer rating as the Cowboys survive another close game.

Dec. 23 vs. New Orleans: Romo throws four touchdown passes to go along with zero interceptions, but the depleted defence surrenders 34 points and the 'Boys lose by a field goal.

Dec. 30 at Washington: That aforementioned D gives up 28 equally Dallas struggles to stay with Washington in a do-or-die finale with the partition championship on the line. Romo has a poor outing, throwing three interceptions.

1 pick came on a bad road and the other came in desperation mode, only those who oppose Romo will say that all that matters is that he turned it over iii times.

Those opponents will too fail to recognize the irony in the fact they often say numbers don't matter when they're used to prop Romo upwards. If we're responsible for looking beyond the practiced numbers, than the intangible circumstances must as well be considered when discussing the bad ones.

Conclusions: A lot of people desire to blame Romo for those three interceptions in the finale, simply the reality is that the Cowboys wouldn't accept been shut to alive in that game if not for the performances Romo put up throughout the twelvemonth. He could have been better confronting Washington, merely the 'Skins were the better and healthier team, and Romo was desperately trying to overcompensate.

Eli Manning didn't asphyxiate this flavor, merely that's because he wasn't even good plenty at regular times to earn the correct to choke in big moments. I don't think Romo high-strung, merely I do think he failed to completely brand up for the fact his squad had no business playing for a division title on that final Sunday dark of 2012.

Is it fair to pin that on him? I don't retrieve the Cowboys trounce the Redskins in that game with any non-hereafter Hall of Famer at quarterback.

The Bottom Line

Nosotros lose sight of the fact that Romo is usually the kind of athlete nosotros root for. Passed on 262 times in the 2003 draft. Rose from out of nowhere to become the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. Statistically, he'southward one of the best in the game.

Is he a risk-taker who sometimes gets burned? Absolutely, but his all-or-cypher style is what we commonly wish to see from our favorite athletes.

Romo never had a chance to have growing pains as a starter. The most pressure-filled sports chore in the land was thrown at him without much notice, and he did a very expert task the majority of the time before shrinking in the big moments.

Excuses are annoying, simply sometimes they have merit. Romo hasn't been in the right place at the right time just all the same, at least on the field. The stars haven't aligned for him. He's the most achieved quarterback in the league without a championship.

That was on him early in his career, considering he didn't know how to handle the Dec and January pressure. At present, though, he's been let downward time and over again by those surrounding him. That's the excuse for the last two disappointing seasons, and I believe it's an acceptable one.

"Your legacy volition be written when you're washed playing the game," Romo said after that nearly recent heartbreaking loss to the Redskins. And that's what I'm preaching here.

But time is running out. The Cowboys look very good right now. They've drafted well in contempo years and are relatively stacked on both sides of the ball. If they tin can stay healthy this yr and practise a ameliorate job in pass protection, Romo won't be able to blame a lack of playoff success on anyone but himself.

Maybe I'm more than patient than the majority of Cowboys fans, because I'yard not a restless fan who was spoiled by the dynasties that dominated previous decades, merely I believe in Tony Romo. I'thousand giving him one more yr to prove that he has what it takes. I'm letting the stars marshal.

It's possible that things never come up to fruition for Romo and this generation of Cowboys, in which case I'll have to deduct points against him and his teammates' legacies. Just that won't mean he wasn't a great quarterback.

If annihilation, it'll simply hateful he'southward truly one of the most underrated players in NFL history.

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Source: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1590182-how-fair-is-tony-romos-reputation-examining-his-big-game-history

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