After years of disappointment and turmoil, Tony Romo has finally arrived in the NFL.
After an early loss to San Francisco in Week 1 the Cowboys have now won five in a row and are looking at their most equipped team for a Superbowl run.
Romo has always been the man that falls on the sword after a defeat, justified by his lack of composure in big games. Though it can be argued that he has never had the tools to compete with the best of the NFL.
Romo certainly isn’t the interception machine that he is perceived to be, the difference with him is that his mistakes are made in the worst situations. The type of mistakes that deflate his team, the type of mistakes that end seasons.
This season is different. Jerry Jones has drafted well during the last four years and the result is finally showing in the gridiron. Romo is not a quarterback that can change a team on his own like the big four, but what he can do is elevate it and does so with his confidence and ability to extend a play.
Romo also needs a plan B, and with DeMarco Murray currently enjoying a record-breaking season, the onus is not just solely on the 34-year-old anymore. Dallas humbled Seattle, with Murray’s 115 yards leading the way against a side that had the best rush defence in the NFL after allowing just 62.2 yards per game before Sunday.
His number one receiver Dez Bryant is arguably in the form of his career, personified by how he handled Richard Sherman in Seattle. He enjoyed a decent performance against the legion of boom in a place where only one other team has won in the last three seasons. He also has the reliable hands of Jason Witten.
Though most of all, it’s Dallas’ offensive line that has been the key to their success so far. Four of their five linemen are below the age of 26 and have given their quarterback much more time in the pocket to make the correct decisions. Romo is the type of quarterback that needs time to make plays, which has resulted in much success so far.
In this year’s draft the Cowboys had an opportunity to sign Johnny Manziel, who seemed tailor-made for their franchise. Instead Jerry Jones selected Zack Martin and his team are way better for it. Martin slotted straight into right guard and is now leading the race for the offensive rookie of the year award, which has never been awarded to a lineman.
Superbowls are not won by individuals, instead it takes a team to move forward. No one is saying that Romo will be a hall of famer but we have seen mediocre quarterbacks win rings before. Look back to Trent Dilfer with the Ravens, he wasn’t by any means a high-calibre player but managed the team well, he limited mistakes and made the throws that needed to be made.
Now we turn to their defence. Yes, this is the same defence that ranked second last season which also retained most of their starters. They are a completely different outfit this year and are noticeably playing as one unit.
With arguably their best player, DeMarcus Ware, leaving for the Broncos many forecasted a similar season to 2013, but instead their defence has proved their doubters wrong. Furthermore, a handy addition, Rolando McClain, who played a key role in ending Seattle’s chances last week after an interception, has done the trick.
They are not by any means a dominant NFL defence, but what they are, is a defence capable enough to give a team with an elite offence a chance to win games.
Most importantly they have earned the respect of their quarterback.
“I trust them throughout football games to get us the ball back in key situations and they’re really playing outstanding ball,” Romo said.
“They’re fast. They’re aggressive. They’re starting to make a name for themselves and I’m excited about that. It gives us a chance to win every week we go out.”
We saw signs of the ‘same ole Cowboys’ against Seattle after trailing early 10-0 and the muffed punt, but the difference is they came back and did not succumb to the pressure. Maturity and composure was always the lesson that needed to be learnt and now with this team, their time has come.
Hey, supercoach? Choose your own ultimate NFL team and compete with other players for cash prizes in daily competitions on any match. If you’re after the best odds on the NFL, PlayUp is your best bet. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
The extraordinary episodes after his life as an American Football hero quite overshadowed the career of O.J. Simpson, who has died at the age…
The Kansas City Chiefs, steered brilliamtly at the end by star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, downed the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime to secure…
San Francisco 49ers will make their eighth appearance in the Super Bowl after a stellar season from a team stacked with real talent across the whole line-up.
The Chiefs are no longer strangers to playing matches in February. What was once a multi-generational 50-year drought has become an almost yearly tradition.
Daniel Faalele and Mitch Wishnowsky have kept their Super Bowl dreams alive, with Baltimore and San Francisco winning the divisional round playoff.
Six-time NFL champion Bill Belichick has agreed to part ways as the coach of the New England Patriots, bringing an end to his 24-year…
