Cowboys' Romo seizes opportunity for redemption

By Scott Garbarini Sep 11, 2007, 21:53 GMT

- I don't know whether Tony Romo owns any pets, but it's safe to say the monkey that the Dallas Cowboys quarterback had been carrying on his back over the last eight months is now gone.

The biggest question being asked in regards to America's Team over this past offseason wasn't whether the coaching switch from the authoritative Bill Parcells to the easygoing Wade Phillips would be a change for the better. It had nothing to do with Terrell Owens or Jerry Jones, either.

What we all really wanted to know was if Romo would be able to overcome his memorable botched hold that ended the Cowboys' 2006 campaign with a disheartening 21-20 loss at Seattle back in January. We were nearly as curious as to which Romo would show up in 2007. Would it be the quarterback who took the league by storm with an amazing five-game stretch in midseason, or the one who looked like the second coming of Chad Hutchinson over the final five regular-season games?

Judging by the results of the Cowboys' 45-35 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday, it was clearly the former. Taking advantage of a disoriented opposing secondary and the strong protection of his front line, Romo shredded the New York defense for a career-high 345 yards on only 15 completed passes in leading Dallas to its highest point total in a season opener in 36 years.

The fifth-year signal-caller threw for four touchdowns and also showed off his above-average scrambling ability with his first career rushing score, when he avoided an oncoming rush and crossed the goal line from nine yards out to give the Cowboys a 31-19 lead late in the third quarter.

I think he showed what he can do,' said Phillips of Romo. 'He's very accurate throwing the football. Tony did a good job of finding who was open.'

Most importantly, Romo was able to prove he can handle adversity. The 27-year- old did throw an ill-advised interception midway through the fourth quarter which was turned into a Giants' touchdown that trimmed Dallas' advantage to 38-35. He quickly responded, however, by firing a strike to Sam Hurd that the reserve wide receiver turned into a back-breaking 51-yard score.

CHINKS IN THE ARMOR

While the offense fired on all cylinders in the opener, the Dallas defense didn't exactly give a top-notch performance on Sunday. The Giants rolled up 438 total yards, 309 of which came through the air, and scored on seven different possessions. Particularly troublesome was New York wideout Plaxico Burress, who dominated the Cowboys' cornerback tandem of Jacque Reeves and Anthony Henry for 144 yards and three touchdowns.

Injuries certainly played at least somewhat of a factor in Dallas' poor showing on defense. Terence Newman, the team's top cornerback, was inactive because of a plantar fascia tear in his right heel and outside linebacker Greg Ellis has yet to return from the torn Achilles tendon he suffered last November. The Cowboys also played most of Sunday's contest without nose tackle Jason Ferguson, who tore his right biceps in the opening quarter.

Ferguson will have to undergo surgery and will be lost for the remainder of the season. Jay Ratliff replaced the veteran lineman and had Dallas' only sack on Sunday, but the club currently has no experienced backup at the nose. Remi Ayodele, who was waived by the Cowboys during the final preseason cutdown, is a candidate to be brought back.

Ayodele, incidentally, is the brother of Cowboys starting inside linebacker Akin Ayodele.

GLENN'S OUTLOOK GRIM

Wide receiver Terry Glenn also sat out Sunday's game after experiencing a setback last week in his recovery from arthroscopic surgery performed on his right knee back in early August. The speedy 33-year-old will now need an additional surgery, and the possibility exists that a career-threatening microfracture procedure will be necessary.

Glenn could opt for another arthroscopic scope that would keep him out around another month, but there's no guarantee of that operation completely mending the cartilage damage in the knee. If he undergoes microfracture surgery, he will have no chance of playing in 2007.

Patrick Crayton started in Glenn's place in the opener and caught three passes for 51 yards, while Hurd made an impact after being bumped up to the No. 3 receiver.

A LATE BLOOMER

Owens was held without a catch during the entire first half, but redeemed himself with a monster final two quarters. The controversial wideout snared three passes for 87 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a dazzling one- handed grab in the end zone which gave the Cowboys a 24-16 lead early in the third quarter. Owens also outraced the Giants' secondary for a 47-yard score with 11:43 left to play.

Jason Witten was the beneficiary of Owens' slow start, as the tight end racked up 78 yards and a touchdown on five catches prior to the intermission. He finished the night with team bests of six grabs and 116 receiving yards.

'I think they came out with the game plan to try and take Terrell out of the game a little bit,' Romo remarked. 'As a quarterback you just have to find the people who are open. Jason did a great job today. T.O. and some of the other guys obviously got open in the second half.'

HITTIN' THE ROAD

Dallas will receive its first away test of the 2007 season when it travels to Miami this coming Sunday for an interconference showdown with the Dolphins. Miami will be facing its second straight NFC East member to begin the year, as the Fish came out on the short end of a 16-13 overtime decision at Washington in Cam Cameron's regular-season debut as the Dolphins' head coach.

This will be the Cowboys' first visit to Miami since 1996, when Dallas posted a 29-10 victory at Dolphin Stadium.

© 2007 The Sports Network