Romo’s Return Sparks Cowboys Past Dolphins

The mental toughness, willingness to inspire, and faith in his ability to win demonstrated by Tony Romo today are rare qualities to find in any player, but indispensable for the leader of a football team.

Looking forward, the Cowboys are favored in four of their six remaining games. There’s no reason to think they can’t win all nine with him – and take the weak NFC East in the process. With that said, it’s not like his offensive line (aside from Jason Fox and Dallas Thomas) was bad, and his running backs, when used, were productive. It’s all about winning.

The Cowboys can go a long way in doing just that by beating an undefeated team on a four-day turnaround in front of a national audience this Thursday. “Let’s get back on track”.

To do so will require more offense. Miami went on to score with 16 seconds left. Dallas linebacker Rolando McClain scored the game’s first points and his first career touchdown on a 12-yard interception return. It opens up the running game, as McFadden had one of his best games of the season in what looks like a 1000-yard year for him. The penalty put the Cowboys at the Miami 21-yard line and led to a field goal. He gets us into great looks.

When interviewed about the Panthers game this week, Hardy pretended that it was simply another game on the calendar and not anything more important. “It came down to missing tackles, missed assignments”.

The Dolphins blamed their own mistakes for the defeat. They ran the ball 14 times, with three coming from Tannehill.

“I told the guys … that it was really inspirational watching them”.

Sunday was not among Romo’s best days, but it was good enough to get the Cowboys back in the win column for the first time since the QB’s last start.

A couple of touchdowns and a few first downs, as it turns out, can be all it takes to inspire a defense for a team that had been on a seven-game losing streak.

The night before the matchup with the Dolphins, Tony Romo gave his teammates a speech so inspiring, that it pushed the Cowboys to be more motivated, more focused and more willing to win against Miami. Getting at last to 3-7 simply is the first shovel of dirt off the coffin so many have been wanting to place this season in. A lot of energy was on the side of the Cowboys as their fans were scatted all over stadium making anyone in Miami believe it was a semi-homecoming game for Dallas. Towards the end of the first quarter the Cowboysappeared to be on their way to putting the first points of the game on the board but Brent Grimes intercepted a pass intended for Dez Bryant. A third-down holding penalty on cornerback Jamar Taylor allowed the Cowboys to keep the ball, and he was beaten deep by Williams on another third down for the TD. I think our coach has. A touchdown pass from Tannehill to Kenny Stills closed the gap from 14 to 7 as the teams headed into the locker room.

Later in the second Dallas had a drive that was much like the offense they had past year.

Thoughts of McFadden having hit a wall against Tampa Bay (32 yards on 17 carries) were unfounded.

NOTES: Neither team reported any injuries….

At least, though, the Cowboys, with Romo, should come into the game with a little swag in their step. Ruiz was the stepbrother of Dolphins receiver Rishard Matthews…. Former Dolphins coach Don Shula received his new Pro Football Hall of Fame ring in a halftime ceremony.