Romo, Cowboys Overcome Struggles To Beat Cincy
By Associated Press
IRVING, Texas -- The turnovers, almost blowing all of a 17-point lead and Terrell Owens' obvious disappointment.
Of course, Tony Romo would have preferred the Dallas Cowboys having an easier time Sunday in their 31-22 victory over winless Cincinnati. Yet he's certain that ultimately only one thing will be remembered.
"It's going to be a 'W'. It's going to be that," Romo said. "You'll forget about this game."
While Romo may be right, especially if the Cowboys (4-1) keep winning, the struggles against the NFL's only 0-5 team certainly stand out now.
A week after losing a division game at home, then jumping out to a 17-0 lead with scores on its first three drives, Dallas let that margin shrink to one, then had to break up a 2-point conversion that could've tied the game midway through the fourth quarter.
"What you're frustrated about and disappointed in ... you've got a chance to put them away and we didn't do that," tight end Jason Witten said. "At the end of it, you've got to be happy that you've got the win."
Romo was 14-of-23 for a season-low 176 yards. He had a fumble and an interception, making it eight straight games that he's been picked off. Both turnovers led to field goals by Cincinnati, but Romo salvaged his day by throwing two of his three TDs in the fourth quarter.
Owens had a 57-yarder with 12 minutes left that proved to be the winning touchdown, leading T.O. to ecstatically raise his arms over his head and clap while still grasping the football in one of his hands. Then he went to the sideline, sat on the bench, bowed and put a towel over his head to cover his tears.
"What I saw was him wanting more," said owner Jerry Jones, who was on the sideline and had earlier visited with Owens. "He didn't have the attitude I've made a big play, I've done my part today. It was just a very competitive attitude and look in his face."
But Owens had only two catches for 67 yards, a week after having 20 balls thrown his way in the loss against Washington.
After the game, T.O. went to the podium and made a statement while referring to notes on a sheet of paper. He left without answering any questions.
"This was a great team win," he said. "It was frustrating out there, but I kept with it. My teammates stuck with it. ... God used me today for his glory. Reality is where glory resides. That's all I've got to say."
Cincinnati is 0-5 for the first time since 2002, a 2-14 season after losing its first seven games.
The frustrating part for the Bengals is that this was their second near-miss of a huge upset. They took the unbeaten New York Giants to overtime, also on the road.
"The way we played today is the way we need to play," said Chad Ocho Cinco, held to three catches for 43 yards and without being able to "kiss the star" in the end zone. "The only way we can get out of this is to help ourselves."
Carson Palmer, after missing the previous game with a sore elbow, was 23-of-39 for 217 yards and two touchdowns, both to T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
Palmer led the Bengals 72 yards in 11 plays on his first drive after halftime, hitting Houshmandzadeh for an 18-yard TD that made it 17-13. Romo's interception led to another field goal that got the Bengals within a point.
Cincinnati then recovered an onside kick, but gave the ball back when Tank Johnson forced running back Chris Perry to fumble.
Two plays later, Romo hit Owens going across the middle and he ran away from everyone for the long touchdown.
"That's an exceptional play at a time when we needed an exceptional play," Jones said.
Except Glenn Holt returned the ensuing kickoff 60 yards and Palmer followed with a 10-yard TD pass to make it 24-22. On the 2-point try, Keith Davis - a special teams ace starting at safety because of injuries - got enough of Palmer's lobbed pass to prevent tight end Ben Utecht from making the catch.
The Cowboys got another break in the closing minutes when a pass went through Miles Austin's hands at the 1, by a defender and to Patrick Crayton in the end zone.
"That's something we have fight sometimes around here, if you don't win pretty or something, it's not a positive," Romo said. "You don't get crowned champions for being the best looking team right now."
That's a good thing for the Cowboys.
IRVING, Texas -- The turnovers, almost blowing all of a 17-point lead and Terrell Owens' obvious disappointment.
Of course, Tony Romo would have preferred the Dallas Cowboys having an easier time Sunday in their 31-22 victory over winless Cincinnati. Yet he's certain that ultimately only one thing will be remembered.
"It's going to be a 'W'. It's going to be that," Romo said. "You'll forget about this game."
While Romo may be right, especially if the Cowboys (4-1) keep winning, the struggles against the NFL's only 0-5 team certainly stand out now.
A week after losing a division game at home, then jumping out to a 17-0 lead with scores on its first three drives, Dallas let that margin shrink to one, then had to break up a 2-point conversion that could've tied the game midway through the fourth quarter.
"What you're frustrated about and disappointed in ... you've got a chance to put them away and we didn't do that," tight end Jason Witten said. "At the end of it, you've got to be happy that you've got the win."
Romo was 14-of-23 for a season-low 176 yards. He had a fumble and an interception, making it eight straight games that he's been picked off. Both turnovers led to field goals by Cincinnati, but Romo salvaged his day by throwing two of his three TDs in the fourth quarter.
Owens had a 57-yarder with 12 minutes left that proved to be the winning touchdown, leading T.O. to ecstatically raise his arms over his head and clap while still grasping the football in one of his hands. Then he went to the sideline, sat on the bench, bowed and put a towel over his head to cover his tears.
"What I saw was him wanting more," said owner Jerry Jones, who was on the sideline and had earlier visited with Owens. "He didn't have the attitude I've made a big play, I've done my part today. It was just a very competitive attitude and look in his face."
But Owens had only two catches for 67 yards, a week after having 20 balls thrown his way in the loss against Washington.
After the game, T.O. went to the podium and made a statement while referring to notes on a sheet of paper. He left without answering any questions.
"This was a great team win," he said. "It was frustrating out there, but I kept with it. My teammates stuck with it. ... God used me today for his glory. Reality is where glory resides. That's all I've got to say."
Cincinnati is 0-5 for the first time since 2002, a 2-14 season after losing its first seven games.
The frustrating part for the Bengals is that this was their second near-miss of a huge upset. They took the unbeaten New York Giants to overtime, also on the road.
"The way we played today is the way we need to play," said Chad Ocho Cinco, held to three catches for 43 yards and without being able to "kiss the star" in the end zone. "The only way we can get out of this is to help ourselves."
Carson Palmer, after missing the previous game with a sore elbow, was 23-of-39 for 217 yards and two touchdowns, both to T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
Palmer led the Bengals 72 yards in 11 plays on his first drive after halftime, hitting Houshmandzadeh for an 18-yard TD that made it 17-13. Romo's interception led to another field goal that got the Bengals within a point.
Cincinnati then recovered an onside kick, but gave the ball back when Tank Johnson forced running back Chris Perry to fumble.
Two plays later, Romo hit Owens going across the middle and he ran away from everyone for the long touchdown.
"That's an exceptional play at a time when we needed an exceptional play," Jones said.
Except Glenn Holt returned the ensuing kickoff 60 yards and Palmer followed with a 10-yard TD pass to make it 24-22. On the 2-point try, Keith Davis - a special teams ace starting at safety because of injuries - got enough of Palmer's lobbed pass to prevent tight end Ben Utecht from making the catch.
The Cowboys got another break in the closing minutes when a pass went through Miles Austin's hands at the 1, by a defender and to Patrick Crayton in the end zone.
"That's something we have fight sometimes around here, if you don't win pretty or something, it's not a positive," Romo said. "You don't get crowned champions for being the best looking team right now."
That's a good thing for the Cowboys.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:03 PM
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