The beginning of the end.

[Pappy13]

Romo goes down and the Cowboys lose to the Redskins.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Weeden was pretty solid. Also, I put the blame on the OC. Without exaggeration, the Redskins ran 876987598758958975 blitzes in a row and the Cowboys had no answer. Absolutely inexcusable.

[JGreenMachine]

We've seen this somewhere before.  The Cowboys start off straight, but then lose a game they clearly should've won and that sends their season spiraling out of control.  If they proceed to go on a losing streak here, I won't be a bit surprised.

[Brian Fein]

Romo had no business going back into that game.  Just based on performance alone, forget the injury... 

Romo played 2 1/2 quarters and got 7 points.
Weeden played 2 drives and got 10 points.

Weeden was more effective moving the offense, and I would bet that they'd have won had he stayed in the game.

[masterfins]

Romo had no business going back into that game.  Just based on performance alone, forget the injury... 

Romo played 2 1/2 quarters and got 7 points.
Weeden played 2 drives and got 10 points.

Weeden was more effective moving the offense, and I would bet that they'd have won had he stayed in the game.

I was debating this myself.  On the other hand Weeden had a poor handoff to the RB that created a fumble, luckily Dallas recovered.  But...as well as Weeden played there is some rust when the QB isn't use to working with the first string.  If the injury isn't affecting your starting QB too bad, then that's the guy you want in there.

[JGreenMachine]

The crazy thing is they lost to a bottom feeder team who was playing a QB that hadn't started since 2011!!!  If you're a contender, you don't lose games like this.

[Brian Fein]

The crazy thing is they lost to a bottom feeder team who was playing a QB that hadn't started since 2011!!!  If you're a contender, you don't lose games like this.

AT HOME!
Not to be understated - this was a home prime time game for a conference leader, against a conference bottom-feeder, who happens to be a hated rival.  It should be devastating to Cowboys fans.

[JGreenMachine]

AT HOME!
Not to be understated - this was a home prime time game for a conference leader, against a conference bottom-feeder, who happens to be a hated rival.  It should be devastating to Cowboys fans.

And to the players as well.  I've seen losses like this violently swing the seasons of both teams. 

Example 1- Colts vs Dolphins 1995.  The Dolphins are 4-0 and destroying every team they play because of all the money they spent on first round talent.  They take a 24-3 lead at the half.  The Colts come back in the second half and win 27-24 in OT.  The Colts go on to appear in the AFC Championship game.  The Dolphins barely qualify , end up playing at Buffalo, and get humiliated giving up an AFC playoff record 322 yards rushing.  The final score, 37-22, does not tell the whole story as all 22 Dolphins points came in garbage time.  The game turned out to be Shula's last as he was let go that offseason.

Example 2- Colts vs Bucs 2003.  The Bucs were the defending Super Bowl Champs and were riding a wave of confidence taking a 21-0 first half lead and a 35-14 lead with four minutes left.  That's when Peyton Manning took over.  Somehow, he managed to lead his team to three TD's in the final four minutes and the game winning FG in OT.  The Colts went on the the AFC championship game.  The Bucs ended up missing the playoffs.  Since that disappointing season, they only appeared in the playoffs twice in the next five season before Gruden was canned.  They haven't been to the playoffs since the year before he was fired.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Lots of stories about how Jerry Jones told Garrett that Romo is going back into the game, despite it being obvious to anyone with eyes that he was in no shape to play. We all saw Jones on the sidelines too when Romo came back. Based on his track record, I have no problems believing this and it probably cost Dallas first place.

[Spider-Dan]

Romo had no business going back into that game.  Just based on performance alone, forget the injury... 

Based on performance alone, the only reason you would ever pull Romo for Weeden (when Romo's record this year was 6-1 at the time) is because the game is such an embarrassing blowout (in either direction) that the outcome is no longer in doubt.

[dolphins4life]

If Weeden was doing well and Romo was hurt, why not stick with Weeden?

Normally though, it's not a debate, Romo should play over Weeden.                 

[Brian Fein]

Based on performance alone, the only reason you would ever pull Romo for Weeden (when Romo's record this year was 6-1 at the time) is because the game is such an embarrassing blowout (in either direction) that the outcome is no longer in doubt.

Not in that game.  Romo had 35+ minutes of game time and did nothing with it.  That's the performance.  Game as an isolated event, Weeden was the better performer.

Lots of stories about how Jerry Jones told Garrett that Romo is going back into the game, despite it being obvious to anyone with eyes that he was in no shape to play. We all saw Jones on the sidelines too when Romo came back. Based on his track record, I have no problems believing this and it probably cost Dallas first place.

I actually assumed that was what was happening when I saw Jones go from the box to the sideline, talking to Garrett on the sideline, and then back to the box.  I figured that was a given, after Jones got on the mic and gave Romo a verbal reach around on the broadcast.

[Spider-Dan]

Not in that game.  Romo had 35+ minutes of game time and did nothing with it.  That's the performance.  Game as an isolated event, Weeden was the better performer.

That's absurd.  Are you also going to keep Matt Ryan, Philip Rivers, or Matt Stafford from coming back into the game because the other team built a commanding 3-point lead while he was in?  (Keep in mind that DAL had the lead until the series right before Romo got hurt.)

The only reason you keep Romo (or any other franchise QB) out of the game is because you think he's injured; if you think he's healthy enough to play, you play him.  If you really believe that Brandon Weeden gives your team the best chance to win, then you might as well pack up the season.

[Brian Fein]

Its not about the lead, its about the effectiveness of the offense.  You saw how effective the offense was when Romo came back in.  Facts are facts - Weeden played only 2 series and was responsible for 10 of the team's total 17 points.  Romo played significantly more and did nothing, both before and after the injury. 

Franchise or not, sometimes guys have a bad game, and switching it up shouldn't be out of the question.  Especially when that "franchise QB" is injured and probably not at his best.

[Spider-Dan]

Its not about the lead, its about the effectiveness of the offense.

At the point Romo left the game, the offense had scored 7 points and the defense had just allowed a TD to put WSH up by three.  Romo didn't even have a chance to answer WSH's score, and this means he should still sit, even if he is fine?

Franchise or not, sometimes guys have a bad game, and switching it up shouldn't be out of the question.

So basically, score only one TD in 1.5 qtrs (when you are currently 6-1 and playing well this season) and it's time for you to sit?  Do you also sit Peyton Manning if he throws only 1 TD before half?

Especially when that "franchise QB" is injured and probably not at his best.

You just said "forget the injury," which was my entire objection.

If you want to say he's still injured and shouldn't play, fine.  Keep Weeden in.  But if you think he's healthy, then there is no decision: Romo is your franchise QB, and 1 TD/0 INT before halftime is not even remotely close to a valid reason for a performance-based benching.