It is tough to find a quarterback facing more pressure in the NFL this season than the Redskins’ Jason Campbell. But Tony Romo is certainly up there. Patience isn’t exactly a virtue in Dallas — amongst owner Jerry Jones or the fans themselves. Yet Romo is expected to lead his club to a playoff spot from the NFC East — likely the NFL’s toughest division. He has been underwhelming in the Cowboys’ recent playoff games — including a home loss against the Giants in 2008 and a late-game fumble against the Seahawks in 2007 — and he struggled in a 44-6 loss to the Eagles on the road in last year’s finale with a postseason berth on the line.
“[Romo] is in a tough spot. There have been so many great quarterbacks with the Dallas Cowboys over the years,” said NBC football analyst Cris Collingsworth. “But he really impressed me (vs. Tampa Bay last week) with his ability to move in the pocket. His reads were dead on, he threw the ball great, and his pump fake in the flat that ended up with the big play down the field to (Patrick) Crayton for the touchdown was Roethlisberger-like.”
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Romo indeed looked great in Dallas’ win in Week 1 with 353 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions against the Buccaneers. But even if he keeps that pace during the season — starting this week vs. the Giants during a nationally televised Sunday night game on NBC — Romo’s ultimate measure will still be taken in the playoffs.
The upcoming game, however, is a good primer for Romo and how he will deal with some of those lofty expectations. It is the first game played at Jones’ new Cowboys Stadium, a $1.2 billion palace that immediately takes its place as the NFL’s most opulent facility.
“That’s a tough standard because of those guys that came before him, but honest to goodness I think this guy is — if he’s not top 5, he’s certainly top 7 or so and getting better,” Collingsworth said. “So I’m still a big Romo guy.”
