Why the Cowboys would be foolish to start Tony Romo in Week 8
For most of the season, Tony Romo’s target return date has been Oct. 30 against the Philadelphia Eagles – a Week 8 showdown that easily could be for first place in the NFC East. On the surface, it seems like the perfect time for Romo to get back on the field. The Cowboys will be coming off a bye, Dez Bryant likely will be 100 percent by then, and it’s a crucial game that would establish Dallas as a serious Super Bowl contender.
What could go wrong? Well, a lot, actually.
Last season, the Cowboys couldn’t wait for Romo to get back on the field. It was like a little kid waiting for Christmas when it’s only February. He couldn’t possibly return from injury quickly enough, but this year, there’s a different feeling. That feeling is patience.
Dak Prescott and his stellar rookie campaign have allowed the Cowboys to take it slow with Romo. They’re proven winners with Prescott under center, and some are even saying the Cowboys are better without Romo (that’s a completely different argument). However, with this newfound stability – a “miracle problem,” as Jerry Jones calls it – the Cowboys would be best suited to keep Romo out an extra week.
Even if Romo says he’s fully healthy by Oct. 30, the Cowboys would be setting him up to fail by making his first game back a home date with the Eagles, and here’s why.
It’s quite possible that the Cowboys won’t have a game with more pressure and anticipation than their Week 8 meeting with Philadelphia – regardless of who’s playing quarterback.
If the Cowboys win this week against the Packers, they’ll go into that game with a 5-1 record and would be sitting in at least a tie for first place in the NFC East. If Philadelphia beats the Redskins and Vikings the next two weeks, the Eagles would have the same record. That would add an immeasurable amount of anticipation to the Cowboys’ Sunday night, primetime matchup with the Eagles. Is that really how you want to welcome Romo back to the starting lineup?
Say he goes out and tanks, throwing three interceptions against the Eagles’ swarming, pressure-filled defense? With the way Prescott has protected the football, fans would be calling for Romo’s head, pleading for him to go back to the bench. That’s not what Romo needs after seeing Prescott have so much success for six weeks.
Not to mention, the Eagles’ defense might be the toughest Dallas faces all season outside of Minnesota. That in its own right makes it a difficult situation for Romo to come back to. Fletcher Cox, Connor Barwin and their relentless pass rush will have it out for No. 9 and put a target on his gimpy back. There’s a very real possibility he’d be sacked at least twice and hit a handful of other times. You might remember that he even suffered his first broken collarbone against the Eagles last season.
Sure, you’d want his veteran presence and defense-diagnosing ability on the field as soon as possible, particularly against Philadelphia’s dynamic unit. But that likely won’t be the determining factor in whether or not the Cowboys win that game. Prescott is more than capable of leading Dallas to a win over Philly.
The Cowboys would be much better suited to make Nov. 6 Romo’s return date. On that very Sunday, Dallas will be playing the lowly Browns, who have yet to win a game this season. Cleveland’s defense is the complete opposite of Philadelphia’s and would pose very little threat to Romo in the pocket.
He’d be able to come back, shred the Browns and most likely return with a resounding victory. It would build his confidence, get fans and his teammates on board, and give him an extra week to heal and practice. Does that not sound like a much better option? Just look at what Tom Brady did to the Brown in his return. He threw for 406 yards and three touchdowns, posting a passer rating of 127.7.
The Browns are allowing the eighth-most passing yards per game this season and have seven sacks in five games. The Eagles, however, allow the sixth-fewest yards per game through the air and have 14 sacks in four games. See the difference?
Obviously, nothing is given in the NFL – not even a win over the Browns – but the odds of the Cowboys dominating the Eagles are much lesser than the odds of them crushing the Browns, regardless of who gets the nod at quarterback. A loss to the Browns by Romo would create a massive controversy in Dallas, but it’s highly unlikely.
On the other hand, if he loses to the Eagles, it’d be much less disheartening. After all, Philadelphia likely would be 4-2 or 5-1 – not 0-8 like the Browns. There’s a big difference between those two records.
In the end, it will come down to whoever the coaching staff believes gives the Cowboys the best chance to win against the Eagles. A big factor in that will be Romo’s health and preparation leading up to the game, the latter of which will be determined by the former. If Romo can return to practice next week, his odds of playing will be much better. As it stands right now, that’s probably unlikely.
He would greatly benefit from an extra week of practice and rehab, which a Week 9 return would allow for. Ease Romo back in, as Jones has expressed a desire to do, and let Prescott play the Eagles. Don’t throw Romo to the wolves by making his first game a primetime divisional matchup with first place on the line.
