Analyzing Tony Romo's Five Starts Against the Packers
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is riding off into the sunset, embracing life after football by diving headlong into a broadcasting career.
Whether he stays retired remains to be seen, but until some quarterback-hungry team comes waving a big check, his career is at least on pause. That makes now as good of a time as any to take a look back on his battles with the Green Bay Packers.
Although the Packers and Cowboys met ten times during Romo’s tenure with Dallas, he was only the starting quarterback five times. Here’s what happened in those five games.
Game 1 - November 29, 2007
Cowboys 36, Packers 27
Despite being a four-time Pro Bowl quarterback, Romo often found himself a supporting character in his battles with the Packers. His first meeting with Green Bay as a starter is a perfect example.
Though Cowboys fans may recall this game as little more than a prime time win over an old foe during the middle of a 13-3 season, for Packers fans, this was the first extended look at Aaron Rodgers. The third-year quarterback entered the game in relief of an injured Brett Favre and nearly led the Packers to a come from behind win.
Romo almost gave the game away, too. He threw a late interception in the end zone with the Packers trailing by just two points. Green Bay couldn’t capitalize, and Romo later put the game away.
Game 2 - September 21, 2008
Cowboys 27, Packers 16
Romo made his first trip to Green Bay as a starter during Aaron Rodgers’ first season as a starter. In a largely nondescript outing, Romo mostly took a backseat to Marion Barber and Felix Jones, who combined for 218 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries as the Cowboys pounded their way to a win.
Romo did throw an interception in this game, though, and future Packers tight end Martellus Bennett caught one pass for 37 yards in this game.
Game 3 - November 15, 2009
Packers 17, Cowboys 7
In another mostly forgettable game, Romo may have been the Cowboys’ undoing. Romo fumbled twice — both forced by Charles Woodson — with the Packers recovering one deep in Cowboys territory. They scored just a few plays later. Romo also threw an interception deep in Packers territory, sealing the Cowboys’ fate. It was the second time in three games against the Packers that Romo threw a fourth quarter interception.
Game 4 - December 15, 2013
Packers 37, Cowboys 36
Matt Flynn gets a lot of praise for making this epic comeback happen, but Tony Romo at least deserves a producer’s credit.
Thought the Packers had been rallying throughout the second half, Romo and the Cowboys seemed to put the game away for good when Romo threw a touchdown pass to Dez Bryant with just over eight minutes left, putting Dallas up 36-24.
But after Flynn and the Packers answered with a score of their own, Romo proceeded to throw an awful interception to Sam Shields,
leading to a go-ahead touchdown plunge by Eddie Lacy.
The Cowboys trailed by just a single point after a failed two-point conversion, and Romo had just over 90 seconds to get Dallas into field goal range. However, the comeback effort ended after just two plays as Romo threw a second interception, this one to Tramon Williams.
Game 5 - January 11, 2015
Packers 26, Cowboys 21
In his final start against the Packers, Romo found himself a six point underdog on the road in the playoffs. But with a powerful running game on his side and facing a hobbling Aaron Rodgers, Romo was well-positioned to pull off the playoff upset.
It wasn’t to be, though. Davante Adams and Randall Cobb decimated the Dallas secondary, Aaron Rodgers lasered a touchdown pass to Richard Rodgers to give the Packers a late lead, Demarco Murray fumbled, and Dez Bryant dropped a key pass.
Romo found himself a playoff bridesmaid once again, and due to injuries and the arrival of Dak Prescott, he never started another game against the Packers.
For now, at least
A version of this article originally appeared on AcmePackingCompany.com