Tony Romo is the insurance policy the Cowboys needed
Tony Romo is back!
Actually, he’ll be back on the sideline in two weeks when the Cowboys open their Super Bowl quest as the top seed in the NFC playoffs. But on Sunday in Philadelphia, Romo was back on the field for the first time in 402 days. He completed three of his four pass attempts for 29 yards and just as quickly departed after throwing a hitch-and-go to the back-left corner of the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Williams.
The Cowboys lost to the Eagles 27-13, but after Romo’s successful cameo, it would be incorrect to call it a meaningless game. That’s because now the Cowboys can have more confidence that if something were to happen to rookie revelation Dak Prescott in the postseason, old No. 9 could step in and take America’s Team not only to the end zone but possibly all the way.
“It was fun to go and watch because it was easy for him as it has been for his entire career,” Prescott said.
Owner Jerry Jones said he initially was worried about having Romo play behind a makeshift offensive line, as the Cowboys were missing left tackle Tyron Smith and left guard Ron Leary.
“By the time that I’d seen Dak early, I felt pretty good about the left side by the time Tony got in there,” Jones said about the performance of the line backups. “But I think it was such a positive for our team to see the depth we have now at that position.”
Dallas now is two horrible hits away from having to rely on Mark Sanchez, who threw two interceptions in his half-plus Sunday.
Romo’s sample wasn’t large, and he didn’t prove his body is able to withstand a big hit. This preseason, he fractured a vertebra in his back. In 2015, he fractured his collarbone. In 2014, he fractured the transverse process in his back in two places. And in 2013, he suffered a herniated disc in his back. That’s quite a streak of devastating injuries. Romo will be 37 when next season begins, so you have to wonder if the Broncos or Texans or Jets or some other team would be willing to make a trade with the Cowboys to get him — and then be willing to hold their breath every time he drops back to pass.
But for now, everything is good in Cowboyland as Romo has returned and brought with him some much-appreciated postseason peace of mind.
Playoff View
The Packers-Lions game was for seeding only after the Giants eliminated the Redskins earlier in the day. And from the “be careful what you wish for” department, Green Bay may have bought itself the tougher wild-card round matchup by winning the game and the NFC North crown.
The Giants will go to Lambeau having won nine of 11 since a 23-16 loss there in October. They’ve found a running game with Paul Perkins, and the defense has been dynamite even after Jason Pierre-Paul went down. The Lions have to make the long trip and battle the 12th Man crazies, but the Seahawks staggered home at 3-3 in the last six (with wins against the Rams and a close call over the 49ers). In recent weeks, they lost safety Earl Thomas and receiver Tyler Lockett, and Russell Wilson has been wildly inconsistent.
The Chiefs threaded the needle, winning 37-27 in San Diego while the Raiders lost 24-6 in Denver. Both teams finished 12-4, but Kansas City won the AFC West and grabbed the second seed in the postseason and earned a bye.
The Raiders, whose stars did not step up in the absence of Derek Carr, fell to the fifth seed. They will play the AFC South champion Texans next week in the wild-card round. That’s a good spot for the Raiders to try to regain their footing — if indeed they have anything left after Carr’s injury. Replacement Matt McGloin put up zero points and left with an injury of his own Sunday, and No. 3 man Connor Cook threw for Oakland’s only touchdown.
The Texans have their own QB problems as Tom Savage left the 24-17 loss to the Titans with a concussion. Houston has a minus-49 point differential, worst among the 12 playoff teams.
Help wanted
The coaching carousel didn’t wait for “Black Monday” to begin spinning furiously.
(bullet) There’s a primo opening in Denver, where Super Bowl 50 champion coach Gary Kubiak told his players he is retiring for health reasons. Kubiak, 55, suffered a mini-stroke on the sidelines in 2013, when he was coaching the Texans, and missed a week this season with what the team labeled a complex migraine condition. His final act in Denver was a 24-6 victory over the Raiders that denied the Broncos’ blood rivals the AFC West title and a first-round playoff bye.
“I’ll address my situation [on Monday]. But I did have a really good moment with the team,” Kubiak said.
* Chip Kelly was fired by the 49ers after one 2-14 season, as was general manager Trent Baalke. Baalke acknowledged he was gone before the 49ers’ 25-23 loss to the Seahawks, but Kelly coached the game and got the ax later. CBS Sports reported the 49ers are high on Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, but this is no longer one of the NFL’s Cadillac jobs. The 49ers went 7-24 under Kelly and Jim Tomsula after parting ways with Jim Harbaugh, who went 44-19 from 2011-14. His three winning seasons were the only ones the franchise has had since 2002.
* The Chargers fired Mike McCoy shortly after their 37-27 loss to the Chiefs in what likely will be their final game in San Diego before a move to Los Angeles. If the Chargers want to stay with an offensive mind in charge, they reportedly could look at Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley or McDaniels. If they want to switch the emphasis to defense, they could be a fit for Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia or former Falcons head coach Mike Smith.
* There also will be openings with the Bills, Rams and Jaguars. Bills interim coach Anthony Lynn is in demand but said his first choice is to stay as Rex Ryan’s successor. Deposed Jaguars coach Gus Bradley reportedly will be the defensive brains on a Lynn staff. Doug Marrone went 1-1 as the interim coach in Jacksonville, including his team blowing a 17-0 lead to the Colts.
The most interesting rumbling involves the Rams possibly making a trade for Sean Payton. NFL.com reported Sunday there is a “mutual interest.” Payton said “next question” when asked about that after the Saints’ loss in Atlanta.
Play of the Day
The Packers led just 17-14 with 10:13 to go and had a third-and-9 from the Lions 10. Rodgers dropped back, scrambled left away from pressure, stopped, scrambled left again and threw a low dart to the back of the end zone to Geronimo Allison, who went down to get it. The 10-yard play took 11 seconds and gave Rodgers the touchdown pass title with 39. His 40th, to Devante Adams, inoculated the Packers against a late Hail Mary touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Anquan Boldin.
Bad Beat
You’ve got the Falcons minus-7 at home against the Saints, and you’ve got a runaway 38-13 lead early in the fourth quarter. Then Drew Brees throws a touchdown pass to Michael Thomas with 12:41 to go, and Mark Ingram scores from the 1 with 2:47 left. The Saints recover an onside kick, and Brees hits Travaris Cadet for the New Orleans cover with 39 seconds to go. Falcons win, you lose.
Post Patterns
The Browns blew leads of 14-0 early and 24-21 in overtime and lost to the Steelers 27-24. But it wasn’t a total loss as owner Jimmy Haslam announced he had seen enough positive developments to bring back coach Hue Jackson and the front office. And with a 1-15 record, they clinched the first pick in the 2017 draft. The 49ers will have the second pick, to be made by whoever the new GM will be. The Bears get the third pick and Jaguars fourth. … Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor joined Marlon Briscoe as the only players in NFL history to have had 1,000 yards passing in one season and 1,000 yards receiving in another. … The Ravens finished at 8-8 with a 27-10 loss in Cincinnati. That gives them back-to-back non-winning seasons for the first time since 1997 and ’98. … Tom Brady surpassed Dan Marino to move into fourth place all-time in passing yards with 61,582. He trails Peyton Manning (71,940), Brett Favre (71,838) and Drew Brees (65,761). Brady also tied Peyton Manning with his 51st game with three or more touchdown passes and no interceptions. The Patriots are 49-2 in those games.
Three Stars
1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers QB
Rodgers hit on 27-of-39 for 300 yards and four touchdowns in a 31-27 win over the Lions that gave the Packers the NFC North title. He finished the season with an NFL-best 40 TD passes.
2. Matt Ryan, Falcons QB
Ryan completed 27-of-36 for 331 yards and four first-half touchdowns in a 38-32 victory over the Saints as the Falcons clinched the No. 2 seed in the NFC and a first-round bye.
3. Zach Ertz, Eagles TE
Ertz caught 13 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-13 win over Dallas. After his second score, he handed the ball to AL MVP Mike Trout, who had gifted every Eagle a pair of Nikes.
He said what?
“He’s a dirty player. He’s always been a dirty player. He’s going to always be a dirty player.” — Patriots RB LeGarrette Blount on Dolphins DT Ndamukong Suh. Blount ripped Suh’s helmet off after a shoving match late in the Patriots’ 35-14 win.
Fantasy Insanity
* If you’re in a league that attaches a draft-pick value to keepers for next season, you may have struck gold with your selection of Zach Ertz, who had a 94.9 average draft position. After his disappointing two-reception, 33-yard performance in Week 16 (the real fantasy finals week), he erupted for 13 receptions (on 16 targets), 139 yards and two touchdowns. The 26-year-old finished the season with 106 targets, 78 receptions, 816 yards and four TDs in just 14 games. No matter whom Philadelphia drafts, signs, acquires in a trade or tries to elevate as its No. 1 wideout for 24-year-old quarterback Carson Wentz, the Ertz-Wentz duo looks as if it has the potential to be fantasy gold for quite some time — and it won’t come at a huge cost. The Vikings’ Kyle Rudolph is another solid, cheap TE option who finally put together a solid season after building a rapport with Sam Bradford.
* Improper send-off: Steve Smith is hanging it up after a brilliant 13-year career in which he amassed more than 1,000 receptions, 14,600 yards and hauled in 81 touchdowns. In his final game, the 5-foot-9 Ravens sparkplug was targeted just five times for a pedestrian three receptions and 34 yards. It’s like having a goodbye party for your company’s longest-tenured employee without booze, cake, streamers, noisemakers, party hats or, you know, guests. Thanks for the memories and the fantasy titles, guy!
* In a category named “Call Your Commish,” Alex Trebek will read this as an answer on “Jeopardy”: Isaiah Crowell (152 yards), Corey Grant (122 yards, TD), Rex Burkhead (119 yards, 2 TDs) were among the top five running backs. The question: What are reasons not to play fantasy in Week 17?
– Jarad Wilk