By Art Garcia
ARLINGTON, Texas—Tony Romo flirted with perfection, as did the Dallas Cowboys, in Sunday afternoon's 44-7 whipping of the Buffalo Bills at Cowboys Stadium.
The much-scrutinized Dallas quarterback picked the Bills apart, completing his first 13 attempts in a 270-yard outing that included three touchdowns. Romo, fully healed from an early-season rib injury, hasn't looked better this season.
The Cowboys (5-4) never trailed in what was billed as a statement game for both squads. Buffalo (5-4) has dropped consecutive games for the first time in 2011.
Dallas came out firing with touchdowns on its first four possessions—three on Romo passes—for a 28-7 lead going into halftime. Everything Romo and the Cowboys wanted to do, they did.
Romo (23 of 26) took advantage of all of his weapons, even with receiver Miles Austin and running back Felix Jones out. Dez Bryant and Laurent Robinson caught touchdown passes, with seven different receivers getting into the act.
Rookie DeMarco Murray continued to roll in Jones' place, racking up another 135 yards to push his total to 601 over that last five weeks. Murray had a short touchdown run late in the second quarter.
The Bills are trying to keep pace with New England and the New York Jets in the AFC East. Running back Fred Jackson, the AFC's leading rusher coming in, was a non-factor as Buffalo was forced to play catch-up.
Ryan Fitzpatrick was under constant pressure, rarely getting time to look downfield, forcing the Buffalo quarterback to settle for dump-offs and quick-hitters. That was hardly the recipe for a comeback.
The Bills still have two more road games—at Miami and the Jets—before returning home. Their playoff chances could hang in the balance before playing host to Tennessee on Dec. 4.
Of the Cowboys' four first-half touchdown drives, three covered at least 78 yards. The other went 58 yards on one play—a Robinson bomb from Romo.
The Bills couldn't get Dallas off the field. The Cowboys converted all seven of their third downs in the opening half, each via a Romo throw.
The first drive went 80 yards in just five plays after the opening kickoff. Two solid gains by Murray started the march before Romo went to the air.
Bryant used his height advantage to haul a 34-yard scoring pass, reaching over Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin to snatch the ball in the end zone.
Dallas methodically traveled 78 yards for the second score. On third down from the 5, Romo avoided a sack, spun and hit Robinson in the corner.
The Cowboys had a Terence Newman interception return for a touchdown and three field goals in the second half.
Bills coach Chan Gailey didn't enjoy his trip down memory lane. Gailey coached the Cowboys in the late 1990s.
Game notes: Cowboys TE Jason Witten moved into third place on NFL's all-time receptions list for tight ends. … Cowboys LB Sean Lee (dislocated wrist) returned after missing one game. He played with a club-like cast that covered the wrist and left hand. … Cowboys P Matt McBriar was also back after being out with a nerve issue in his leg. … Bills PK Rian Lindell (shoulder) missed the first game of his nine-year career after going on season-ending IR. Recently-signed David Rayner replaced Lindell. … WR Miles Austin (hamstring) RB Felix Jones (ankle) and CB Mike Jenkins (hamstring) were out for Dallas. … Jackson grew up in Arlington a fan of the Cowboys. He wears No. 22 in honor of Hall-of-Famer Emmitt Smith.
