On Sunday Oct 2, 2011, the Dallas Cowboys gave up a 24-point third quarter lead and lost to the Detroit Lions. It was an incredible comeback by the Lions. Here are five quick thoughts on the game.
Good Romo, Bad Romo
Romo made news again this week but it was once again for the wrong reason. After playing great against the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins, "bad" Romo made another appearance. In some ways, this loss against the Lions is a microcosm of Romo's career. Sometimes you get fantastic play and sometimes you get poor play. Romo was stellar in the first half but he literally threw the game away in the second. Romo had three interceptions, two of them returned for touchdowns. The last interception led to the winning touchdown by the Lions.
24-point Comeback by the Lions
The Cowboys held a 20-3 halftime lead. On their first possession in the third quarter, Romo took the Cowboys down the field and found tight end Jason Witten for another touchdown. That gave the Cowboys a seemingly insurmountable 27-3 lead. Then Romo went to work, for the Lions. His two interceptions fueled the comeback by the Lions. The Lions outscored the Cowboys 31-3 from that point on.
Turnovers, Turnovers, Turnovers
The Cowboys had 434 yards of total offense. They dominated the time of possession. They earned 25 first downs. Statistics like these usually equate to a win. But the Cowboys lost. Look no further than the three second-half interceptions by Romo.
Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson
Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson were clutch in the fourth quarter. Stafford found Johnson twice, the last one being the game winner. Stafford and Johnson made plays when it counted.
What now?
The Lions are still undefeated at 4-0. They are the story in the NFL right now. The Cowboys limp into the bye week at 2-2 and try to get healthy. It does not get easier for the Cowboys from here. They visit the New England Patriots in Week Six, with a potential 2-3 record staring them in the face.
Edwin Torres has been a fan of the Dallas Cowboys since the days of Tony Dorsett and Roger Staubach. He enjoyed watching the Dallas teams of the 90s dominate opponents on both sides of the ball. Living in New Jersey, he is sandwiched between Giants and Eagles fans. But that has never deterred him from being a fan of America's team.
