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Uh oh, it's December in Dallas. For those tried and true Dallas Cowboys' fans, you know this is the time to hold your breath, cross your fingers and hope for the best. Dallas has won four games in a row, blazing through November. That is no surprise. Tony Romo is 19-2 in November as the starting quarterback.
In December and January, Romo is 9-12. With only a one-game lead over the New York Giants in the NFC East, and a game against them on Dec. 11 in Dallas, it is time for Romo to turn that record on its head. Romo has to play better for this to happen. In November, he has 51 touchdowns and 14 interceptions while in December, he has 21 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.
Forget about 2010 when Dallas couldn't beat anybody. In 2009, Dallas was 8-3 before losing to the Giants and Chargers to start December. Dallas turned things around and finished strong. They even won a playoff game that year against Philadelphia before Minnesota embarrassed them in the Divisional round. In 2009, Dallas was 4-1 in November and 2-2 in December.
2008 was worse. Dallas was 8-4 leaving November. Then they lost three of their four December games to finish 9-7 and miss the playoffs. 2007, the last season Dallas was truly super, they were 11-1 at the end of November. There were few teams better. Then they lost two of their final four games and lost in the first round of the playoffs, making Romo 2-3 after November. In 2006, Romo won the starting job from Drew Bledsoe in Week 6. He led Dallas to a 5-2 record as a starter and a 7-4 record overall. Then he lost three of five games in December and fumbled an important field goal hold to lost their playoff game to Seattle.
I can't explain it but December seems to be Kryptonite for Tony Romo and he isn't much better in January.
Dallas is 7-4 heading into December. This is the same as 2006 and pretty close to 2008 and 2009. They missed the playoffs in one of those seasons and barely squeaked in during the other two. I want to think this year will be different. Dallas gets a nice start with a weak Arizona team but finishes with the Giants twice and the Buccaneers and Eagles in between.
Is this the year Romo finally bucks the curse? A Cowboys' fan can dream.
Author Shawn S. Lealos has followed the Dallas Cowboys since he was a child, his favorite players range from Roger Staubach and Tony Dorsett to the Triplets of the 90s. Through the great years of the '90s and the hard times of the '80s, Shawn never turned his back on America's Team.
Source: Dallas Cowboys
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