New Captain Comeback?

by DavidH22 on Nov 23, 2009 5:01 PM CST

Sunday's game against Washington was the 10th time that Tony Romo led the team to victory from a 4th quarter deficit or tie.

The games (all first scores are in 4th quarter)

2006:

at Carolina - down 14-10, win 35-14

Indianapolis - down 14-7, win 21-14

at NY Giants - tied 20-20, win 23-20

2007:

at Buffalo - down 24-16, win 25-24

at Detroit - down 27-14, win 28-27

2008

Philadelphia - down 37-31, win 41-37

*at Arizona - down 14-24, tied 24-24 in regulation (lost in OT)

at Washington - down 10-7, win 14-10

2009

at Kansas City - down 13-10, win 26-20 (OT)

at Philadelphia - down 31-10, win 20-16

Washington - down 6-0, win 7-6

(In addition, Romo has led the Cowboys to many more first-half, inside the two-minute warning scoring drives, but the exact number requires more research and my wife is giving me the evil eye)

Keep in mind that Roger Staubach had (I believe) 23 such 4th quarter comebacks in his career. And I think I read in some books and certainly from comments on this blog that oftentimes Staubach's comebacks were needed because of poor game-planning by Landry. Sound familar to anyone?

One key difference, though - Staubach's late-game heroics translated to the postseason (1972 and 1975 divisional playoffs), while Romo's have not. The latter came oh-so-close obviously in the 2006 wildcard, but it wasn't meant to be. Let's see some of that patented late-second magic in the playoffs! Actually, come to think of it, I'd rather just see the Cowboys rout someone in the playoffs...

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Comments

In the two minute drill/5 minute drill situations

Romo is very good. I think thats the sign of a great qb.

But I agree with you. Hes had two opportunities in the playoffs and hasn’t come through. Untill he does, he won’t be considered clutch by many.

by foyesboys on Nov 23, 2009 5:52 PM CST reply actions

Romo could have used some help against the Gints in 07 playoffs...Crayton.

by Keys80 on Nov 26, 2009 8:57 AM CST up reply actions

4th Quarter comebacks: my favorite 'circumstantial' stat in the whole wide world.

Kudos for digging through the numbers David – and looking at the Philly number from this year that is truly a miraculous comeback: going from 31-10 to to 20-16 :-)

4Q comebacks are one of my favorite ‘circumstantial’ football stats. Elway is alleged to have had 47, Marino 37, Favre is somewhere in the forties and P. Manning fanclubs are also keeping a close tally, all in an effort to show true greatness in a QB.

Puuhleease!

No offense, but has anyone ever considered that in order to make a fourth-quarter comeback, you have to be behind?

by One.Cool.Customer on Nov 23, 2009 6:56 PM CST reply actions

Hence I wrote this:

“And I think I read in some books and certainly from comments on this blog that oftentimes Staubach’s comebacks were needed because of poor game-planning by Landry. Sound familar to anyone?”

I should have also said “because of poor game-planning and heretofore offensive play.”

That said, I wouldn’t just dismiss 4th quarter comebacks. I think it’d be silly to do that.

by DavidH22 on Nov 23, 2009 7:16 PM CST reply actions

'07 @ Buffalo

Was perhaps the best comeback I’ve ever seen. It’s funny that Detroit was actually a bigger comeback (in terms of points), but I remember that Buffalo game, and feeling like that team was the best of all time.

In retrospect, they definitely weren’t the best team of all time. They weren’t even close. But that entire week I was smiling from ear to ear.

That game made me feel like this QB could drag us out of anything. That game really made me a believer. And that’s coming from a guy who called all his friends after the Giants game in ’06, and promptly told them we have our QB of the future.

by tkosmith on Nov 23, 2009 7:28 PM CST reply actions

I liked the Giants game in '06 when he tossed it down to Witten to get the team in FG position.

I bought me a jersey after that game.

I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles...

by Aaron Novinger on Nov 23, 2009 8:19 PM CST up reply actions

That throw he made to Witten

is still one of the most amazing throws I have ever seen. He was rolling left and threw it straight down the field to the only point Witten could have caught it at (right over his shoulder pads). Considering that that was in NY and in cold weather, it has to be maybe his best throw ever.

If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.

by Cowboyfan729 on Nov 24, 2009 10:19 PM CST up reply actions

Romo is very Staubachesqe in many ways

Back when I was a kid, I never thought the Cowboys were out of any game and could always come from behind because of Roger and I feel the exact same way about #9

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Nov 23, 2009 7:37 PM CST reply actions