Carolina’s defence stifled the Cowboys’ attack which included two interceptions by Panther linebacker Luke Kuechly in the second quarter. Selected by the Rams in the second round of the 2012 National Football League draft, Pead never fulfilled his potential in St. Louis He was cut by the Rams earlier this season and signed by Pittsburgh on November 2 when Le’Veon Bell went down with a season-ending knee injury.
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The Lions quarterback connected with Calvin Johnson for three of his touchdowns, completing 27 of 38 passes for 337 yards as Detroit picked up their third straight win. Romo was given limited protection for his non-throwing shoulder when he returned from the short term injured reserve list. He was 83-of-121 for 884 yards with five touchdowns and seven interceptions in those games. Luck will miss his second consecutive game with a lacerated kidney and partially torn abdominal muscle. Panthers lead 30 to 6.
Cowboys coach, Jason Garrett, said Romo’s X-rays are still inconclusive and that he would need to undergo further medical examinations come Friday. Cam Newton threw for 183 yards and rushed for 45 and a touchdown for the 11-and-0 Panthers.
Dallas will get a bit of a break after two games in just four days, as they next take to the battle field on Monday night, December 7th when they travel to DC to take on Washington, a team who looks like a patsy one week and world beaters the next. Tyrone Crawford got the only sack of the game and the Cowboys didn’t force a turnover.
Romo blamed his poor play Thursday on bad reads, poor decisions and rust after the seven-game layoff with the previous fracture.
Rod Marinelli either doesn’t have enough good players on defense, or his scheme is old and needs to be rebuilt.
Between the immediate deficit on the scoreboard and the lack of any effective running, the Cowboys quickly became a one dimensional offense, having to go to the air to try and make up ground quickly.
Dan Bailey scored on two field goals, one from 48, and kicked an extra point as well. The kick concluded a 9-play, 47-yard drive that consumed 4:18. No team, in fairness, should be expected to do much without its starting quarterback. However, he should have trusted Darren McFadden to run the ball more than 10 times. Romo completed just 11 of 21 passes for 106 yards with three interceptions. They have lost eight of their last nine games.
Still, it’s the knockout blow to the Cowboys season that started with such high expectations.
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Tony Romo’s season is over. The injury, more than the loss, is what will likely doom the Cowboys to another year without a playoff appearance.
