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Dallas Cowboys: What if we could go back in time?

By Stephen Francis

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo might play the what-if game more than anyone. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo might play the what-if game more than anyone. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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December 22, 2013 — Week 16 vs. the Washington Redskins, FedEx Field

Of the five games that made this list, this is the only one that the Dallas Cowboys actually won. But the outcome wasn’t really what concerned Dallas fans about this one.

Entering the final two weeks of the regular season, the 7-7 Cowboys trailed the Philadelphia Eagles by one game for the NFC East lead. With the Redskins and Eagles remaining on their schedule, Dallas had a legitimate shot.

It was familiar territory for the Cowboys, who had lost the NFC East title in the season’s final weeks in 2011 and 2012. Nevertheless, they were set up for success if they could just take down their final two opponents.

However, it later came out during the week that the injury was serious and he’d have to miss the rest of the season.

Dallas outplayed Washington for most of the game. They really should have, since the Redskins entered the game with a 3-11 record and eventually finished with the league’s second-worst record. This should have been a lopsided matchup.

At some unclear point during the tilt, Romo herniated a disc in his back. He continued to play though, and eventually delivered a game-winning touchdown pass to DeMarco Murray with a little over a minute remaining.

The Cowboys coaching staff initially reported that he was a little hurt but would be okay. However, it later came out during the week that the injury was serious and he’d have to miss the rest of the season.

This thrust the inconsistent Kyle Orton into the starting role. Against Philly, he completed just 65 percent of his passes and threw two interceptions to the Eagles defense. Philadelphia dominated throughout the course of the evening and Dallas never had a chance.

If Romo hadn’t tweaked his back and started the finale instead, they may have won and hosted the New Orleans Saints in the first round the next week. At the very least it would have stopped a dreadful streak of three straight season finale disappointments. That alone would have felt like a playoff win.

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