Dallas Cowboys’ Tony Romo Has Chance To Exorcise Seattle Demons

By Kyle Nault @KyleOnTheDaily on October 9, 2014

Every true Dallas Cowboys fan remembers where they were the night Tony Romo sat on the Seattle turf, grasping his facemask in utter disbelief after he cost his team what looked to be a certain playoff victory over the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks in 2007.

When the on-target snap for that game-winning 19-yard field goal was bobbled away with just over a minute to play, perhaps Romo’s legacy was bobbled with it. A football play as easy as 1-2-3 gave birth to Romo’s reputation for collapsing in late-game moments and committing inexplicable mistakes in crunch time.

Almost eight years have passed since Romo’s defining career moment, and the Cowboys are headed back to Seattle this Sunday for a clash with the Super Bowl Champion Seahawks, a place where No. 9 has never won. Returning to the “House of Pain,” Romo will have a golden opportunity to exercise some of his demons in a game that will serve as a benchmark for the (4-1) Cowboys.

Much has changed for the Cowboys since their 27-7 debacle that took place at the hands of the Seahawks last season. Dallas is coming off four straight victories, they boast the No. 1 rushing attack in the NFL and their defense is also far improved. With a new “headstrong” identity, many believe that this team possesses all of the qualities of a contender, while some still aren’t sold.

Critics point to their opponents’ combined record of 7-12 as the primary reason for their doubts about the capabilities of this team, but a victory over the Seahawks in Seattle will surely change that. The Seahawks have won 17 of their last 18 at home, but haven’t played a team quite like this version of the Cowboys. This team is tough, and has a winning mettle very similar to that of their own.

Conventional wisdom from Dallas fans says this game will come down to DeMarco Murray and if he can run the football, but they couldn’t be more wrong. It’s all going to be on the right arm of Romo.

Seattle comes into Week 6 with the league’s best rushing defense, so I don’t think Murray will perform at the high level everyone has grown accustomed to. This means that Romo will have to be nearly perfect with his decision-making as he goes head-to-head with the Legion of Boom, who showed on Monday night they can, in fact, be beat.

It’s time for Romo to have a monster performance in a game that has the potential to springboard the Cowboys into a Super Bowl contender. He’s been long starved of an opportunity for a statement win like this, and needs to capitalize on what’s in front of him.

The bobble will always hover over Romo if he continues his losing ways in the pacific northwest on Sunday. However, it won’t define his legacy if he can earn some much-needed redemption for his personal psyche. And then, maybe, just maybe, Romo can start to look towards bigger achievements than just regular season victories for the 2014 season.

Kyle Nault is a NFL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow Him On Twitter @KyleOnTheDaily.