Dallas Cowboys

Tony Romo's return gives Cowboys what they needed most: Hope

Published Nov. 22, 2015 7:31 p.m. ET

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Alex Marvez

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- The ultimate measure of Tony Romo's return to action was reflected by the Dallas Cowboys ending a seven-game losing streak Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.

But it wasn't just his two touchdown passes that helped pace a 24-14 victory at Sun Life Stadium. It was a culmination of everything a quarterback -- and leader --€“ of Romo's standing brings to the table.

It started with a Saturday night speech where Romo lifted up his teammates by sharing his feelings about how inspired he was with the Cowboys' effort during his absence despite their skid.

It was, as team owner Jerry Jones pointed out, the confidence having Romo back that inspired Dallas head coach Jason Garrett to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Cowboys' 45-yard line in the first quarter rather than punt.

It was the comfort Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan had in using his entire playbook, a luxury Dallas didn't enjoy with Matt Cassel and the now-released Brandon Weeden filling in for Romo.

It was the big-play threat Romo brings in the passing game that helped create opportunities for running back Darren McFadden, who capitalized with 129 yards on 29 carries to help Dallas close out the game.

Finally, Romo's presence is the one "you just feel" on the sideline, as Cowboys wide receiver Devin Street explained.

"There was just something in the air today behind No. 9," Street told FOXSports.com.

There's now something else hovering around the Cowboys as well once again -- hope.

At 3-7, a playoff berth is still unlikely. However, the possibility can't be outright dismissed with the spark Romo has provided and the foundering of the Cowboys' NFC East rivals. Philadelphia (4-6) and Washington (4-6) were both routed Sunday while Dallas also picked up a half-game on the New York Giants (5-5), who are on their bye week.

"This is the team we thought we are, the team we wanted to be and the team we can be," Jones said. "We can win games that we should win or maybe some we shouldn't."

Not that everything went smoothly for Romo in his first action since suffering a broken left collarbone in Week 2 against Philadelphia. A smiling Romo admitted he found it funny that a torrential rain poured from the South Florida skies just after his pre-game warmup had started.

Romo's first pass attempt in the stormy conditions was just as goofy -- a left-handed flick to McFadden that helped him avoid being sacked in the end zone for a safety.

"I didn't envision that," Romo said with a laugh.

There were other obstacles left to overcome. A Dolphins defensive line that Romo praised as being "as good as we're going to go against." New coverage packages the Cowboys weren't expecting from Miami (4-6) that included the use of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh as an end.

And then there was the rust Romo needed to shake. Both of his interceptions came on ill-advised throws that Romo said he normally wouldn't have attempted.

"The situational thinking throughout the game got better and better as the game went on," said Romo, who finished 18 of 28 passing for 227 yards. "My footwork got better. I got tighter with everything. I trusted what I was seeing. Sometimes I threw it a little bit away or low because I wasn't exactly 100 percent certain. That just comes from the layoff."

Romo found his rhythm late in the third quarter, leading the Cowboys on an eight-play, 80-yard drive that broke a 14-14 tie. Romo spotted that Miami had assigned linebacker Neville Hewitt -- an undrafted rookie free agent making his first NFL start -- to cover wide receiver Dez Bryant in the slot. Romo capitalized on the mismatch, hitting his star wideout for a 16-yard touchdown.

Romo's earlier scoring pass -- a 31-yard toss to wide receiver Terrance Williams over Dolphins cornerback Jamar Taylor late in the second quarter -- was the result of recognition as well.

"Tony kept seeing the same coverage and changed the play," Williams said. "I was on the same page as him."

Forget about different pages for the Cowboys offense during Romo's absence. Try different books.

Yet as out of sync as Dallas was, Romo saw something positive in what was unfolding and shared it on the night before kickoff in the type of speech he rarely makes.

"I told them wins and losses are what people talked about, but the way they played was inspiring," Romo said. "If you were looking for someone who was laying down or wasn't playing hard, you couldn't ever find that. This team never let up."

The words meant something to a unit that had come under heavy scrutiny as the season began slipping away.

"We all rallied," Street said. "It motivated us. It was just what we needed to hear."

Although he handled the pressure of playing well enough to triumph immediately upon his return, the challenge Romo and the Cowboys face ahead are just as daunting. The Cowboys host Carolina (10-0) on Thanksgiving Day knowing that even a single loss for the remainder of the season could keep Dallas out of the playoffs.

"Nobody is going to be jumping for joy around here," Bryant said. "We have to continue to keep fighting."

Romo at least gives Dallas a chance at winning the battle for the NFC East, which is something they would have no shot at otherwise.

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