That Tony Romo became the Cowboys' all-time lead-ing passer on a touchdown throw to Jason Witten was fitting. In fact, it was almost predictable.
What couldn't be predicted was the complete domination the Cowboys exerted over the Colts, 42-7, on Sunday. And especially, looking back on the gloomy predictions of the preseason, that in came in a game in which the Cowboys clinched the NFC East title and a playoff spot.
"Statistics are something that's just part of the game, We're all about winning and losing," Romo said. "At the same time it's always an honor any time you're just mentioned with Aikman or Staubach. It's a fraternity of guys that it's special to be a part of and I'm just glad I get to be in that group."
Romo's 25-yard scoring toss to Witten, his longtime favorite target and good friend, in the third quarter gave him 32,960 passing yards for his career. That surpassed Cowboys great Troy Aikman's mark by 18 yards.
"I think one day when you look at it, I think it will be special because me and Jason have been through it all together," Romo said. "I literally was on the bus from the airport when we arrived in Dallas together for our first rookie mini-camp. He's obviously got a place in my heart."
The pass also gave the Cowboys a 35-0 lead with 4:41 left in the third quarter.
Oddly, after the record-breaking pass it was the Colts who removed their starting quarterback, Andrew Luck. Romo, as well as other key starters, went back in for another series despite the lopsided score. That won't help Jason Garrett's cam-paign for Coach of the Year.
Romo was pulled after that and finished with a sparkling 18-of-20 passing day for 218 yards and four touchdowns.
The one Cowboys starter who was pulled early was the one whose status was talk of Dallas for a week. Running back DeMarco Murray had surgery for a fractured bone in his hand on Monday but was able to play, and play well, without it.
Murray, with his injured left hand heavily padded, rushed 22 times for 58 yards. Or about half a day's work, the way his season is going.
Murray's one-yard touchdown with 6:32 left in the first half gave the Cow-boys a 28-0 lead. It was 21-0 early in the third quarter when Romo tossed his third touchdown pass of the afternoon.
To limit Murray's exposure, Cowboys gave backup running back Joseph Randle a series to himself in the first half. But for a while, it looked like the plan was to have Romo serve as the alternate rusher.
Romo had scrambles of 8 and 13 yards on the Cowboys' opening drive, a mas-terful, 15-play series that ate up the first 8:24 of the clock and ended in a nine-yard TD pass to Terrance Williams.
Next came a 19-yard touchdown pass to Dez Bryant and the Cowboys were up 14-0 before the Colts knew what hit them.
Or perhaps the Colts were still stunned by Dewey McDonald dropping a wide-open pass on a fake punt after their first possession.
McDonald, a safety by trade, wasn't the only Colt dropping passes. Having al-ready sewn up the AFC South title, the Colts' didn't have much to play for and acted like it.
Luck's shortened day resulted in 15-of-22 passing for a mere 109 yards and two interceptions.
Now it's the 11-4 Cowboys' turn to relax. For the first time in four years, they won't go into their final regular season game with a playoff spot on the line. The Cowboys are in the playoffs for the first time since 2009, which is also the year Romo got his only playoff win.
Much of credit for the Cowboys' sewing things up this soon has to go to Ro-mo, who is starting to get legitimate consideration for league MVP.
"I think the way he's played this year is the way great quarterbacks in this league have played for a long time," said Cowboys coach Jason Garrett, who was Aikman's backup. "I know that's how Troy played."
Follow Keith Whitmire on Twitter: @Keith_Whitmire
