Research Notes
Tony Romo is now tied with Tom Brady for the most 4th-quarter interceptions this season when the score is within five points. Romo joined Geno Smith (did it in Week 2 vs NE) as the only quarterbacks to throw multiple 4th-quarter interceptions in the same game when the score is within five points this season. [+]
Tony Romo and the Cowboys chose to pass the ball on 2nd down in the final three minutes against the Packers Sunday. Entering Week 15... Since 2001, teams have rushed the ball 94.7 percent of the time (3,061 rushes on 3,234 snaps) on 1st or 2nd down when leading by 1 to 7 points in the final three minutes of the 4th quarter.
- Unlike the Cowboys, the Packers didn't give up on the run in the second half, and in fact, increased their rush percentage. Lacy gained 110 yards in the second half alone, averaging 8.5 yards per rush (3.9 in the first half). [+]
Matt Flynn went 12-of-17 against four or fewer pass rushers in the second half Sunday after going 8-of-14 in the first half. The Cowboys didn't sack or put Flynn under duress once in the second half when using such pass rushes. - The Packers went 6-of-7 on third down in the second half Sunday, with the only "failed" conversion being Matt Flynn's final kneel down to end the game. The Packers went 1-of-6 on third down in the first half, with the only conversion being a screen pass on the final play of the half. [+]
The Cowboys entered the second half with a 26-3 lead and DeMarco Murray averaging 8.5 yards per rush (11 rushes, 93 yards). Despite the big lead and success on the ground, the Cowboys ran by design on 7-of-30 second half plays (23%). - The league average play call when leading this season is 53% pass, 47% rush. The Cowboys entered Sunday with the second-lowest rush percentage when ahead (37%). - Entering Week 15, teams have rushed the ball 94.7 percent of the time (3,061 rushes on 3,234 snaps) on 1st or 2nd down when leading by 1 to 7 points in the final three minutes of the 4th quarter since 2001. - Murray had all 7 of the Cowboys' rushes in the second half. Eddie Lacy had 13 second-half rushes. - The Cowboys averaged just as many yards on rushes as dropbacks in the first half Sunday. In the second half, the Cowboys averaged 1.9 yards more on rushes. [+]
This is the 7th time Tony Romo has thrown a pick in the 4th quarter or overtime with his team tied or leading by 1 possession. That is nearly twice as many as any other QB since 2006 (when Romo became the starter in Dallas). [+]
This is the first time in franchise history the Cowboys have lost a game in which they led by 20 or more points at the half. Entering Sunday, they had been 42-0.
Tony Romo was 4-of-4 for 89 yards and a TD on passes traveling 15+ yards downfield in the first quarter against the Packers.