C
Cr122
Guest
By Tom Orsborn
torsborn@express-news.net
Published 12:10 a.m., Monday, September 12, 2011
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — A smiling Tony Romo gave George W. Bush an appreciative pat on the arm after the Dallas Cowboys won the coin flip performed by the former president.
Three hours later, Romo's mood had changed dramatically.
The New York Jets rallied from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Cowboys 27-24 on Sunday night, thanks in large part to two Romo turnovers in the final 8:59, including an interception that led to former Cowboy Nick Folk's 50-yard game-winning field goal with 27 seconds left.
In his first game since breaking his collarbone last Oct. 25, Romo passed for 342 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on 23-of-36 accuracy. But his two turnovers, in addition to a blocked punt returned for a touchdown, cost the Cowboys a chance to pull off an upset in a nationally televised season-opener played against the emotional backdrop of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
“This game came down to one or two plays — the plays that I gave them the ball,” said Romo, whose first turnover was a fumble at the Jets' 2-yard line with the Cowboys leading 24-17.
“... I cost us the game. I've got to do a better job.”
The Jets honored the victims of the attacks with pregame and halftime ceremonies. While Lady Antebellum sang the national anthem, players from both teams joined New York City policemen and firemen in holding a field-sized U.S. flag at MetLife Stadium.
“We fed off our fans, nobody left, and they hung in there the entire time,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “This was for our community, and we felt that. ... We tried to take all the emotion we were feeling and turn it into passion.”
The Jets forged a 24-24 tie when Isaiah Trufant returned a blocked punt 18 yards for a touchdown with five minutes left. Joe McKnight had burst through the middle of the line untouched to swat the ball with his right hand.
Leading 24-17, Dallas had a chance to take a giant step toward putting the game away, but Romo fumbled at the Jets' 2-yard line while trying to slip into the end zone.
Already thin at cornerback with Terence Newman out with a groin injury, the Cowboys were down to their deep backups after Orlando Scandrick was carted off the field in the first quarter with an ankle injury and Mike Jenkins left the game early in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury.
Dallas gained a 24-10 lead in the third quarter when linebacker Sean Lee intercepted a Mark Sanchez pass over the middle and returned it 37 yards to the 1. Two plays later, Felix Jones scored on a 1-yard touchdown run.
Benefiting from Dallas' injury-depleted secondary, the Jets pulled within 24-17 on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Sanchez to Plaxico Burress that victimized backup corner Bryan McCann.
Undaunted, Romo fired a pass to Jason Witten, who celebrated the five-year, $37 million contract extension he received earlier in the weekend by rumbling 64 yards before getting pushed out of bounds by Jets safety Jim Leonhard. Three plays later, Jets defensive lineman Mike DeVito knocked the ball loose from Romo, and nose tackle Sione Pouha recovered.
Romo was trying to hit Dez Bryant on a fade route when Darrelle Revis intercepted with 49 seconds left.
“Revis did a good job of staying underneath the route,” Romo said. “I'm pretty sure Dez did a good job adjusting to it. I've got to do a good job adjusting to him.”
Sanchez finished 26 of 44 for 335 yards, two TDs and an interception. Both quarterbacks were sacked four times as Ryan and his brother, Dallas defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, dialed up the heat with the blitz.
The Cowboys opened the game in impressive fashion, marching 74 yards in nine plays for a 3-yard touchdown pass from Romo to Bryant. The big play in the drive was Bryant's 42-yard gain on a slant pass to the Jets' 17-yard line.
A 34-yard Dan Bailey field goal gave the Cowboys a 10-0 lead with 4:47 left in the first half, but Sanchez's 4-yard TD pass to tight end Dustin Keller with 37 seconds left gave the Jets new life. LaDainian Tomlinson set up the score by stepping through an Alan Ball tackle attempt for a 32-yard gain to the Dallas 4.
torsborn@express-news.net
Published 12:10 a.m., Monday, September 12, 2011
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — A smiling Tony Romo gave George W. Bush an appreciative pat on the arm after the Dallas Cowboys won the coin flip performed by the former president.
Three hours later, Romo's mood had changed dramatically.
The New York Jets rallied from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Cowboys 27-24 on Sunday night, thanks in large part to two Romo turnovers in the final 8:59, including an interception that led to former Cowboy Nick Folk's 50-yard game-winning field goal with 27 seconds left.
In his first game since breaking his collarbone last Oct. 25, Romo passed for 342 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on 23-of-36 accuracy. But his two turnovers, in addition to a blocked punt returned for a touchdown, cost the Cowboys a chance to pull off an upset in a nationally televised season-opener played against the emotional backdrop of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
“This game came down to one or two plays — the plays that I gave them the ball,” said Romo, whose first turnover was a fumble at the Jets' 2-yard line with the Cowboys leading 24-17.
“... I cost us the game. I've got to do a better job.”
The Jets honored the victims of the attacks with pregame and halftime ceremonies. While Lady Antebellum sang the national anthem, players from both teams joined New York City policemen and firemen in holding a field-sized U.S. flag at MetLife Stadium.
“We fed off our fans, nobody left, and they hung in there the entire time,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “This was for our community, and we felt that. ... We tried to take all the emotion we were feeling and turn it into passion.”
The Jets forged a 24-24 tie when Isaiah Trufant returned a blocked punt 18 yards for a touchdown with five minutes left. Joe McKnight had burst through the middle of the line untouched to swat the ball with his right hand.
Leading 24-17, Dallas had a chance to take a giant step toward putting the game away, but Romo fumbled at the Jets' 2-yard line while trying to slip into the end zone.
Already thin at cornerback with Terence Newman out with a groin injury, the Cowboys were down to their deep backups after Orlando Scandrick was carted off the field in the first quarter with an ankle injury and Mike Jenkins left the game early in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury.
Dallas gained a 24-10 lead in the third quarter when linebacker Sean Lee intercepted a Mark Sanchez pass over the middle and returned it 37 yards to the 1. Two plays later, Felix Jones scored on a 1-yard touchdown run.
Benefiting from Dallas' injury-depleted secondary, the Jets pulled within 24-17 on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Sanchez to Plaxico Burress that victimized backup corner Bryan McCann.
Undaunted, Romo fired a pass to Jason Witten, who celebrated the five-year, $37 million contract extension he received earlier in the weekend by rumbling 64 yards before getting pushed out of bounds by Jets safety Jim Leonhard. Three plays later, Jets defensive lineman Mike DeVito knocked the ball loose from Romo, and nose tackle Sione Pouha recovered.
Romo was trying to hit Dez Bryant on a fade route when Darrelle Revis intercepted with 49 seconds left.
“Revis did a good job of staying underneath the route,” Romo said. “I'm pretty sure Dez did a good job adjusting to it. I've got to do a good job adjusting to him.”
Sanchez finished 26 of 44 for 335 yards, two TDs and an interception. Both quarterbacks were sacked four times as Ryan and his brother, Dallas defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, dialed up the heat with the blitz.
The Cowboys opened the game in impressive fashion, marching 74 yards in nine plays for a 3-yard touchdown pass from Romo to Bryant. The big play in the drive was Bryant's 42-yard gain on a slant pass to the Jets' 17-yard line.
A 34-yard Dan Bailey field goal gave the Cowboys a 10-0 lead with 4:47 left in the first half, but Sanchez's 4-yard TD pass to tight end Dustin Keller with 37 seconds left gave the Jets new life. LaDainian Tomlinson set up the score by stepping through an Alan Ball tackle attempt for a 32-yard gain to the Dallas 4.