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Cowboys Win Big Over Tampa Bay
The man who alone decides which players go on the Dallas Cowboys' famed Ring of Honor wasn't happy about the name that got removed. Several fans plastered Tony Romo's name along with Cowboys greats like Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman on Thursday — even before the young quarterback tied a team record by throwing five touchdowns in a 38-10 victory over Tampa Bay.
"I loved it," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said of the fans' creativity. "The only disappointing thing is somebody must have made them take it down. If I find them, that will be the last time they take it down."
Still, nothing is slowing down the "ROMOmentum" surrounding the Cowboys. They have won three straight games, and four of five, since Romo became the starter.
"Well, that's what he does," said Terrell Owens, whose eight catches for 107 yards included Romo's record-tying fifth TD. "I think each week he's getting better, and obviously it shows that the team is getting better as well."
In the other Thanksgiving Day games, Kansas City beat Denver 19-10, and Miami stretched its winning streak to four with a 27-10 victory at Detroit.
The Cowboys (7-4) have a half-game lead in the NFC East over the New York Giants, the team they play next on Dec. 3. Dallas has the second-most wins in the conference behind Chicago (9-1), and Romo is a major reason for it.
In his previous two starts, Romo outplayed Peyton Manning when Dallas handed Indianapolis its first loss, after he was NFC offensive player of the week for his performance against Arizona.
"I've got things I still have to work on and get better at," Romo said. "Believe me, I haven't arrived yet, by any means. ... I don't know what credit I deserve."
More than he'll accept, or coach Bill Parcells will give him.
"He's managing the game well. And that's what he's supposed to do," Parcells said. "He's a football guy and he's interested in playing well. But we've got a ways to go here. So put the anointing oil away, OK?"
Romo was an undrafted Division I-AA MVP from Eastern Illinois who didn't throw a pass his first three NFL seasons, then spent the first six games this year backing up Drew Bledsoe.
While his first extended action came only a month ago Thursday, when Romo took over after halftime against the Giants, some already consider him a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback. His latest performance pushed him past Manning as the NFL's top-rated passer, and Peyton will need an impressive game this weekend to be No. 1 again.
After opening 80-yard touchdown drive, Tampa Bay (3-8) crossed midfield only once more to lose for the fourth time in five games. Joey Galloway caught three passes for 71 yards in his first game against the Cowboys since they traded him for Keyshawn Johnson, but two of the catches and 59 of the yards came on that opening series.
Romo responded to the early 7-0 deficit by throwing his five TDs in a span of six drives. He was at his best right around halftime — with a 74-yard drive during a 2-minute drill that made it 21-10 at the break, then opening the third quarter with an 82-yard drive that featured a 45-yard pass to Terry Glenn.
"I thought it was Aikman out there," Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden said.
Except Aikman needed overtime for the only five-TD game of his career. Staubach, the other Hall of Fame quarterback and only other to win a Super Bowl for the Cowboys, never did it.
"It's backyard ball out there for him. He's having a good time," nose tackle Jason Ferguson said of Romo. "It's exciting for the defensive players. We're over there jumping up and down like cheerleaders."
Glenn caught Romo's first two TD passes, of 30 and 2 yards. Marion Barber III upped his NFC-best total to 11 touchdowns by catching the next two.
Owens capped the record-tying fifth in holiday style by depositing the ball into one of the Salvation Army red kettles being used as a prop for the charity's annual holiday fundraising campaign.
"That was my donation," T.O. said. "I hope it's as much as the fine."
Copyright 2006 WBAP News/Talk 820. All rights reserved.
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