Dallas Cowboys 27 San Francisco 49ers 24 – Romo, Austin, HOLLEY lead OT comeback win.
Make no mistake. This was a do or die game for the Cowboys 2011 season. Go down 0-2 and your playoff chances are near zero. Start 0-2 and people will be talking about a 1-7 start again. The Cowboys could allow this to happen.
There were three keys to this game.
- Could QB Tony Romo come back after losing a sure victory in NY?
- Could the Cowboys depleted secondary hold out?
- Could the Cowboys special teams go through an entire game without letting up a big play?
At first it looked like the Cowboys would fail all three. Down 14-0 early after missing an opening drive chip shot field goal. Then Romo was knocked out of the game for a short time while backup QB Jon Kitna not only got the Cowboys back into a tie game he also threw two interceptions which set the Cowboys backwards when they finally got some momentum. Then the Cowboys were down by 10 points in the 4th quarter.
Then right out of an old western, a gun slinging Cowboy rode in to save the day. Romo put a rib injury to the side and was able to drive the Cowboys twice in the last 7 minutes of the game to tie the game at 24 and take it into overtime.
After the Cowboys defense did their job and stopped the 49ers after 4 plays Tony Romo on the first play of their first possession threw to backup WR Jesse Holley who broke things wide open and ran 77 yards to the 49ers 3 yard line. One quick FG later and the Cowboys season has been saved.
Bring on the home field advantage and the Washington Redskins.
