ARLINGTON, Texas —The multitude of critics called for it, loud and clear: Better the safe and smart Tony Romo than the mindless craziness of a week ago.

So after eight days of ongoing local and coast-to-coast rip-jobs, Tony was back in front of a national TV audience Monday night, and compared to the let-it-rip Romo you once loved, and, of late, hated, this almost looked like a political statement.
Very conservative.
Forcing nothing, risking nothing—well, almost nothing—Romo was effective but so un-Favre like, Bret probably disowned him. And if Tony even bored himself, at least a turnover-free performance and a 21-7 victory over the Carolina Panthers allowed him to crawl back into the good graces of Cowboy Nation.
Not that Romo and Co. were exactly rolling thunder, as a 13-point output for four quarters represented the struggle that it was against a Carolina defense that was missing two starters due to injury, had a rotation mess in the middle of the line due to earlier injuries, and with several other dinged up players on the field despite missing practice all week.
But be safe, be smart, and do so even while under defensive heat in the first half, which was not one of the usually reliable Marc Colombo’s finer moments at tackle.
Then again, when Romo isn’t giving away gifts, the odds are good the Cowboys will win. Well, at least that’s the case when the other quarterback is having his problems in the turnover area. Thank you, Jake Delhomme, for helping Wade Phillips survive another week as a defensive coordinator under fire.
Overall, Romo handled very balanced play calling from Jason Garrett—balanced but questionable—and did throw 33 times, with 22 completions for 255 yards. Four different receivers went over 30 yards in catches. Only once, on a throw back all the way across to field to Tashard Choice was there ever a “there he goes again” moment. That pass, by the way, was complete for a nice gain.
And while Dallas’ offensive frustration was building well into the third quarter, Romo never wandered into the panic area, although a scoreless first half and then a worrisome failure to find the end zone on the first possession of the third quarter could have been enough to send him over the edge.
But with Carolina up 7-3, Romo started a third-quarter possession by floating a perfect pass just over the fingers of an outstretched defender, and Roy Williams grabbed it for a 23-yard gain. From the Panthers’ 35, the Cowboys were on the way to the elusive end zone.
Choice ran for 10 to the 25, Romo fed Jason Witten, his safe and sound target, for six more, Patrick Crayton got 15 on the end around, and Choice burst up the middle, untouched from the 5.
The Cowboys finally had the lead. They kept the lead. Only one touchdown by the offense, yet it was enough.
Romo played it coy as usual, afterward, pointing out the goal for the week was win the game, with no turnovers. “In that regard, I feel like we accomplished our goals,” he said.
Critics? What critics? “That’s meaningless to me as far as what people say,” Romo added. “I’m much tougher on myself than you guys will ever be.”
Then he’s one tough dude, huh?
Romo defended Garrett on some strange play-calling in the fourth quarter, just as the Cowboys appeared to be on their way to a wrap-it-up touchdown. With the running game going good again, although Choice was the last of the healthy running backs, the Cowboys had a 2nd-and-goal at the 1.
Then came a fade to Roy. He blew the catch. Then came a fade to Martellus Bennett. Not even close. Field-goal time again.
Although Garrett called 33 passes and 32 runs, why two throws at that point?
“Those were good calls. We just didn’t execute well enough,” said Romo.
Excuse me to be in disagreement.
The Cowboys ran for 212 yards. Choice had 82 on 18 workhorse carries. And you aren’t slamming it up in there from the 1? Why?
But for those who asked, and the question came up again by halftime Monday night, why Garrett doesn’t get the ball to Felix Jones on a more consistent basis ...
Well, it’s a fair point. At halftime, 54 yards for Jones on only seven carries. First carry of the second half, 40 more yards to the 10. But here comes the doubts on Felix. He injured a knee on that play, returned briefly, then was shut down for the night.
Felix’ status for Sunday in Denver is now possibly in doubt. He’s good, or maybe great, but staying healthy is a serious issue.
First things first, however. The Cowboys could not lose Monday night. It was must-win Monday.
Romo was effective, but not crazy. The defense finally was fixed, or at least it was jacked up for Jake.
It’s a good combo, and when it happens, so usually does a win.