Two Ways The Cowboys Can Survive Romo Injury

(Photo credit: Seatacular via Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA)

Well, that didn’t take long.

Just a few days ago, we were writing our NFC East preview and projecting the Dallas Cowboys’ chances.

“Dallas is the favourite in the East this season despite finishing last in the division last year with a 4-12 record,” we wrote. “That’s because an early injury to Tony Romo derailed the Cowboys, and Romo is back this year. Still, he’s 36 and there’s no guarantee he’ll avoid injury again in 2016.”

That injury’s already happened, taking place in Week 3 of the pre-season.

Initial reports were that Romo would be fine. Then news came out that he had broken a bone in his back and could miss the whole year. Then came stories that the Cowboys are optimistic Romo will return at some point this season.

Even if Romo is back by the middle of the year, however, the Cowboys’ season might already be over. Just look at last season, when Romo went down in Week 2 and the Boys went 1 -11 without him.

The injury news had an immediate impact on the NFC East Odds. The Giants were upgraded to the favourite at 4 of the 5 sportsbooks we looked at (the other, Pinnacle, took the NFC East odds off the board), with Bodog reacting more than the others.

BEFORE ROMO INJURY Pinnacle Bodog 5Dimes SIA Will Hill
COWBOYS +173 +175 +188 +175 +163
GIANTS +185 +250 +240 +249 +250
REDSKINS +365 +300 +300 +300 +300
EAGLES +559 +400 +350 +501 +400
AFTER ROMO INJURY Pinnacle Bodog 5Dimes SIA Will Hill
GIANTS n/a +175 +220 +200 +200
COWBOYS n/a +240 +225 +200 +200
REDSKINS n/a +240 +275 +250 +300
EAGLES n/a +600 +333 +600 +400

So can the Cowboys survive without Romo?

Let’s start by assuming the Cowboys are correct with their best-case scenario, which has Romo returning by the mid-point of the season.

That would mean Romo is back under center in Week 10, when the Cowboys visit Pittsburgh. That looks like a pretty good target date to have Romo return, since it’s asking for a lot for the Cowboys to keep up with the high-scoring Steelers with a backup QB on the road.

Here are two reasons why we think the Cowboys might be able to tread water until Romo returns:

1. Their Early-Season Schedule Is Favourable

Two of the Cowboys’ three division games are at home, while they also play the Bears, 49ers and Browns in their first 8 games.

They also get a bye in Week 7, which buys Romo an extra week to heal.

Cowboys without Romo

It’s conceivable that Dallas could beat the Bears, 49ers, Eagles and Browns without getting much production from the quarterback position.

A home game against Cincinnati and a visit to Green Bay would be much harder to pull off, as would division wins over the Giants and Washington.

2. The Backup Quarterback Looks Better

Matt Cassel. Brandon Weeden. Kellen Moore. Kyle Orton, Jon Kitna. Stephen McGee.

Those have been the quarterbacks pressed into service when Romo has gone down to injury over the past 5 years. And you wonder why the Cowboys’ record is so bad without him?

This year seems different. Fourth-round draft pick Dak Prescott has looked terrific in training camp and exhibition action, to the point that some are wondering whether he might take Romo’s job permanently.

Prescott is still a rookie. And as ESPN’s Bill Barnwell wrote Monday, rookie QBs who have been drafted as low as Prescott don’t typically do well in their rookie season.

But at least the Cowboys can be prepared. They have the chance to play Prescott more in the preseason, and he’ll have a better understanding of the playbook than some QBs who have been immediately thrown into the fire after a mid-season Romo injury.

Can The Cowboys Win The NFC East?

We liked the Giants to win the NFC East before Romo got hurt. We still like them now, even at lower odds.

But we’re not sure the Cowboys are going to completely fall apart again this time without their long-time quarterback.

If Dallas can go .500 without Romo, or if he returns to the lineup earlier than expected, the division title should be very much up for grabs.