ARLINGTON, Texas -When the Cowboys fell behind 23-0 in the second quarter, the home crowd at Cowboys stadium was not happy and they were not shy about voicing their contempt.
For what was possibly a first in his time in Dallas, Romo took the field in the middle of the second quarter to a resounding chorus of boos.
After the game, Romo took no issue with the crowd's choice to boo him and sympathized with their frustrations.
"I would have booed us, too," Romo said. "We deserved it at that time. We did not start the game the way we wanted to."
Perhaps the most awkward moment of the game was during a Breast Cancer Awareness promotion that ran on the video board during a break in the action in the second quarter. The promotion featured various Cowboys speaking on the subject of breast cancer. Every time that Romo or especially Jerry Jones was shown on the board, they were met with deafening boos.
Jones made it clear that he thought he fans were simply frustrated with the performance and the fact that the video was promoting breast cancer awareness was simply bad timing.
"I know our fans didn't connect that to it at all," Jones said. "I know they didn't and I share their frustration and how it's being directed to me. I just understand that. I was disappointed that we were playing like that."
Despite a critical reaction in the second quarter, Romo was actually pleased with the fans' support of their team.
"I think you just tune a lot of that stuff out," Romo said. "Obviously, they were great today with the way that they brought energy… That was as good a home crowd as I've been apart of and it's exciting to know that we have that going forward."
As for Jones, he claims that he is quite used to the fans' frustrations being taken out on him.
"I've had the same (reaction) that I've gotten 24 years ago and the one that I got at times 23, 22, 21 and then on, years ago," Jones said. "There's never been a honeymoon for me here in Dallas."
Connor Hurt After Starting for Lee
The devastating loss of Sean Lee to season-ending surgery earlier this week was supposed to be cushioned by the fact that the Cowboys had a veteran linebacker in Dan Connor who could step into a starting role.
Unfortunately, Connor left the Giants game in the first half with what was diagnosed as a neck strain, leaving the Cowboys even thinner at linebacker. Orie Lemmon played significant snaps in his absence and newcomer Ernie Sims also saw action despite only joining the team last Wednesday.
Immediately following an emotional loss Jerry Jones barely had time to think about the injury to Connor.
"I haven't asked," Jones said. "I haven't gotten a report yet."
If Connor is to miss significant time, then the Cowboys will have to make a number of decisions on what to do at linebacker. Both Lemmon and Sims could make a claim for a starting position, but it could also be used as an opportunity to give Victor Butler more playing time.
Austin Has Best Game
Lost behind Witten's record-breaking performance and Dez Bryant's near game-winning touchdown catch was the play of Miles Austin.
Austin followed up his 97-yard effort at the Panthers with an even stronger performance on Sunday against the New York Giants. Austin caught nine passes for 133 yards.
Austin was a big-play threat within the offense and was targeted 16 times, more than any other game this season. He played a heavy number of snaps from the slot-receiver spot and was able to convert a number of first downs for the Cowboys' offense.
Austin upped his season totals to 428 yards off of 25 receptions.
Quick Hits
- The Dallas Cowboys had three receivers top 100 yards (Jason Witten, 167; Miles Austin, 133; and Dez Bryant ,110) for just the second time in franchise history. The first was at San Francisco (Nov. 10, 1963) as Frank Clarke (190), Lee Folkins (112) and Billy Howton (107) were the first Cowboys trio to accomplish the feat.
- Dallas finished the game with 415 net passing yards, the sixth-most in a game in franchise history.
- Dez Bryant finished third on the team in both receptions (five) and yards (110). His 110 yards marked a career high, his second 100-yard game of the season and the third of his career.
- Bryanthad a career-long 55-yard catch.
- Lance Dunbar had a 44-yard kickoff return for the longest kickoff return of the season to date.
- John Phillips notched his second career touchdown reception, the first was also against the N.Y. Giants on Dec. 11, 2012.
- Tony Romo finished the game 36-of-62 for 437 yards. His 62 attempts established a club record while his 437 passing yards were a single-game career-high and good for third in club history
- Romo's 437 yards was his second career 400-yard game (first was 406 vs. Tennessee, Oct. 10, 2010) and his 34th career outing with 300-or-more passing yards.
- Romo also rushed for his fifth career touchdown.
- DeMarcus Warenow has 107 career sacks to take sole possession of third place on Dallas' all-time unofficial (pre-1982) sack list
- Jason Witten's18 catches tied for the third most in a game in NFL history (Brandon Marshall, 18, vs. San Diego, Sept. 15, 2008) and were the most by a tight end in NFL history.
- Witten's167-yard performance tied for the 20th-best single-game total by a league tight end and was a club tight-end record.
- Witten now has 747 career receptions and trails Michael Irvin by only three for tops in team history.
