So, amid the razzle-dazzle-frazzle of the TO-Witten 'controversy' and with a NY win a sure bet to kill their playoff hopes this year, what did Tony Romo do Sunday night? What he does. "I play football for the Dallas Cowboys."

He cowboyed up in a major way for this one, kids. Twenty completions out of 30 passes, two for touchdowns; sacked three times in the first half and again in the second, beaten-up from being flung all over the field like last year's rag doll on Christmas morning (hat tip to the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram's Gil LeBreton for the metaphor) he still managed the presence of mind to shove the football over the end line, out of bounds, confining the oncoming NY Giants' defense to a safety instead of a touchdown should one of them spy and fall upon the loose football.

But the D did another stellar job, and not least among the standouts is Terrence Newman, the cornerback whose two interceptions (one very late, admittedly) helped seal the deal.

A better showing in the 20-8 win over the (somewhat hampered by the losses of Brandon Jacobs and self-inflicted season-ending injuries to Plaxico Burress) Giants than Eli Manning managed, even his critics will say of Romo this week. Granted, Manning's not used to being knocked down, time after time after time after time after time after time, and again; but eight sacks and two interceptions were hallmarks of the effort the Cowboys' defense turned in for this contest.
src="http://cache.boston.com/resize/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2008/12/15/1229320290_5254/539w.jpg">
DeMarcus Ware's week-long mantra must've been "meet me at the quarterback." Bradie James accepted the invitation to that party, too.

William Perlman, USS Presswire photo

What, you thought a passing reference was all there'd be? Admittedly, last week I was too discouraged to talk football, since the Heismann voters dissed Graham Harrell (among others) so roundly and the Steelers slaughtered the Cowboys so effortlessly (on a cold field and despite a defensive stand worthy of the old Doomsday squads).

The only good thing last week was the Texans' win ... well, that and some HS games, although local teams were also highly unsuccessfull, proportionally, in their quests for playoff berths, including Lubbock Roosevelt and the Idalou Wildcats. Of the nine area teams in the hunt two weeks ago today, only two finished with state titles to their credit.