Romo fractures collarbone in Cowboys’ win over Eagles

PHILADELPHIA The biggest fear the Dallas Cowboys had coming into a season they hoped would result in a Super Bowl berth for the first time in 20 years were injuries.

One week after losing Pro Bowl receiver Dez Bryant for eight weeks with a fractured bone in his foot in the season opener against the New York Giants, the Cowboys have lost Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo for least eight weeks with a fractured left clavicle.

Romo was injured in the third quarter of Sunday’s 20-10 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.

“It never feels good when you’re hurt, especially the way I feel about our football team and the way we played today,” Romo said. “I’ll be ready to go when I come back.

“The NFL is about adversity in general. I think the job for our football team is to find ways to win. We have a group of guys that I think can do that.”

The Cowboys are 2-0 on the season, while extending their road winning streak to a team-record tying 10 games, dating back to the 2013 season.

But there was little joy in the Cowboys locker room, as they face an uncertain future with the 35-year old Romo sidelined for the bulk of the season.

“We’re sick,” owner Jerry Jones said. “Broke his heart. Broke by heart.”

Romo suffered the same injury on Oct. 25, 2010 against the New York Giants when he missed the final 10 games of the season. The Cowboys finished 6-10, resulting in the firing of coach Wade Phillips and the hiring of Jason Garrett after they getting off to a 1-7.

Garrett is secure as he is in the first year of five-year contract extension, signed last January after the Cowboys finished 12-4, won the NFL East and a playoff game for only the second time since 2006.

The Cowboys’ hopes of building off last season’s success and reaching the Super Bowl were based on Romo’s career-best and near-MVP performance in 2014 and the prospect of him being even better in 2015 after a healthy offseason for the first time in three years.

A healthy offseason did not translate into an injury-free season.

Romo was hurt on sack by former Texas linebacker Jordan Hicks with 9 minutes and 54 second left in the third quarter.

Romo fumbled the ball on the play, but Hicks drove Romo to the ground on his left shoulder.

It was Romo who diagnosed the injury as he walked off the field and headed to the locker room. A Fox sideline reporter said he could be seen mouthing the words that it was broken.

The injury was confirmed by the Cowboys following X-rays.

“I felt it. It had a little bit of a pop to it,” Romo said.

Brandon Weeden, the only other quarterback on the roster, replaced Romo and helped the Cowboys finish off the victory with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Williams to make the score 20-3 late in the fourth quarter.

“I think Brandon is going to come in and play good football,” Romo said.

Romo’s injury overshadowed a dominant performance by the defense, which completely shut down the Eagles’ fast-paced attack.

The Cowboys forced three turnovers, including two interceptions off quarterback Sam Bradford, who had a forgettable performance in completing 23 of 37 passes for 224 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

“The story of the day was defense,” coach Jason Garrett said. “Defense did a fantastic job.”

Even more impressive was the way the Dallas handled former Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray.

Murray signed with the Eagles as a free agent after rushing an NFL-high and franchise record 1,845 yards in 2014. The Cowboys refused to meet his asking price and he came into the game hoping for some revenge.

Murray had 2 yards on 13 carries as the Eagles rushed for just 7 yards as a team.

The wildly excited crowd of 69,296 at the start of the game began to sporadically rain boos down on the Eagles by halftime and the rest of the way.

Romo completed 18 of 27 passes for 195 yards before getting hurt. Weeden completed seven of seven passes for 73 yards.

Dan Bailey made two field goals and Kyle Wilber returned a fumble 26 yards for a touchdown.

It was all about defense to begin the game as both teams showed little offense that resulted in two punts each.

On the Cowboys third possession, Dallas drove 79 yards in 12 plays for the game’s first score.

The Cowboys had four plays of 10 or more yards and five first downs on the drive, including a 13-yard catch by Gavin Escobar at the 1. Jason Garrett challenge the play that Escobar had scored, but loss.

The Giants held and Bailey made a 20-yard field goal to give the Cowboys at 3-0 lead with 1:39 left in the first quarter.

Philadelphia had only one first down in the first quarter and it came on an interference call against the Cowboys.

Dallas’ second score came on a penalty-filled drive on both teams. Dallas moved from its 11 to the Eagles’ 10

There was ineligible receiver down field and two false start calls on Dallas. Philadelphia had flags for offside, holding, illegal hands to the face, illegal contact and a personal foul. There was even a booth review of a called fumble.

The 79-yard, 15-play ended with Bailey’s 28-yard field goal to give Dallas a 6-0 halftime lead.

Dallas easily won the first-half stats. They led in first downs (15-1), total yards (193-21), time of possession (23:09-6:51) and even in penalties (10-6).

“The scoreboard didn’t register the success we were having,” Garrett said of the 6-0 halftime lead.

Philadelphia punted five times. The one first down was the lowest in a first half since 2001 for the Eagles.

Murray had five carries for 1 yard with a long run of 3 yards.

After picking up one first down, the Eagles were forced to punt. Danny McCray blocked Donnie Jones’ punt and Wilbur returned the ball 26 yards for a touchdown to give Dallas a 13-0 lead.

On the Cowboys next possession, the Cowboys drove to the Eagles’ 33. On second down, Romo was hit by Jordan Hicks, fumbled and the ball was recovered by Fletcher Cox. Romo injured his shoulder on the play.

Philadelphia moved to the Cowboys’ 3.

On second and goal, Bradford was intercepted by Sean Lee in the end zone.

Weeden took over for Romo on the next series, but the team had to punt.

Philadelphia, playing with more spark, moved from their 20 to the Dallas. The drive was aided by an unsportsmanlike conduct flag on the sideline when Bailey grabbed Murray, after Murray had leaped over Brandon Carr and was pushed out of bounds.

The drive stalled at the Dallas 28 and Cody Parkey made a 46-yard field goal to make it 13-3 with 14:17 left in the game.

Dallas reached the Eagles’ 40 before Escobar fumbled after a catch over the middle and Mike Jenkins returned the ball 34 yards to the Dallas 32.

On the next play, Bradford fumbled after the shotgun snap bounced off his chest while he wasn’t ready and Nick Hayden recovered for the Cowboys at the 32.

After a Dallas punt, Philadelphia reached their own 47 before J.J. Wilcox got a tipped interception and returned it 24 yards to the Eagles’ 41.

Three plays later, Weeden threw a 42-yard touchdown to Williams, on a slant route, with 4:13 left to play to make it 20-3.

Philadelphia tacked on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Bradford to Jordan Matthews in the final 2 minutes to account for the final score.

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