Disaster In Dallas: Cowboys Fall To 1-5, Lose Tony Romo In Process

Keep an eye on Blogging The Boys for more Cowboy misery.

While the immediate reaction to the Monday night contest in Dallas is where possibly can go with Tony Romo out an extended period of time, it’s not only their offense that will require some fixing.

The Giants, dogged by Eli Manning throwing interceptions on their first two possessions, ran roughshod over the Dallas defense the rest of the way, putting up 498 total yards. 201 of those were rushing yards by Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs.

Despite Jon Jaworski attempting on the ESPN broadcast to desperately work up some enthusiasm for viewers to watch the play of back-up quarterback Jon Kitna, who is 38-years-old and hasn’t played in two years. The feeling inside Cowboys Stadium is decidedly less electric.

The theme to Mission Impossible played through the stadium as the Cowboys came out for the second half. Cameras caught Jerry Jones, lips pursed, eyes cast into the distance and Jerry possibly cursing his fate to host a Super Bowl in a season in which his team now looks very likely to miss the playoffs.

Jon Gruden is a never-ending font of groan-worthy nicknames for players. Peyton Manning is “The Sheriff.” Drew Brees is “The Surgeon.” Ray Lewis is “The Master of Disaster.” Jermichael Finley is “The Big Cheese.”

There are many more and you don’t want to hear any of them. Gruden might have whipped out his worst yet, dubbing the trio of Giants receivers Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham “Jet Blue” after Smith scored a touchdown late in the second quarter.

This is usually a good sight if you’re a kick returner.

With Tony Romo out of the game and his return questionable for the time being, Dallas will need to build as much of a lead as possible going into the half. Dez Bryant provided an immediate help with an 93-yard punt return for a touchdown. It was the Cowboys’ longest punt return since 1974.

Expect to see a bit more of Nolan Ryan grimacing at a playing field over the next week or so. This will likely be the only nationally televised football game, though.

The Giants survived the early onslaught that attended the two Eli Manning interceptions on the team’s first two drives, but rebounded admirably with an 11-play, 79-yard drive capped by a touchdown pass from Manning to Hakeem Nicks.

Eli Manning has been dogged so far in the 2010 season by tipped passes from his receivers that ended in interceptions. While his interception on the first drive on Monday night in Dallas was technically tipped by Steve Smith into the hands of Terence Newman, the throw sailed on Eli Manning.

Newman had two chances at interceptions in as many plays on the drive, dropping a throw intended for Hakeem Nicks on the previous play. Newman returned the interception to the Giants’ 5, setting up a Tony Romo touchdown pass to Jason Witten. Newman had to have his ribs checked by the training staff after being taken to the ground.

Expected to be on the short list of contenders to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XLV, which will be held in Cowboys Stadium, Dallas has instead gotten off to a startling 1-4 start that’s put the franchise’s grandiose plans in obvious peril. It’s the first time the Cowboys have dropped four of their first five tests since 2001, and a loss this week would give the club its worst mark after six games since it began the 1989 season with eight straight setbacks en route to a 1-15 ledger.

While the Cowboys have been reeling, the Giants come into Arlington flying high off three October victories that has given Big Blue a share of the NFC East lead with Philadelphia at 4-2. A rejuvenated defense has been at the forefront of the surge, with New York having surrendered the second fewest total yards (264.8 ypg) and passing yards (172.0 ypg) in the league and racking up 21 sacks through the first six weeks.