The Doubters Are Disappearing

The Tony Romo nay-sayers and doubters are dwindling, if not disappearing entirely, and they should be. When the 7-1 Dallas Cowboys faced off against the red-hot 6-2 New York Giants in Jersey on Sunday, the only tangible difference between the two teams was the QB position.

In every facet of the game, the Giants match up well with the Cowboys. Just take a look at each side of the ball.

Let's start with defense:

• Defensive line. You have to give the edge to the Giants. They have perhaps the most feared pass rush in the NFL.
• Linebackers. The edge here goes to Dallas, if for no other reason than DeMarcus Ware; although, James Brady and Greg Ellis are difference-makers, too.
• Secondary. This seems to be a wash. Both are capable of making and giving up big plays.

What about offense?

• Offensive line. Again, a wash. While Dallas' line is big, strong and effective, the Giants are no slouches. It seems whomever they line up at running back plays effectively, and they usually give Eli Manning more than ample time to read the defense and make plays.
• Receivers. Each team has an elite tight end, capable of taking over a game. Witten did it to the Giants in week one; Shockey did it to the Cowboys on Sunday. Each team has an elite receiver and a good package of complementary receivers.
• Running back. You might give the edge to the two-headed tandem of the Cowboys. But the Giants' backs run with power and authority and can chew up yardage and the clock while doing so.

How about special teams? Again, pretty much a wash. You have to give the Giants the edge in returns and kick coverage. The Cowboys have one of the best punters in the game, but so do the Giants. Both kickers are effective.

That leaves but one position to discuss: the quarterback. The Giants have Eli, their first-round franchise savior. He is a Manning, a blue-blood, a chip off of the NFL's royal QB family. The Cowboys counter with their undrafted free agent phenom. He hasn't the pedigree of a Manning. He wasn't the darling of his draft. In fact, he wasn't even a consideration in his draft. Seven times he was passed over by all thirty-two teams.

But you tell me, when the game is on the line and you need your field general to make one play or lead one drive to secure victory, which do you want? The blue-blood or the bloodhound? You want Eli with his deer-caught-in-the-headlights look or Romo with his possum-eating-peat-seed grin? You want the man who costs his team with indecisive play, leading to three delay of game penalties at home, for crying out loud, or the one who evades a sack, rushes toward the line of scrimmage, ducks a defender, and pops up to float a TD pass to the corner of the end zone?

Coaching aside, there was one difference between the Giants and the Cowboys on Sunday. One! The signal-caller. Go ahead and reserve judgment, sit on the fence, wait and see all you want. Jerry's money was well spent...and what he bought is worth every penny.

So, step back nonbelievers, for the rain will surely come!