WILD CARD RECAP: AMERICA'S SCREAM

In the history of the NFL, no player's first season has ever compared to Tony Romo. After replacing Drew Bledsoe in a Monday night loss to the Giants, Romo started a run in which he looked like the best QB in the NFC. His ability to throw the deep ball and escape the rush baffled defenses. His star brightened, and he became one of the biggest celebrities in the NFL. By only his third start Romo was said to even be romantically involved with both Jessica Simpson and Carrie Underwood. He was such a budding star in this league that he was even elected to the Pro Bowl without playing a full season. However, as quick as his rise to fame was, he had an even quicker fall. In the final month of the season the league began to catch up to Romo. Dallas squandered a division lead as Romo began to turn the ball over more than he threw touchdowns. A loss in the final week to the lowly Detroit put a cap on a horrendous final month. All was not lost though for Romo. They traveled to Seatle to take on a battered and bruised Seahawks team. Romo looked sharp for most of the game, and with just a minute left on the clock, he had the Cowboys in position for a field goal that would give them a trip to the second round. Romo got ready to hold the ball for what was a chip shot field goal for the veteran Martin Gramatica. But when the ball reached Romo's hands it began to slip out like a bar of a soap. A mad dash for the endzone fell just inches short, and Dallas' hopes were dashed. Once worshiped by Cowboys' fans, Romo now sat all alone feeling lower than he ever had been before.

While the play that everyone will remember in the Dallas-Seattle game is the botched snap, the contest's back and forth nature warrants recognition for many other moments. First off Seattle deserves some respect for the gutty nature in which they played this game. With a depleted secondary, they basically shut down the Dallas receiving core. Terrell Owens was blessed with a mouth, but some one needs to get this man a pair of hands. Owens seems to only hang onto the ball if it's in the endzone. Dallas should have been able to pull this game out after leading 20-13 in the 4th quarter, but a costly and inexcusable fumble for a safety by Terry Glenn gave Seattle the momentum back. After driving down field again, Matt Hasselbeck hooked up with the under achieving Jerramy Stevens for the TE's second touchdown of the day. A late rally by Dallas set them up for an easy field goal. However, we all know what happened next, and there is no need to beat a dead horse.

Seattle looked good at times, but they were basically handed a victory by Dallas. It should be a bit tougher next week against Chicago. Seattle does not get a lot of pressure on the quarterback which seems to be the only way to beat the Bears. If the Seahawks are lucky, they should have some of their injured defensive backs and receivers for their Divisional round matchup. The biggest factor in Seattle's success may just be their crowd, so without that clear boost in adrenaline Seattle could fold if behind early. Regardless, with Shaun Alexander and Matt Hasselbeck on your team, you always have a chance.