SEATTLE – Tony Romo sat in full uniform, facing his locker, head in hands and tears flowing after his teammates hit the showers.
This season's story of Romo morphing from an unknown into a Pro Bowl quarterback came to a bitter end because of a bobbled snap on a field goal attempt.
Romo failed to get the ball down to give Martin Gramatica a chance to kick a go-ahead, chip-shot field goal with 1:19 remaining.
"I don't know that I've ever felt this low at any point," Romo said after regaining his composure following the Cowboys' 21-20 loss Saturday to Seattle.
The snap from L.P. Ladouceur was on target, hitting Romo right in the hands. Romo simply bobbled the ball.
Gramatica said the ball was probably slick. Romo, who completed 17 of 29 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown in the loss, made no excuses.
"I just didn't catch the ball," Romo said. "I didn't get it down. It happened pretty quick. I didn't get it down, and it obviously cost us the game."
Romo attempted to salvage the play – and the Cowboys' season – by taking off to his left. He said he thought for a second that he was going to score. But Seahawks defensive back Jordan Babineaux tackled Romo at the 2-yard line, all but sealing the Cowboys' fate.
Romo's Hail Mary pass from midfield on the game's final play fell harmlessly in the end zone.
It was the second time this season a botched field goal attempt cost the Cowboys a game.
The Washington Redskins blocked what would have been a game-winning 35-yarder by Mike Vanderjagt on Nov. 5. A wild return, including a 15-yard facemask penalty, allowed the Redskins to steal a 22-19 victory with a 47-yard field goal on the game's final play.
Romo's fumbles have also been costly to the Cowboys down the stretch. He fumbled four times, losing two, in last week's loss to the lowly Detroit Lions. He fumbled twice against the Seahawks. The Cowboys recovered both, but one on the opening possession of the second half resulted in a 14-yard loss.
However, Romo had been flawless as a holder until the final field goal attempt.
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TOM FOX / DMN Tony Romo (9) scrambles and looks for an open receiver. |
"Tony is an awesome holder," Gramatica said. "I'd rather have him than anybody I've ever had holding the ball. I feel bad for him."
Tight end Jason Witten, one of Romo's best friends, stood behind him and tried to console him as the quarterback wept. Several teammates stopped by Romo's locker to offer words of encouragement.
"I just told him not to hang his head," receiver Terrell Owens said. "He's made a lot of plays for us. That one play – don't get too down on yourself or too consumed with that one play.
"There were a lot of opportunities in the game. It shouldn't have come down to that one play."
E-mail tmacmahon@dallasnews.com
