The venue will be different. But Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo cited similar vibes heading into Sunday’s game against Atlanta (7-0) that the team had before knocking off another undefeated team _ New Orleans _ on Dec. 19, 2009. The Cowboys’ 24-17 victory that day in the Superdome gave the Saints their first loss after a 13-0 start.
Romo also led the Cowboys to a 21-14 victory over Indianapolis on Nov. 19, 2006. The Colts were 9-0 heading into that contest. But because the Colts game was played at home, Romo said the New Orleans game from 2009 provides a better comparison for this year’s team, which heads to Atlanta with a 3-4 record.
“Going down to New Orleans will have a similar type feel in that you know you’re going against a great opponent that does a lot of things well and creates a lot of problems,” Romo said. “You can draw on what you did as a team and individually to beat that opponent that day. What were some of the things that you were successful with? I don't want to give away too much, but it gives you a chance to be a little better.”
A good starting point would be improving on the Cowboys’ minus-11 turnover margin, which ranks next-to-last among NFL teams. Romo stressed that past success against undefeated opponents will mean nothing once the game starts in Atlanta.
“Each time, it’s a little bit different,” Romo said. “It’s a tough game. It’s obviously a great opponent. We’re excited about the challenge.”
_ Jimmy Burch
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