It’s not his style.
“I don’t sit back and look at myself in the third person and go, ‘Wow, look at what I’m doing,’” said Romo, a Pro Bowl quarterback last year who was undrafted in 2003. “I think new challenges and new goals keep getting set along the way. You reach one, you set a new one.”
His most immediate task is to maintain the momentum he and the Cowboys (2-0) have and beat the defending NFC champions. The Cowboys have 82 points - their most through two games since 1971 - after beating the New York Giants 45-35 and Miami 37-20. And a win would give Dallas its first 3-0 start since 1999.
Meanwhile, the Bears hope to get their offense in sync after sputtering the first two games.
There was progress in the running game in last week’s 20-10 win over Kansas City, with Cedric Benson running for 101 yards, after a miserable 14-3 loss at San Diego. Now, the Bears (1-1) would like to get their passing game going.
They spent the preseason touting their depth and versatility and vowed things would be different now that quarterback Rex Grossman had a full season as a starter. This, they said, was when the offense was going to emerge from the long shadow of the defense.
“We know we’ve been the little brother around here for a long time,” Chicago tight end Desmond Clark said. “Last year, we felt like we were finally getting over that. But coming out this season, we’re not doing what is expected.”
What they did not envision was this: Two catches and 15 yards for two-time Pro Bowl receiver Muhsin Muhammad; breakdowns against the blitz; and more Grossman inconsistentcy.
After leading the team with 863 yards receiving last season, Muhammad simply has not been able to break free. If that continues, this could be a difficult season for the Bears.
“I’m going to keep working and doing what I do, and when they start coming my way, I’m going to start making some plays,” Muhammad, 34, said.
Only two Bears have more than three receptions: Bernard Berrian (10) and Clark (seven). Although Berrian has 148 yards, he and Grossman haven’t connected on any big plays after hooking up for four touchdowns 34 yards or longer last season.
The passing game might get some help this weekend if rookie tight end Greg Olsen makes his debut.
An offense that is ranked 30th and has six of the Bears’ seven turnovers has been more jugger-not than juggernaut. And Grossman has done little to silence his critics, with 305 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
Romo’s 119.3 rating that ranks second among quarterbacks with two starts. He averages 265.5 yards and has six touchdowns with only one interception.
He’s getting plenty of help.
Terrell Owens, who has TD catches in six straight games, caught five passes for 97 yards against Miami. Marion Barber has 154 yards rushing and is averaging 6.2 per carry, but the spark comes from Romo.
