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Cowboys Romo Survived 'Perfect Storm' In Seattle

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SEATTLE (105.3 THE FAN)  -Tony Romo is a smart guy, smart enough to know that "a perfect storm'' is actually imperfect in every way for the poor sailor who finds himself trapped in the middle of it.

It was, the Cowboys QB said of the Thursday night sack that momentarily threatened Dallas' season, "a perfect storm … a crunch … But it was a good thing that we dodged a bullet; my back being stronger allowed me to get through that.''

If the 36-year-old Romo is right (and is being honest) then this 27-17 loss at Seattle will be forgettable for all the right reasons. It will be a blip on the radar screen of Ezekiel Elliott, the rookie running back who debuted with seven carries for 48 yards and alternately bullish and fancy running, his only real slip-up being a TMZ-taped visit to a Seattle weed shop.

"It's part of the learning experience,'' said Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. "But it's not good. It's really not good.''

There were other things about this game that were "not good,'' including Dallas' defensive depth. But Elliott's fellow rookie, Romo's caddie Dak Prescott was again outstanding, completing 17 of 23 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown and doing sharp work in the 2-minute drill just before the half.

Prescott improved his preseason numbers to 39-of-50 passing, for 454 yards and five touchdowns passing and two more TDs on the ground. He's solidified his grip on the No. 2 job, and that's all Dallas wants from him right now, as it needs the other guy to solidify the No. 1 job.

Romo swears that he's fine, not going to be rusty (despite going down on the third play of this game, scrambling left and trying to slide but being "crunched'' from behind by Cliff Avril) and will be ready for the season opener against the Giants on Sept. 11.

In fact, Romo tried to argue his way back into this game, and when I asked him about that — and even about the wisdom in playing in exhibition games at all, he responded, "Football players have to play. They can't be wrapped up in bubblewrap.''

Romo found himself an ice tub at halftime and did not require X-rays or an MRI. So hopefully he's right about the "crunch'' being nothing more than that, which would leave Jerry Jones as the only (comic) casualty of the game.

"I'm not going back to Dallas,'' the owner joked, tapping his chest. "I'm checking into a hospital. Heart issues.''

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