The Dallas Cowboys have lost seven straight games after falling to the Tama Bay Buccaneers Sunday and Jerry Jones hopes the return of Tony Romo in Week 11 can turn things around. Dez Bryant had a tough game on Sunday, while Greg Hardy reportedly was late to work and missed team meetings last week.
The Cowboys started the season 2-0, but injuries to Bryant and Romo took the best players for Dallas off the field and the team still has not fully recovered. Bryant was able to return against the Seahawks in Week 8 after dealing with a foot injury, but that has not yet helped the team snap the losing streak. Romo is expected to return from IR in Week 11, but it could be too little too late after the Cowboys dropped to 2-7 with a loss on Sunday.
The NFC East division is still up for grabs with the Giants and Eagles losing on Sunday, but the Cowboys may need to win out to get a chance at making the playoffs. Romo has been able to do individual work in practice for the Cowboys and that could put him on track to start this week against the Dolphins. According to the Dallas Morning News, Jerry Jones said "no set of circumstances" would keep Romo from starting against Miami.
Romo has played two games for the Cowboys this season, throwing for 551 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions. With Romo out, the Cowboys have been using Brandon Weeden and Matt Cassel at quarterback and neither player has been able to lead the team to a victory. The Cowboys have now lost seven straight games after falling to the Buccaneers on Sunday and coming up the team has games with the Dolphins, Panthers, Redskins and Packers. The team finishes the season with the Jets, Bills and Redskins and if they do not win a majority (or all) of those games, the playoffs will likely not be in reach.
The Cowboys have also had Greg Hardy in the headlines and some of it has not been for his play on the field. According to Mike Garafolo at Fox Sports, Hardy was late last Thursday showing up to work and also missed "most of" the morning meets for the team. Pro Football Talk reports that there was "no apparent sanction" on Hardy for showing up late.
Hardy has also been in the headlines regarding his past domestic violence charges, as pictures of his alleged victim were published by the website Deadspin.com. Hardy and DeMarcus Lawrence had to be separated on the sidelines on Sunday after the two were "involved in an altercation," according to CBS Sports. Jeremy Mincey later said to the Dallas Morning News that the issue was "no problem," but it was another blip for Hardy during his time with Dallas. Hardy has four sacks and 16 total tackles in five games this season.
Dez Bryant had a tough game on Sunday and he was involved on the play that sealed the victory for the Buccaneers. Bryant was targeted deep on a pass from Matt Cassel, but the pass was intercepted by Bradley McDougald. Bryant complained about getting pushed on the play, but the officials did not call pass interference. "I thought I was going to get it," Bryant said, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com.
