By Art Garcia
ARLINGTON, Texas—Tony Romo flirted with perfection, as did the Dallas Cowboys, in a 44-7 whipping of the Buffalo Bills at Cowboys Stadium on Sunday.
The much-scrutinized Dallas quarterback picked the Bills apart, completing his first 13 attempts in a 270-yard outing that included three touchdowns. Romo, fully healed from an early-season rib injury, hasn't looked better this season.
The Cowboys (5-4) never trailed in what was billed as a statement game for both squads. Dallas made one loud and clear by drilling a division leader to start the second half of the season.
"We needed to start stacking wins together, so it was getting to that point," Romo said after the team's second straight victory. "We will see what happens going forward. I know we're a team that understands that at some point you have to just start winning football games."
Dallas came out firing with touchdowns on its first four possessions—three on Romo passes—for a 28-7 lead going into halftime. Everything Romo and the Cowboys wanted to do, they did.
"We move the ball pretty well," Romo said. "I have been throwing well lately, so it has been nice to be able to complete (drives) with points."
Romo (23 of 26) took advantage of all of his weapons, even with receiver Miles Austin and running back Felix Jones out. Dez Bryant and Laurent Robinson caught touchdown passes, with seven different receivers getting into the act.
Rookie DeMarco Murray continued to roll in Jones' place, racking up another 135 yards to push his total to 601 over that last five weeks. Murray had a short touchdown run late in the second quarter.
"I have confidence in myself," Murray said. "I have confidence in my offensive line and my teammates. We're on a roll right now. We're going to continue to work hard and get better each and every week."
The Bills (5-4) are trying to keep pace with New England and the New York Jets in the AFC East. Buffalo has two more road games—at Miami and the Jets—before returning home. Their playoff chances could hang in the balance before hosting Tennessee on Dec. 4.
Buffalo has dropped consecutive games for the first time in 2011, and coach Chan admitted a prolonged slump is a concern.
"It can happen and that's my responsibility to not let that happen," said Gailey, who coached Dallas for two years in the late 1990s. "We have made progress, but you can't play like this."
Running back Fred Jackson was a non-factor despite gaining 114 yards. The AFC's leading rusher coming into the game lost a fumble and picked up most of his yardage in garbage time.
Ryan Fitzpatrick was under constant pressure, rarely getting time to look downfield, forcing the Buffalo quarterback to settle for dump-offs and quick-hitters. That was hardly the recipe for a comeback.
"They shut us down pretty good," Fitzpatrick said.
Of the Cowboys' four first-half touchdown drives, three covered at least 78 yards. The other went 58 yards on one play—a Robinson bomb from Romo.
The Bills couldn't get Dallas off the field. The Cowboys converted all seven of their third downs in the opening half, each via a Romo throw.
The first drive went 80 yards in just five plays after the opening kickoff. Two solid gains by Murray started the march before Romo went to the air.
Bryant used his height advantage to haul in a 34-yard scoring pass, reaching over Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin to snatch the ball in the end zone.
"I got my head up a little late," Bryant said. "I saw the ball and I had to attack it, and that's what I did. Tony put the ball up in the air for me and I just came down and made the play."
Dallas methodically traveled 78 yards for its second score. On third down from the 5, Romo avoided a sack, spun and hit Robinson in the corner.
The Cowboys had a Terence Newman interception return for a touchdown and three field goals in the second half.
Game notes: Cowboys TE Jason Witten moved into third place on NFL's all-time receptions list for tight ends. … Cowboys LB Sean Lee (dislocated wrist) returned after missing one game. He played with a club-like cast that covered the wrist and left hand. … Cowboys P Matt McBriar was also back after being out with a nerve issue in his leg. … Bills PK Rian Lindell (shoulder) missed the first game of his nine-year career after going on season-ending IR. Recently-signed David Rayner replaced Lindell. … WR Miles Austin (hamstring) RB Felix Jones (ankle) and CB Mike Jenkins (hamstring) were out for Dallas. … Jackson grew up in Arlington a fan of the Cowboys. He wears No. 22 in honor of Hall-of-Famer Emmitt Smith.
