NFL Odds – Romo No-Mo: Can Cowboys Keep Winning?

The Dallas Cowboys are 2-0 and alone atop the NFC (L)East. So why is Jerry Jones feeling, as he puts it, “lower than a crippled crickets ass.” It might have something to do with losing their Pro Bowl quarterback, Tony Romo. Or perhaps he was still lamenting the loss of All-Pro wide receiver Dez Bryant after last week’s game? Maybe it was neither and he was just a big fan of rookie defensive end Randy Gregory?

I suppose there is a chance all three have Jones feeling down. After all, the Cowboys had high, Super Bowl-ish hopes for this year. The good news is that none of these players’ seasons are over; it was announced today that Romo should return to the lineup  in about eight weeks. And in a poopy looking NFC East (as referenced in my hilarious joke in the opening line) the team should still have a pretty good chance of winning the division upon Romo’s return, unless Brandon Weeden goes winless in his absence, which is possible: he hasn’t won a game since December 2012.

But fear not Cowboys fans, the odds suggest that probably won’t happen. Besides, who’s going to run away with the division? Both the Giants and Eagles are looking dismal at 0-2. If Kirk Cousins’ Redskins are really your stiffest competition to claim the crown, then everything should turn out just fine.

But just in case, here are some updated odds on “America’s Team”.

• Tony Romo: 2/3
• Brandon Weeden: 7/5
• Kellen Moore: 12/1
• Jameill Showers: 20/1
• Matt Flynn: 50/1
• Christian Ponder: 50/1
• Matt Cassel: 75/1
• Tim Tebow: 200/1

• The Cowboys are going to have to lean on the D heavily without Romo (not to mention Dez), but it won’t be easy facing the high-flying Falcons and Patriots in the coming weeks. Dates with the Saints and Giants still look like winnable games, regardless of who’s under center, but those will both come on the road. Romo will also miss home dates with the Seahawks and Eagles. The eight-week timeline puts his return somewhere around the team’s back-to-back games in the state of Florida.

• Before the season: 14/1
• After the Dez Bryant injury: 18/1
• After the Tony Romo injury: 25/1