Believe!

It's been a tough month for Dallas Cowboys fans. Key players out due to injury--not the least of which was Tony Romo. Three losses in four games--the most recent of which was a thorough thrashing by the Giants which left everyone--players and fans alike--totally disheartened, wondering what the rest of the season would hold and bandwagon fans abandoning ship in record numbers, searching for greener pastures.

But now, the month was over. The time had come. That magical mystery known throughout Cowboy land as After The Bye was finally here. Everything would be alright now.

Wouldn't it?

It didn't mean things would get any easier. The first game After The Bye would be tough one. It's who they were playing.

The Washington Redskins.

Those same Redskins who hate the Cowboys with a passion. Those same Redskins who live for two games each season--the two they play against the Cowboys. Those same Redskins who could lose 14 games, but as long as they beat the Cowboys, it would be a good year. Those same Redskins who just a month ago put the smackdown on the once cocky, once Superbowl favorite Dallas Cowboys.

But that was Before The Bye. Everything would be alright now that it was After The Bye.

Left guard Kyle Kosier was back, proving that the O-line was more than just the sum of its parts. Starting cornerback Terence Newman was back, causing his position coach, who saw him play 100% healthy for the first time to say, "Now I see what all the fuss was about."

Tony Romo was back, though the pinky was still broken. With four fingers and a cumbersome splint, but still playing better than Brad Johnson or Brooks Bollinger. More importantly, providing his team with the confidence that they could win this game.

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Still, questions remained. Would Romo be Rusty? Would the finger hold up? Would the splint be too restrictive?

The game certainly didn't start off well. The Cowboys first possession--three and out. The Redskins first possession--a touchdown. It would be the only one they scored. The fear was that the defense, knowing Tony was back, would let up, counting on him to pull the game out by putting up a bazillion points as he is wont to do. They didn't. After that first touchdown, the clamped down on the Redskins, and for 52 minutes and 28 seconds, held them to just 3 points. A Terence Newman interception here, a Jay Ratliff sack there, stuffing Clinton Portis, crippling Santana Moss--I almost thought I was looking at the old Doomsday of the 70s. Almost.

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

On the offense, the superhero seemed destined for a fall. The broken finger proved indeed to be a problem, affecting Tony's grip on the ball, and thus his ability to pass. Every superhero needs his sidekick, and Tony found his in running back Marion Barber. With his passing game limited, Tony turned to Marion more and more.

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Marion, who had struggled earlier in the year, became The Barbarian once again--slicing through the Redskins defense, finding holes or making his own. He became the backbone of the Dallas offense.

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

In the fourth quarter alone, he carried or caught the ball 16 of 19 plays. Instead of getting tired, he only seemed to grow stronger as the game went on.

The final drive of the game. There were 6 minutes left in the game. The score was 14-10 Dallas, and they had the ball. They needed to keep it. They needed to run out the game clock and put the game away. It was all Barber. For 10 plays and 50 something yards, it was all Barber. Grinding out yards, staying in bounds, chewing up the clock. Finally, it was 4th and 1 with just over a minute left to play. This play, if they could get the first down, would decide the game. The Cowboys went to, who else? Marion Barber.

The reaction says it all.

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

When you get right down to it, Tony didn't really play all that well. Not when you compare him to himself anyway. Two interceptions, only two touchdowns, 19 of 27 passes completed, less than 200 yards, 72.8 quarterback rating. Not what we're used to out of Tony Romo.

But it was enough to win the game. Not so much because of Tony's performance. Because of his presence. His just being on the field gave the rest of his team the confidence they needed to go out and win this game. They knew they could do it.

Because he was there.

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Because they believe.

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