It was a tough Sunday afternoon for the Dallas Cowboys as they fell 44-24 to the Denver Broncos. But for one former quarterback watching from the booth, the sting went a little deeper.

In one of the clips shared by Awful Announcing on their social media account X, one can hear Tony Romo saying, “It’s the only thing I regret, not bringing a championship and a Super Bowl to Dallas.” 

Romo, who spent his entire 14-season career with the Cowboys after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2003, knows the weight of that silver-and-blue uniform perhaps better than anyone who didn’t hoist a Lombardi Trophy.

Since transitioning to the broadcast booth, Romo initially earned universal praise for his brilliant, insightful analysis, often predicting plays before they happened. Yet, as is often the case in the hyper-critical social media age, the narrative has begun to shift. In recent years, Romo has faced criticism that he’s become too talkative and sometimes hasn’t done enough pre-game research. It’s a harsh spotlight, but it’s one Romo seems prepared for.

He recalled his playing days, noting how criticism has a way of hardening you. He’s mentioned in the past that he doesn’t let the noise on social media bother him, largely because the in-person interactions he has with fans and viewers are overwhelmingly positive.

Tony Romo gets candid about the Cowboys game

Cowboys legend Tony Romo sees the sad truth: Dallas has one of the best offenses in the NFL, but their terrible defense is canceling out all the good work. Quarterback Dak Prescott is performing at an MVP level, ranking near the league leaders in passing yards and touchdowns, beautifully complemented by a strong ground game featuring Javonte Williams and an explosive receiving duo in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. 

This sheer offensive firepower should guarantee success, but as a matter of fact, the team’s defence is merely the 25th worst in the NFL. If we were to only consider the team’s offensive strength the the Cowboys would already have at least five wins. But with the current defense, they have already surrendered 250 points, the third-most through eight games in franchise history. 

This deficiency strips the offense of any margin for error, forcing them to be “perfect” just to keep pace with good teams, a demanding and familiar burden that Romo himself knows all too well as the team faces a daunting schedule that includes the Eagles, Chiefs, and Lions. Now, what the Cowboys can do is work on their weakness for the week 9 game and try and emerge victorious.