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IRVING, Tex. -- Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is heeding the message of not trying to play the role of Superman when he returns for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins. But he refuses to give into the notion that the Cowboys' season is over because they lost seven straight games in his absence with a fractured collarbone.
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He believes the Cowboys have a chance to turn their season around with a win Sunday against the Dolphins.
"I think no one thought we'd be in this position and, you know, we are," Romo said. You just to have to accept that and understand where we are and from here it's mostly about winning one game, winning this week.
"But I think the guys understand where we're at. I think they also understand that the season is not over. It's far from it. I think right now we just need to understand that we're getting started and we've got to go do our job and do it to the best of our ability and start getting this thing on a roll."
Romo understands the task facing him and the Cowboys is daunting. No team has started 2-7 and rebounded to make the playoffs.
But the Cowboys have hope in the mediocrity of the NFC East, where they stand just 2 1/2 games behind the division-leading New York Giants, and in the return of Romo.
Getting a win against the Dolphins and getting on a roll with a strong finish would put them right back in the thick of things, which Romo fully understands and has done his best to convey that message to his teammates.
Romo understands that he is just one part of the team and he can't come out and try to do too much in his first game back -- not to mention the rust and timing issues that come with being off for seven weeks.
Head coach Jason Garrett said the Cowboys are doing their best to put Romo in the best position for success, which is why he is back to his Wednesday off practice schedule, while also having thousands of conversations with him every day about trying to play the role of Superman or savior.
"I think you always want your players to be the best versions of themselves," Garrett said. "We certainly don't want him to feel like he has to come in and save the day. When you have a great competitive spirit sometimes you want to do more. And that's a good thing for your team.
"You want to have guys like that but at the same time you got to go back and do what you're supposed to do and Tony really understands that balance. He just needs to play quarterback for our football team. He's done that well for us in the past. We anticipate him doing that on Sunday."
The Cowboys don't need Romo to do anything but play quarterback the way he has in the past, considering the way the offense has sputtered the past seven games with Brandon Weeden and then Matt Cassel at quarterback.
The Cowboys have averaged 322 total yards, including only 196 passing yards in the seven games without Romo. Cassel and Weeden passed for fewer than 200 yards in three of those contests. They have failed to score a touchdown in three of the seven games and have averaged 17 points per game in Romo's absence.
Romo admits it was tough watching the Cowboys struggle without him. He felt helpless because he couldn't be out there with them.
But he said he was also inspired by the fight they showed and the way they continued to compete every week.
Those are things he believes the team can build on his return with some improved play, getting a win and getting on a roll. Romo said the season can get turned around quickly, starting with a win on Sunday.
"I don't think that anyone in this locker room thinks by any means that the season is over," Romo said. "I have conveyed that message to them. I think our coach has. You can tell by the way they play. I just think our team has given 100 percent effort and commitment. That is exciting to see. That is how you can turn it around.
"You win one or two games and guys are committed to their craft and playing as hard as they are, things can happen and it can happen quickly. We have great opportunity to still go out and accomplish the goals. We just have very little room for error."
SERIES HISTORY: 13th regular-season meeting. Dolphins lead series, 7-5. Dallas has won two straight and four out of the last five. Dallas won the last meeting 20-19 in 2011 and the last meeting in Miami 37-20 in 2007.
GAME PLAN
--The Cowboys need to stop the run and get to quarterback Ryan Tannehill who will make mistakes when pressured. They have to stop Lamar Miller from making big plays out of the backfield. Although Tony Romo is back and should help the passing game, the Cowboys need to force the run with Darren McFadden against a Dolphins run defense that gives up 135 yards per game.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
--Dolphins DT Ndamukong Suh vs. Cowboys G Zack Martin.
Suh is coming off one of his most disruptive games in a 20-19 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, recording seven tackles, three quarterback hits, a sack and three tackles for loss. Suh has at least one sack in three of the past four games and is surely going to be hungry to get more and get to Cowboys QB Tony Romo, who is coming off a fractured collarbone. Martin has allowed three sacks and has been called for a holding penalty so far this season. He has not been as dominant in 2015 as he was as a rookie last year when he made All-Pro.
--Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry vs. Cowboys CB Byron Jones.
Landry has become to the go-to guy when the Dolphins want to make plays in the passing game. He has speed, quickness, size and relentlessness of wanting to score every time he touches the ball. He doesn't look to go out of bounds and he runs through arm tackles. Jones will likely start at cornerback in place of the injured Morris Claiborne. He has had success this season covering tight ends and slower receivers in the slot, but he hasn't faced a threat as big and fast as Landry.
