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Sturm: Tony Romo stars; Greg Hardy, Tyron Smith disappointing in Cowboys' win

Bob Sturm analyzes the Dallas Cowboys' win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

What did you think of Tony Romo's return?

About as much as everyone expected. He's so much more than a guy who throws passes. He is an offensive coordinator on the field. He ensures that they get in the right play, see the blitz pickup and do exactly what they need to do at the right time.

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These guys who played backup quarterback (Brandon Weeden and Matt Cassel) were too consumed with the QB situation. It left them no mental space to coordinate the offense. They can't worry about 11 players; they have to worry about the QB. Romo has QB down so well that he can look at all 11 positions and see what works against the coverage. That's what a veteran quarterback does. Overall, he brought a real intelligence for this game. He made a few unintelligent decisions early, which I imagine was trying to do too much. As the game went on, he grew into what he does well, coordinating the team to get into a position to win. His presence means everything in this offense.

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What did you think of the defense?

The defense started with a couple issues against the ground game especially, but once they got their footing and the sun came up, the Cowboys really dominated that game defensively.

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They gave up 210 yards total and very little through the air. Ryan Tannehill hit two big passes all day long, but that was pretty much all the work they were able to produce. The pass rush was disappointing early, but late in the game they got home a couple times. We're going to need more than that. But the defense gave up just one third-down conversion; I think you have to give the defense a high grade.

Terrance Williams had a big game; Darren McFadden was great on the ground. What did you think of those guys?

All that flows that together. The presence of Tony Romo makes your running game more threatening for three reasons. One: The defense is concerned about the pass. Two: Romo's audibles get you in the running play at the right time. And three: he gets you ahead in the game, so you can run in the fourth quarter against a defense that wants to pass rush. You can run downhill. It's all tied to having competent quarterback play.

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The running game was up against it today, so it didn't come easy. But they seemed to wear down the Dolphins in the fourth quarter, which sort of follows the script of 2015 pretty well.

Washington and Philadelphia lost Sunday; the Giants were off. Do you have hope still that the Cowboys can make a run at the NFC East?

There's no question. It's incredibly predicated on Thanksgiving (vs. Carolina). They get to have 11 days off before a Monday night game against the Redskins. If they get both of these games, they would be back in it. We were sure the rest of the division would stumble, maybe not as bad as today. All the good work today, if it can be added to Thanksgiving Day, this area will be full of optimism. I would almost count today as the first of two projects over five days. Hope Byron Jones is OK and get right to the Carolina preparations. It basically determines the idea of relevant football in December.

The Cowboys are 3-7. How bad of a record could win this division?

I thought 9-7. I could definitely see 8-8. I don't think 7-9. I think the division winner needs eight wins. The Cowboys need to win nine. And there could be a hiccup playing an undefeated Carolina team.

Anything else stand out Sunday?

I would say the idea Greg Hardy and Tyron Smith both had individual battles I expected them to win, but both had three hours of difficulty. Tyron against Olivier Vernon, Greg Hardy against Branden Albert. Both of them were kind of disappointing. But Hardy came alive in the fourth quarter and so did Tyron. It took all of the afternoon to do anything remotely positive, it seems.