Romo breaks collarbone; Giants lead 24-20 at half

Romo breaks collarbone; Giants lead 24-20 at half

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo leaves the field during the second quarter against the New York Giants in an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 25, 2010, in Arlington, Texas. Romo was drilled into the turf on his left shoulder, forcing him to the locker room for X-rays.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- The Dallas Cowboys' miserable season just got a whole lot worse: Tony Romo broke his left collarbone in the second quarter against the New York Giants on Monday night, then his teammates let a 13-point lead turn into a 24-20 halftime deficit.

The Cowboys were trailing despite having pried away three turnovers (including two interceptions returned inside the New York 20) and a 93-yard punt return for a touchdown. A loss would put them off to their worst start since going 1-15 in 1989, the first year Jerry Jones owned the club.

Romo's injury could end his season. Recovery time is generally 8 to 10 weeks. With the Cowboys at 1-4 - and headed to 1-5 - there may not be any reason to rush back.

The play came early in the second quarter, with Romo throwing a pass to Miles Austin, then taking a hard hit from blitzing Michael Boley. The linebacker came in unblocked and running at him practically full speed. Romo landed on the shoulder and remained flat on his back until being helped by trainers. He was taken into the locker room for X-rays and replaced by backup Jon Kitna.

That drive ended with a field goal that put Dallas up 13-7. Then rookie Dez Bryant had the second-longest punt return in club history, making a nice catch on a 69-yard kick then showing off great speed and moves to stretch the Cowboys' lead to 20-7.

Then it all fell apart for Dallas and came together for New York.

The Giants scored 17 points in the last 4:22 of the half, grabbing control of the game and on its way toward being alone atop the NFC East.

Eli Manning got it rolling by taking New York 80 yards in seven plays, aided by a pass-interference penalty on Cowboys cornerback Mike Jenkins - his fifth such flag in three games. It was the first penalty of the game against Dallas. The touchdown came on an 8-yard pass to Hakeem Nicks. Earlier, Manning and Nicks hooked up on a 7-yard TD toss.

Kitna didn't have a chance on the next series, throwing an incompletion under pressure then taking a 10-yard sack that forced the Cowboys to punt from the end zone. Manning took over at the New York 44 and quickly drove for the go-ahead score, a 14-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith.

Dallas was hoping to regain the lead with a two-minute drill, but Jason Witten fumbled and New York got a 53-yard field goal from Lawrence Tynes.

Kitna didn't take a single snap last season, the only backup quarterback in the NFL not to play. He hadn't done so through five games this season, either.

Romo had been 5 of 7 for 39 yards with a touchdown pass. Kitna was 2 of 4 for 10 yards in his brief action.

Manning was 14 of 22 for 167 yards.

The Cowboys also lost defensive end Jason Hatcher to a groin injury.

The Cowboys pulled out the stops this week to try turning things around. Team owner Jerry Jones gave an encouraging speech Monday, officials worked practices on Wednesday and Thursday and Hall of Famers Bob Lilly and Tony Dorsett were honorary captains for this game. (Hours earlier, Dorsett called the team "a bunch of underachievers.") They drummed up some loud applause by showing clips of the World Series-bound Texas Rangers, then cutting to Nolan Ryan in the stands.

Apparently, the Giants are making up for what the Yankees failed to do on their trip to Arlington last weekend.