Tony Romo returns to Dallas Cowboys: Is it too late?

Sep 20, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) walks towards the locker room after being sacked against the Philadelphia Eagles during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

There is no team in the NFL that needs their starting quarterback to return more than the 2-7 Dallas Cowboys. And from the looks of things, they’re going to get Tony Romo back for Sunday. The Cowboys quarterback practiced on Thursday for the first time since fracturing his left collarbone in a Week 2 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

This has to be the biggest of relief for the Cowboys, their fans and especially owner Jerry Jones. The Cowboys are 2-0 this year with Romo in the starting lineup and 0-7 without him to show his value. In his absence, backup quarterbacks Matt Cassel and Brandon Weeden just haven’t been able to get it done.

Even at 2-7, the Cowboys are still in the hunt to win the NFC East this year. They’re only two games in the loss column behind the 1st-place New York Giants at 5-5. Their remaining games are against the Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and the Redskins again in the finale.

At full strength, the Cowboys can beat them all, including the Packers and Panthers. They’re starting to get all their guys back on defense, Dez Bryant is back and Darren McFadden is a capable ball carrier. So with Romo now back, it’s possible for them to beat last year’s longest winning streak of six games and this team is more loaded.

That makes 9-7 is a real possibility and 8-8 could very well win the NFC East this year. However, we can’t call it probable because history is not on the Cowboys’ side right now. Since the current playoff format started in 1990, 72 teams have started 2-7 and not one made the playoffs.

Can the Cowboys be the first?

They’re only two games out.