ARLINGTON, Texas — After playing with a punctured lung and broken rib two years ago, Tony Romo isn’t going to let anything less than that keep him off the field.
Despite wincing with every step as he walked out of the Cowboys’ jubilant locker room here Sunday night, Romo insisted he won’t miss a beat despite two Giants meeting at his rib cage in the second quarter of Dallas’ 36-31 victory at AT&T Stadium.
Romo crumpled to the ground after the sack by Mathias Kiwanuka and Justin Trattou just before halftime and was replaced by Kyle Orton, prompting the question whether Romo was done for the night.
But Romo gamely returned for the second half and ended up throwing for 263 yards and two touchdowns — both to tight end Jason Witten — as the Cowboys finally beat the Giants for the first time in five tries in their palatial new stadium.
Romo said after the game the pain in his ribs “wasn’t in the same class” as what he felt in September 2011, when he punctured his lung and broke a rib in a road win over the 49ers.
And just like two seasons ago, when Romo toughed it out and played all 16 games despite the internal damage, he has no plans to miss any snaps this time, either.
“It’s something that doesn’t feel great sometimes, but I guess I’ve just got to suck it up and go,” Romo said Sunday night as he walked gingerly to a stadium elevator. “It’s part of playing football.”
Romo, who will have X-rays on Monday, laughed when asked if he might be forced out of the Cowboys’ lineup.
“I’ve felt better, but I’ll be fine,” he said. “It’s what comes with the territory when you play this game.”