OWINGS MILLS, Md.  Tony Romo is the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. So of course, in light of recent turmoil (real or manufactured), he was asked why he missed Terrell Owens ' birthday bash.

"Because I couldn't walk," Romo said Wednesday. He sustained what the Cowboys described as a back contusion early in Sunday night's victory against the New York Giants.

Romo laughed with his answer.

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"It would have been very difficult for me to stay in one position for any extended period of time, so I pretty well laid up for the last couple of days," said Romo, who stayed in the game against the Giants despite the injury and threw for two touchdowns.

Dallas hosts the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night in a game with huge playoff implications. It will be the last regular season game played at Texas Stadium, to be replaced next season, and the Cowboys aren't likely to get a playoff home game even if they make the postseason.

Romo spoke about his absence from the party Monday night in Grapevine, Texas, to celebrate T.O's 35th birthday (which actually was Dec. 7) in a conference call Wednesday with Baltimore-area reporters .

What's the prognosis for Romo for Saturday night?

"I'm sure it will be fine by Saturday," he said. "It's like anything. It's still sore. …I think it's just part of playing football. Everyone gets banged up this time of year, and you go back out there and you play."

The victory against the Giants came after a week of scrutiny about whether the Dallas locker room was divided, whether Owens and other receivers were riled in a belief that Romo was too fond of throwing to tight end Jason Witten.

What's Romo's relationship like with Owens?

"It's good. It hasn't changed any," Romo said. "Four weeks ago to last week to this week, it's all the same, just different people like to talk about different stuff."

Romo said that "stuff that really isn't a story" was basis of the recent drama.

"If I was following sports, I'd be like 'Enough already' sometimes when they talk about us," he said. "Things that really wouldn't be a story at other places they make them out to be here. … You let it roll off your back and move right along."

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips did attend Owens' birthday party, as did many other Dallas players. The nightclub party was held to benefit Owens' foundation, Catch A Dream.

Phillips was asked whether the Cowboys had to overcome distractions last week.

"I don't think there's as much going on as what's reported," he said. "As far as the team, we were pretty focused last week on playing the game and I think we'll be the same way this week. I don't know that there are that many distractions that are bothering our team."

Prior to the Cowboys-Giants game Sunday night, the NBC telecast had an opening in which Romo, Owens and Witten were together in a bar, eating popcorn and smiling.

"Oh, right before the show we did that," Romo said.

"No, just kidding. … We did that, I think, in the offseason."