In case you’re one of those people who don’t trust your eyes, ears or every bit of common sense in your body, here’s a stat that settles the debate about Tony Romo’s late-game performances, once and for all.

From @nflnetwork research: Romo has thrown 8 INT in final 5 minutes of 4th quarter when game is within 7 points, most in @nfl last 3 years. — Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) December 18, 2013

Romo’s gaudy November record is nice. His fourth-quarter passer rating, which is the highest of all time, is another feather in his helmet, right up until the other team intercepts the feather in crunch time. But this stat doesn’t lie. When it’s close, Romo forces the ball, mostly to the detriment of his team.

Things are never perfectly black and white. For every stat about Romo having the most interceptions in close games, there’s another that says his two-minute drill is second-to-none. The former doesn’t mean Romo is always ineffective when it matters and the latter isn’t a sign Romo is a mix between Elway and Montana. That’s why a post I wrote before Thanksgiving — “Indisputable proof that Tony Romo is clutch” — can exist. Numbers can be finessed to fit whatever narrative you want. They’re a Rorschach test for your football beliefs.

But if you find yourself angrily shaking your head at the headline of this post, try this: If you were an NFL coach, list the five quarterbacks you’d want for a do-or-die fourth quarter drive.

Tony Romo isn’t on your list. And if he is, you won’t be holding onto your hypothetical head coaching gig for very long.