A Giants victory would be their greatest upset since Manning was drafted and could go a long way in determining whether there will be a Manning era.

For Romo, a Dallas loss would be devastating. He became the face of the Cowboys’ 21-20 playoff loss to Seattle last season when he bobbled the snap for what could have been the winning field goal.

That’s why, given everything at stake, I was puzzled by Romo’s decision to go to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, with Jessica Simpson during the Cowboys’ bye week.

I know, I know: on the surface this is not a big thing. Cabo isn’t all that far from Dallas. Still, the decision to make the trip sent an odd message to his teammates: I’m at least as focused, if not more focused, on celebrity than winning this playoff game. The message to the Giants was, We’ve beaten you twice already; the third meeting at our house will be a day at the beach.

Immaturity, poor decision-making and misplaced priorities.

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When Romo was hatching his plans, I wonder if he stopped and asked himself: I wonder how Brett Favre, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are spending their bye weeks? Brady, of the Patriots, spent most of his time in New York with his girlfriend, and the Packers’ Brett Favre spent time in Mississippi.

Two of the great quarterbacks in N.F.L. history kept low profiles. I don’t know where Manning was  which is instructive in itself  but I’d be willing to wager that he wasn’t hanging out on a beach in Mexico.

It seems as if Romo wants to leap over Brady, Favre and Peyton Manning on the strength of celebrity, not football.