NFL - Cowboys now 11-1

Tony Romo took a knee, sealing a playoff-clinching, record-setting victory over the team he grew up rooting for and the quarterback he's obviously patterned himself after. So when it was time for hugs and handshakes, the kid from Wisconsin went looking for Brett Favre. He had to settle for Aaron Rodgers. Favre was already in the locker room getting treated for a banged-up right elbow and a separated left shoulder. Besides, the graying icon already had seen enough from Romo and the Dallas Cowboys.

For all his denials about Favre's influence on him, Romo sure played a lot like a young No. 4 Thursday night - full of moxie and joy, but needing a bit of a high-wire act to send the Cowboys past the Green Bay Packers 37-27 and into the lead for home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Romo led Dallas to two field goals, then three touchdowns on his first five drives. He finished with four TD passes, giving the Cowboys (11-1) their sixth straight win and guaranteeing a spot in the playoffs. They also have a leg up on avoiding a trip to Lambeau Field should these teams meet again in the NFC championship.

It sounds like it was a great game. I wouldn't know, since I didn't see it. Neither did most NFL fans across the country, because it was shown on the NFL Network, a pay-to-watch cable channel. I hope someone gets this situation resolved soon. I can't see paying for a package that includes all of eight regular season games, and then whatever rehashes they show to use the time. Football isn't like baseball or basketball or even hockey, where they play a ton of games in the course of a season. What were they thinking? I guess if they piss off enough fans, they think big cable will cave. We'll see.