When we think of quarterback rivalries in the NFL, the top two names that come to mind are Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. A pair of legends who delivered some of the most memorable matchups in NFL history for years.
A few other notable quarterback matchups included Troy Aikman vs Steve Young, Terry Bradshaw vs Roger Staubach, Jim Kelly vs Dan Marino, and many more.
However, if there was one that does not get enough attention, it has to be Tony Romo vs Eli Manning. The pair of pro bowl quarterbacks met 17 times in their careers and delivered some of their era's most memorable games. The purpose of this is to remind fans just how underrated this rivalry was.
From comeback performances to two-minute drills to a shocking post-season loss. Here are the top five memorable Tony Romo vs Eli Manning matchups.
Honorable Mention - Week 13, 2006: Romo to Witten
Tony Romo took over the starting job midway through the 2006 season against Eli Manning and the New York Giants on Monday Night Football. The result was three interceptions and a 36-22 Dallas loss.
In his first start against Manning six weeks later, the young quarterbacks would meet on a Sunday afternoon at Giants stadium. Against the Cowboys, Manning performed well through the air completing 24/36 passes for 270 yards and two of touchdowns.
The Giants shot themselves in the foot as they committed four personal foul penalties, a crucial fumble, and poor red zone play calling. Late in the fourth quarter, Manning led the Giants on a 63-yard drive capped off with a 7-yard touchdown to Plaxico Burress. On that same possession, the Giants had called a timeout and preserved an additional 40 seconds on the clock.
Romo and the Cowboys would take advantage of the mistake as he connected with a young Jason Witten on a 42-yard pass play that would set up kicker Martin Gramatica for a game-winning field goal. The Cowboys would win this game 23-20.
5. Week 12, 2014: Cowboys win but a young star is born
In a Sunday night matchup in East Rutherford, the Cowboys were leading the NFC East, and the Giants, at this point, with no hopes of the playoffs, were playing the role of spoilers. Manning and Romo each delivered solid performances that night.
The Giants were in full control of this game, up 21-10 at the half. The Cowboys came out in the second half in full command scoring a pair of touchdowns as Romo connected with Cole Beasley on a 45-yard touchdown pass and later with Dez Bryant on a 31-yard touchdown to give the Cowboys a 24-21 lead.
At the end of the fourth quarter, Manning would lead a 14-play, 93-yard touchdown to put the Giants back on top by four. The defense again failed to come up with a stop as Romo would respond, driving the Dallas offense seven plays for 80 yards and would cap off the drive with a Dez Bryant score from 13 yards.
This game, of course, will forever be remembered as the night Odell Beckham Jr made arguably the greatest catch in NFL history. Of course, though, a win is more important, and that's precisely what Romo delivered.
4. Week 1, 2015: Giants miscue leads to Cowboys win
Watching this game from start to finish, the game's pace felt off. The Cowboys' offense looked sloppy and turned the ball over in critical moments.
The Cowboys trailed twice by 10 with scores of 16-6 in the 3rd quarter and 23-13 in the fourth The Giants appeared to have this game put away as they had the ball leading 23-20 late in the fourth quarter.
All the Giants had to do was run the ball, whether they scored or not. The Cowboys would have gotten the football back with virtually no time on the clock and no timeouts. Instead, Eli Manning -- rather than sliding or giving himself up on a 3rd and goal pass -- Manning threw the ball out of the endzone, which preserved 1:37 on the clock for Dallas, who were trailing 26-20.
Romo and the Cowboys' offense took full advantage.
In a blink, it took just six plays and 1:27 off the clock for the Cowboys to win the game as Romo was able to secure a poor snap and find Jason Witten for an 11-yard touchdown to win the game. This would be the final matchup between Manning and Romo.
3. 2008 NFC Divisional round: A Giant Upset
The Cowboys, led by Tony Romo coming off a Pro Bowl season and at the time a franchise record setting season with 36 passing touchdowns, had swept Eli Manning and the New York Giants in the regular season and were heavy favorites to win this game and reach the NFC Championship Game for the first time since the 1995 season.
No game in this rivalry held higher stakes and more pressure than the one on Sunday, January 13, 2008. The heavily favored 13-3 Dallas Cowboys, which featured an NFL record 13 Pro Bowlers on the roster, would host the NFC divisional playoff matchup at Texas Stadium against the heavy underdog 10-6 New York Giants.
Led by Manning, the Giants scored on their opening possession as Manning connected with wide receiver Amani Toomer on a 52-yard touchdown pass. The Cowboys would respond with touchdowns from the late running back Marion Barber and Hall-of-Fame wide receiver, Terrell Owens.
With the Cowboys up 14-7 and milking out most of the clock in the second quarter, Manning would lead the Giants on a seven-play drive that lasted 46 seconds as he would connect again with Toomer to tie the game 14-14 at the half.
The Giants would re-take the lead in the 4th quarter on a Brandon Jacobs one-yard touchdown, and New York's feared pass rush led by future Hall of Famer Michael Strahan would pressure Romo in the second half. The game came down to a 4th and 11 play in which R.W. McQuarters picked off Romo in the endzone to seal the game 21-17.
This marked the first, and as of today, the lone playoff matchup between the Giants and Cowboys. In the end, Manning and the Giants would stun Romo and the Cowboys en route to winning Super Bowl 42.
Romo and Witten would never return to Cabo before a playoff game.
2. Week 14, 2011: Eli Manning Magic
The Giants would travel to Arlington, Texas, for first place in the muddled-up NFC East matchup. The Giants had lost their last four games after a promising 6-2 start, and the Cowboys entered this game with a mark of 7-5, leading the NFC East. Both teams went all out in this matchup and went back and forth in scoring.
In a must-win game against the Cowboys, the Giants fell behind by 12 points with less than six minutes remaining. Like the 2010 season, New York's latest second half-season collapse was nearly complete.
Down 34-22, after Romo hit Dez Bryant on a 50-yard touchdown, the Giants turned again to Manning in hopes he could deliver more of his Manning magic than ever.
The Giants were able to respond as Manning would lead an eight-play, 80-yard scoring drive ending with a touchdown pass to tight end Jake Ballard. On the ensuing Cowboys' drive, Romo, on 3rd and five, saw that the Giants were coming with a blitz and gave a signal to WR Miles Austin. As the play continued, Austin was five yards behind coverage, and the ball was overthrown. On a side note, Austin could have dove for the ball.
The Giants would get the football back, and once again, Manning would work his magic and led the Giants on a six-play 53-yard drive resulting in a Brandon Jacobs touchdown. The Giants would convert on a DJ Ware 2-point conversion to take a 37-34 lead.
Romo led the Cowboys into field goal range to set up Dan Bailey for a game-tying 47-yard field goal. The Cowboys were in a familiar position as then-head coach Jason Garrett had iced his kicker Dan Bailey against the Arizona Cardinals the week prior. The ending result was a loss after Bailey missed the field goal.
This time it was then Giants head coach Tom Coughlin who would ice Bailey after making it on the first try. Giants defensive end Jason Pierre Paul blocked the game-tying field goal and ended the game in a 37-34 Giants win. If there were a game that season where Manning could do no wrong, this would be the winner.
1. Week 2, 2009: Welcome to Cowboy Stadium
The first-ever game at Jerry World was played on September 20th 2009. The 1-0 Giants took on the 1-0 Cowboys. In front of a crowd of 105,121 fans, the two teams led by their Pro Bowl quarterbacks would put on a show.
Both quarterbacks led multiple scoring drives, and both teams fought to the end. Manning got the better side of the performance, completing 25/38 passes, 330 yards, and two touchdowns. Overall this week two saw several lead changes, 805 yards of total offense, 42 combined 1st downs, seven touchdowns, four field goals, and even a football going off the cleat of future Hall-of-Famer Jason Witten, which resulted in a Kenny Phillips interception.
The Cowboys did struggle with turnovers. Tony Romo threw interceptions including one that was a pick-six by Bruce Johnson. Yet only in a Giants-Cowboys game can you commit four turnovers and still have a chance at winning the game.
Despite the interceptions, Romo still found the end zone twice in the game. A one-yard touchdown pass to Witten and a three-yard rushing touchdown by Romo as both scoring plays gave Dallas the lead at one point.
Again, however, it was Manning with the late game heroics. With 3:40 left to go and Dallas up by one, Manning marched the Giants downfield on an 11-play 57-yard drive, ending in a Lawrence Tynes 37-yard field goal 33-31 Giants win.
Just like any match up between these two quarterbacks the games will feature crazy sequences. It seems like whoever had the ball last would win the game.