The Dallas Cowboys were one of the more highly regarded football teams coming into the 2010 season with many experts picking them to be the first ever team to host its' own Super Bowl. 

If there was still even a hint of optimism for February aspirations after a dreadful 1-4 start, any mirage of a postseason was shattered when quarterback Tony Romo was sidelined with a broken left clavicle.  Romo will not need surgery, however, he will still be sidelined for six-to-eight weeks, with eight weeks being more likely than six. 

New York Giants linebacker, Michael Boley, blitzed into the backfield untouched and got a clean shot on Romo, taking the quarterbacks legs form underneath him and driving Romo's left shoulder into the ground.  Initially, it looked like Romo may have just got the wind knocked out of him but after lying on the ground for several minutes, it appeared the injury was much worse. 

"I didn't know that it was broken," Romo said.  "I felt like it was kind of sprained, maybe.  I was really light-headed, I couldn't get my senses." 

Romo wasn't New York's first victim this season.  Including Romo, the Giant's have knocked off five quarterbacks and even left backup Cowboys backup quarterback Jon Kitna with a bloody nose. 

Leading up to Monday night's showdown with the Giant's, Dallas was the most penalized team in the NFL.  The team brought in officials last week during practice to help alleviate some of the penalties that cost the Cowboys several games this season.  Although, the Cowboys did a much better job of avoiding flags Monday night, the team just couldn't seem to catch a break. 

"We're sitting out there watching the game go by and it seems like nothing really goes our way," Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman said. 

Newman let one pass slip through his fingers but got an interception on the very next play.  The secondary made a few key plays in the first half but failed to counter Giant's quarterback, Eli Manning's halftime adjustments. 

Manning threw three interceptions against the Cowboys, two in the first quarter but finished with over 300 yards in passing, 4 touchdowns and had two receivers go for over 100 yards. 

Giant's wideout Hakeem Nicks was peculiarly in single coverage with a safety covering him on each of his two touchdown grabs and although, the three interceptions look good on paper for the defense, the Cowboys secondary got torched time and time again in the second half. 

"Third quarter's pretty much a blur to me," Newman said.  "We couldn't stop them." 

The Cowboys might have to get familiar with being unable to stop opposing teams as Kitna led several three-and-outs once the backup took over.  Although Kitna looked better as the game wore on, the Cowboys offense was still unable to convert a third down all night, going 0-10.

Cowboys wideout Roy Williams played with Kitna when both players were sporting Detroit Lions uniforms and Williams may need to undergo some medical treatment himself after his post game comments. 

"Tony Romo is our starter but Jon Kitna is just as good," Williams said.  "He's going to put the ball where it needs to be.  He's going to make mistakes but we have to help him win." 

While it's commendable that Williams is willing to tell a few white lies in supporting a fellow teammate, saying Kitna is just as good as Romo is nothing short of delusional, especially considering that Williams had no catches in the loss to New York.

Cowboys tight end Jason Witten had no illusions about what Romo being out would mean for the Cowboys. 

"Let's not kid ourselves," Witten said.  "Anytime you lose a guy like Tony [Romo] it hurts, it's hard." 

With the Cowboys going 1-4 with Romo it's scary to imagine just how bad the remainder of the season could play out with Kitna at quarterback.  The Cowboys are amongst the NFL's worst and are the only NFC team without a home win. 

"At this point, we've just got to do what teams that are 1-5 try to do," Newman said.  "That's just try to make every week like a Super Bowl.  Try to salvage as much of the season as possible."

The Cowboys defensive front struggled as well, unable to put significant pressure on Manning.  As expected when a teams star quarterback goes down, moral wasn't very high in the locker room . 

"We're not in the playoff hunt right now," linebacker Bradie James said.  "We're just surviving." 

Best case scenario, Romo might be available to return after six weeks, but it's very doubtful that there will be anything left to play by that time. 

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips, Roy Williams, Jon Kitna and the rest of the Cowboys will try to do everything possible to at least appear as though there is still hope but need to look no further than owner Jerry Jones for a reality check.

"We're going to go as far as Romo takes us," Jones said several weeks ago when referring to how successful the Cowboys could be this season.

Romo is out and the Cowboys are 1-5.  Time to cut out some eyeholes in a brown paper bag.