By Darin The 2006 NFL season felt different for the Dallas Cowboys. They were back in the playoffs, led by a dynamic, newly minted starting quarterback: Tony Romo. On January 6, 2007, they traveled to Qwest Field (now Lumen Field) for the NFC Wild Card clash against the Seattle Seahawks. This game wasn’t just a loss; it became an iconic piece of Cowboys playoff lore, defined by one agonizing, unforgettable mistake.
Article from Jan 8, 2007 USA Today (McLean, Virginia)
The Defining Moment
The game was a defensive battle, but the Cowboys held a slim 20-13 lead entering the fourth quarter. Seattle stormed back, taking a 21-20 lead late in the game. With less than two minutes remaining, Romo led a crucial drive down the field, positioning veteran kicker Martin Gramatica for a routine 19-yard field goal attempt—a virtual chip shot that would win the game.
Tony Romo, who was also the team’s holder, crouched down, waiting for the snap. The snap came true, but Romo fumbled the ball, muffing the hold and sending the potential game-winner skidding across the turf. Romo frantically picked up the ball and attempted to run it in for a touchdown, only to be tackled just shy of the goal line.
A Legacy of “What If”
The Seahawks successfully ran out the remaining clock, ending the Cowboys’ season in the most dramatic and painful fashion imaginable. The final score: Seahawks 21, Cowboys 20.
The muffed hold instantly became a symbol of Cowboys playoff futility and a moment that unfairly shadowed Romo’s stellar career. While Romo would become one of the most prolific passers in franchise history, this play—a special teams error by a player who wasn’t supposed to be a special teams star—is often the first image recalled when discussing his playoff history. It was a play that, in 19 short yards, cost the Dallas Cowboys a trip to the Divisional Round.
The incident serves as a powerful reminder that in the high-stakes, hyper-competitive environment of the NFL playoffs, victory and defeat often hinge on the smallest, most unexpected details. It was a brutal lesson in the margin for error, delivered right on the goal line.
