It is much the same as it was five years ago when a young and unheralded quarterback named Tom Brady took over for an injured Bledsoe in New England. Brady was forced into action after a big hit by Jet linebacker Mo Lewis sent Bledsoe to the sidelines (and ultimately the hospital) with a chest injury. But even before the injury, there were rumblings in Foxboro that the Patriots needed to replace the sedentary Bledsoe. The injury made the move easy for Bill Belichick.

Brady started the next 14 regular-season games and ultimately led the Patriots to the first of their three Super Bowl titles with a 20-17 victory over the heavily favored St. Louis Rams.

Brady’s Patriots went 3-2 in his first five games; recording wins over Indianapolis (twice) and San Diego while losing to Miami and Denver. Brady completed 99-of-159 passes for 1,023 yards with 7 TDs and 4 interceptions. Brady did not throw a pick in his first four starts, but he threw four in the fifth, a 31-20 loss at Denver.

Romo has certainly demonstrated his share of magic through his first five games. While the 306-yard, 5 TD performance against Tampa Bay had plenty of sizzle, it’s his steadiness in the other four games that have impressed the Cowboys coaches. Romo makes good decisions and rarely throws the ball into tight coverage. He has completed 109-of-153 passes and has a 10-2 touchdown-interception ratio as a starter.

The question on everybody’s mind is how far Romo can take his hot start. Is he the real deal or is he just on a hot streak who will ultimately have problems reading the Tampa cover-2 defense or not know what to do when facing delayed blitzes?

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Romo will have to answer these questions on the field, but he does have the distinct advantage of playing in the NFC. Outside of Chicago and New Orleans — who appear to have the talent to give Dallas problems — the conference is downright weak and there for the taking. Put them in the AFC and it would be another story. But the speed Dallas has on both sides of the ball could give them the opportunity to play into February.

That’s what Brady did in his first year as a starter in New England and it’s how his legend got started. Now Romo may have the same opportunity and he is clearly a confident young leader.

Both have the skills that NFL scouts want in quarterbacks and both owe at least some of their success to the failings of Bledsoe.

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