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Eli Manning of the New York Giants heads into the tunnel after losing 31-20 to the Dallas Cowboys.

Conversely, Romo inspired his teammates, making like Steve Nash in the open court. A stutter-step here, a nice dish there and a couple of monster alley-oop lobs to Owens, who scored twice in the second half on 25, and 50-yard touchdown receptions.

“If you want to call it swagger, yes, we have the confidence that we know we can go out and beat teams,” Owens said.

Guess where that swagger comes from? It comes from Romo, the $67.5 million man, who has led the Cowboys (8-1) to their best start since 1995. No wonder Carrie Underwood likes him so much. Or is Britney Spears? Or Sophia Bush?

Look, you can’t blame the Giants for missing on Romo — he’s the 1,000-to-1 shot that makes the draft such an inexact science — but they did goof with Roethlisberger. Picking fourth in 2004, they could’ve selected Big Ben (he lasted until 11^th) instead sending a ransom to the Chargers for Manning. But, noooo, the Giants wanted a Manning. So much for the adage, “You get what you pay for.”

Roethlisberger, who won a Super Bowl in his second season, has rebounded brilliantly from his motorcycle-accident, interception-marred 2006 season. After Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, Big Ben might just be the best quarterback in the league. Thriving in Bruce Arians’ offense, which affords him more freedom than the previous system, Roethlisberger has thrown 20 touchdown passes and only six interceptions for a 111 passer rating.

With his Steelers headed toward their first loss to the Browns since the Otto Graham (or so it seemed), Roethlisberger made like a bigger version of Romo. He rallied the Steelers from a 21-9 halftime deficit, throwing for two touchdowns and scoring another on a 30-yard run.

“All I hear about is Brady and Peyton, but this guy we have here is very special,” defensive end Brett Keisel said. “He makes plays those guys don’t make and that’s what makes him so special.”

Great players make the game-changing plays. Instinct takes over and they do whatever it takes to win.

They don’t get called for delay of game.

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