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Cowboys close three-game road trip against Cardinals

Nov 8, 2006 - 12:47 AM Dallas (4-4) at Arizona (1-7) Sunday 4:15 pm EST

GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) - Tony Romo is garnering much more of the spotlight than Matt Leinart.

Romo makes his third career start Sunday when the Dallas Cowboys visit Leinart and the lowly Arizona Cardinals.

Signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2003 out of Eastern Illinois, Romo never attempted a pass in an NFL game before this season.

At the start of the third quarter in a Monday night game against the New York Giants on October 23, Romo was inserted by coach Bill Parcells in place of struggling veteran Drew Bledose.

Romo has played well in splitting two road starts against Carolina and Washington, completing 48-of-72 passes for 554 yards and three touchdowns with an interception.

Last week, Romo went 24-of-36 for 284 yards and two touchdowns in a 22-19 loss at Washington. He moved the Cowboys in position for the win, but Mike Vanderjagt had a 35-yard field goal blocked in a wild ending. On an untimed down, Nick Novak kicked a 47-yard field goal to give the Redskins the win.

Dallas is tied with Philadelphia for second place in the NFC East, two games behind the New York Giants.

While Romo was a virtual unknown entering this season, Leinart entered the league with plenty of hype.

After leading Southern California to back-to-back national championships, winning one Heisman Trophy and going 37-2 as a starter, Leinart was selected by the Cardinals 10th overall in April's draft.

Leinart also started the season on the bench behind two-time MVP Kurt Warner before being inserted by coach Dennis Green as the starter on October 8.

Unlike Romo, Leinart still is looking for his first career win. He is 0-4 as a starter for the NFL's worst team, throwing for five touchdowns and four interceptions.

In his last two games, Leinart has completed just 27-of-67 passes for 360 yards and one touchdown with three interceptions.

Arizona has lost seven in a row since a season-opening victory over San Francisco.

Romo and Leinart do have two of the game's best wide receivers to throw to in Terrell Owens and Anquan Boldin.

Owens, who has been plagued by critical drops, including one in the fourth quarter last week, has 44 catches for 558 yards and six touchdowns.

Boldin has 48 receptions for 608 yards and three touchdowns.

The teams are meeting for the second straight season. Last October 30 in Dallas, Marion Barber rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Cowboys to a 34-13 victory.