This is not why we lost the game, but it is an easy and important point to make: Romeo remains a victim of the overly conservative mindset of too many NFL coaches. Here is how he chose to conclude the Browns’ only possessions of the second half.

The situation: 21-7 Dallas with 11:26 left in the third quarter. Browns with fourth-and-two from the Dallas 43. The decision: Punt. The result: Dallas drives 86 yards to take a three-touchdown lead.

The situation: 28-7 Dallas with 5:20 left in the third quarter. Browns with fourth-and-four from their own 39. The decision: Punt. The result: Dallas drives down the field for another eight plays before Eric Wright intercepts Romo in the end zone.

The situation: 28-7 Dallas with 10:13 left in the game. Browns with fourth-and-three on the Dallas 17. The decision: Field goal. The result: Three meaningless points for the Browns, followed by the Cowboys running down the Browns’ throats and the entire clock.

These decisions accomplished the following:

• Assured the end of the Browns’ offensive drive without scoring meaningful points
• Took the Browns’ best playmakers off the field
• Put the potent Dallas offense back on the field against an ineffective and increasingly tired defense
• Sent what must have been a demoralizing message to his players by not giving them every possible chance to win

It’s not the end of the world, but now that the regular season has returned, some of the same things I was hoping to forget that bothered me last year are back: dropped passes, porous defense, excessive penalties, and, well, unhelpful strategy by the head coach.