This is make-or-break time for Cowboys

This is where we find out about the Dallas Cowboys.

Talent has never been a question with this team; responding to adversity if and when it occurs has. Well, adversity just pulled into Texas Stadium with the injury to Tony Romo.

It's up to Wade Phillips to make sure the Cowboys don't sink like a stone. (US Presswire)

Veteran Brad Johnson takes over, but he's not the guy under the microscope. Coach Wade Phillips is. Disgruntled Cowboys fans were teed off when he couldn't win last year's playoff game against the New York Giants, and they're restless again as the Cowboys start to wobble.

Dallas can win in St. Louis with Johnson. The Cowboys will surround Johnson with so much talent and design the game plan in such a way that he won't be compelled to play outside of himself and try to win a game Dallas should win with or without Romo.

But it's not St. Louis that is the concern. It's the next two weeks, with games against Tampa Bay and the Giants, and heaven help Phillips if they lose them.

Let's say that happens. That will be three losses in the past four tries and four in the past six. Not good, and you can bet that a certain No. 81 will want to weigh in on the subject -- particularly if he's not catching footballs.

And he might not. One thing about Johnson is that he doesn't throw the ball downfield, which means secondaries will crowd the line of scrimmage, play for the short pass and maybe, just maybe, frustrate Terrell Owens.

That's when we find out about these guys.

Phillips is one of the sport's easy personalities, but he is not a disciplinarian -- and he hasn't had to be because the Cowboys have been on cruise control for most of his tenure there. I remember people remarking how well-behaved Owens was a year ago, but a year ago the Cowboys were 13-3 and he caught touchdowns galore.

What's to cry about there?

But now we have the Pacman Jones situation and the Romo injury and bumps in the road for America's Team, which means now Phillips must take control of the ship and somehow steer it to calmer waters.

That is, after all, why he gets paid the big bucks, and if he can't handle the job I know of a head coach in waiting who happens to be on his staff. I feel for Phillips because he's in a difficult situation, but he's there for a reason -- and it's situations like this. Good coaches make the best of bad situations.

This one isn't bad. Not yet. But it could be. Wade Phillips, good luck. You'll need it.