Romo has back surgery; out for the season

IRVING, Texas - Tony Romo's season is over, and the Dallas Cowboys will have to win without their star quarterback in a third straight playoffs-or-bust finale.

Coach Jason Garrett said Romo had back surgery Friday, and Kyle Orton will start when Dallas faces the Eagles on Sunday night with the NFC East title and a postseason berth on the line.

Garrett said Romo underwent treatment all week in hopes of playing after injuring his back in a season-saving 24-23 victory against Washington. The winning touchdown came after the injury on Romo's fourth-down pass to DeMarco Murray in the final two minutes.

Romo hurt himself when he tripped over his foot while trying to escape pressure earlier in the fourth quarter.

"He might have had his finest hour against the Redskins last week, what he did at the end of that ball game under the circumstances," Garrett said. "Pretty special."

Romo lost the last two winner-take-all finales - to the New York Giants two years ago and Washington last season. He also lost to the Eagles in the same situation in 2008 and now will miss a chance to improve his 1-6 record in elimination games.