Whenever a rookie has an unexpectedly phenomenal start to their career, fans of the team usually call for the ousting of the previous incumbent. Immediate success with a promising young talent can change someone’s mind about the guy who’s been leading the team for so long, commonly ending up depicting his tenure as negative and unfulfilling.

Fourth round Cowboys rookie quarterback Dak Prescott took over for the injured Tony Romo before week one of the season, and he has shattered everyone’s expectations. Prescott, through 13 games, has thrown for 3,139 yards, 20 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions.

Now, any talented rookie quarterback can post numbers like this. What’ so special about Prescott doing it? He’s lead the Cowboys to an 11-2 record, the best in the NFC, and also the best in the NFL. Looking like a candidate for not just rookie of the year, but also MVP, Prescott has convinced fans that he’s the quarterback of the future in Dallas.

But what does that mean for Tony Romo? Romo has spent all 12 years of his career in Dallas, posting legendary numbers, like passing for 247 touchdowns and throwing for over 34,000 yards, both the most all time in Cowboys history. Probably the most interesting stat for his career, Romo has 30 game winning drives, 16th all time and 7th among active QBs (behind names like Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Eli Manning). Definitely something to ponder, considering he’s been labeled a ‘choker’.

Dak Prescott struggled in two games against the Giants this year, throwing two interceptions in New York and failing to score more than 7 points. Coming down the home stretch of the season, as the ‘Boys look to lock up the number one seed in the NFC, head coach Jason Garrett can’t afford to have Prescott faltering like this. The point being made here is that the Cowboys need to start now-healthy Tony Romo if they want to make their first super bowl since 1996.

Romo also hasn’t experienced much playoff success, but when he is in the playoffs, his game is on. He’s thrown for 1,316 yards, 8 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions, completing 61% of his passes, although he’s only won two playoff games.

Without an experienced quarterback leading the team towards a Lombardi trophy, most teams in the past have not experienced much success (an exception being Colin Kaepernick in 2013). With Romo, Ezekiel Elliott, the offensive line, and the young defense, the Cowboys would be a scary team to have to play. But if Garrett won’t change his mind about starting Prescott, teams like the Seahawks and Packers will find ways to make life miserable for the former Mississippi State Bulldog in the postseason.

Romo knows how to win. He may not have the history or record to back it up, but he’s a top ten quarterback of all time, and the team he has around him now gives him the best chance to claim a Lombardi trophy. Prescott may be the future of the Cowboys, but right now is Romo’s last chance to go out in Dallas as a super bowl champion.