It's a stretch to call today's game at Texas Stadium a battle of Tony Romo vs. Jay Cutler.

It's not a stretch to say that the development of those two, of which preseason games can play a part, is at the center of the playoff hopes for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.

Ex-Cowboys coach Bill Parcells turned to Romo as his starter in the seventh game last year. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan waited until the 12th game to bench Jake Plummer in favor of the rookie Cutler.