All-Century Cowboys: The top 5 moments since 2000 go beyond the football field thanks to one emotional and unforgettable moment

What are the bets Dallas Cowboys moments of the century so far? 

After seeing many industries take on this "25 best whatever in the last 25 years" approach, I had to do it for America's Team. To do so, I counted the five best players, offenses, defenses, games, and moments since 2000 to arrive to 25. 

This post closes the series and it's my favorite one because it's slightly different. 

You can objectively determine the best players, units, and even duels. But moments? Those are always more personal. Yours will be totally different than mine. You might roll your eyes back at some of my choices (No. 5, potentially) and you might hate me for leaving out your favorite. I am looking forward to hearing about it on my social media.

So why don't we get started? 

In November 15, 2016, Romo held a press conference to confirm what the NFL world already knew via an emotional speech he prepared: This was no longer his team but the rookie's. 

"You see, football is a meritocracy, you aren't handed anything, you earn everything every single day," a healthy Romo looking to get back on the field told reporters. "A great example of this is Dak Prescott, and what he's done. He's earned the right to be our quarterback." 

It was a bittersweet feeling. Romo's voice sounded defeated yet he ended any shadow of a doubt that could've be made a distraction to the team. Romo admitted he was in a similar spot as a young player. For a generation of fans, it was the end of an era. 

You could tell Tony Romo was in pain in Week 16 as the Cowboys tried to bring down the then Washington Redskins to keep their playoff hopes alive. But the quarterback wasn't going to be denied. 

With 1:16 to go in the fourth quarter and down 23-17, Romo bought time before throwing on the run looking for RB DeMarco Murray out of the backfield. The second Romo realized it was a score, you could almost feel his pain. Postgame, the discomfort was evident. 

Romo couldn't finish the season and Dallas wound up missing the playoffs, but that was a heck of a moment and another example of Tony playing through pain. 

"The secret is in the dirt," said Jason Witten during his retirement press conference. 

If any NFL player is worthy of making that statement, it's the future Hall of Famer Cowboys tight end. And what better way to prove that than his iconic helmetless play. Witten was hit by two Philadelphia Eagles defenders, his helmet flew off and that didn't stop the Cowboys TE for one second. He racked up 38 yards with no helmet on. 

But Witten's feat doesn't compare to Romo's in 2011 versus the San Francisco 49ers- Football is a tough sport. And only a crazy man would play it through broken ribs and a punctured lung. That's exactly what the Cowboys quarterback did after taking a massive hit in the first half.

With a 24-24 tie in overtime, Romo found Jesse Holley for a 78-yard game-winning touchdown. 

Listen, the Cowboys don't have many playoff wins since 2000 so I had to top this list with the most iconic one. Romo led the Cowboys to a second-half comeback versus Matthew Stafford Lions. Early in the game, everything was going wrong for Dallas. 

Detroit's defensive line managed to rattle the Cowboys' strong OL, hitting Romo consistently. Reggie Bush danced for an 18-yard touchdown. Stafford made plays left and right. Halfway through the third quarter, it was 20-7, Lions.

Dallas woke up. A 51-yard field goal from Dan Bailey made it a three-point game and then came a clutch game-winning drive from Tony Romo, ending with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Williams, his second of the day.