Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo throws five interceptions in loss to Chicago Bears

Always a lightning rod, Romo's detractors have more ammunition after he threw five interceptions in a 34-18 loss to Chicago Monday night at Cowboys Stadium.

“The No. 1 factor is taking care of the football,” Romo said. “I know that ... Obviously it's going to suck for a few days. It's going to sit there in your stomach and eat at you.”

The five interceptions matched Romo's career high against Buffalo five years ago. The first three interceptions were unusual, which will lead to debates how much blame Romo deserves. The final two interceptions were clearly all on Romo.

“I can't try and do too much,” Romo said. “I think I tried to do too much tonight. Going forward I just have to do my job. And I will.”

The game's pivotal play essentially was a fumble as much as an interception late in the third quarter. When Henry Melton tackled Romo from behind the ball squirted forward. Bears linebacker Lance Briggs grabbed the ball in midair and rambled 74 yards for a touchdown.

It was the game's defining stretch. On the previous play Dallas linebacker DeMarcus Ware gave the Cowboys excellent field position by forcing a Jay Cutler fumble at the Chicago 27.

Instead of Dallas slicing into a 10-point deficit the Bears went up 24-7 on Briggs' TD with 6:11 left in the third quarter.

“There are situations out there where you're trying to do too much,” Romo said. “I think that's going to catch up to you at some point. I have to reassess things that are happening and make sure they don't happen again.”

Romo threw two pick-sixes.

The Bears took a 10-0 lead late in the first half when Romo and receiver Dez Bryant weren't on the same page. Romo threw a curl route. Bryant ran a streak route. Chicago safety Charles Tillman picked it off for an easy 25-yard touchdown.

“It's probably not characterized the right way to say it was a miscommunication,” said Dallas coach Jason Garrett. “It was based on how the corner played. Dez saw it one way and Tony saw it the other way.”

Romo's third interception also wasn't routine. Romo threw a bullet at Kevin Ogletree's chest. Chicago cornerback Tim Jennings stuck his hand in to tip the ball into the air. Safety Major Wright waited for the ball to come down like a popup for an easy interception.