IRVING, Texas – Tony Romo enters December on a hot streak.

In his last five games, the Cowboys quarterback has completed 138 of 200 passes for 1,587 yards. He has 10 touchdown passes and been picked off just twice. His 105.5 passer rating during that stretch is fourth best in the league.

So what’s changed from earlier in the season?

“There’s a lot of different things that go into that,” Romo said. “It’s not just one thing you can pinpoint. More than anything, our turnovers have been cut down quite a bit. Obviously, I’ve tried to be a little bit more judicious with the ball. (In) saying that, I’ve made similar throws. It’s just we’ve done some things the right way on the other side as well. We’ve gotten in and out of the route the right way and things of that nature that kind of have cost us a few times. I think as we’ve gone on, as the season’s progressed, people as a whole have understood what we’re trying to do and where we need to be. It’s just a progression that takes shape.”

It could not come at a better time for the Cowboys as they remain on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs with a 6-6 record. In all likelihood the Cowboys will have to win out to have a realistic shot at the postseason.

The Cowboys are a game behind the New York Giants in the NFC East race but in third place in the division because of the Thanksgiving loss to Washington.

“We obviously know we’re in a position that we have to keep winning football games,” Romo said. “We’ve been playing almost in a playoff type feel for a while now. And this is a big one at Cincinnati and we just need to put our head down and go to work and try to get another win.”

December/January has not been a kind month to Romo overall. He is 10-14 in the regular season, including a 1-4 mark last year when the Cowboys went from first in the division to out of the playoffs.

Excluding the Philadelphia game last year when he came out with a hand injury after just two passes, Romo completed 101-of-140 December/January passes for 1,158 yards with 10 touchdown passes and one pick.

The Cowboys will need him to play as well this December if they’re going to stay in the hunt.