Current:Home > ScamsTony Romo's singing, meandering Super Bowl broadcast left us wanting ... less -GlobalInvest
Tony Romo's singing, meandering Super Bowl broadcast left us wanting ... less
View
Date:2025-04-15 00:49:58
Amid a season filled with criticism, Tony Romo had one last chance − on the biggest stage of all − to go out on top.
But like a snap on a crucial field-goal attempt, Romo fumbled with the game on the line.
The Kansas City Chiefs scored a thrilling victory in Super Bowl 58, defeating the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime. But after CBS play-by-play man Jim Nantz crisply called the game-winning touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes to Mecole Hardman, Romo picked up the call like that football in the 2006 NFC wild card game and took it on a long, meandering road to who-knows-where.
Less than three seconds after Nantz gave one of his signature closing lines − "Jackpot, Kansas City!" − Romo failed to give the historic moment time to breathe, immediately jumping into an analysis of the playcall, the midseason trade for Hardman and Mahomes' place in history.
Over that same 29-second span, the broadcast showed images of Taylor Swift celebrating in her suite, dejected 49ers players and coaches, Hardman reveling in the moment and Chiefs coach Andy Reid receiving congratulations. The full spectrum of emotions that are usually the focus in the Super Bowl's immediate aftermath.
SUPER BOWL CENTRAL: Latest Super Bowl 58 news, stats, odds, matchups and more.
It was perhaps a fitting conclusion to an up-and-down broadcast for Romo and Nantz.
Tony Romo sings!
The game started slowly with a scoreless first quarter, so Romo tried to add a little fun to the mix in the second by singing along with Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" as CBS faded to commercial.
But Romo didn't stop there. Though he showed restraint by not referring to Taylor Swift − jokingly or otherwise − as the "wife" of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Romo did break into song again over a camera shot of Swift with Elvis Presley's "Viva Las Vegas" playing in the background.
Romo's key observations
As for the game itself, Romo correctly identified the fact that Kelce was on the sidelines on a crucial fumble by Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco. But he seemed to downplay the sideline confrontation between Kelce and coach Andy Reid after the play.
Early in the fourth quarter, with San Francisco facing a fourth-and-3 at the Chiefs' 15-yard line, Romo insisted the Niners should go for it rather than attempt a game-tying field goal.
He turned out to be right as the Niners converted on fourth down and scored the touchdown that put them up 16-13 just two plays later.
Romo and Nantz also seemed to get in each other's way a couple times down the stretch. Once in trying to figure out if the Chiefs had time for one more play in the final seconds of regulation to either go for a touchdown to win or kick a field goal to tie. (Harrison Butker ended up converting a 29-yard field goal with 3 seconds left.)
The other instance was Romo's rather lengthy and convoluted explanation of the NFL playoff overtime rules and what happens if the quarter runs out at the end of the first overtime period. That problem was solved when Mahomes hit Hardman for the winning score with 3 seconds remaining in overtime.
Romo calls 'partial streaker' on the field
Of course, the Super Bowl broadcast wasn't all football analysis (and singing). There was a moment of levity during the third quarter when two people ran out onto the field.
"We got people on the field," Romo alerted the audience, which Nantz confirmed.
"There's a partial streaker. Shirt off," Romo added. "But we can't talk about it."
In the end, the quality of the game itself generally overshadows the quality of the announcing − especially when a network can throw all of its resources into the broadcast.
Super Bowl 58 was filled with dramatic moments, especially in the second half and overtime. The camera work and direction were outstanding. Nantz was his usual understated self. And Romo had a decent game overall, but him talking over the game-winning TD celebration − one of the cardinal sins of broadcasting − is what TV viewers will remember most.
veryGood! (244)
Related
- Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
- The hunt for gasoline is adding to Floridians’ anxiety as Milton nears
- Law letting Tennessee attorney general argue certain capital cases is constitutional, court rules
- South Carolina death row inmate told to choose between execution methods
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Election certification is a traditionally routine duty that has become politicized in the Trump era
- 2 plead not guilty to assaulting ex-NY governor. Defense says they aimed to defuse conflict
- EPA reaches $4.2M settlement over 2019 explosion, fire at major Philadelphia refinery
- DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
- When is an interview too tough? CBS News grappling with question after Dokoupil interview
Ranking
- Questlove charts 50 years of SNL musical hits (and misses)
- Rookie Drake Maye will be new starting quarterback for Patriots, per report
- Want to follow election results like a pro? Here’s what to watch in key states
- Muggers ripped watch off Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler’s arm, police say
- House passes bill to add 66 new federal judgeships, but prospects murky after Biden veto threat
- Shop Amazon's October Prime Day 2024 Best Kitchen Deals & Save Up to 78% on KitchenAid, Ninja & More
- Vermont’s capital city gets a new post office 15 months after it was hit by flooding
- How much income does it take to crack the top 1%? A lot depends on where you live.
Recommendation
Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
2 plead not guilty to assaulting ex-NY governor. Defense says they aimed to defuse conflict
Kelly Ripa Reveals Mark Consuelos' Irritated Reaction to Her Kicking Him in the Crotch
Ryan Garcia passes on rehab, talks about what he's done instead
Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills
'Avoid spreading false information,' FEMA warns, says agency is 'prepared to respond'
News media don’t run elections. Why do they call the winners?
Rookie Drake Maye will be new starting quarterback for Patriots, per report