It was one of the most incredible plays in NFL history. Too bad Tony Romo wouldn’t stop talking over the moment.
It was an unprecedented atmosphere at Highmark Stadium Sunday, with the Bills taking the field for the first time since Damar Hamlin’s life-threatening injury. And on the first play of the game, Nyheim Hines cut through the Patriots’ porous special teams defense and ran back the opening kick 96 yards for the score. The end result was total pandemonium in Orchard Park: nearly 72,000 fans sprang to their feet and let out six days’ worth of emotion.
the nfl just had its best year ever. will anything ever stop it?
The picture, and sound, said more than any words could. Unfortunately, nobody informed Romo. When Jim Nantz finished his call, the ex-quarterback started rambling.
“Oh you said this is storybook!,” he shouted over the unbelievable moment. “This is almost fate! I just can’t believe what just happened — Josh Allen the same thing!”
Romo went for a while longer before stopping abruptly. At long last, a producer seemingly got into his ear, and told him to cut the gibberish.
“Six days removed from this incredible scene that we saw in Cincinnati with a Bills player down …,” said Romo before trailing off.
When Nantz started talking again, Romo threw in a reference to “Angels in the Outfield,” which he probably regretted when Hines returned his second kick for a touchdown in the third quarter.
That’s what happens to overzealous broadcasters. They use all of their good stuff before the first offensive snap.
Romo was a hysterical mess throughout the Bills’ 35-23 victory over the Patriots, offering disjointed analysis and awkward soliloquies about Buffalo fighting through adversity in the wake of Hamlin suffering cardiac arrest on the football field. It requires tact and perspective to properly capture all of the emotion wrapped up in the story of Hamlin’s injury and miraculous recovery.
Romo, for all of his strengths, falls short in both areas. He should’ve largely kept his focus on the field.
Instead, he offered up nonsensical platitudes about Buffalo’s mindset.
“They are football players, and football players usually play football during football season,” he said at one point.
In regards to the game, it would’ve been interesting to hear Romo offer his take on the Patriots’ wandering offense and Mac Jones’ season-long struggles under Matt Patricia. But disappointingly, it seemed like Romo barely prepared for the contest. At numerous points, he said the Patriots found their offensive identity over the final weeks of the season.
Keep in mind, they’re just two weeks removed from being shutout in the first half against the Bengals, and not even crossing midfield.
The Patriots experienced uncharacteristic success in the red zone Sunday, scoring on their first trip when Jones found Jakobi Meyers in the back corner of the end zone. Meyers made a tremendous leaping catch and kept both feet in bounds.
Romo changed his opinion on whether it was a catch several times over a two-minute span. At first, he said he didn’t think Meyers was in. Then he offered a different take after seeing the replay.
“Oh wait, I saw that one,” he said. “Did the right foot touch? If the right foot touched, he’s in. The right foot, right there. Did that touch? I think it did.”
Eh, maybe not. Moments later, Romo said he wasn’t “really sure.” (For what it’s worth, it was clearly a catch, unless Meyers can walk on air.)
With a 8-9 record, the Patriots were only granted two Nantz and Romo games this season. Judging by Romo’s performance Sunday, we didn’t miss much.
At least Patriots fans can take solace in that.