Tony Romo is the hero that the NFL’s TV ratings need
There were questions about the value that former Dallas Cowboys quarterback would bring to CBS’ NFL broadcasts before the season began, but all those fears should be quelled now thanks to the rave reviews of NFL audiences.
Tony Romo has turned his years of success in the NFL into perhaps even greater success in the NFL broadcasting booth. His commentary just might be what the league needs to stop the continuing trend of declining television ratings.
In his broadcast debut in Week 1 of the 2017-18 NFL regular season, Romo impressed viewers with his ability to predict which plays were about to be ran in the Oakland Raiders vs. Tennessee Titans game. That trend continued in Week 2, when he successfully foretold a New Orleans Saints pass play for a touchdown. His ability as a gridiron soothsayer isn’t going unnoticed on social media.
Here’s the video breakdown of Romo’s Week 1 performance:
And the clip showing the consistency of Romo’s ability to break down a game plan in Week 2:
Watch Tony Romo Successfully Predict Drew Brees TD Pass Before Play (Video) https://t.co/c7y0wRRd1Z via @StephenFlorival pic.twitter.com/U1YO1Z2hIM
— Robert Littal BSO (@BSO) September 17, 2017
That kind of high-level execution in the booth doesn’t go without being noticed, and by some prominent folks on Twitter.
45 seconds in, knee-jerk reaction:
— Matt Chatham (@chatham58) September 17, 2017
Tony Romo after one game is approximately 421 billion times better than Phil Simms.
I no longer follow an NFL team. I just watch Tony Romo’s game each week
— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) September 17, 2017
Tony Romo has given more in the first half than Phil Simms gave in the last 5 years
— Glenn Ordway (@GlennDOrdway) September 17, 2017
Listening to Tony Romo calling a game . Great career choice.-CC
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) September 17, 2017
The Romo reviews are great news for the NFL and its invested partners like CBS, as television ratings were down once again in Week 1 as compared to past seasons. While league and media officials blamed a myriad of factors like coverage of and fan displacement due to Hurricane Irma, CBS and the NFL would be unwise not to pamper this golden goose that is Romo in the booth so it will continue to lay the golden eggs.
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As the season continues, it’s worth comparing the ratings for Romo-called games to other contests across the spectrum of the NFL’s TV partners. Based on the early returns, it will be fair to expect a significant spike in games that Romo calls.