CBS' Tony Romo was "everything viewers have come to expect" during Patriots-Eagles yesterday, impressing viewers again with his "psychic-like ability to predict plays," according to Rob Tornoe of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. The Patriots during the third quarter faced a "long third down attempt near the Eagles end zone," causing Romo to point out that it is "'about time for the Patriots to dial up a cool play here,' predicting it would be 'unique.'" The Pats then "ran a trick play" with WR Julian Edelman throwing for a touchdown. Romo also "walked viewers through a scene on the sideline involving" Tom Brady and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels "designing a play on the fly." Romo said that it "appeared they were putting together a pass play to a running back." Tornoe notes once again, Romo was "proven right, with the Patriots gaining a first down on an 11-yard pass" to RB James White. One Romo "trademark is that he likes to have fun in the booth." After the Eagles "scored a touchdown in the second quarter, he mocked [coach] Doug Pederson's fist bump as 'very average' and play-acted an imagined discussion between Brady and McDaniels" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 11/18).
SEEING THE FUTURE: Twitter commentators were effusive in their praise for Romo. MSG Network's Bill Pidto: "Tony Romo says get ready for a 'special play' and Edelman passes for a TD on 3rd down. Astounding how he saw that coming." The MMQB's Andrew Brandt: "Been said before but will say again: Tony Romo is a game-changer in NFL media. Learn so much with him calling the game." SB Nation's Brett Kollman: "Nantz and Romo are on a different level. What other broadcast will literally show you Brady/McDaniels creating a play in real time on the sidelines, call out that they made something up for the RBs, and then 7 seconds later White gets the ball on a play we haven't seen all year." CBS Sports' Patrik Walker: "Evergreen tweet: Tony Romo is simply delightful."
DROPPED THE BALL: In Chicago, Phil Rosenthal writes Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky during the waning minutes of "SNF" was "done no favors by the team's inability ... to get word out that a hip injury was the reason" QB Chase Daniel entered the game. The team's explanation "apparently didn't reach the network TV crew until several minutes after the game ended." Many were "left wary of how hurt Trubisky truly was since NBC's cameras showed no one attending to him on the sideline, only a clip of what appeared to be a fatherly talk" with coach Matt Nagy. NBC "didn't report what the Bears said about Trubisky's status until 15 minutes after the team's public relations department tweeted it out -- and that was 18 minutes after Daniel's first snap." Meanwhile, NBC's Michele Tafoya, "whose job would seem to revolve around fielding info such as Trubisky's injury status, was silent" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/18).
