The first two Super Bowls that Jim Nantz and Tony Romo labored in combination for CBS lacked drama.
Now, each get to mention they broadcast one of the crucial perfect finishes in the game’s historical past.
“What a thrill to be able to say that we witnessed an overtime Super Bowl game and what will go down in history as one of the greatest games of all time and the longest Super Bowl game of all time. That’s what I’m trying to process right now,” Nantz mentioned after the Kansas City Chiefs 25-22 additional time victory over the San Francisco 49ers. “I’m thrilled for our team and thrilled for the sport. It was an unbelievably fitting finish to a remarkable football season.”
Nantz and manufacturer Jim Rikhoff straight away felt they may well be in retailer for the second one additional time game in Super Bowl historical past after San Francisco kicker Jake Moody had his additional level blocked early in the fourth quarter, which stored it at 16-13 lead.
That set the level for Kansas City to return again two times — first to tie it in legislation and then win in additional time when Patrick Mahomes threw a 3-yard landing go to Mecole Hardman to make the Chiefs the primary repeat winner in 19 years.
Nantz and Romo have had many great finishes in the playoffs since teaming up in combination in 2016, however their first two Super Bowls had been duds. They had New England’s 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in 2019 and Tampa Bay’s 31-9 rout of Kansas City two years later.
And even if San Francisco had a 10-3 lead in an underwhelming first part, Nantz was once hopeful that the motion would select up in the second one part.
“I felt like there were going to be adjustments. Mahomes had to keep answering all these situations and scenarios. This type of game is what legends are made of,” Nantz mentioned. “If tension is the meter and the barometer of excitement and suspense, this one is up there in record territory.”
Despite the top stakes in additional time, Nantz and Romo didn’t get beaten in the instant. Nantz mechanically let fanatics know that San Francisco was once taking part in for a 6th Lombardi trophy, which might have tied New England for essentially the most, and Kansas City was once seeking to repeat, there have been additionally reminders in regards to the postseason additional time regulations, the place each groups every were given a ownership.
Coincidentally, Nantz and Romo had the Buffalo-Kansas City AFC divisional spherical game two years in the past, the place the Chiefs gained the toss and scored at the opening ownership of OT with out the Bills getting the ball that mandated the adjustments.
“You keep resetting for the audience, but other than that, you’re lost in a bubble,” Nantz mentioned. “In terms of just the concentration and the focus level, it’s why you do so many games. During the season, you have a routine and a team that’s working in concert together. I’m proud of our team. Sure, there was excitement, but you try to have the perfect tone. And also try not to get in the way because the pictures and the visuals were telling a pretty full story on its own.”
Rikhoff and director Mike Arnold complemented the protection in the sales space through briefly appearing the freak Achilles harm to 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw as he ran at the box all the way through the primary part. With 165 cameras at their disposal, CBS additionally had opposite perspective perspectives of Jauan Jennings’ TD go to Christian McCaffrey in the primary part and Travis Kelce’s 22-yard acquire overdue in legislation to arrange the tying box purpose.
They additionally up to date fanatics about San Francisco George Kittle going into the locker room all the way through additional time with a shoulder harm however briefly returning to the sector.
“You don’t change anything in overtime. The nice thing is most of the advertising obligations are out of the way, so sometimes it’s just pure football coverage, which I love, and we were able to do that,” Rikhoff mentioned. “You can stay on the field. We were able to capture a lot of really cool moments in overtime, which was nice.”
The game additionally marked a becoming sendoff for CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus, who will retire in April after the Masters. McManus was once the motive force at the back of the community’s reacquisition of NFL rights in 1998. CBS didn’t have video games from 1994 via 1997 after Fox were given the NFC package deal in 1993.
This was once CBS’ 9th Super Bowl with McManus in fee. Nantz said McManus’ retirement overdue in the 3rd quarter.
“The first half, I thought maybe this is not going to be as compelling as we would like, but that second half and the overtime, it doesn’t get any better than that,” McManus mentioned. “Jim and Tony up at the booth deserved an exciting Super Bowl. They stepped up big time and did a stellar job.”
When Nielsen releases the scores Monday afternoon, it must pass down because the most-watched Super Bowl, surpassing the 115.1 million for the Kansas City’ 38-35 victory over Philadelphia a yr in the past on Fox.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This subject matter might not be printed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out permission.