American Football: Domination

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome!"

"We are live from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, bringing you coverage of the second game in the Divisional Round of the 2017 NFL Playoffs."

"In the earlier game, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated last season's NFC champion Atlanta Falcons to advance to the NFC Championship."

"It was a close and hard-fought battle, but the Eagles' defense stepped up and played a decisive role in securing the win."

"Final score: 15-10. An unexpected result. Instead of an offensive showdown, the game was dictated by defense. A surprise, for sure, and now we'll see what this game has in store for us."

At this moment, the national broadcast wasn't being handled by the familiar ESPN, but rather CBS.

Since Roger Goodell took over as NFL Commissioner, the league's television rights had been maximized, pushing its market value to unprecedented heights. Take the 2017 season, for example—

Monday Night Football: ESPN.

Thursday Night Football: CBS, NBC, and NFL Network. Additionally, Amazon held streaming rights.

Sunday Night Football: CBS.

All other Sunday games were divided between CBS and FOX.

It was clear at a glance.

With broadcasting fees soaring, the major networks had no choice but to split the pie, each taking their share. The result was a well-coordinated partnership where everyone benefited.

In just one year, the NFL's domestic television rights alone generated over $2.67 billion.

For comparison, the NBA's broadcasting revenue that same season was only a third of that amount.

And that was just the regular season. The playoffs were a different beast altogether.

Wild Card Round: ESPN and ABC.

Divisional Round: CBS.

Conference Championships: CBS.

Super Bowl: NBC.

Four rounds, four different networks. The collaboration continued.

For fans, it wasn't the most convenient setup, but the NFL had learned from the NCAA, creating its own exclusive network—NFLN. With a subscription, fans could enjoy every game in one place.

Last week, ESPN had the spotlight.

This week, CBS took center stage for the playoffs.

For tonight's game, legendary CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz, with over 30 years of broadcasting experience, would be leading the commentary.

His co-commentator? Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.

As a player, Romo's career was nothing short of a wild ride.

In 2003, he went undrafted. No team picked him. But after signing with the Cowboys, fate took a turn. By 2004, he had claimed the starting quarterback job—and never let it go, an almost unheard-of story.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was a staunch supporter of Romo, standing by him through every criticism.

Over 13 seasons in Dallas, Romo led the Cowboys to the playoffs four times and set numerous franchise records, securing his place in the team's Hall of Fame.

In 2016, for the first time in his career, Romo lost the starting job, only reclaiming it for the final game of the regular season.

At the end of the season, he announced his retirement.

As a player, Romo was never considered elite, yet he was always relevant. He had the vision, the arm, and the ability to read the game—but his tendency to crumble in clutch moments haunted him throughout his career.

In March 2017, after retiring, Romo casually accepted an invitation to guest-commentate for CBS.

To everyone's surprise, he became an instant hit.

First, he was charismatic. Quick-witted, full of humor, and always ready with a joke or anecdote—he captured the audience effortlessly.

Second, he was insightful. He had a knack for breaking down complex plays in a way that made sense to casual viewers, enhancing their understanding of the game.

Third, and most impressively—he was shockingly accurate.

Like a football version of "Paul the Octopus," Romo's quarterback instincts were unparalleled. He could predict plays before they happened.

Time and time again, he would call out a team's next move before the snap—like a prophet.

His uncanny ability to foresee the action turned him into a viral sensation.

In just one season, Romo had exploded into popularity, reaching a level of fame that his playing career never could have imagined.

At 37, he was no longer young by football standards, but in the world of broadcasting, he was a fresh face—charismatic, sharp, and in high demand.

CBS wasted no time locking him into a long-term contract.

Now, Romo and Nantz had become an established duo, earning widespread praise for their coverage. Tonight, they were calling the Divisional Round matchup.

"Tonight, the Kansas City Chiefs travel to Foxborough to take on the AFC's No. 1 seed, the New England Patriots. Without a doubt, this is the game everyone's been waiting for."

"Slightly unexpected news: Foxborough's weather has warmed up significantly. The sky is clear, visibility is great, and the temperature sits at 24 degrees Fahrenheit (-4°C)."

"One major talking point before the game was the brutal cold in Foxborough, but now it seems like the Chiefs might have caught a break?"

Nantz smoothly set the stage, bringing up a key storyline.

The temperature was manageable. The feared blizzard hadn't arrived. A positive sign.

Romo picked up right where Nantz left off.

"If we're just talking about temperature, I don't think this is a huge concern for Kansas City."

"Kansas City isn't like Buffalo or Green Bay where you expect heavy snow, but January temperatures can still dip below 30 degrees Fahrenheit."

"But the difference between Kansas City and Foxborough is—one is physical cold, the other is magical cold."

"What do you mean?"

"In Foxborough, the cold seeps into your bones like humidity. No coat or gloves can fully protect you. Sit on the sideline for even a moment, and your body starts to freeze."

"And the worst part about Foxborough? The unpredictable wind. It doesn't just affect the visiting team—it messes with the home team, too."

"You can't predict the wind in Foxborough. One second it's calm, the next it's a hurricane, then it dies down again. It's moody, erratic. The wind is always a factor in January."

Having played quarterback in both Kansas City and Foxborough, Romo spoke from personal experience. He knew that September Foxborough and January Foxborough were two different worlds. And when the playoffs arrived, the unknowns only multiplied.

"Right now, conditions seem decent. But the Chiefs still need to be careful. This is a young team—they're not used to adapting on the fly."

"I just noticed something—"

"Lance, Hunt, Hill… all the young guys warmed up without jackets or hats. But after a few minutes, they put their gloves back on."

"Foxborough's cold doesn't just affect passing accuracy. It impacts catching, ball security—everything."

While Romo spoke in the booth, the players felt it firsthand on the field.

Lance looked down at his knee. He could feel the cold creeping inside, a slow, chilling current flowing through his joints.

Every cell in his body could feel the damp, invasive cold sinking into his bones.

Was this normal?

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Powerstones?

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