The Philadelphia Eagles faced a challenging game against the Denver Broncos on October 5, 2025, with several controversial referee calls impacting the outcome. Color commentator Tony Romo openly expressed his concerns about the officiating during the broadcast, particularly regarding pivotal moments that influenced the game’s dynamics.
One of the most debated calls involved Broncos quarterback Bo Nix. Late in the fourth quarter, Nix managed to avoid a significant sack that would have resulted in a third-and-long situation. Initially, the officials flagged him for intentional grounding, but the call was later reversed, allowing the Broncos to convert a crucial third-and-6 instead of facing a much more challenging third-and-20. This decision drew scrutiny from Romo, who questioned the rationale behind the reversal.
“I just think that intentional grounding, what happens if the quarterback is getting tackled?” Romo remarked, mimicking Nix’s throwing motion. “Oh, there happens to be a guy in the area. Let’s just throw it over our head and hope that someone’s in the area. Is that intentional grounding? He was trying to intentionally take the ball and not take a sack, and that’s why I felt like there’s a chance there should have been a penalty for intentional grounding.”
Romo’s critique extended to another call that gave the Broncos a first down due to an unnecessary roughness penalty, which he also disagreed with. He reiterated his dissatisfaction with the officiating, aligning with rules expert Gene Steratore, who stated that the earlier intentional grounding call should have stood. “I think it’s a bang-bang and it’s close,” Romo added. “If I called it, I probably would’ve stuck with it because I felt like the quarterback couldn’t see or even know someone was in the area.”
As the game progressed, Romo continued to voice his opinions on potential penalties. On the Eagles’ final possession, he questioned the officials again regarding a possible pass interference call on a pass intended for a receiver. Earlier in the game, CBS cameras captured officials in a heated discussion over a potential catch by Jahan Dotson, which was ruled out of bounds.
Romo, who transitioned from a successful playing career to broadcasting, demonstrated his keen eye for detail throughout the broadcast. He accurately identified an illegal formation penalty, prompting his broadcast partner Jim Nantz to jokingly ask if he had ever considered officiating. Despite his insightful commentary, Romo faced his own miscues; he mistakenly referenced Eagles linebacker Zack Baun as a former Bronco, when Baun had never played for Denver, having started his career with the New Orleans Saints before joining the Eagles in 2024.
The broadcast also included intriguing insights into the connections between the coaching staff. Both Vic Fangio, the former Broncos head coach, and current head coach Sean Payton share roots in the Scranton area, as Fangio attended the same high school as Payton’s father. Payton had reportedly reached out to Fangio in 2023 to return to the Broncos as defensive coordinator, but Fangio opted to spend a season with the Miami Dolphins before returning to Philadelphia.
Overall, the Eagles’ game against the Broncos was marked by intense moments and questionable officiating that left fans and commentators alike grappling with the implications of the referees’ decisions. While Romo’s insights provided depth to the analysis, the ongoing discussions about officiating standards in the NFL continue to be a point of contention among fans and players.
