By Richie Zyontz
FOX NFL Lead Producer
Editor’s Note: Richie Zyontz has been an NFL producer for FOX since 1994 and is in his twenty third season as a lead producer. He has greater than 40 years of championship expertise and has produced seven Super Bowls. Throughout the 2024 NFL season, he’ll present an inside look as FOX’s new No. 1 NFL workforce, together with NFL legend Tom Brady, makes its journey to Super Bowl LIX. Read extra behind-the-scenes tales from Richie Zyontz right here.
The Detroit Lions and their Honolulu Blues: a really traditional pairing. Like ham and cheese, Abbott and Costello, or Montana with Rice, it is onerous to think about one with out the opposite.
For 90 years, since shifting from Portsmouth, Ohio in 1934, Honolulu blue has been the predominant shade on the Lions’ residence uniforms. Their proprietor on the time, George Richards, selected it from a catalog, claiming that it reminded him of the ocean hues he admired whereas vacationing in Hawaii.
Jared Goff sports activities the long-lasting Honolulu Blue of the Detroit Lions.
And on Saturday evening, beneath the brilliant indoor lights of Ford Field, the Lions and their Honolulu Blues confronted the maroon and white Washington Commanders in an NFC divisional spherical matchup.
In just some years, Detroit has gone from bumbling underdogs to a workforce each community desires to cowl. They have not received a championship since 1957, when Eisenhower was president, the Ford Thunderbird was rampaging on the streets and “Gunsmoke” was the top-rated present on tv.
That title workforce featured seven Hall of Famers and was quarterbacked by infamous robust man Bobby Layne, the Blonde Bomber.
A story of two QBs …
Unfortunately, on Saturday evening, the Lions‘ present blond quarterback Jared Goff did not play like The Bomber: he merely bombed. Three interceptions and a misplaced fumble turned Ford Field from a madhouse at the beginning of the sport to a morgue by the tip, because the wild-card Commanders shocked the house crowd and the whole soccer world with a 45-31 victory.
Unlike Mark Antony, or maybe Carmel Antony, in William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”, we have now come to reward the Lions and never bury them. A Detroit victory appeared predestined. That would have meant a house championship sport and their first journey to the Super Bowl. But as Lee Corso would say, “not so quick.”
What appeared like a coronation for the house workforce rapidly became a popping out social gathering for the guests. The Washington franchise has suffered a quarter-century of futility with dangerous possession and a carousel of ineffective quarterback play.
Tom Brady summed it up completely by saying that every one these errors and misfires could be erased by discovering the precise quarterback. Enter Jayden Daniels.
It was a story of two quarterbacks Saturday in Detroit.
Our crew hadn’t coated Washington all season. This was Brady’s first up-close have a look at their sensational rookie quarterback. And boy, was it spectacular. During our Saturday morning manufacturing assembly, Brady continued to make use of the phrase “fearless” in describing not solely Daniels however head coach Dan Quinn’s total teaching model.
Daniels was definitely fearless on the large stage. No turnovers, no sacks, and he confirmed Brady-like poise beneath strain, repeatedly incomes reward from the GOAT.
And his bearing was one thing to behold. While his veteran counterpart wilted, Daniels was an iceman with a smile. The emotional make-up of the quarterback resonates with Tom, and in Daniels the composure and smart resolution making actually shines by way of. Not to say his pace and throwing accuracy. He has “the entire bundle” in Brady’s phrases.
Rhythm and tempo
Washington performs at a quick tempo, much like that of a faculty workforce. And that saved us on our toes. So a lot to point out, so little time to point out it. But as a broadcaster it’s important to comply with the rhythm of the match. Missing pictures equate to poor protection, a word different networks ought to take note of. It’s been instilled in us at Fox since we had been born in 1994. In soccer and in tv, fundamentals rely.
As normal, our stellar digital camera crew captured some beautiful photos. The tight, intimate replay of Washington receiver Dyami Brown catching a go whereas the defender apparently blocked his view was notable. The anguish contained in the helmet on Washington offensive lineman Sam Cosmi’s face after struggling a devastating knee damage was heartbreaking. And lastly, Daniels’ unfiltered pleasure on the finish of the match was a sight to behold.
The FOX crew chats with Commanders head coach Dan Quinn.
Now we’re off to Philadelphia for the NFC Championship sport. FOX can have a solid of a whole lot that includes our pre-game present.
Two NFC East groups face one another on this spherical of the playoffs for the primary time because the Giants and Redskins in 1987. Two cities separated by 140 miles.
Two bitter rivals who know one another intimately. A visit to the Super Bowl is up for grabs.
I am unable to wait!
Richie Zyontz has been an NFL producer for FOX since 1994 and is in his twenty third season as a lead producer. He has greater than 40 years of NFL expertise.
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