What did Tony Romo mean when he said the New England Patriots are DTF?

The New England Patriots extended their winning run to seven games with a hard-fought victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

That win takes the Patriots’ record to 8-2 on the season, reiterating their status as genuine championship contenders. With that performance Drake Maye supplanted Matthew Stafford as the new favorite to be crowned NFL Most Valuable Player.

All is going well for the Patriots as they look to challenge for a first Super Bowl since 2018, and a first NFL championship without Tom Brady at quarterback. On the call for Sunday’s win, Tony Romo used some colorful language to describe New England’s potential.

Romo said; “This team is fundamentally sound. This team is DTF, the Patriots have details, toughness and they finish.”

That remark drew a nervous chuckle from Romo’s co-commentator, who may well have been imagining a different use of the DTF initialism. The term ‘DTF’ is more wildly used as short-hand for ‘Down To F**k’.

However you take Romo’s bold in-game prediction, this team certainly does look ready for whatever it might face this season. The form of Maye has been key but there have also been game-winning performances from rookie Treveyon Henderson, who contributed 147 rushing yards and two touchdowns on Sunday.

One of the key moments of the victory in Tampa Bay was head coach Mike Vrabel’s decision to run the ball on a fourth down in the dying seconds of the first half.

“It was a huge play for us on fourth down, and that’s confidence in our guys,” Vrabel said. “To be able to have confidence in them at that moment and then come through, that’s about players and not necessarily plays. I was really happy and proud of Stef and Drake for scoring when we were [on fourth down] and being able to end the half with the football in our hands.”

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.