Last night’s Thursday Night Football matchup certainly lived up to the hype. The two-win Chicago Bears played host to the one-win Carolina Panthers on prime time, and no one was overly thrilled about the fact the matchup was on national television. The game ended up being exactly how many expected it would, with the Bears squeaking out a 16-13 win over Bryce Young and the Panthers.
While the play on the field was lackluster, one could hope that NFL broadcasting veteran Al Michaels may be able to provide some juice or intrigue to the otherwise mundane matchup. Once again, that was a no-go as many fans around the NFL continue to get on Michaels and his lack of enthusiasm during his calls in big moments.
Big Punt Return, Little Reaction From Al Michaels
While Panthers punt returner Ihmir Smith-Marsette was busy taking the play to the house for six, you would have thought Michaels was breaking down a three-foot putt to secure a double bogey. On top of the lack of emotion, the broadcast alluded to a flag that was never there and then waited a solid minute before correcting the inaccurate flag graphic.
Fans of both teams were left with a pretty dull moment, wondering if the play stood or not, while the broadcast team left them in the dark.
The Panthers get a punt return TD and Amazon puts up the "FLAG" graphic on the scorebug.
More than a minute after the punt, Al Michaels tells viewers that there was not actually a flag on the field. #TNF pic.twitter.com/d667uvaa0Y
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing)
The play would eventually stand, and the Panthers struck first in an eventual losing effort, but so much for having emotion for your team’s first and last touchdown of the night.
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The feeling around Michaels all season is that he just has not been able to provide the juice in these matchups that fans are looking for. While other broadcasters are getting entrenched in the game, many feel that Michaels’s demeanor has somehow diminished the moment.
Al Michaels getting ready to call Panthers Bears pic.twitter.com/6IYmwukoyG
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes)
Michaels Isn’t Going Anywhere
While some feel that maybe it is time for Michaels to hang it up in favor of a fresh voice in the booth, he let it be known earlier this week that he plans to be back calling games next season.
Michaels spoke with the New York Post, and when he was asked about his retirement plans and the possibility of calling games next season, Michaels was definitive in his response.
“As far as I’m concerned, I’m doing next year,” Michaels said. “There’s no question about that in my mind.”
While some fans may not love to hear it, it looks as if Michaels is here to stay for a while. Who knows, maybe as the season grows older and the games mean more, it’ll draw the excitement out of the broadcast veteran many have been yearning for.
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