With seven games kicking off during Wild Card Weekend, the television broadcasts are under the spotlight, with only one game airing at a time. With all but FOX getting just one game, their best team of commentators is put into action to call the postseason action.
However, during the 2025 NFL playoffs, fans were quick to critique the commentary across Saturday and Sunday’s broadcasts as a few teams missed the mark. Thankfully, ESPN’s team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman would save the weekend, with the NFL world lauding their chemistry and performance during the Monday Night matchup between the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers.
NFL Fans Shout Out Troy Aikman’s Commentary on Wild Card Weekend
While FOX’s B-team of Joe Davis and Greg Olsen did a nice job calling the first Wild Card game between the Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers, things fell off the rails a bit with Amazon Prime’s duo of Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit fielding a fair bit of complaints not only during the first weekend of the NFL postseason, but the majority of the regular season as well.
However, it seemed fans hadn’t seen the worst of it yet, blasting CBS’s Jim Nantz and Tony Romo for a less-than-inspiring performance calling the incredible matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars. While FOX’s A-team of Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady would start to turn things around for NFL fans, it was ESPN’s team of Buck and Aikman that would impress them the most.
This fan got right to the point, explaining, “Lots of opinions about Romo and Brady yesterday, but Aikman deserves praise as a complementary analyst. Didn’t talk until the third play. Let Buck set the stage. This Monday Night Football booth and production feels big-time now. About the only thing ESPN does well these days.”
Lots of opinions about Romo and Brady yesterday, but Aikman deserves praise as a complimentary analyst. Didn’t talk until the third play. Let Buck set the stage.
This Monday Night Football booth and production feels big time now. About the only thing ESPN does well these days.
— RJ Sepich (@RJSepich) January 13, 2026
However, there’s no denying their chemistry, granted that’s somewhat inevitable after calling games together for 24 seasons. However, they’ve only been with ESPN since 2022. Responding to a video of their Monday Night opening, this fan couldn’t help but compare the two, saying, “Watching these guys just reminds me of how awful Nantz-Romo are together, especially Tony. Buck-Aikman have perfect, smooth chemistry.”
Watching these guys just reminds me of how awful Nantz-Romo are together, especially Tony. Buck-Aikman have perfect, smooth chemistry.
— M Speier (@mspeier1) January 13, 2026
While Romo has gotten the majority of the criticism this weekend, Brady would draw the ire of some as well, with this fan saying, “Troy Aikman is way better than Brady or Romo in the booth or at the desk. He just owned NFL Countdown.”
Troy Aikman is way better than Brady or Romo in the booth or at the desk. He just owned NFL Countdown.
— Jason B McSwain (@jasonbmcswain) January 13, 2026
While many chose to use it as a point of comparison, some decided to just shout out the incredible broadcast for what it is, like this fan who posted, “ESPN’s MNF broadcast is top-tier. Buck and Aikman are excellent. Crowd noise pop is phenomenal.”
ESPN’s MNF broadcast is top-tier. Buck and Aikman are excellent. Crowd noise pop is phenomenal.
— Ben Strober (@strobersports) January 13, 2026
It’s worth noting that while most of the broadcasts had tantalizing back-and-forth affairs to call, Aikman and Buck have captivated the NFL world with their top-notch commentary amidst a defensive battle.
While there are many great people calling games at the moment, it seems that ESPN currently fields the best duo in the booth, according to fans.
