al michaels recently talked about what it was like to call Prime Video Thursday night football games this season, which were often uninteresting or downright boring. One would have imagined that the broadcasting legend was eager to call an exciting game with stakes. However, despite testifying to the The epic comeback of the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Los Angeles Chargers In the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs on Saturday night, it looked like Michaels and his cabinmate Tony Dungy wanted to be somewhere else.
In case you haven’t seen the game, the Jaguars looked miserable from the start, thanks to Trevor Lawrence throwing four interceptions. Down 27-0 in the first half, they mounted a comeback for history in the second half (paired with a collapse for the ages by the chargers) to win the game in the final moments, 31-30.
The fourth quarter alone featured a flurry of exciting and tense plays. A Gus Johnson-esque exclamation point would not have been out of place at least three or four different times. However, the 78-year-old man Michael and 67 years Unclean it sounded like they were up way past bedtime and just waiting for the game to end.
For example, here is Michaels calling jaguars‘touchdown pass with 5:26 remaining in the fourth quarter that made it a one-score game. Al has a brief moment of excitement but it’s fleeting. It is a call that is hardly fulfilling at the moment given the context.
The Chargers and Jaguars must have switched jerseys at halftime. pic.twitter.com/4o0OD6ssYr
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 15, 2023
Immediately after that, a Joey Bosa penalty gave Jacksonville the ball at the one-yard line on the two-point conversion, leading to an easy score. The Jaguars had now pulled back from 27 to be within a field goal and Michaels sounded like he was reading a printout of what happened.
And the Jags penalize Joey Bosa on the two-point attempt and get it done. It’s a 2 point game with 5:25 remaining.pic.twitter.com/mBVC8CIXBq
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 15, 2023
With 1:28 remaining in the game and the Jaguars driving, they found themselves on 4th and 1 in the Chargers‘ 40-yard line. This was it, a game-changing play that could end the comeback or help the Jaguars make history. Travis Etienne not only gets the first down, but gets the ball deep into Los Angeles territory, helping to set up a game-winning field goal. Michaels calls it out like it’s a good play in the first quarter.
another unenthusiastic call from Al Michaels….dude…. ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ https://t.co/gijOZqbnau
—Goldglover9 (GG9)? (@goldglover9) January 15, 2023
Finally, this brings us to the game-winning field goal that cements a historic comeback and is one of those moments that will live on in Jaguars and NFL playoff lore for decades to come. It was a moment that arguably required Michaels to burst out with his iconic “Do you believe in miracles? YES!” call. Instead, he nearly missed the shot itself and then barely noticed the field goal, assuming a penalty flag was going to cancel it out, killing the whole moment.
Big Jaguars comeback or jaw-dropping Chargers choke? Yes. pic.twitter.com/QuQYArRfjd
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 15, 2023
Compare that to Frank Frangie’s Jacksonville Jaguars radio call.
Al Michaels’ game-winning call left a lot to be desired, so here’s a good one. https://t.co/6bodattsE5
— Awful announcing (@awfulanounce) January 15, 2023
It was a confusing evening for Michaels and even more so for the public. While NFL fans have long known that Al finds himself in the moment during exciting or game-defining plays, his clear disinterest in this storybook comeback left many viewers feeling cold.
“That really was one of the worst low energy streams of an absolutely amazing game that I can remember. You couldn’t even hear the noise of the crowd. yahoo said! Sports’ Dan Wetzel.
That was truly one of the worst low energy streams of an absolutely amazing game that I can remember. You couldn’t even hear the noise of the crowd.
—Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) January 15, 2023
“Al Michaels was too bored to call the end of the game. Come on man,” said Dan Wolken of USA Today.
Al Michaels was too bored to call the game over. Come on man.
—Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) January 15, 2023
“I am really impressed by how dry [Al Michaels and Tony Dungy] they are now after watching a team come back from a 27-0 deficit to win a playoff game. Viewers fooled, man.” said Mike Taddow of Mavs Moneyball.
I’m really impressed by how dry Al Michaels and Tony Dungy are right now after watching a team come back from a 27-0 deficit to win a playoff game. cheated viewers, man.
—Mike Taddow (@MikeTaddow) January 15, 2023
“Al Michaels is a fucking legend, but he and Tony Dungy were horrible on this call, right to the end. It’s not appropriate for an epic comeback.” said Brent Ax of ESPN Syracuse.
1. Nice to meet you, Staley. Don’t even let him get to the locker room. Perhaps join Kingsbury in Thailand. 2. Al Michaels is a fucking legend, but he and Tony Dungey were horrible on this call, right to the end. It’s not appropriate for an epic comeback.
— Brent Axe (@BrentAxeMedia) January 15, 2023
“Al Michaels called the game-winning Jags FG like he put money into the Chargers,” said Andreas Hale of Sporting News.
Al Michaels called the Jags game winning FG as if he had put money on the Chargers. https://t.co/dcJKIk60ga
—Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) January 15, 2023
“I’ve never heard a more comatose call on a big play, get these guys some coffee, this is a completely LOUD booth.” said sharp warren.
never heard a more comatose call at a big play get these guys some coffee this is just a completely LOUD booth pic.twitter.com/cDSt4f9DzR
—Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) January 15, 2023
“Al Michaels has no idea what’s been going on for 90 seconds. Dungy talking like he’s in a library during a 4-TD comeback. Put this broadcast recording in Canton for the worst ever, truly the WORST of all time I’ve ever heard to the point where it’s beyond hilarious.” said sports betting expert Joey Knish.
Al Michaels has no idea what’s been going on for 90 seconds. Dungy talking like he’s in a library during a 4 TD comeback.
Put this broadcast recording in Canton for the worst ever, truly the WORST of all time I’ve ever heard to the point where it’s beyond hilarious
—Joey Knish (@JoeyKnish22) January 15, 2023
“Can someone let Al Michaels know that this push is to cap the third greatest comeback in NFL history? Give the man a coffee!” said 670 The Score host Danny Parkins..
Can someone let Al Michaels know that this push is to cap the third-greatest comeback in NFL history? Get the man a coffee!
—Danny Parkins (@DannyParkins) January 15, 2023
The pairing of Michaels and Dungy clearly didn’t work out. Dungy’s low-key demeanor may have sucked the energy out of the booth, leaving Michaels as the energy guy in the booth, which is no longer the ideal role for him.
Regardless of the reason, though, it was an unfortunate streaming experience for what should have been a second half filled with whoops, whoops, and celebrations. Instead, viewers wondered what game Michaels and Dungy were watching.
[The Comeback, The Comeback on Twitter]