NFL World Roasts Al Michaels for Feeble Call on Jaguars’ Game-Winning Kick

The broadcaster’s energy as Jacksonville closed out a historic comeback left a lot to be desired.

Play-by-play broadcaster Al Michaels made a special return to NBC on Saturday night alongside Tony Dungy for an AFC wild-card thriller between the Jaguars and the Chargers. Jacksonville mounted the third-largest comeback in NFL playoff history, capping off a 31–30 victory at home with a 36-yard field goal off the foot of kicker Riley Patterson. 

Though it was difficult not to be excited about–or at the very least invested in–the dramatic finish, Michaels’s call of the game-winning kick left quite a bit to be desired.

To begin with, Michaels was referring to a seemingly unrelated subject with three seconds left and the ball in the process of being snapped. He managed to pick up the action just in time for Patterson to boot the game-winner, but he fell silent as the ball was in the air.

As the crowd screamed in jubilation upon seeing the ball pass through the uprights, Michaels was subdued, pointing out the Patterson had made the kick but that there was a flag on the play. Jaguars players were running around on the field and wildly celebrating as the broadcast crew tried to decipher the penalty, which ultimately was called on the defense and had no effect on the outcome of the play.

While Michaels can’t be blamed for trying to provide accurate information to the viewers, his tone during the most important moment of the evening fell completely flat and failed to capture the impact of Jacksonville’s historic comeback. Media members and fans took note of the underwhelming broadcast finish and took to social media to air their grievances with the crew. 

I worship Al Michaels. Seriously one of my all time heroes.

Is it just me though, or was that one of the most subdued announcing booths possible for a comeback like that?

I just don’t get it

pic.twitter.com/ul4prpU3pZ

— Carmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave) January 15, 2023

1. Nice knowing you, Staley. Don't even let him get to the locker room. Perhaps join Kingsbury in Thailand. 2. Al Michaels is a god darn legend but he and Tony Dungey were just awful on this call, right to the end. Not fitting of an epic comeback.

— Brent Axe (@BrentAxeMedia) January 15, 2023

As disgusting and shameful as that Chargers loss what was worse was the decision to have Al Michaels and Tony Dungy destroy one of the greatest comebacks in playoff history. They were abysmal. Completely disinterested and lame as any announcing duo in history.

— David Canter (@davidcanter) January 15, 2023

i’m really struck at just how dry al michaels and tony dungy are now after witnessing a team come back from a 27-0 deficit to win a playoff game. viewers cheated, man.

— mike taddow (@MikeTaddow) January 15, 2023

Al Michaels was too bored to call the end of the game. Come on man.

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) January 15, 2023

Al Michaels and Tony Dungy are nice men. But it’s like they’re calling a golf tournament, not an NFL playoff game.#LACvsJAX

— Mike Sielski (@MikeSielski) January 15, 2023

The Jaguars just had one of the most insane comebacks in NFL playoffs history, and Al Michaels and Tony Dungy sounded like they were at a funeral.

— Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) January 15, 2023

While Michaels and Dungy may have come up short on their own broadcast, Jaguars radio play-by-play voice Frankie Frangie did not. Frangie provided the ideal soundtrack to one of the most memorable moments in Jacksonville’s franchise history with his electric call of Patterson’s game-winner.

As called by @Frank_Frangie on Jacksonville Jaguars radio: pic.twitter.com/6B93dbmfic

— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) January 15, 2023