Fox earned an "easy A" for its broadcast of Super Bowl LI, as the coverage "was excellent, and it started with the near-flawless" call by Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, according to Tom Jones of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. Buck "isn't universally loved." However, he is "professional," and his calls "always have just the right amount of emotion." He showed that last night by "not making every play the biggest one in the history of the sport, raising his voice at the appropriate times." Meanwhile, Aikman was "super smooth, as always, and that's his strength." He called the game like it was "just another football game, which ultimately is what it is." Fox rules analyst Mike Pereira "deserves kudos for saying game officials messed up a call on what should have been a blocked extra point by the Patriots after the Falcons' second touchdown" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 2/6). SPORTING NEWS' Michael McCarthy writes Buck and Aikman "posted an excellent performance." They "nailed the two biggest plays of the game" -- the "strip-sack of Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan that turned the game around, and Julian Edelman's circus catch amidst three Falcons defenders" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 2/6).
CONVEYING THE EXCITEMENT: In Buffalo, Alan Pergament writes Buck's call on the game-ending James White touchdown "wasn't great," but "at least his excitement level was terrific." He had a "very strong game overall." He was "quick to repeatedly see penalties, honest in assessing the big mountain the Patriots had to climb in the fourth quarter and noting how much time New England was wasting in its touchdown drives." Aikman also was "excellent in describing defensive coverage after plays were made and in noting that Brady was off his game before the fourth quarter and overtime" (BUFFALO NEWS, 2/6). In Albany, Pete Dougherty writes Buck was "solid throughout" the broadcast. Early in the game, he "misidentified Danny Amendola, calling him Julian Edelman," but Buck otherwise was "quick and decisive with his calls." However, Aikman was a "master of the obvious, reluctant to take a stand on officiating decisions but quick to second-guess" (Albany TIMES-UNION, 2/6).
PUTTING THE GAME FIRST: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes Buck "won big by not trying to be the big winner." He "didn't try to overwhelm the broadcast, stamp his mark." He "didn't try to out-slick his audience." Mushnick: "He won the night by finishing second to a game he could not surpass" (N.Y. POST, 2/6). In Houston, David Barron writes Buck's performance was a "good example of how you keep the volume lower early on so you can crank it up when the time comes" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/6). SI.com's Richard Deitsch noted Buck called in real time that Patriots WR Danny Amendola "had crossed the goal line for the game-tying two point conversion -- a very good moment for the broadcaster" (SI.com, 2/5). In Chicago, Phil Rosenthal notes Buck "acknowledged he left out the expletive everyone saw" come from Patriots coach Bill Belichick's mouth during the second quarter. Buck said, "You can see Bill Belichick saying, 'He's not over the center, he's over the guard'" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/6).
WHAT A YEAR: Cleveland-based WKRK-FM's Dustin Fox wondered of Buck, "Has a broadcaster ever had a year of bigger games? Extra Innings in game 7 World Series and Overtime in the Super Bowl!?" ESPN's Adam Schefter: "Over 3 months, Joe Buck called World Series Game 7, then Super Bowl LI. Might as well call it a career. Won't ever call more exciting games." SI's Seth Davis: "Joe Buck calling this and Game 7 World Series four months apart. Lucky bastard indeed."
