Aikman and Buck called their sixth Super Bowl together, and their familiarity showedFOX
Fox' broadcast team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman delivered a "smooth, professional performance" during Super Bowl LIV, and it was a "welcome model of relative restraint, given the stakes," according to Neil Best of NEWSDAY. This marked the sixth Super Bowl that Buck and Aikman have called together, and the "familiarity showed." They were "on top of debatable strategies, such as when 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan made a questionable decision not to call a timeout before a Chiefs punt late in the first half." Fox got an "excellent shot" of 49ers GM John Lynch "signaling for a timeout from a suite at Hard Rock Stadium" (NEWSDAY, 2/3). THE ATHLETIC's Richard Deitsch writes Buck "was excellent" during the broadcast, as he was "on-point on big plays and economical with his words in different play-calling scenarios." Even with "small stuff such as bringing viewers to the break after a [49ers K] Robbie Gould field goal, Buck was on his A-game." Aikman was "solid as well," as he was "informative and ahead of most plays throughout Sunday" (THEATHLETIC.com, 2/3). In N.Y., Andrew Marchand writes Buck and Aikman "called a mistake-free game, complementing the action and not being overly intrusive." It was a "really enjoyable broadcast that honored the year of preparation" (N.Y. POST, 2/3).
AIKMAN REACTIONS: SI.com's Jimmy Traina writes Buck and Aikman called an "excellent game, with Aikman really standing out." He was "outstanding, first-guessing decisions and breaking down why the Chiefs' explosive offense struggled for three quarters." Aikman also "quickly criticized" 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan for not using any timeouts at the end of the second quarter (SI.com, 2/3). In Philadelphia, Rob Tonroe writes Aikman's analysis was "informative but not overbearing, and he was at his best explaining why the Chiefs offense sputtered through the first three quarters" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 2/3). In Miami, Barry Jackson writes Aikman "generally delivered" during the broadcast, often "noticing subtleties that the average fan might not" (MIAMI HERALD, 2/3). In N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes Aikman had a "good game, especially noting, with replay aid, episodes such as linebackers frozen to play-action and strong blocking by Niner's receivers" (N.Y. POST, 2/3). However, in Buffalo, Alan Pergament writes Aikman, for most of the game, was "doing about as poorly as Patrick Mahomes," as his "refusal to take a stand was aggravating." Aikman "thankfully was more opinionated" in the fourth quarter, but he was "no Tony Romo." Pergament: "I can't remember one thing Aikman said that was as enlightening as anything Romo says routinely during games" (BUFFALO NEWS, 2/3). In Albany, Pete Dougherty writes Buck "showed again" last night that he is "among the elite play-by-play announcers." Meanwhile, it is not that Aikman "is bad as an analyst," he just "isn't particularly good." He "doesn't ruin a telecast," but he "doesn't enhance it" (Albany TIMES UNION, 2/3). In Sacramento, Joe Davidson writes Fox' broadcast was "OK, a C-plus grade to match a C-plus game." Aikman was "solid, per the norm," and Buck "had some good moments." Fox also "captured the emotions of Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who ... finally won that elusive Lombardi Trophy" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 2/3).
SIDELINE REPORTS LACKING: The POST's Marchand notes Fox' Chris Myers was in a "difficult spot amid the postgame chaos" while trying to interview Reid. Myers was "a little all over the place" when the "smartest thing to do is simplify the questions in this spot." Meanwhile, Fox' Erin Andrews "often doesn't say much in her reports, and this Super Bowl was no different" (N.Y. POST, 2/3). However, the HERALD's Jackson writes Fox' postgame show "came off seamlessly, with Myers doing excellent work on postgame interviews" (MIAMI HERALD, 2/3).
MISSING THE SHOT: In Chicago, Phil Rosenthal notes Fox had "more than 100 cameras" in use during the game, yet the net "still couldn't capture an angle that decisively showed" whether the go-ahead touchdown scored by Chiefs RB Damien Williams late in the fourth quarter was the right call. If a "Super Bowl-sized crew can't guarantee viewers see a shot that erases all doubt, what hope can there be for a regular-season regional telecast with far fewer resources on which to draw?" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/3). THE ATHLETIC's Deitsch writes it "stood out" that there was "no definitive look" at Williams' touchdown. However, he "loved the replay" of 49ers FB Kyle Juszczyk "holding up two fingers to mark how close he was to a touchdown in the third quarter." Fox also was "terrific" on a late-fourth quarter catch by Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins, "featuring four replays on the play that really told the story" (THEATHLETIC.com, 2/3). SI.com's Traina writes the "camera shot of the night" was the image of Lynch "signaling for a timeout from a suite while his head coach just wanted the clock to run out in the first half" (SI.com, 2/3).
GRAPHICS GAME: The TIMES UNION's Dougherty notes from a production standpoint, the story of the night "seemed to be Fox's new graphics." Dougherty: "They get a high grade from this living room." The scoreline is "much larger and simpler than what the network had been using." But the "continuous showing of the quarterback's statistical line alongside the score box could be scrapped" because "all it does is add to screen clutter" (Albany TIMES UNION, 2/3). THE ATHLETIC's Deitsch writes the graphics department deserves credit for developing a "sharp score bug and featuring in-game counting stats and very cool animation of the players." But one suggestion would be to "place the timeouts below the score as opposed to the side" (THEATHLETIC.com, 2/3). The TRIBUNE's Rosenthal writes the new scoring graphics that made players "look like comic-book superheroes were a nice touch." However, there was not one for Juszczyk when he caught a second-quarter touchdown (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/3).
SOUTH FLORIDA SIGHTS: In Miami, Douglas Hanks notes as Fox cut to a commercial break at halftime, the broadcast "shifted briefly to Ocean Drive at night, with its trademark South Beach neon and a packed sidewalk restaurant." In the third quarter, an aerial camera "hovered above a gleaming skyline along Miami's Brickell Avenue, where Brickell Key meets Biscayne Bay." That is in contrast to CBS' coverage of Super Bowl XLI 10 years ago at Hard Rock Stadimum, when there "wasn't a single shot of Miami, Miami Beach or Miami Gardens" (MIAMI HERALD, 2/3).
