During the most recent "TNF" game on Prime Video, the decision by Amazon’s production truck to “show a half-dozen-or-so replays” of Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa’s injury that included high-def closeups was the “most honest thing” witnessed in the three-plus-hour broadcast, according to Richard Deitsch of THE ATHLETIC. But announcers Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit were “underwhelming” on the subject of Tagovailoa’s injury. Deitsch: “This was honest sports television, the violence of pro football unvarnished. It was painful and uncomfortable to watch. But it was real.” He added, “I understand I’d be in the minority among NFL viewers when it came to Tua’s replays.” People were "very public" about saying Amazon "went too far." Deitsch: “But NFL game producers have told me for years that the singular charter they have is to chronicle the game on the field. To gloss over the uncomfortable is to not fulfill the charter” (THEATHLETIC.com, 10/3).
ENTERTAINING DUO: In Buffalo, Alan Pergament writes CBS play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle is an “excellent play-by-play announcer with a high excitement level on key plays, a good sense of humor and apparently a deep understanding of pop music and the chaos theory.” He and CBS analyst Charles Davis are "entertaining together." Pergament: "Davis was the best I’ve ever heard him on a Bills game.” Davis explained how Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier "changed some strategy in the second half" when he decided to blitz Ravens QB Lamar Jackson in long yardage situations. However, Davis “didn’t opine about whether it was a good idea" for the Ravens to decline kicking a late-game go-ahead field goal "rather than try for a touchdown" that failed. The "lack of an opinion" on what arguably was the biggest decision of the game was the “most glaring oversight by the announcers.” It was "even more surprising because Eagle did such a good job during the rest of the game asking Davis his opinions” (BUFFALO NEWS, 10/4).