Tag: Mike Tirico

Lions vs. Buccaneers broadcast team announced

Lions vs. Buccaneers broadcast team announced and it will have a local Detroit flavor

The Detroit Lions will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in Ford Field in the NFC Divisional Round matchup. On Wednesday, the NFL revealed how fans who aren’t lucky enough to attend the game can watch it.

The Lions-Buccaneers game will be broadcast on NBC, beginning at 3 p.m. The network’s top broadcast team of Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth will call the game, with Melissa Stark as the sideline reporter.

Tirico is a local Michigander who spent time with the team over training camp, so he knows the Lions well.

The full broadcast crew schedule for the weekend is available via Touchdown Wire.

Yes, Mike Tirico is calling 2 NFL playoff games in 2 days on NBC and Peacock

Mike Tirico pulled double-duty in the NFL Wild Card round.

Your ears do not deceive you. That is indeed Mike Tirico on the mic for the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions game on Sunday night, the fourth of the six Wild Card contests we’re seeing this weekend as the 2024 NFL playoffs kick off.

Why is that noteworthy when he’s with his usual partner in the booth in Cris Collinsworth? Here’s why: It was just a day ago on Saturday that Tirico was in Kansas City to call the freezing Chiefs game against the Dolphins, so he’s pulling double duty with two games in two days.

That’s awesome. Enjoy hearing him again on Sunday!

Cris Collinsworth hilariously explained why backup QBs in the NFL gain weight so easily

Cris Collinsworth just made a whole lot of backup quarterbacks upset

If there’s one thing we know about Cris Collinsworth, it’s that he doesn’t hold anything back when it comes to color commentary. He’ll say whatever he wants. And, seriously, I mean whatever.

Remember that time he went at his haters after people complained he had nothing to say about non-Patrick Mahomes players? Or how about his unrelenting praise of — wait for it — Tyson Bagent. Yeah, that was a weird one, wasn’t it?

The point is the man will say whatever is on his mind and won’t hold back on anything. That includes the weight of backup quarterbacks, too.

Collinsworth and Mike Tirico were talking about Chargers’ backup Easton Stick (yes, that’s a real name) during the Chargers-Bills showdown on Peacock. The two discussed how Stick hadn’t run plays all season long up until now and how backup quarterbacks don’t usually have much to do when a starter is in place.

RELATED: Every NFL team’s current backup quarterback

That’s when Collinsworth let one of his most fun facts fly out.

“When you’re the backup quarterback you can go months without even taking a single play in practice. The starting quarterback — in this case would be Justin Herbert — would get all the snaps. So give him a little time. Give him a little practice. Let’s see what happens now.

… 

That’s the reason a lot of backup quarterbacks are fat. They don’t do anything.” 

COLLINSOWRTH. MY GUY. WHAT? That took quite a turn.

Mike Tirico jokingly made sure to let people know that that was Collinsworth who said that. Good on him because those two definitely won’t hear the end of this one.

You’re wild for this, Collinsworth.

Why Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth aren’t calling Bengals – Steelers on NBC for Saturday Week 16

There’s a good reason for this.

Yep, you read that right, and if you’re here, you’re probably wondering: What’s the deal here? There’s a NFL game on NBC — the Cincinnati Bengals vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers — and the usual pairing on the network of Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth aren’t on the air.

What gives? There’s a simple answer.

Week 16 features two NFL games on Saturday, one of which is on NBC and the other — the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers — is on Peacock exclusively. And it’s there that you’ll find Tirico and Collinsworth calling that game.

So Bengals – Steelers has a second team: Noah Eagle, Todd Blackledge and Kathryn Tappen.

There’s your answer!

NBC showed Damar Hamlin picking his teeth in the middle of a serious conversation about his injury

This was an unbelievably awkward time to show Damar Hamlin.

Sunday night was an emotional one for the Buffalo Bills.

It marked the first time that safety Damar Hamlin returned to the Cincinnati Bengals’ home field since his scary cardiac arrest last January. Hamlin didn’t play and has understandably featured in little action this year as he gradually works his way back in. But his on-field collapse remains one of the more harrowing moments in NFL history. As such, NBC’s Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth took some time to discuss the emotional gravitas of Hamlin’s injury and return to the NFL during the game. There was just one itsy-bitsy problem.

The network’s cameras probably couldn’t have a picked more awkward time to cut to Hamlin on Buffalo’s sideline as he picked his teeth. I’m almost stunned they showed Hamlin in this unflattering position at all:

I know the folks at NBC can’t predict what Hamlin or any player on the sideline will do at any given moment. But man, I don’t know. If we’re going to have a serious discussion about someone’s life-threatening injury from football on live national television, perhaps we should ensure we don’t show them from a compromised angle.

Mike Tirico hilariously welcomed Swifties to Sunday Night Football with an adorable intro

“Hi Swifties, we’ll be with you all night!”

When Taylor Swift visited Arrowhead Stadium last week to see Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs, NFL fans were caught off guard. On Sunday, however, the NFL world was ready and none more so than broadcaster Mike Tirico.

Swift once again showed up to watch the Chiefs — this time in New York visiting the New York Jets — amidst rumors that she and Kelce are dating. And, as expected, the entire football world couldn’t help but make references to Swift as all eyes were trained on the pop star.

MORE: The 6 wildest stats that show Taylor Swift’s immediate impact on the NFL.

With Tirico at the helm for Sunday Night Football, the broadcaster had quite the adorable message for all the Swifties watching during his intro to the game proper.

How sweet! It’s awesome to see the NFL reach out and welcome Swifties with open arms to the great sport of football. Here’s now NFL fans — and Swifties! — reacted to Tirico’s hilarious intro on Sunday.

Lions fans are so mad at Mike Tirico for saying win over Chiefs had an ‘asterisk’

Fans are NOT happy.

The Detroit Lions beat the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, fair and square.

Yes, Chris Jones wasn’t on the field (but was watching at Arrowhead!). Yes, Travis Kelce was out with a knee injury.

But something NBC’s Mike Tirico said after the season-opener rubbed a lot of Lions fans the wrong way: “This has an asterisk, because of no Chris Jones and no Travis Kelce.”

I think what he was trying to say is, let’s see what the Chiefs look like when they’re fully rostered up. But an asterisk next to this one? Nope. Fans aren’t too happy about it:

Indianapolis 500 announcers: Who’s calling the race on NBC?

These are the announcers that NBC has tapped to call the Indianapolis 500.

The Indianapolis 500 is finally here!

Sunday, May 28 marks the 107th running of the Indy 500, with the race itself set to begin at 12:45 p.m. ET. Actor Adam Driver will begin the proceedings as the green flag waver to kick off the 500-mile race around Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s famous 2.5-mile track.

Once again, NBC will be handling race day coverage, with streaming available on Peacock as well. Some familiar faces will be along for the ride guiding fans through the marquee event, including Mike Tirico, Danica Patrick, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and James Hinchcliffe.

MORE INDY 500: Danica Patrick picks her 2023 Indy 500 favorites and sleeper, talks speedy qualifying.

Here are all the announcers racing fans will hear on NBC during the 2023 Indy 500.

Mike Tirico was not surprised to see Sam Howell play well vs. Cowboys

Mike Tirico heard a lot about Howell last season, so he wasn’t surprised to see him play well.

Mike Tirico is one of the best sportscasters in the entire world. Tirico isn’t just a football play-by-play announcer for Sunday Night Football on NBC. A former Sportscenter anchor, Tirico also hosts the Olympics and the Triple Crown.

With the Kentucky Derby coming up this weekend, Tirico was a guest of the “Sports Junkies” on 106.7 The Fan and talked about the Derby. Of course, talk turned to the area’s local NFL team — the Washington Commanders.

And when the talk turned to the Commanders, of course, quarterback Sam Howell was a topic.

“I think Sam is a guy they really targeted in the middle of last year as the guy,” Tirico said via Lou DiPietro of Audacy. “We got the second Giants game flexed last year, and as we were there, we kept hearing from multiple people about him, so I was not surprised to see him play, and play well, against Dallas. I’m not saying he’s Patrick Mahomes, but that was the Mahomes model: sit him until the last week, play him once, and go from there.”

The obvious question that always comes up is if Washington talked up Howell so much, then why did it take Taylor Heinicke going to Ron Rivera telling him to start Howell in the finale?

That’s a fair point. As others have noted, the Commanders wanted to give Howell work last season in relief, but the opportunity never presented itself.

As we, and many others, have stated, much of Washington’s success in 2023 depends on Howell. If he plays well, the Commanders have a future quarterback and are likely in the playoffs. If he doesn’t, well, you know the answer.

Tirico agrees.

“The receiving corps and running back group is there, and I like what they did in the Draft,” Tirico said, “so overall, I like the approach – but can Sam play at that level? There are not a ton of great QBs in the NFC right now, so why not be in a position right now to see if you have one who could do a really good job – and if you have a guy who can do a really good job, on a rookie contract, you can do well in the NFC.”

Washington’s defense should be good again. The Commanders need more from their offense, and they are counting on Howell and new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy for a few more wins in 2023.

WATCH: Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts uses ‘Tiger Woods’ as audible against Dallas Cowboys

“Tiger, you’re an audible tonight … and that’s in the bunker.”

Crossover fans of the PGA Tour and NFL were given a real treat courtesy of Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts and NBC announcer Mike Tirico on Sunday night.

On a fourth quarter touchdown drive against the Dallas Cowboys, Hurts called an audible to change the play to a run up the middle to RB Miles Sanders. What does that have to do with golf, you ask? The audible was “Tiger Woods.”

Field microphones clearly picked up the audible, and Tirico, who also calls golf for the network, was all over it.

“Tiger, you’re an audible tonight,” Tirico said of the play that gained just one yard. “And that’s in the bunker.”

Talk about two great calls.

The Eagles went on to win, 26-17, and remain the lone unbeaten team in the NFL this season. As for Woods, the 15-time major champion was recently seen hitting golf balls, which begs the question: when and where will he play next?

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