The Payments Mafia undoubtedly went into the nation of Charles Dickens earlier than their group’s sport with the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Sunday with nice expectations.
I didn’t have the identical expectations for The NFL Community broadcast group of play-by-play announcer Wealthy Eisen, analyst Kurt Warner and sideline reporter Jamie Erdahl through the Buffalo Payments’ 25-20 loss to Jacksonville.
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The Buffalo Payments fell to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 25-20, on Sunday in London. Right here is our full sport protection.
Warner conceded in a phone interview final week that it isn’t straightforward calling lower than a handful of NFL video games on tv.
That clearly confirmed Sunday, extra so for Eisen than the analyst.
Eisen is a wonderful sports activities speak present host, however he doesn’t have the voice, the vitality or the storytelling skill of the standard play-by-play announcers that cowl the NFL.
Three questions on our thoughts after Sunday’s loss by the Payments to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Initially of the sport, Eisen’s vitality stage made Al Michaels sound like Gus Johnson. To his credit score, Eisen’s vitality improved as the sport went on, which Warner even observed.
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Eisen additionally had one of the best line of the day after the Payments had a number of penalties.
“There are extra flags than at an embassy right here,” he cracked.
For probably the most half, Warner met expectations when discussing what the cameras caught. He additionally supplied opinions through the few occasions key choices have been made.
That included when Payments coach Sean McDermott determined towards going for it on fourth down and quick within the third quarter and punted.
Listed below are Jay Skurski’s grades for the Buffalo Payments of their 25-20 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“I’m not certain you chase stuff early within the sport,” mentioned Warner, agreeing with the conservative choice.
Warner isn’t probably the most crucial analyst, however he did counsel Payments quarterback Josh Allen ought to have thrown the cross tougher on the failed two-point conversion to Khalil Shakir.
It’s what the announcers didn’t discover that was extra disappointing.
After Jaguars receiver Zay Jones’ landing catch gave Jacksonville a 7-0 lead, you might need anticipated Eisen to say Jones was a former Invoice. He didn’t.
You might need additionally anticipated Eisen or Warner to handle who changed Payments linebacker Matt Milano after his devastating harm. How was Von Miller doing in his first sport again? He was barely noticeable till he placed on a baseball cap within the second half. Why on the earth was Payments security Micah Hyde masking Jags receiver Calvin Ridley on the important thing third-down play within the fourth quarter that stored the Payments from getting the ball again with time for a last-minute drive to win the sport? Was it as a result of the Payments benched cornerback Kaiir Elam, who had a troublesome day, or as a result of the Payments blitzed?
“On a day when the protection began with out key gamers and misplaced extra key gamers, the Payments’ offense was a no-show in a 25-20 loss to the Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium,” Ryan O’Halloran writes.
Expectations additionally weren’t met for the only issues.
Replays of some key performs weren’t proven, and it took too lengthy to point out different replays.
After which there have been the sound points early within the sport for those who watched it on WUTV, the native Fox affiliate that secured the published rights to the sport.
On the sport’s begin, WUTV viewers might hear Spanish similtaneously the English broadcast. That probably despatched many viewers with cable from WUTV to The NFL Community, which might be a troublesome blow for the Fox affiliate. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see what the scores can be for the 2 channels carrying the sport.
In line with WUTV Station Supervisor Tamara Walter, it wasn’t the station’s fault.
Elam, the Payments’ first-round decide in 2022, has been a wholesome inactive all season, and issues didn’t get significantly better Sunday. He was benched within the fourth quarter in favor of Ja’Marcus Ingram, a practice-squad callup.
“It was a foul feed from the NFL community,” she defined in an electronic mail. “They have been sending down 4 traces of audio by the receivers. My engineers contacted them and labored straight with their group to get the extra traces shut down. This was an NFL community error, not the native station.”
In any occasion, the sport was a catastrophe for Payments followers in any language.
Now on to extra highs and lows of the published:
The People Hero: That’s what Eisen known as Payments quarterback Josh Allen’s standing in Western New York.
Greatest Signal: An image of the people hero was on an indication that mentioned, “God Save the King.” “I don’t know if that’s heresy,” cracked Eisen.
The Shoutout: As the sport started, Eisen saluted the attendance of the Payments Mafia. “As you possibly can hear, it’s a Buffalo Payments residence sport and Payments Mafia is right here in full power,” Eisen mentioned.
LeBron James: The sound was crystal clear when Allen shouted an audible, “LeBron James, LeBron James.” The NBA celebrity heard it and requested by way of X, previously often known as Twitter, what it meant. We are able to anticipate to get the reply this week.
The Layups: After one of many uncommon, missed throws by Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Warner famous that he misses extra “layups” than he ought to. Lawrence’s cross to Ridley was extra like a three-point shot.
The Trifecta: Considered one of Eisen’s extra excitable moments got here when he described Payments cross rusher A.J. Epenesa’s “trifecta” of a sack, pressured fumble and fumble restoration. “He has taken the position of being in every single place,” Eisen mentioned.
Who’s That Masked Man? Epenesa was proven getting oxygen on the sideline after one among his terrific performs.
The Different Josh Allen: “There’s an excessive amount of Josh Allen on Josh Allen violence,” Eisen famous after one onerous hit. When Jaguars’ linebacker Josh Allen was known as for roughing the Payments quarterback with the identical title, Warner questioned how far the league goes in defending quarterbacks. “That’s robust for a defensive participant. I’m a (former quarterback) saying that,” mentioned Warner, a two-time MVP who’s within the Corridor of Fame.
Right here Comes the Solar: At sport’s begin, the solar was coming by the stadium so powerfully that it was onerous to see the place the ball was throughout an early Payments punt return. The difficulty was shortly corrected.
The Key Statistic: Eisen was sharp to notice how usually the Payments went three and out early within the sport, in comparison with how usually it occurred within the first 4 video games of the season. You might need thought there would have been extra consideration to the time of possession that favored the Jaguars.
Dreadful Information, Certainly: Noting Milano’s harm, Eisen appropriately mentioned the Payments had their “hearts of their throats.” He referred to the harm “as dreadful information. He is likely one of the greatest gamers within the league.” As dangerous because the loss was, the accidents to Milano and DaQuan Jones have been worse.
Comedian Timing: After a number of flags on one play, the published got here out of a industrial to point out temporary footage selling a flag soccer league.
Jetlagged: That’s how Eisen summarized the Payments early play, which was verified after the sport when Payments gamers admitted they weren’t prepared at the beginning of the sport.
Sideline Report: Erdahl famous early within the sport that the Payments have been subdued and quiet, aside from vast receiver Stefon Diggs, who had one animated second that’s certain to be misinterpret by some members of the nationwide media. At halftime, NFL Community analyst Gerald McCoy speculated McDermott might need been considering of his gamers: “I don’t acknowledge you guys.”
Excessive Level Battle: Diggs had a terrific sport, however it might have been even higher if he had received what Eisen known as a “excessive level battle” with the Jags’ Darious Williams on an extended Allen cross. Williams intercepted the cross that each gamers had their fingers on.
The Defacto Punt: That’s how Eisen referred to the interception, an outline that has grow to be all too frequent on Allen interceptions this season.
We Might By no means Know: When the Payments had the ball with about 20 seconds left within the sport, Eisen referred to the time he requested Allen how far he might throw the ball. Allen informed him 70 yards. “We’ve all been questioning how far he can throw it,” mentioned Eisen. “We’ve got an opportunity to doubtlessly see it.” Allen then threw a 15-yard cross to Diggs, whose try on the hook and ladder to James Cook dinner ended up being fumbled and ended the sport.
You Certain? After a dropped cross, Eisen referred to Payments receiver Gabe Davis as usually “sure-handed.” Payments followers would really like a phrase.
Protection (Wants) Relaxation: Warner praised the Payments protection for stepping up even with all the accidents. However he famous within the fourth quarter, “In some unspecified time in the future, you put on down.”
Flag Day: Because the penalties piled up on the Payments, Eisen famous: “This is likely one of the least flagged groups within the league.” The pointless roughness penalty towards Payments security Jordan Poyer towards the Jaguars’ Ridley that prolonged one Jacksonville drive led Eisen to ask, “What’s he speculated to do?”
Dumb and Dumber: After doing the mathematics and saying the Payments would have lower than 30 seconds left to go down the sphere for a successful landing, Eisen referenced the 1994 film by saying: “So that you’re saying there’s a likelihood.” .
Dusting Off Thicknesses: Warner dusted off the suitable NFL cliché that “It’s a week- to-week league.” The Payments actually proved that within the final two weeks. It’s time to mud off an acceptable Charles Dickens cliché. The win over Miami was “one of the best of occasions,” the loss to Jacksonville “the worst of occasions.” Payments followers who traveled to London anticipating a win may additionally reference one other well-known Dickens quote: “We’d like by no means to be ashamed of our tears.”
