I knew what was coming and I still couldn't believe how much Theismann was going on and on about nothing.

This broadcast was 2006 MNFesque. It was atrocious.

Theismann is terrible. But I tell you that Buddy Ryan is one heck of a coach for the New York Jets.

Thgey were, indeed, a huge suckfest, but I submit to you as a close second the Westwood One radio team of Marv Albert and Mark Malone. They did the shootout in AZ, and Marv, especially, was off his game(getting names, and the teams they play for, wrong; sounding completely disinterested in being there, for example). I kinda liked Malone when he was at tWWL, but yesterday, he just sounded too much like Joey T. Thankfully, the local ESPN affiliate cut their power at sunset, so I couldn't hear them anymore(I refused to listen to Buck/Aikman until it was absolutely necessary).

Joe Buck managed to make a 51-45 game sound like a 13-6 preseason contest. He sucked a ton and it feels like his excitement is forced.

FOX is so thin at play-by-play it's not even funny.

What are you talking about? Gibbs was great! His voice might not have been perfect, but he was consistently offering smart commentary.

It was pretty funny when they all agreed there were "too many Ryan's in the NFL", lamenting the fact that none of them could comprehend Buddy Ryan was no longer in the league. Unreal.

Gibbs just seem confused. That was the car crash commentary team of the season.

Maybe NBC was trying to one-up ESPN with their horrible Mike and Mike and Mike team from the past.

Hammond was at least as awful as his boothmates. Describing a pass caught inside the 5 as being thrown "to the end zone!" ... calling Darrelle Revis "Reeves" ... blown call after blown call. I wasn't sure he was watching the same game I was.

And what was up with reflecting back on Theismann's punting escapades so early in the broadcast? That's the kind of fluff you only haul out in the 4th quarter of a complete blowout.

@ TomahawkFlop: While I seriously doubt that they had the ability to analyze things this deeply, they are sort of right. While we see the Parcells and Belichick products and disciples get all the money and the big deals, it is Buddy Ryan's former players, assistants, and son that are dominating the scene in the post-season. So much so that 5 of the 8 teams remaining have 1.

Cowboys: Buddy's former defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is the head coach.
Saints: Gregg Williams was a special teams coach in Houston when Buddy Ryan was a DC.
Vikings: Their defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier was a DB for the 1985 Bears team whose defensive coordinator was Buddy Ryan.
Jets: Buddy's son Rex is the head coach.
Chargers: Ron Rivera, the Chargers defensive coordinator, was an LB for that 1985 Bears team.

Again, I doubt that is what they meant by such a statement as I am not sure if they are able of going that deep into the Ryan coaching tree, but indirectly and unknowingly, they are right about there being "too many Ryans in the NFL"

Haha, JFein...Good analysis there and pretty cool to see the long reaching arms of Buddy Ryan. It was really funny (and dumbfounding) though that those three referred to Rex as Buddy at least three times in the first quarter.

I just feel bad for the local announcers who are obviously a hell of a lot better, and have put in their time but have to get sh*t on by these "big name" guys. Seriously though, why can't someone like NBC just outsource the game to more seasoned but less known announcers?

"That didn't seem to stop people from watching though. NBC posted the best Wild Card ratings in 10 years."

And that's why announcers are wildly overrated...they mean absolutely NOTHING to sports. Sure, a great one can make a good call but no one watches games for the announcers and no one turns games off because of the announcer.

I'm a Jets fan...I would've watched that game if Gilbert Gottfried was announcing.

And I agree...no idea why they didn't go with their Notre Dame team of Hammond & Haden.

worst ever? hard to say after the 3 Mikes on MNF.

"Not only could they not figure out who threw the touchdown pass to Dustin Keller (Brad Smith or Sanchez) in the second quarter..."

Yeah, they had me totally confused by that. I coulda swore I saw Sanchez throw it, but the booth guys seemed to think it was Brad Smith, who had been a QB at Mizzou and all.

Theismann's analysis just before the kickoff found him saying, "Palmer will have to make some plays." and then, "Sanchez will have to make some plays." Sheesh. Thank you Captain Obvious.

I thought Gibbs was ok when he actually got to say something. Theismann wouldn't let him talk.

Hammond also screwed up a promo for Sunday's Blackhawks-Red Wings matchup. He had Nick Lidstrom playing for the 'Hawks, instead of being captain for the Wings (which he is). Either someone wrote that wrong, or Hammond read that wrong. I'm guessing it's the latter. Still like him, thoguh.

@UnHoly Diver--Malone sounded so bad with Marv Albert he was actually James Lofton. Lofton was on the Arizona game with Marv....Malone was on the game with Kevin Harlan in New England for WW1.

Theismann had a few bad comments, and I occasionally forgot Gibbs was in the booth. But by far, Hammond was the worst. He made so many mistakes that I can't believe he calls all of the Notre Dame games. I would rather see NBC just bring in the NFL Network team.

Hammond sucks, and any Notre Dame fan that has to listen to his garbage 8 times a year on NBC will tell you the same thing. He is the worst play by play man in network sports and it's not close.

Isn't the color guy for NFL Network Matt Millen? Would ESPN let NBC have him? Just use Tiki Barber or something.