Al Michaels didn’t have his fastball in Thursday night’s Falcons-Packers game (neither did the Packers, to be fair), and NFL fans didn’t exactly let it slide.
Unfortunately, this has become a tradition around here on Fridays …
Did Al have a good night or bad night? More importantly, did the internet notice?
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NBC commentator Al Michaels on the field during an NFL game between the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (Getty Images)
He had a bad one at Lambeau last night, and yes, the internet noticed. It’s tough to get anything past them in 2026, and they’re not letting 81-year-old Al Michaels off the hook today.
From confusing Michael Penix’s college team, to struggling to figure out what “ATL” meant, it wasn’t exactly a masterclass this week.
Let’s dive in:
Al Michaels is better than this, right?
Look, it wasn’t great. Although, to be fair, I was a little confused as to why Atlanta was going for two as well.
Yes, I understand the math works out in their favor and that’s why they did it, but come on … there was three minutes left. Green Bay hadn’t moved the ball all night. There was a zero, and I mean zero percent chance the Packers were going to somehow score not one, not two, but THREE touchdowns in three minutes.
I don’t really fault Al on being a little confused on that one.
Al Michaels attends Netflix’s “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys” at The Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles on Aug. 11, 2025. (Variety via Getty Images)
But the “ATL” chant that left him absolutely befuddled? Yeah, that was a tough scene. Kirk was just as bad. What do you guys think “ATL” means?! Feel like that one comes with some pretty easy context clues.
For me, the worst look last night was Al’s call on Bijan Robinson’s long run in the first quarter. I can look the other way on most of it. He is 81, after all.
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But the lack of energy and enthusiasm on that run was a bad look. I get it’s the first quarter, but come on. This is your big game of the week. You’re in primetime. All eyes are on you.
Let’s act like we’re even the least bit excited to be there, right?
Kirk Herbstreit and Al Michaels are in the Amazon Prime TNF broadcast booth before an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on Nov. 9, 2023. (Getty Images)
Al deserves the benefit of the doubt, by the way. Again, he’s 81. We do this all the time. We expect Al Michaels to be prime Al Michaels, and it’s usually a letdown.
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The good news? It’s only Week 3. Plenty of room to improve. Plenty of football left.
The bad news?
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Again, Al Michaels is 81.
And it’s showing.