With the over-use of tournament references by on-air TV types in regard to the NFL playoffs (a commonplace approach by many leagues and media members to piggy back on the popularity of the NCAA Tournament with talk of "brackets," "seeds" and even "the tournament"), it's appropriate that the Seattle Seahawks have grabbed the role as Cinderella.
What many thought would be an uninteresting game instead was entertaining and eventful from start to finish Saturday -- and the NBC Sports crew of Tom Hammonds and Mike Mayock did a wonderful job with the game. It will be hard for any game, or any broadcast tandem, to match what happened during the first NFL game of the weekend.
Hammond, ever steady and understated, probably uttered fewer words than any other NFL play-by-play man will this weekend. He either got his work done quickly or let the action speak for itself -- as was the case during Marshawn Lynch's 67-yard run in the fourth-quarter, the highlight-reel effort that saved the game for the Seahawks.
Granted, Hammond and Mayock might have been simply surprised by what was happening (as were all those who were watching), but the way they handled that play spoke volumes about the success of their broadcast.
Sure, the telecast had early stumbles, especially when noting five times (five times!) after Julius Jones' first touchdown that he was the first player in NFL playoff history to score a touchdown against a team that had traded him during the season. But those stumbles were rare.
And, as much as the Seahawks took the opportunity to shine at the right time, so too did Mayock. The bookish-looking, well-prepared analyst parlayed his preparation and understanding of the game into an impressive performance. Then again, whether on the NFL Network or Notre Dame football, he rarely disappoints. When Hammond was not speaking Mayock was -- and that was a good thing.
OK, Mayock missed on a couple of calls, including a dropped pass he thought was tipped, but the discussed "personnel groupings" and strategy with accuracy at appropriate times. He even gushed appropriately after Lynch's run. "That's as good an effort from a running back as I've ever seen in my life. ... Are you kidding me?"
Seattle's victory means the team advances and gets to play again next week. Hopefully, it will also end complaints about division champions hosting playoff games or re-seeding the playoffs, because the Seahawks clearly showed they deserved the spot.
Despite his performance, Mayock is done calling NFL game action this season, but he can still be found on the NFL Network. And he might deserve more prominent opportunities in the future.
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