Troy Aikman and Joe Buck proved once again why they’re the best NFL booth duo during ABC/ESPN’s coverage of the Chiefs’ 23-14 AFC divisional playoff win over the Texans. The former Cowboys superstar was blunt in his criticism of Patrick Mahomes, calling out the quarterback for flopping on several occasions.
Aikman summed up the disgust of many fans and media observers at Mahomes’ theatrics, saying “That’s been the frustration… he slows down” to draw a penalty. He also defended the officials for not throwing flags after two questionable calls earlier in the game.
The criticism from Aikman echoed what many fans have been saying about the league’s handling of flopping. The former quarterback emphasized that quarterbacks can’t just “run around and play games with defenders” and expect to draw penalties.
Aikman’s honesty was praised by his colleague Ryan Glasspiegel, who texted him after the game: “Troy really has become America’s conscience.” The duo also provided humor, chortling over a Chiefs punter running out of bounds for a safety at the end of the game.
The performance from Aikman and Buck serves as a warning to other NFL broadcasters. As Tom Brady prepares to call Super Bowl LIX on February 9, it’s clear that he must be able to speak honestly about officiating calls if he wants to build credibility with viewers. Meanwhile, ESPN missed an opportunity to showcase the Boyd situation that generated national coverage.
Overall, Aikman and Buck proved why they’re trusted to call six Super Bowl telecasts during their partnership at Fox. If their performance in this game is a preview of their ESPN debut after 2026, then the network will be just fine.
Source: https://frontofficesports.com/espns-aikman-calls-foul-on-mahomes-for-flopping