For three quarters, or until Sunday's Bucs romp over Atlanta turned dull, Fox's No. 1 crew of Joe Buck, Cris Collinsworth and Troy Aikman showed why they are the best in the business.
The play-calling was crisp, the analysis right on for the most part, and the three were laugh-out-loud funny at times.
That's all we ask.
Clearly, Buck takes the play-by-play role to new levels and brings Collinsworth and Aikman with him. He is hip, irreverent and plays a much bigger role than that of a guy just telling us what happened. He tells us why, almost always in a way your average sports fan can appreciate and laugh at.
Bravo, Fox.
Some other thoughts and observations from Sunday's broadcast:
BEST CALL: "Might this be? ... Might this be? ... Uh, nah." - Buck on Aaron Stecker's game-opening kick return, taking a different approach rather than telling viewers how many returns the Bucs have had without a touchdown (which he did afterward).
BEST GRAPHIC: Showing the importance of the 1995 draft, when the Bucs took Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks. Fox compared that draft to other big drafts in history (in 1965 the Bears got Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers, for example).
BEST CONVERSATION: Both Collinsworth and Aikman, a former quarterback, were critical of the refs on Dwight Smith's personal foul for diving at the legs of Falcons quarterback Doug Johnson. Aikman said, "You might as well put the quarterback in a skirt back there."
A few seconds later, Buck wanted to know: "I guess the only question left is what kind of skirt they should put on ... like a tartan plaid?"
That Buck knows what tartan plaid is was enough to raise the eyebrows of his boothmates, who questioned his fashion acumen. Buck looked at the cameras and sheepishly shrugged his shoulders.
As Fox went to commercial, he blurted out, "I want it stated for the record, I have two daughters."
Funny stuff.
MOST OVERUSED LINE: Will a week ever go by when an analyst doesn't refer to Brad Johnson as, essentially, a talentless journeyman who has been reborn under Jon Gruden's tutelage? Aikman said the Bucs quarterback "is not an overly talented guy."
BEST SIDELINE REPORT: See, sideline reporters aren't useless. Pam Oliver provided some insight when she pointed out - and cameras backed it up - that the injured Michael Vick was more attentive to the Falcons' offensive players than Doug Johnson, who stood by himself on the sideline.
TOP SETUP: Sapp played the straight man to the Fox crew, providing laughs with arguably the most humorous touchdown dance in history. Aikman and Collinsworth - who dubbed the dance the Pogo Stick - thought Sapp could have done better.
Again, Oliver in a postgame interview did a nice job finding out exactly what Sapp called it: the Beyonce Crazy in Love, referring to the video for the hit song.
"And to that, I have nothing to add," Oliver quipped.
BEST CAMERA WORK: The Fly Fox isn't the best for live game action, though it's not bad, but it's especially effective on kick returns, giving viewers a good look at the open lanes.
BEST CRITIQUE: Many viewers find Collinsworth to be mean and whiny, but when he's right, he's right.
"A pretty embarrassing performance by the Falcons today to come out here and get totally spanked," he said.
Collinsworth always has strong opinions, preferable in an analyst. To wit: The Bucs really need to sign Sapp, Doug Johnson killed his free-agent marketability with a "terrible" performance, and Vick's injury "sucked the life out of the (Atlanta) organization.
"They were pretty exciting to watch. Now ... they're just a pretty average football team."
