Let's call a spade a spade: the Dolphins' 34-13 win over the Jets Friday was hardly compelling television.
New York kept it close in the first half, and it briefly seemed like the game would go halftime with Miami up 10-6. However, Dolphins safety Jevon Holland changed the tenor of the game by picking off a Hail Mary attempt and taking it the distance. Most of the second half was academic as Miami moved to 8-3 on the season.
This cleared the way for Amazon play-by-play announcer Al Michaels to regale viewers with an oblique reference to Hall of Fame running back and ex-convict O.J. Simpson.
Al Michaels sneaks in an O.J. Simpson reference before the end of the broadcast. pic.twitter.com/rHUaJlEtOI
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 24, 2023
As Jets quarterback Tim Boyle airmailed a pass into double coverage, Michaels recalled working the 49ers' 38-16 win over the Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX on Jan. 20, 1985.
"By the way, you should know I did the pregame, halftime and postgame of that Super Bowl at Stanford Stadium," Michaels said.
"You covered it all," color commentator Kirk Herbstreit interjected.
"My analysts were (Cowboys coach) Tom Landry and O.J. Simpson," Michaels said, adding "yes, sir, there you have it" after a beat.
Herbstreit deftly sidestepped the reference to a player NFL figures rarely discuss, instead inviting Michaels to expand on his memories of Landry's brief television foray.
