Russell Wilson’s first game back in Seattle was always going to be ripe for prime storytelling moments, and Monday Night Football gave it all the grandeur it deserved.
From Wilson’s spectacular pregame fit to the chorus of boos that rained down upon him while taking the field, the drama surrounding this meeting between the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos was off the charts. And ESPN knew it too, as they turned Wilson’s first snap against his former team into a masterclass in broadcasting.
After the Seahawks scored a touchdown on their opening drive, Wilson took to the field for his first bit of game action. From the moment Wilson’s feet hit the turf to the incomplete pass bouncing off the hands of tight end Andrew Beck, ESPN’s crew of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman were silent as the Seattle crowd told the story.
Booed once again pic.twitter.com/kbUEUfAK57
— alex (@highlghtheaven) September 13, 2022
That’s as good as it gets right there from two industry pros. Buck and Aikman sitting the call out as the Seattle crowd jeered its former quarterback of 10 years then roared as the pass fell incomplete made for a powerful, unforgettable moment of television.
NFL fans loved Monday Night Football letting the crowd tell the story of Russell Wilson’s first snap
Joe Buck is so good at what he does. That entire first play for Russell Wilson on offense, he just stayed quiet & let the crowd noise take over. Masterful.
— Tom Harder (@tomharder01) September 13, 2022
From the second the return ended, Joe Buck didn’t say a word: through Wilson entering the field, leaving the huddle. He waited until the first play was over to give any commentary, letting the pictures and roar of the crowd tell the story.
Brilliant work of broadcasting.
— Jack Kreuzer (@JackKreuzer) September 13, 2022
Masterclass in PxP by @buck to let the moment speak for itself when Russell Wilson took the field for the first time.
— Phil Fortaleza (@philfortaleza) September 13, 2022
What Joe buck and Troy just did is why they are the best , that first play and sequence into the second , and they continue while Wilson is under center …. What is it you ask, nothing, ABSOLUTELY nothing , letting the viewer take in the sound
— Alex Simeone (@AlexSim7) September 13, 2022
Why Joe Buck is a pro: He didn’t say a word when Wilson took the field or during that first play. He let the crowd noise/boos tell the story. A good example of a broadcaster getting out of the way.
— Vic Vela (@VicVela1) September 13, 2022
Joe Buck letting Russell Wilson’s first snap be the sounds of Lumen Field is an All-Pro PxP move. Loved every second of it
— Bozzles (@Bozzles28) September 13, 2022
People hate Joe Buck and I don’t know why. He’s so damn good. Not a word spoken when Russell Wilson just took the field, allows the fans at home to hear nothing but the loud boos.
— Green 19 Packers (@Green19Packers) September 13, 2022
Classy and veteran move by Joe Buck to go silent for Russell Wilson's first play against his former team in his former stadium and let the insane wall of sound from the Seattle crowd do the talking. #MNF #DENvsSEA
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 13, 2022
Good move by Joe Buck. Wilson lined up for his first play as #Broncos QB. He let the crowd do the talking, Nice to let the game breathe. #seahawks
— JonDeSanctisSXMNFL (@JDSXMNFL) September 13, 2022
You know a TV crew is legendary when they go silent in a moment like Russ Wilson back in Seattle and let you listen to the crowd for 60 seconds. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are exactly that.
— The Real McCoy (@BenMcCoy13) September 13, 2022
