NFL broadcasts have evolved in recent years thanks to the inclusion of higher-tech equipment and sound-capturing devices that help to make fans feel more like they are on the field while watching their favorite teams in action.
That said, Amazon Prime’s broadcast of “Thursday Night Football” in Week 9 may have given fans a bit too much of a glimpse into what was happening on the field.
Late in the second quarter, Amazon’s broadcast appeared to capture audio of Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada calling the entirety of a third-and-goal play call. It could be heard faintly before play-by-play man Al Michaels set the scene for the play.
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Have a listen:
And your Steelers play call #Steelers pic.twitter.com/TKI0tQguOb
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) November 3, 2023
Again, the audio of Canada’s play call was hardly obvious; still, many listening to the broadcast could at least make out his saying “61 Steeler on Tuesday.” Thus, it’s natural that the Steelers could be upset about the call being leaked.
Sure, it didn’t affect the game at hand. After all, it was being broadcast on a streaming serving, so by the time the audio may have been available to any Titans personnel, the play would have already happened.
And the play itself didn’t end up being a good one. Quarterback Kenny Pickett tried to connect with veteran receiver Allen Robinson in the end zone but ultimately missed him low.
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So, what’s the issue? Well, opposing defenses scouting the Steelers could use that call to figure out some of the verbiage in Pittsburgh’s offense. That could help to give them a competitive advantage over the Steelers — if Pittsburgh doesn’t make minor changes in wake of this leak.
The Steelers haven’t yet commented on Amazon’s, and they seem unlikely to do so publicly.
But rest assured that the NFL will likely give Amazon a reminder that play calls shouldn’t be captured by hot mics going forward. Those can be saved for the broadcasts of the joint-venture USFL and XFL spring league in 2024.
Author(s)
Jacob Camenker is a senior content producer at The Sporting News.
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