Prime broadcast misses touchdown call due to commercial break

While sports fans often debate the outcomes of replay reviews, they all share a desire to know the final decision. This is particularly crucial when the review involves a potential scoring play.

During Thursday night’s preseason game between the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals, viewers experienced an unusual lapse in this area on Amazon’s Prime Video broadcast.

In the early part of the fourth quarter, Colts quarterback Jason Bean scrambled towards the end zone and dove head-first, extending the ball toward the goal line. The officials ruled him down by contact, resulting in a fourth down. However, replays suggested that the ball might have crossed the plane before Bean’s knee touched the ground. Colts coach Shane Steichen challenged the play.

It’s common for a game to go to commercial during a replay review. Generally, this isn’t an issue as long as the broadcast resumes before the result is announced.

This time, however, things didn’t go as expected.

When the broadcast returned from the commercial break, viewers discovered from the play-by-play announcer Al Michaels that the decision had been overturned and Bean’s run had been ruled a touchdown. Michaels quipped, “While you were out in the kitchen, the Colts scored.”

The next Prime Video broadcast is set for Week 2’s Thursday night game between the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins. Hopefully, preseason is also a time for the broadcast team and officials to iron out any glitches.

Source: Awful Announcing