Weekend Tube Review: 34.5 Million Watch Perfection

By Brian Powell
A Great Number Of You Wanted To See Perfection
One of the biggest stories of the year ended in one of the strangest ways possible. The NFL Network battled cable companies for the duration of the year by not giving up an inch and they had planned on leave one of the most important games of the season almost invisible to the masses. Well that changed late last week and America got to see an amazing game and a great comeback by one of the greatest teams in the history of football.
34.5 million people watched the Patriots pursuit of perfection on Saturday Night on three different networks. Like I mentioned on Friday, CBS came out on top as they averaged 13.7 million viewers that night, and combined with NBC posted an average of 25.4 million.
Hopefully now the world can see how annoying Bryant Gumbel has been to the rest of us who have been watching the NFL Network games all season.
Win And They’re In
With most of the day’s games riddled with backups, the two most important games involved two teams that looked down and out at one point during the season. The Redskins controlled their own destiny and dominated a Cowboys team that played their starting offense into the second half. They will now be heading to Seattle this Saturday (NBC, 4:30pm). Joe Buck and Troy Aikman actually did a pretty good job in breaking down the game and the recent Redskins resurgence.
The AFC playoffs weren’t decided until late last night after Kerry Collins finished off the Colts backups following Vince Young’s hamstring injury. Al and John did their best to stick to the game at hand and not constantly bring up Peyton Manning throughout the contest, which was what I thought was going to happen.
Worst Announcing of the Weekend
I’m not one to get all politically correct on you, but Mike Patrick’s constant mentioning of Britney Spears during broadcasts is getting to be a little too much. Nearing the end of the Champs Sports Bowl, Patrick and his partner Todd Blackledge were inexplicably talking about iPods. Blackledge, joking about a comment Patrick made earlier in the season, asked if Patrick had any Britney Spears on his mp3 player:

Some probably found his “double-wide” comment funny, but it definitely bordered on offensive. Just drop the Spears talk already. She’s about as relevant as the Champs Sports Bowl these days.
Best Quotes From the Weekend’s Telecasts
“He actually ran the stairs with T.J. Duckett, a great NFL player.” - Holly Rowe not realizing that T.J. Duckett has had only one good year in the Pros
“They came from ahead to lose.” - Brad Sham
“A quarterback has to keep his hands in and ride that center.” - Todd Blackledge
“I like the chunky kickers we have in this game.” - Mike Mayock
“Now you know why his teammates call him ‘Sweet Pea’.” - Charles Davis
“He’s got a couple of nicknames. Donny Avery called him a white Michael Vick.” - Mike Mayock
“I think Sweet Pea is a little safer.” - Brad Sham
“He smelled sack and he got sack.” - Chris Spielman
“You noticed something between the two teams Chris. What a dichotomy -- if you know what that means -- between the two teams.” - Rob Stone to Chris Spielman
“That kick just slides by the post and actually hits the flag. You should win a giant stuffed bear for that.” - Brian Balldinger
“From the last time Todd Collins has throw an interception, You, Troy, have thrown 34.” - Joe Buck
“That time Joseph Addai got what you call a real chip. That was chipping off a big, old hunk. It took Vandebosh right down.” - John Madden
“Put him in the woodchipper.” - Al Michaels
“There’s more Colt jerseys at a Colt game than any other stadium.” - John Madden stating the obvious↵