Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth have the best broadcast booth in the NFL right now. That is the surprise finding after the Chicago Bears capped a historic three-game prime-time run with a win over the Seattle Seahawks. While the team fought for the W on the field, the network crews fought for viewer ratings in the booth. A new analysis from the Chicago Sun-Times ranks the three teams calling these games, and NBC took the number one spot.
This streak marks the first time since at least 2000 that the Bears played three straight prime-time regular-season games. The run ends on Sunday, Nov. 8, with a home matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Chicago Sun-Times writer noted that NBC saved the best for last in this lineup. Tirico stands out as the best play-by-play broadcaster in the business. Even though his role is national, he gives the impression of having called games for your team for years. His ability to recall huge amounts of info at the perfect time is uncanny.
The Best Call of the Season
Tirico made a specific play memorable during the recent playoff game against the Rams. Cole Kmet catching a pass from Caleb Williams in the last thirty seconds sparked an electric moment. The Sun-Times writer quoted the moment directly: “They’ve done it again! Unbelievable! … I don’t believe this team.” That energy is exactly what fans want to hear on Sunday night. Collinsworth backs him up with a football IQ that is off the charts. He maintains an excellent connection with Tirico and occasionally offers a witty remark.
Not everyone loves Collinsworth, as there is even an “I hate Cris Collinsworth” Facebook page. But the Chicago Sun-Times report says his analysis helps the broadcast. The other booths have issues. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman on ESPN are dealing with a public split after 25 years together. Aikman will be a free agent after the season. Al Michaels on Prime Video brings gravitas but lacks the speed and emotion of the NBC crew.
Offense Built for Long Drives
The Bears offense is winning and controlling the clock like a veteran team. Windy City Gridiron reports the team averages 35 minutes and 26 seconds in time of possession. This stat is huge because it keeps the opposing offense off the field. On Monday night, the Bears ran a 17-play, 80-yard opening drive against Seattle that took 8:32 off the clock. That is a massive chunk of time to burn in a single quarter.
Caleb Williams said the team practiced these long drives all summer. During training camp and OTAs, the offense focused on sustaining drives, a point he highlighted. “We do these long-drive drills in training camp and OTAs that you hate, that you dread at the end of practice,” he said. “They show up in big moments for us.” Head coach Ben Johnson prefers explosive plays but admits the team is well-prepared to execute extended drives. Johnson said, “It’s not something we stress,” regarding drive length, but he wants explosive plays mixed in to take the pressure off.
Third-down efficiency is the key to this control. Converting 44.3% of third downs, the Bears hold the fifth-best rate across the NFL. With only 23.8% of third downs converted, their defense stands as the league’s No. 1 ranked unit. This dominance on both sides of the ball allows Chicago to dictate the tempo. The team faces a tough Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad on Sunday. Having secured victories in three of their last four outings, the Bucs boast the league’s best defense. The Bears must keep their drives alive to win this game and finish the prime-time streak at 3-0.
