Al Michaels says calling 'dreadful' 'Thursday Night Football' games was like trying to sell 'used car'

close

Video

Fox News Flash top sports headlines for January 13

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

Legendary sports broadcaster Al Michaels just wrapped up his first season calling NFL games for Amazon Prime Video on Thursday nights, and while he spent nearly four decades of his career calling some of the biggest games in the sport, Michaels reflected on some of the lackluster games he was charged with handling. 

During an interview with The Athletic, Michaels, 78, recalled one specific game where fans at home seemingly picked up on his impression of the matchup.

From left, Kirk Herbstreit, Al Michaels and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell speak on stage during Amazon Presentation At 2022 IAB NewFronts in New York City on May 2, 2022. (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Amazon)

"I think I’m to the point in my life and career, having watched sports since I was 6 years old, I feel what the crowd feels," he told the outlet. 

LEGENDARY BROADCASTER AL MICHAELS SUGGESTS WHAT THE NFL ‘WOULD LOVE’ WHEN IT COMES TO DANIEL SNYDER

"The Denver-Indianapolis game [in] Week 4 was a dreadful game. No other way to describe it. No touchdowns. In fact, at one point during the game, I said to [analyst] Kirk [Herbstreit], ‘Is it possible this game could be so bad that it’s actually good?’ He’d never heard that from a partner and went, 'No!'"

During the broadcast, Michaels went on to say the game was "sort of bad" but added during the third quarter, "Who knows? Maybe the game will break out here." 

The Indianapolis Colts went on to immediately disappoint Michaels with a loss of five yards, followed by quarterback Matt Ryan throwing an interception. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"A lot of people said, ‘Al’s bored, Al’s pissed off that he’s doing this.’ Not the case. Monday nights, Sunday night, I did things like this. Maybe not to that degree, but I try to echo the feelings of what the fan feels, because I’m a fan," he told the outlet. 

Chase McLaughlin of the Indianapolis Colts attempts a field goal during an NFL game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High in Denver on Oct. 6, 2022. (Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

Michaels applauded the team at Amazon for supporting him, adding, "I think they understood what this was." 

"We’re making the most of it. I mean, you just can’t oversell something. Do you want me to sell you a 20-year-old Mazda? That’s what you’re asking me to do. I can’t sell you a used car," he continued.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"I’ve kind of gone down that road a little bit in games that have been bad in the past. But this game was horrifically bad. What were you supposed to do at that point? And away I went." 

An Aug. 1, 2011, file photo showing NBC Sports announcer Al Michaels in Beverly Hills, Calif.  (AP/File)

Michaels said he will be "resting" between now and August but not before calling Saturday’s wild-card game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

"I’m looking at this game and thinking this is one of the spotlight games of this weekend," he said.