The NFL Network/ESPN production of the Houston Texans-Jacksonville Jaguars game from London on Sunday morning left a lot to be desired in the second half.
It started late in the third quarter, when the broadcast cut away from a Jaguars kick return that at first appeared to be a fumble recovered by the Texans, and was initially called as such on the field. But instead of keeping the broadcast focused on what was unfolding with the apparent turnover, NFL Network cut directly to a Jaguars highlight package, even as play-by-play announcer Bob Wischusen questioned if the ball would be headed back to the Texans.
The NFL Network broadcast went to highlights of the previous drive as the Texans were recovering a Jaguars fumble on a kickoff return (the runner was ruled down-by-contact after review). https://t.co/vwYJjKBW96
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 18, 2026
Eventually, the broadcast cut back to the field as Wischusen declared “that’s a fumble, and the Texans recover!” The call would ultimately be overturned as the Jaguars’ returner was down-by-contact before the fumble, but the sequence was a harbinger of things to come.
Perhaps the most consequential gaffes came late in the fourth quarter as the Texans possessed the ball inside the Jaguars’ 10-yard line up 31-28 with under five minutes remaining. A touchdown would almost seal the deal, while settling for a field goal would give the Jaguars life.
On first-and-goal, the Texans ran an end-around play that completely fooled the camera operator. By itself, that’s not a big deal. Those types of mistakes happen occasionally. But on the very next play, the camera operator made the same exact mistake. The camera shot followed a play-fake to the Texans running back while quarterback CJ Stroud kept the ball, rolling out of the pocket to the opposite side of the field. When Stroud let loose, his throw was picked off by Jaguars cornerback Travis Hunter, which was completely missed on the broadcast.
The NFL Network/ESPN production is having a rough one for the Texans-Jaguars game in London.
Shoddy camerawork misses consecutive goal-line plays late in the fourth quarter, capped off by a Travis Hunter interception in the end zone.
https://t.co/icJAk5XTrK
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 18, 2026
Perhaps this is simply some growing pains as the NFL Network-ESPN partnership continues to get its sea legs. But the production quality of these Sunday morning International Series games will continue to be examined in the coming weeks, with NFL Network scheduled to air games in both Week 7 and Week 9.
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