The TNF broadcast of the Browns-Steelers Week 12 matchup featured a significant amount of snow, which quickly became of topic of its own. Photo Credit: Prime Video Photo Credit: Prime Video
AmazonNFLBy Reice Shipley on

Viewers at home got their first glimpse of snowy conditions in the NFL this season in the Thursday Night Football matchup between the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers. And thanks to the TNF broadcast team on the call of the game, the game felt like a special one where the elements were a significant talking point of their own.

Throughout the first half, the weather was relatively calm, with small flurries sporadically coming in and out. But by the time the second half started, the snow showers ramped up in a hurry in a game that made the game feel like a classic AFC North matchup.

Loyal Browns fans never wavered throughout the second half. Especially not those who remained shirtless as snow showers came down harder and harder, which Al Michaels simply couldn’t believe.

“I don’t know, man. You gotta be out of your…  I think you’re out of your mind,” said Michaels as a shirtless Browns fan was shown on the broadcast.

“Or you tailgated a lot all day,” added Kirk Herbstreit.

“Nonstop for the Cleveland clinic after this,” joked Michaels.

Near the end of the third quarter, conditions got so bad that it was hard for viewers at home to see if Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell had even made a 28-yard field goal attempt, which did happen to go through the uprights.

“Boswell’s kick, if you can find it, is good. I don’t know. I don’t know, I lost sight of it. Somebody had a GPS on it,” said Al Michaels on the call of the kick attempt.

Luckily for those tuning in the game, people behind the scenes of the broadcast were very well prepared for when conditions got to their worst, putting in virtual yard lines so that it was extremely clear where the ball was on the field despite the field being completely covered in snow.

At every point, the TNF broadcast was focused on how the weather was impacting the game on the field, even showing a shot of Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins heating his foot on the sideline in preparation for potentially having to kick an impactful kick in the fourth quarter.

Hopkins’ field goal attempt would never end up happening, however, as the Browns would take a 24-19 lead they would not relinquish after a touchdown run from Nick Chubb with 57 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter in a game that truly felt like a classic AFC North matchup that fit the theme of the snow-filled setting at Huntington Bank Field.

After the game, Browns quarterback Jameis Winston, who is never shy to show his emotions on camera, clearly couldn’t have been more thrilled to come away with the win. He celebrated the win in the best way any player in a snow-filled game could do, diving headfirst into the snow and doing snow angels along with the TNF studio crew.

Even after he was done talking with the studio team, Winston was captured talking about how much he loves to snow to Browns staffers.

“Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow,” yelled Winston. The Cleveland Browns got some more wins baby! Let’s get it!”

From the broadcast to the game on the field to the energy from the fans in attendance to postgame, Thursday Night Football delivered a great product in Week 12. And while it sometimes feels as if snow can ruin a football game, it almost felt like it made this one even better.

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About Reice Shipley

Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.

View all posts by Reice Shipley