CBS does fake studio update during Texans Titans game Credit: CBS
By Drew Lerner on

The Tennessee Titans have long embraced their roots as the Houston Oilers by wearing the team’s powder blue throwback uniforms. And during Sunday’s game against Houston’s current team — the Texans — things weren’t going so great for the Houston team of yesteryear.

So when CBS play-by-play announcer Tom McCarthy threw to the New York studio for an in-game update shortly after the Texans had gone up 23-6, there was actually no update to be had at all.

“Guys this must be a mistake, but I’m going to do it anyway,” CBS studio analyst and former Texans great JJ Watt began. “We’ve got a HOUSTON Oilers fumble, picked up by the HOUSTON Texans and ran back for a touchdown. And yes, that does appear to be two times in-a-row that the Houston Oilers uniforms have been worn against the Houston Texans, and the Texans happen to be 2-0 while wearing them.”

Yes. Under the guise of a studio update showing the Texans returning a Titans fumble for a touchdown that had occurred just moments earlier, Watt took an opportunity to skewer the Titans for co-opting Houston’s football history for themselves. It was perfectly executed, perhaps even to the point where some fans thought this was a genuine mistake.

But this was no mistake. This was Watt standing up for the franchise he spent ten seasons in uniform for. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year seemed to confirm as much on social media, simply replying to the clip with a sly smile.

[Awful Announcing on X]

About Drew Lerner

Drew Lerner is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and an aspiring cable subscriber. He previously covered sports media for Sports Media Watch. Future beat writer for the Oasis reunion tour.

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