Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth crack up as ‘only the Jets’ sequence becomes TD

When someone says “only the Jets,” it usually means something bad has happened to the New York Jets. Only the Jets can have a butt fumble. Only the Jets can throw a pick-six and on an end-of-half Hail Mary. But during Week 7’s Sunday Night Football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, an “only the Jets” sequence couldn’t have worked out any better for Gang Green.

And it cracked up Mike Tirico and Cris Collinworth, calling the game on NBC.

Leading 7-6, the Jets faced a second-and-goal from the three-yard line. Running back Breece took the handoff and while it initially looked like he’d be stopped at the line of scrimmage, he kept moving toward the goal line before he was eventually brought down. Replays showed that he might have actually crossed the plane and coach Jeff Ulbrich wanted to challenge the play. There was only one problem. As Ulbrich tried to throw the challenge flag, he dropped it. But as Tirico and Collinsworth quickly noted, that didn’t end up being a big problem.

“He is gonna challenge; he dropped the flag before he could throw it,” Tirico said of Ulbrich. “So (Aaron Rodgers) instead runs the play. And it’s a touchdown to (Tyler) Conklin…Jeff Ulbich dropped the flag as he was trying to throw it.”

Mike Tirico: He (Jets coach Jeff Ulbrich) is gonna challenge. He dropped the flag before he could throw it. And it’s a touchdown to Conklin.

Cris Collinsworth: Oh, my goodness. The best play of his coaching career so far. pic.twitter.com/dLbTzwHvVo

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 21, 2024

Referee Shawn Smith then confirmed what Tirico said. Ulbrich did eventually throw the challenge flag but by that point, it was too late.

“Oh, my goodness. The best play of his coaching career so far,” a laughing Collinsworth said.

The broadcast then showed a camera angle that was focused on Ulbrich and the New York bench.

“That saved the Jets,” Collinsworth said. “That may turn the season of the New York Jets. Ah, only the Jets.”

Collinsworth: That saved the Jets. That may turn the season of the New York Jets. Ah, only the Jets. https://t.co/epo2YPQjyR pic.twitter.com/IMd8xYMSTI

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 21, 2024

To be fair, the Jets may well have won the challenge if Ulbrich had managed to throw the challenge flag without fumbling.

For those who missed it, THIS was the *actual* play that coach Jeff Ulbrich wanted to challenge. pic.twitter.com/CUkFqgUqjI

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 21, 2024

And even if New York lost the challenge, a third-and-goal from inside the one-yard line is probably a reasonable bet, more often than not.

But the Jets winning a challenge is hypothetical, as was scoring after an unsuccessful challenge. The touchdown they scored was not.

[Photo Credit: NBC]