Joe Buck responds to ESPN broadcast criticism
Monday Night Football took an unexpected turn during the Chiefs-Broncos matchup, with a technical issue briefly disrupting ESPN’s coverage. As the broadcast continued, another on-air moment involving Joe Buck sparked discussion among viewers.
With Patrick Mahomes and Bo Nix returning to the field and a memorable performance unfolding, there was plenty for fans to talk about. Here’s a closer look at what happened during the broadcast and why Buck’s comments and calls became part of the conversation.
Buck acknowledges the interruption
Buck spoke about the audio loss when the telecast returned for the second quarter. He said the broadcast had lost audio at the end of the first quarter during the humid night in Kansas City.
Troy Aikman responded during the exchange, and the broadcast resumed its normal play-by-play coverage. The comments came after viewers had posted online about the loss of sound during the game.
Viewers reported the sound issue
Social media users quickly posted that they had lost audio during the ESPN broadcast. Some viewers said they initially wondered whether the problem involved their televisions or their own equipment.
Posts also criticized ESPN and the broadcast team during the disruption. Those comments came from individual viewers online and did not represent an official measurement of the full Monday Night Football audience.
The broadcast team faced criticism
Buck and Aikman also drew online criticism during the Chiefs-Broncos telecast. The reactions included comments about the announcing team as viewers discussed the technical problem and other moments from the broadcast.
The criticism was separate from the confirmed audio interruption itself. ESPN’s broadcast continued after the temporary problem, with Buck and Aikman remaining on the call alongside sideline reporter Lisa Salters.
Buck misidentified Troy Franklin
Another moment involving Buck occurred in the second quarter when he referred to Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin as Tony Franklin. The error happened during a play in which Franklin received a handoff on a jet sweep.
Buck corrected the name almost immediately during the broadcast. The mistake nevertheless became another subject of social media discussion while viewers continued following the Monday night telecast.
The mistake came during a major opener
Franklin’s name error occurred during a Week 1 matchup between AFC West rivals. Kansas City entered the game against Denver as both teams opened the 2026 regular season on national television.
The matchup also featured the return of quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Bo Nix after injuries ended their previous seasons. That made the game an early storyline surrounding ESPN’s Monday Night Football coverage.
Mahomes returned against Denver
Mahomes returned to the starting lineup for Kansas City after recovering from the knee injury he suffered during the 2025 season. He opened the game with a 15-yard rushing touchdown on the Chiefs’ first offensive series.
Mahomes later threw touchdown passes to Rashee Rice and Kenneth Walker III. He finished with 184 passing yards, 2 touchdown passes and 1 interception while adding 23 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Nix also returned for Denver
Nix returned as Denver’s starting quarterback after an injury ended his 2025 season. He completed 17 of 28 passes for 131 yards, one touchdown and one interception against Kansas City.
Nix also lost a fumble during the game. His touchdown pass went to tight end Evan Engram, who finished with four receptions for 43 yards in Denver’s 31-10 loss.
Interesting fact: Buck has acknowledged that social-media criticism is part of the job. In an April 2026 interview, he discussed how criticism has affected him over his broadcasting career and said he eventually learned that not everyone would like him.
Kansas City controlled the second half
The Chiefs entered halftime with a 14-7 lead after touchdowns from Mahomes and Rice. Kansas City then expanded the margin after halftime as its running game produced major plays against Denver.
Kenneth Walker III scored on a 60-yard run in the third quarter and later caught a 2-yard touchdown pass. Walker finished with 173 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 18 receiving yards and another score.
Interesting fact: Buck recently agreed to a six-year ESPN extension reportedly worth $108 million, according to The Athletic as reported by Reuters.
Kansas City won
Kansas City defeated Denver 31-10 in the first Monday night game of the 2026 season. The Chiefs finished with 392 total yards and limited Denver to 176 total yards in the victory.
The result gave Kansas City a 1-0 record and Denver an 0-1 mark. The Chiefs next host the Indianapolis Colts, while the Broncos are scheduled to visit the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2.
ESPN entered a major NFL season
The Chiefs-Broncos game opened ESPN’s 2026 Monday Night Football coverage during the network’s first Super Bowl season. ESPN announced that Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters and Laura Rutledge would again lead its Monday Night Football presentation.
The network is scheduled to carry its first Super Bowl in February 2027. ESPN also expanded its NFL portfolio this season, with 28 games plus Super Bowl LXI and additional NFL programming.
Buck and Aikman remain ESPN’s lead duo
Buck and Aikman entered the 2026 season as ESPN’s lead Monday Night Football booth. ESPN says the pair began working together in 2002 and have called more than 300 regular-season games and over 40 playoff matchups.
Their partnership includes Super Bowls and conference championship games. Buck became ESPN’s Monday Night Football play-by-play announcer in 2022 after the network signed him and Aikman to multi-year agreements.
The internet is also talking about Kay Adams’ early Super Bowl prediction getting brutally rejected by NFL fans.
The broadcast drew attention beyond the glitch
The audio failure was not the only broadcast moment discussed after Monday night’s game. Buck’s incorrect name for Troy Franklin also circulated online, adding another separate topic to the viewer conversation.
Meanwhile, the game produced major NFL storylines, including Mahomes’ return and Walker’s 173-yard debut. ESPN’s next Monday Night Football telecast will continue the network’s 2026 season coverage as the NFL enters Week 2.
In other news, Dak Prescott faces fan criticism after Cowboys’ first loss of the season.
What did you think of Joe Buck’s comments and the broadcast issues during Monday Night Football? Like this slideshow and comment with your take on the audio problem and Buck’s Troy Franklin mix-up.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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