NFL Films, established in 1962 by the dearly departed Ed Sabol and grown by his son, the late Steve Sabol, has long been documenting and chronicling the NFL. Going back to the days of the dramatic narration of John Facenda, the production conglomerate has been building the mystique and popularity of the NFL for decades.
One particular NFL Films production remains a stalwart for serious NFL fans: ESPN’s NFL Matchup, which previews the upcoming week’s NFL games with a deep dive into the X’s and O’s, alignments, and play scheming.
NFL Matchup truly is an exercise in film study, as if you were in the bowels of Soldier Field, running an 8-millimeter reel, game-planning to beat the Packers, and smoking a stogie with George Halas. The December 20 edition of the show was hosted by Dan Graziano, with ex-NFL cornerback/safety Darius Butler and NFL Films Senior Producer Greg Cosell as analysts.
Let’s start with Graziano, a guy who has definitely staked his claim to a key position in the ESPN talent lineup. Graziano has done an excellent job as a contributing guest on numerous ESPN programs. In addition, he has done solid work as a fill-in host on Get Up.
Graziano is a reporter at heart, and these chops come through with his insight and bent toward breaking news. He is also a sturdy commentator, able to delve into game plans and analysis. Graziano is to ESPN what Dan Aykroyd, Phil Hartman, and Bill Hader were to Saturday Night Live—a versatile football media everyman, outstanding in any role on any program in any format using any style.
NFL Matchup employs team-supplied footage to give fans a coach’s view of the upcoming games. Defensive and offensive schemes are expertly dissected by Butler and Cosell. NFL Matchup doesn’t just tell fans what happened; it shows fans why it happened.
This is not a glossy, glitzy show cluttered with hot takes and surface opinions. On the contrary, it’s about looking at the game from a schematic and pragmatic standpoint. NFL Matchup teaches the viewer and often uncovers previously unseen perspectives on NFL players, matchups, and teams.
On this edition, Butler provided a tremendous breakdown of the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense. He clearly showed how that phase of the team, led by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, has carried the club given their sluggish and inconsistent offense.
Butler has become a familiar face to ESPN viewers as a regular on The Pat McAfee Show, but I always feel like he is underutilized on that program with all of the different personalities and voices. On NFL Matchup, Butler steps to center stage, and his football acumen shines brightly in the spotlight.
Cosell is the nephew of iconic and legendary sportscaster Howard Cosell, but his on-air persona could not be more different from that of his uncle. Howard Cosell had an absolutely gigantic personality. He filled the screen and changed sports television forever. Cosell mimics and wannabes have filled the airwaves for decades, but none have ever come close to the genuine article.
Greg Cosell has carried on his uncle’s impact on the NFL, but in a more cerebral and analytical manner. He is quiet and unassuming, yet still enjoyable to watch because he truly loves football. Cosell is the ultimate football film rat. He revels in the mechanics and mindful aspects of the game. His meticulous preparation and keen knowledge have also made him a popular recurring contributor to FS1’s The Herd with Colin Cowherd.
Cosell provides a much-needed breath of fresh air from today’s loud and boisterous sports commentators. He is refined and rational—a true veteran of the industry both in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
Graziano, Butler, and Cosell made a nice team on this particular episode of NFL Matchup, but the heart and ethos of the show don’t change with various personalities, including the regulars: ESPN reporter/icon Sal Paolantonio and ex-NFL’er Matt Bowen. The show sticks to its credo, looking beyond the headlines and social media profiles and into the guts of the game.
Using effective graphics, the show highlights and isolates key positions on the field and delineates each player’s responsibility in a particular offensive or defensive scheme. It’s not just Football 101; it’s Football 2.0—a higher level of learning, loving, and living the game.
Coming back from the first break, Graziano, Butler, and Cosell left the anchor desk and did a standup segment focusing on the San Francisco 49ers’ offense. Cosell said that Niners’ head coach Kyle Shanahan is one of those coaches who brings unique schemes to the field not only every year, but every week, making his team difficult to defend.
Butler and Cosell make statements and then show video of games and plays, bringing those statements to life. They do use a lot of football jargon and lingo, but not in an exclusive or haughty manner. They always take the time to fully explain the language in a clear and understandable way.
NFL Matchup is not a show that is beyond the scope of a true football fan. On the contrary, it is actually a football love-in for fans who cannot get enough of the game and want to know and learn more about it.
I really like the mix with this triumvirate of talent. Graziano is the ringleader and host who sets the pace. Darius Butler gives you that upscale, intelligent, player’s perspective, and Cosell is a true scheme analyst—a guy who has seen the game literally for generations, working for one of the most respected outlets of all time. It makes for a fascinating program.
NFL Matchup provided a tremendous preview of the Week 16 games, many of which had playoff implications. A lot of what they said played out in the actual contests from this past weekend.
One such tilt was NBC’s Sunday Night Football matchup between the Patriots and Ravens. In previewing the game, Butler used the word “explosive” several times, saying that both the Ravens’ defense and Patriots’ offense needed to open it up and heighten the intensity. Both perspectives proved prophetic, as Baltimore forced New England QB Drake Maye into a fumble and an interception in the first half, while Maye hit on numerous deep passes to several different receivers to earn the 28-24 comeback win.
As the show continued, Butler gave a nice look at the intricacies of the Jaguars’ offense, while Cosell talked about the growth and development of Caleb Williams as the Bears’ quarterback.
NFL Matchup airs Saturdays on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+ as well as ESPN On Demand. One disclaimer: if you want to hear a bunch of dudes screaming, self-promoting, and showcasing themselves, this is not your show. The strength of NFL Matchup is that the participants don’t just talk the talk; they chalk the chalk, if you will, albeit with a big-screen TV instead of a blackboard.
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John Molori is a weekly columnist for Barrett Sports Media. He has previously contributed to ESPNW, Patriots Football Weekly, Golf Content Network, Methuen Life Magazine, and wrote a syndicated Media Blitz column in the New England region, which was published by numerous outlets including The Boston Metro, Providence Journal, Lowell Sun, and the Eagle-Tribune. His career also includes fourteen years in television as a News and Sports Reporter, Host, Producer working for Continental Cablevision, MediaOne, and AT&T. He can be reached on Twitter @MoloriMedia.
