Thursday Night Football brought plenty of football discussion before the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons took the field, but one broadcast moment became a bigger talking point.
Ryan Fitzpatrick 's attempt at humor involving Michael Penix Jr . did not land well with many viewers. The reaction also reopened complaints about Fitzpatrick's on-air style and how much comedy belongs in an NFL analysis segment.
Penix's name has been the subject of jokes since he entered the NFL, including a past broadcast typo and heckling from fans.
Against that backdrop, Fitzpatrick's joke during the Thursday Night Football coverage drew criticism from viewers who wanted the panel to focus on football rather than revisit the same material.
One fan questioned the entire Prime Video group, writing on X , "I think this Thursday Night Football lineup is the worst in the NFL. Ryan Fitzpatrick tries too hard to be funny. Richard Sherman thinks he's a comedian. They are awful."
That reaction was followed by a more specific complaint about the segment.
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Another viewer wrote , "I hate that sports analyst panels try to be funny. The Fitzpatrick 'Haha penix is close to (explicit)' thing was so forced. This panel is good at analysis; just do that!"
The criticism was not limited to the particular joke. Some viewers also took issue with Fitzpatrick's broader television persona. One fan bluntly wrote , "Ryan Fitzpatrick is such a tool."
Another viewer made a similar point about Fitzpatrick's energy on the show, writing , "Ryan Fitzpatrick is validating what I've been saying too much; he needs to chill"
The criticism then turned toward whether Fitzpatrick's approach should affect his role on the broadcast. One fan wrote , "Yes, time to start looking for a new job, Fitzmagic"
One reaction brought Charissa Thompson into the discussion, with a viewer writing , "Not only that, but Charissa Thompson looked mad uncomfortable."
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The reactions came during a game that marked Penix's return to the Falcons lineup after he missed the start of the 2026 season while recovering from a torn ACL.
Green Bay scored first through Jordan Love , but Atlanta held a 17-7 lead at the half that extended to 24-7 at the time of writing, behind its rushing attack, led by Bijan Robinson .
Prime Video's broadcast booth featured Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit, while Thompson hosted the studio coverage with Fitzpatrick, Tony Gonzalez, Richard Sherman, and Andrew Whitworth among the analysts.
The network's coverage also included Kaylee Hartung, Terry McAulay, and Taylor Rooks in additional roles.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
