NBC's Cris Collinsworth Faces NFL Bias Accusations Over Bills-Ravens Commentary

During the Week 1 Sunday Night Football game between the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens, NBC commentator Cris Collinsworth sparked controversy for his perceived bias and comments. Collinsworth was criticized for seemingly favoring Bills quarterback Josh Allen, including repeatedly bringing up Allen's wife, actress Hailee Steinfeld, and praising Allen's performance while downplaying other players’ contributions. Fans also took issue with Collinsworth's comment regarding an incident where Lamar Jackson shoved a Bills fan who had struck him first, with Collinsworth stating both parties were at fault, which many viewers found unfair to Jackson. The game featured a dramatic Bills comeback led by Allen, who rallied his team from a 15-point deficit to win 41-40, reinforcing his status as the reigning NFL MVP. Collinsworth's commentary on the MVP debate and his enthusiastic support for Allen over Lamar Jackson further fueled fan backlash, as did his comparison of Allen’s playmaking to that of Patrick Mahomes. The combination of perceived partiality and off-topic remarks about Allen's personal life led to widespread criticism from NFL fans on social media.