The broadcaster jinx showed up early in Sunday night's game between the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings as young quarterback JJ McCarthy threw an interception.
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The moment occurred as the Vikings offense prepared for a second-and-four in the first quarter. Play-by-play man Mike Tirico pointed to McCarthy's stats from a 31-0 win over the Commanders, and he specifically pointed to the quarterback avoiding a turnover.
"Here are the numbers against Washington," Tirico said. "Best he's done. That was the first time, Cris (Collinsworth), in his seven-game NFL career, he didn't throw an interception in a game."
"A lot of people started breathing again in Minnesota because of it," Collinsworth joked as McCarthy broke the huddle and headed to the line of scrimmage. The Vikings' quarterback then dropped back and immediately threw an interception.
Mike Tirico: "That was the first time, Cris, in his 7-game NFL career, he didn't throw an interception..."
Cris Collinsworth: "A lot of people started breathing again in Minnesota because of it."
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Mike Tirico: "First throw of the night... Intercepted!" 🏈🪄🎙️ #NFL #SNF https://t.co/OzDI6pLdRi pic.twitter.com/m6k0qHSEFd
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 15, 2025
This was not a standard interception on a bad throw. McCarthy attempted to a pass to the right side of the field, but Dallas defender Donovan Wilson batted the ball into the air.
McCarthy tried to knock the ball down, but he sent it in the direction of Cowboys lineman Quinnen Williams. The former Jet intercepted the pass and set the Cowboys offense up on the 35-yard line.
The Cowboys ultimately scored a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead, but McCarthy recovered to help lead the Vikings to the 34-26 win. He threw for a career-high 250 yards and he accounted for three total touchdowns.
This broadcaster jinx is far from the only example featuring NBC Sports and Collinsworth, in particular. Back in 2017, he perfectly set up a turnover from Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler.
Collinsworth spent time during the Broncos-Patriots game talking about Osweiler's fundamentals and the work being done. He then said that the quarterback looked better and "sharp out here." Collinsworth made this comment as Osweiler threw a pass into double coverage, which Patrick Chung intercepted.
"Right on cue," Al Michaels joked. "...That is the ultimate kibosh." Collinsworth responded by saying that "nobody can do it like I can" in reference to the jinx.
