The CBS Television Network continues its 52^nd year broadcasting the NFL with coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Sept. 18 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY, the Network’s one-hour studio show (12:00 NOON-1:00 PM, ET), live from THE NFL TODAY studio in New York City.

 

THE NFL ON CBS lead announce team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms call the action from the San Diego Chargers-New England Patriots game live from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.  Lance Barrow is the coordinating producer and lead game producer and Mike Arnold is the lead game director.

 

Sean McManus is Chairman, CBS Sports, and serves as Executive Producer of CBS Sports’ coverage of THE NFL ON CBS.  Harold Bryant is Executive Producer and Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

 

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PHIL SIMMS

(On Tom Brady’s 517-yard passing and offense performance vs. Miami): The throwing was borderline exceptional. The game-plan was exceptional and the Patriots looked more dynamic on offense. I know it’s only one week, but Wes Welker looked like he was back to 100% from the time before his injury. Deion Branch looked like a different receiver, which of course has to be a great sign for the Patriots. You have two tight ends who in their second year progressed in two areas; one their performance, and two, how they looked. You can tell they’ve changed from their rookie year. They’re stronger and faster. From an offensive standpoint, the Patriots are in better shape right now than they were last year.

 

(On New England’s Defense):  The bad is they gave up big yards, a lot of plays. Miami did a terrific job. I’m not going to take it away from Miami. Chad Henne hung in there and made a lot of good throws. The positive for the Patriots defense is they hit the quarterback a lot and hard. Chad Henne, who is big and strong, withstood it and still made plays. If they hit the quarterback every week like they did Chad Henne it’s going to result in turnovers and big plays for the Patriots’ defense.

 

(On San Diego): The Chargers are healthy again after last year,  So, where do they match up against the New England Patriots? It’s a chance for them to prove to themselves and to everybody that they can be one of the top three or four elite teams. The thing about San Diego and Philip Rivers is that offensive line is intact. It’s solid. It’s good.  And they have something that all offensive lines need if they are going to be successful, toughness. We judge many things in football, but the toughness factor is big especially when you’re talking about your offensive line as a group. 

 

(On San Diego’s New Defensive Coordinator Greg Manusky): He is a very good coach. I am just judging pre-season and one game, but overall he is very organized and disciplined. I was impressed in their game against Minnesota. Now what they saw and did against Minnesota means nothing because they are facing the exact opposite attack in New England. They defended against the “wishbone” last week.  This week they have to defend against the “run-and-shoot.”  So it’s a big, big change for the San Diego defense.

 

 

 

DAN FOUTS

(On Houston):  I would anticipate that Houston will have a pretty big game period. If you look at what happened to the Dolphins on Monday Night when they gave up one gazillion yards, I think that Houston is licking their chops.

 

(On Miami Defense): They’re going to be challenged even more so than against the Patriots because of the powerful running attack of Houston. Houston ran the ball 37 times against the Colts. In this day and age in the NFL, that amount of rushes is unheard of. It also means that you’re probably going to win the game.

 

(On Chad Henne): Chad Henne was sacked four times by the Patriots and now he’s got to face Mario Williams and that defensive line of the Texans. The way they’re using Williams as a linebacker with the rookie JJ Watt on the other side - that’s going to be a real challenge for Miami. They have to be able to run the ball better than just 98 yards last week against New England. It’s going to be a long day for Henne.

 

(Keys to the Game): I like the pass protection challenge that Jake Long is going to have trying to keep Mario Williams away from the quarterback. It’s not just going to be Jake Long, because they flip Williams from side-to-side, so there will be times when Marc Colombo is going to have to take care of him. That’s going to be a key to this game. Can the Dolphins protect Henne?

 

 

 

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Following are THE NFL ON CBS assignments for Week 2, Week 3 and Week 4 (subject to change).

 

WEEK 2 – Sept. 18 – CBS DOUBLEHEADER

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:              

·Kansas City @ Detroit            Don Criqui/Randy Cross                       Ken Mack/Jim Cornell

·Oakland @ Buffalo                  Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley

·Baltimore @ Tennessee           Bill Macatee/Steve Tasker                    Victor Frank/Andy Goldberg

·Jacksonville @ N.Y. Jets         Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf                   Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman

·Cleveland @ Indianapolis        Marv Albert/Rich Gannon                     Ross Schneiderman/Mark Grant

 

4:15 PM, ET starts:

·San Diego @ New England     Jim Nantz/Phil Simms                Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold

·Cincinnati @ Denver Spero Dedes/Steve Beuerlein                  Bob Dekas/Chris Svendsen

·Houston @ Miami                  Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts                             Steve Scheer/Suzanne Smith

 

 

WEEK 3 – Sept. 25

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:              

·Jacksonville @ Carolina           Spero Dedes/Steve Beuerlein                Bob Dekas/Chris Svendsen

·Houston @ New Orleans        Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf                   Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman

·New England @ Buffalo          Marv Albert/Rich Gannon                     Ross Schneiderman/Mark Grant

·Miami @ Cleveland                 Don Criqui/Randy Cross                       Ken Mack/Jim Cornell

·Denver @ Tennessee               Bill Macatee/Steve Tasker                    Victor Frank/Andy Goldberg

 

4:00 PM, ET starts:

·N.Y. Jets @ Oakland              Jim Nantz/Phil Simms                Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold

·Kansas City @ San Diego       Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts                             Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith

·Baltimore @ St. Louis Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots  Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley

 

 

WEEK 4 – Oct. 2 – CBS DOUBLEHEADER

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:

·Buffalo @ Cincinnati                Andrew Catalon/Steve Tasker  Victor Frank/Andy Goldberg

·Tennessee @ Cleveland           Marv Albert/Rich Gannon                     Ross Schneiderman/Mark Grant

·Pittsburgh @ Houston Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf                    Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman

 

4:15 PM, ET starts:

·Denver @ Green Bay Jim Nantz/Phil Simms                 Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold

·New England @ Oakland        Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley

·Miami @ San Diego                Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts                             Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith

 

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Follow CBS Sports on Twitter: @CBSSportsGang

 

CBS Sports Contacts:  Jen Sabatelle                212/975-4120              jsabatelle@cbs.com

Robin Brendle              212/975-1533              rlbrendle@cbs.com

Jerry Caraccioli            212/975-7466              gwcaraccioli@cbs.com