The CBS Television Network continues its 52nd year broadcasting the NFL with coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Sept. 25 (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 New York Jets-Oakland Raiders game live from O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif.  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 N.Y. Jets Plaxico Burress in Week 2): Of course Plaxico Burress was a big story.  The style of play Jacksonville incorporates on defense really affects a receiver like Plaxico because he is always away from the formation.  So, he’s out on that island by himself most of the time and Jacksonville always doubles those situations.  Jacksonville doesn’t blitz.  They don’t come up playing man-to-man.  It was a game no matter how involved, Plaxico Burress was not going to have many catches.  He’s going to have opportunities against the Oakland Raiders, that’s for sure.

 

(On Oakland): I’m surprised a little bit.  It looks like a different Raiders team.  They’re doing more on offense – a little more elaborate than I’ve seen in the past.  And, they’re definitely more elaborate on the defensive side playing more coverages and taking more chances.  That has not been the Raiders style over the years.  It’s an interesting match-up.

 

(On Oakland’s offense vs. Jets’ defense): Oakland’s offense is clever.  They have an elite running back in Darren McFadden.  They give him plenty of opportunities and he takes full advantage of them.  He’s got talent.  You know you’re a good running back when there is a running play designed to get you one yard and he ends up getting 15 yards.  That tells you you’re good.  You’re either running people over, running around them or making them miss.  He can do all of those things.  I’m really curious to see how they match-up against the Jets.  The Jets are a unique football team, especially on the defensive side.         

 

RICH GANNON

(On New England): Every offensive series for the Buffalo Bills is absolutely critical. When you’re up against Tom Brady and the Patriots you almost have to assume that they’re going to score on every offensive possession. That’s why you have to almost match them score-for-score. You can’t really count on your defense to come up with a lot of big plays, negative plays, turnovers.  This is a team that doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, particularly in the quarterback position. Defensively, the Patriots thrive on creating negative plays. 

(On New England-Buffalo): I’m not suggesting that Buffalo has to play flawless, but in order for them to win they have to have a very clean performance in every phase of the game – offensively, defensively and the kicking game. They’re a good team, but they’re not as deep and talented right now as the Patriots. In order for them to win, the quarterback and Fred Jackson have to have big days offensively.  And that can happen. Look at the Patriots the first two weeks: the Dolphins got after them and put up some big numbers. Philip Rivers and the Chargers put up 477 yards of offense against this defense. The way they beat you is Brady and a couple of turnovers.  Typically that’s how it gets done. In order for the Bills to win they have to score on defense and score with the kicking game. It will take that type of effort to beat the Patriots.

 

(On Buffalo QB Ryan Fitzpatrick): I’ve been in the same situation; a quarterback waits his turn, he always wants to have his own team, and when he finally gets the opportunity, he never looks back.  Last year really wasn’t his team from the beginning.  Now I think that the organization has shown some confidence in him.  They didn’t draft a quarterback.  This is his team.  He’s got his thumb print all over it.  The thing that hurt him a year ago was he was a little careless with the ball.  They had the worst turnover differential and a lot of that can be traced back to him being a little bit too aggressive at times.

 

(On New England’s QB Tom Brady and offense): What’s the best way to defend Tom Brady? Do you pressure him? Do you play coverage? Do you rush three or four?  Nobody really has any answers and you’re not going to stop him. They’re going to get their big plays.  He’s going to throw a lot of completions, and put up big numbers. You have to try and win on first down.  In other words, if you can hold them to a two-yard completion on first down and force them to have third-and-sevens, third-and-eights, and live in that world a little bit, then you have a chance. The other thing is you have to win in the red zone. You have to hold them to field goals down there and not give up the big explosive plays. Brady is a special player.  He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes.  He’s got a quick release – the ball comes out and he’s very accurate.  He has a lot of talent around him and they are a well-coached team.  It’s kind of like going up against Peyton Manning. You know you’re going to give up points, but can you still be standing in the fourth quarter with a chance to win? That’s really the challenge for the Bills.

 

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Following are THE NFL ON CBS assignments for Week 3, Week 4 and Week 5 (subject to change).

 

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

 

 

WEEK 5 – October 9 – CBS DOUBLEHEADER

 

GAME   PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts: 

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

·Oakland @ Houston   Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts   Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith

·Kansas City @ Indianapolis Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley

·Cincinnati @ Jacksonville Bill Macatee/Steve Tasker  Victor Frank/Andy Goldberg

 

4:15 PM, ET starts:

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

·San Diego @ Denver  Marv Albert/Rich Gannon  Ross Schneiderman/Mark Grant

 

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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