The CBS Television Network continues its 52nd year broadcasting the NFL with coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Oct. 2 (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 Denver Broncos-Green Bay Packers game live from Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisc.  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 Kyle Orton vs. Tim Tebow Debate in Denver): When you’re a hater, you’re a hater.  If you are against Kyle Orton there’s nothing he can do to get you on his side. It’s a very common thing in the NFL, especially when the guy you draft in the first round is popular and has a famous name. They want to see him play and they don’t care if the Broncos are 3-0 right now and went 6-0.  There still would be, ‘Well big deal. It should be better.’  When you’re a quarterback in the situation that Kyle Orton is in, it’s a tough one to win. You have to do two things. The team has to win, and you have to play – not just well – very well. I don’t know who has ever won this battle.  Drew Brees went to the Pro Bowl as a San Diego Charger.  He’s in New Orleans.   There are a couple factors that are always part of this: it’s media and fan-driven, of course, and the organization makes these No. 1 draft picks and don’t like being wrong.  Tim Tebow is a second year, first-round quarterback.  This week we are going to see arguably the most talented quarterback in the NFL, Aaron Rodgers, who basically did not play for three years.

(On Denver Broncos-Green Bay Packers ): If Denver can keep the game in the mid-20s against the Packers, they will have done a good job. So the big question is can you score in the mid-20s? With all their injuries, that is a concern for the Denver Broncos. It is at Lambeau Field and Green Bay is a fast team.  That is a tremendous challenge for Denver. For Green Bay, getting Jermichael Finley back is a big deal. He can do anything.  He is maybe the only one who can be a tight end, block like a tight end, help your run game, split out wide like a wide receiver and catch footballs. He is a special talent. He creates incredible dilemmas for the defense. And, Greg Jennings is a superstar. Then you have a mobile quarterback like Aaron Rodgers.  There are just not enough guys to cover everybody.

(On Green Bay Defense): They have four good run-stoppers, big guys who rotate that can really help stop the run. But the biggest thing the Packers have on the defensive side is speed. The linebackers can all run. Even their down lineman, B.J. Raji, who is a big guy, is very mobile and can run. What do you get with speed? You get forced defensive stops.  And the biggest thing speed creates is turnovers because you get hit when you’re not expecting it.  You can move the ball.  You can do some things against their defense. But they are a very good red-zone defense because they can cover a smaller area of the field because of how fast everybody is. Charles Woodson is a unique player who has a coach smart enough to create a role for him.   To say it’s worked out well is an understatement.  It looks like he has such freedom, mentally, and enjoys what he does so much.  It really shows in his play.

DAN DIERDORF

(On Houston proving itself in Week 4): This is such a huge game for the Texans this week.  They were an underdog in that game last week, and yet they had it to win.  They had the lead.  But New Orleans was expected to win that game.  So, last week wasn’t a catastrophe.  This week they are playing a good football team, and yet they do need to learn how to win.  They do need to learn how to finish games.  If they stumble at home this week against Pittsburgh, the critics are going to say, ‘You can’t be a good football team.’  If the Texans are to announce their arrival as a playoff contender, this is a game that they have to win.  It will be very interesting to see how the Texans respond after their loss last week.  If they beat Pittsburgh, they’re 3-1 and no one even remembers what happened in New Orleans.  If they lose, they fall to 2-2 and questions arise about how they struggle every time they play against a good team.

(On Pittsburgh): They have real problems on the offensive line.  Their back-ups are now filling in for back-ups.  It’s not the old Steelers team that could run the ball at will.  This Steelers team has struggled to run the football.  And, they’ve struggled to hold on to the football.  I’ve never seen a football team that has a winning record that was -9 in the turnover differential.  They have to get back to playing Steelers football.  That’s easier said than done with a banged-up offensive line.  The old Steelers could take the football and jam it down your throat.  This team has shown an inability to do that because of the line upfront.  There is no continuity at all.

(On Pittsburgh-Houston): This game is just a great match-up all-around.  Mike Wallace of the Steelers is lighting up the league with his big-play potential.  Andre Johnson is on the other side.  He couldn’t be having a better start to a season.  Both Wallace and Johnson each have 21 receptions.  The Steelers’ corner, Ike Taylor, usually locks up with the other team’s best receiver.  It will be interesting to watch him go against Johnson.  The Texans secondary is still a work in progress.  Wade Phillips doesn’t have that whole system in yet.  They’re still working on it.  After what Drew Brees did to them last week, one has to wonder if they’re going to be able to keep Mike Wallace from getting behind them.    

STEVE TASKER (@SteveTasker89)

(On Bills-Bengals): The Bills certainly have confidence that they can score. They have to do what they can to take away one of three things from the Bengals: Cedric Benson, A.J. Green, or Andy Dalton. Pick their poison and try to force Andrew Daulton to beat them, or they’ll be in for a long day trying to tackle Cedric Benson.  Those are the keys for Buffalo.  Offensively they need to get off to a faster start.  Defensively they just need to get some stops early on to get some momentum.

(On Bills’ being able to continue offensive production): As long as they stay healthy, there is no question they can.  If their offensive line starts to get nicked up, that may be a problem. If something happens to Ryan Fitzpatrick or Fred Jackson they’re going to be in deep trouble.  As long as they stay healthy, the guys they’ve got are going to be very good and very difficult to defend. So yes, I’d say they can continue to do it unless something unforeseen happens, like injuries.

(On Buffalo’s defense giving up so many points): They need better pass rushing. They’re getting injured in the secondary and that is a huge concern. Their pass rush hasn’t been everything they wanted it to be.  Until that changes, they’re going to need all hands on deck in their secondary.

GARY DANIELSON (@DanielsonCBS)

(On 3-0 Detroit – the last time the Lions were 3-0 was in 1980 when Danielson was the quarterback): Detroit is called the “Motor City,” “Hockey Town” and the Tigers are hot now.  I grew up in Detroit. I’ve personally witnessed consecutive Saturdays and Sundays where crowds of 100,000; 80,000 and 80,000 attended Michigan, Michigan State and Lions games.  Matthew Stafford, Ndamukong Suh and Calvin Johnson are as good as there is in the league.  If this Lions team continues winning and makes a run for the Super Bowl, the country will confirm what I’ve always known – football is still king in Michigan!

Congratulations to our NFL ON CBS colleagues Phil Simms, Bill Cowher and Steve Tasker on their nominations for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2012.

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Following are THE NFL ON CBS assignments for Week 4, Week 5 and Week 6 (subject to change).

WEEK 4 – Oct. 2 – CBS DOUBLEHEADER

GAME   PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYSTPRODUCER/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/ANALYSTPRODUCER/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

WEEK 6 – Oct. 16

GAME   PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYSTPRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:  

·Buffalo @ N.Y. Giants Jim Nantz/Phil Simms  Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold

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

·Jacksonville @ Pittsburgh  Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts   Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith

4:00 PM, ET starts:

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

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

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Follow CBS Sports on Twitter: @CBSSportsGang

CBS Sports Contacts:

Jen Sabatelle  212/975-4120  jsabatelle@cbs.com