The CBS Television Network continues its 52nd year broadcasting the NFL with coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Oct. 9 (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-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 Jets, 2-0 start, 0-2 last two games – are they a completely different team?): No, the signs were there that, maybe I didn’t pay enough attention to, trouble was lurking.  The inconsistencies of moving the football, the lack of a sustained pass rush – those are two areas that teams have a hard time overcoming.

(On Jets’ Offensive Line troubles): In the NFL, when there is a weakness in your offensive line, it doesn’t hurt your offense, it hurts your whole football team.  It hurts your quarterback, the receivers, the running backs, the situations your defense plays in.  Right now, the Jets have a few obstacles to overcome.   

(On Mark Sanchez and Jets’ lack of a running game): When your offensive line is in trouble, your quarterback is going to be directly affected by how many times he gets hit, and that shows in his performance.  Look at what he did against the Baltimore Ravens.  If you go back and dissect that game, there were probably nine throw-aways, minimum, and at least six throws he had no idea where he was throwing because he was getting hit upside the head at the same time.  I’m not exonerating him from everything, but you surely can’t judge what he’s doing based on what he was presented against the Baltimore Ravens.

(On Rex Ryan taking pressure off his team by dealing with media): I don’t know if he can take the pressure off his team this week.  Everything has changed.  He’s in a scenario now that he has never been in since he’s been a head coach.  It will be interesting to see how they approach the game and what their overall philosophy will be for this game.  How is Rex going to manage it?  Do they still think they’re going to open up the offense and be a throwing team?  Or are they going to go back – it’s hard to switch in mid-season?  It can’t be cured in one week.  They just have to get the ship going in the right direction this week.

(On Patriots’ defense): You need to see a body of work before you can say they’ve turned the tide and have a chance now.  There are signs every game where you say if they can do that more often they could really start to be something special.  But there has not been prolonged success almost in any area to think the Patriots’ defense has turned the tide yet.                                               

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Following are THE NFL ON CBS assignments for Week 5, Week 6 and Week 7 (subject to change).

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

WEEK 7 – Oct. 23

GAME   PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYSTPRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:

·Denver @ Miami  Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots Bob Dekas/Chris Svendsen

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

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

4:00 PM, ET starts:

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

·Kansas City @ Oakland 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