The CBS Television Network continues its 52nd year broadcasting the NFL with coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Oct. 30 (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 England Patriots-Pittsburgh Steelers game live from Heinz Filed in Pittsburgh, Pa.  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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BILL COWHER

(On New England-Pittsburgh): Every year the identity of a team changes to some degree.  With both of these teams, while they’ve changed, the expectation level and to a large extent the results, haven’t changed.  They are both winning organizations.  Certainly, New England coming off a bye is well-rested.  Pittsburgh will be a very tough defense for them.  The Patriots have proven to be very resourceful week-in and week-out.  Their running game is probably as good as it’s been all year.

For Pittsburgh, their challenge is stopping Tom Brady in the spread offense.  That is something I’m sure that they’ve looked at, and thought about, the whole off-season.  Pittsburgh’s offense may be one of the most explosive in all of football.  This is the best receiving corps that they’ve had in years.  Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, Hines Ward – these are the most weapons Ben Roethlisberger has ever had.  And it may be the first time they have an offensive line with some degree of continuity.  They are playing as well as they’ve played and are peaking offensively.  And they will be a challenge defensively.  This could decide home-field advantage, so there could be playoff implications in this game as well.

(On this game having more importance to Pittsburgh at this point): This game is important to Pittsburgh because it’s a home game against a conference team that, at some point, you’re going to have to beat anyway.  The fact that Pittsburgh has two losses with a chance to stay tied for first place with Baltimore, and New England is going strong with only one loss, it’s important for both teams.  But when you’re playing this type of game at home, the pressure is certainly more on the home team.             

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Following are THE NFL ON CBS assignments for Week 8, Week 9 and Week 10 (subject to change).

WEEK 8 – October 30 – CBS DOUBLEHEADER

GAME   PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYSTPRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:  

·Miami @ N.Y. Giants Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf  Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman

·Jacksonville @ Houston Marv Albert/Rich Gannon  Ken Mack/Jim Cornell

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

4:15 PM, ET starts:

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

·Cleveland @ San Francisco  Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts   Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith

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

WEEK 9 – Nov. 6

GAME   PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYSTPRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:

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

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

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

4:00 PM, ET starts:

·Denver @ Oakland  Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf  Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman

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

WEEK 10 – Nov. 13

GAME   PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYSTPRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:  

·Buffalo @ Dallas  Jim Nantz/Phil Simms  Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold

·Tennessee @ Carolina Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley

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

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

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

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

4:00 PM, ET starts:

·Baltimore @ Seattle  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

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

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