The CBS Television Network continues its 52nd year broadcasting the NFL with coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Nov. 6 (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-Buffalo Bills game live from Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.  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 New York Jets @ Buffalo): The Jets coming off of a bye week and going on the road is a big deal. The league has shown us this season that the bye week has been a detriment to a lot of teams. So can the Jets overcome that? Going to Buffalo is tough. The Buffalo Bills are real. I believe. They’re 5-2 and the way they are doing it is impressive.  Ryan Fitzpatrick is for real. Fred Jackson is a star. I’ve gone up there in years past and even when they weren’t a good team, in that stadium and with that crowd, they’re always tough.  It’s going to be a tough test for the Jets.

(On New York Jets): They have a couple things that are going to be great to watch: Darrelle Revis against Steve Johnson; and Kyle Wilson, Antonio Cromartie against the spread offense. Buffalo’s offense is extremely varied. I can’t imagine what it would be like to try to defense them because they do such much. How the Jets defense is going to attack against the Bills’ offense is going to be very interesting.

(More on Jets @ Buffalo): For three straight games the Jets have run their offense the way Rex Ryan always has envisioned it. The big question is will we see the next little bit of improvement from what they’re really trying to do and that is kind of control it. Use Mark Sanchez for what he is designed to do, and that’s play-action pass and be an athlete.  And make some good throws down the field. I never thought at the start of this season that I would be saying the Jets going to Buffalo was going to be a big game or an important game for the playoffs. But we are in that stretch now. These games are important.  It’s a divisional game. This game is going to be quite exciting. This might be the game of the week. 

DAN DIERDORF

(On Denver-Oakland Quarterback Storyline): It’s the old and the new.  Oakland paid a steep price for Carson Palmer.  It’s going to be a real fascinating story to see how it plays over the next couple of years.  It’s clear since the death of Al Davis that Hue Jackson is calling the shots.  And he is in a hurry to win now.  He’s making decisions that are based on the now as opposed to the long-term future.  That could be bad news for teams like San Diego.  

(On Oakland): Oakland is headed in the right direction.  There is a lot to like about this football team.  Hue Jackson has them thinking that they’re good enough to win that division.  Within the next seven days the Raiders have a chance to really take control of the AFC West.  They have to take care of business against Denver on Sunday then on Thursday have a big game against San Diego.  Thursday’s game could go a long way in determining who is going to win that division.  

(On Tim Tebow): John Fox is doing the right thing.  You have to find out if he can play or not.  You can’t do that in one or two weeks.  You have to let him play a little.  You have to set some goals for him.  Is he making steps in the right direction?  Is he progressing?  Have you identified some weaknesses of his and have you established a plan on how he gets better?  If that’s the case, with his tremendous leadership skills, work ethic, and the rest of his intangibles, then maybe you have something.  But after six, seven, eight weeks you don’t see any progress, then you have to make a decision.

(Keys to Game): It’s the same for every game Denver plays – how will Tebow react to what Oakland throws at him defensively?  Oakland will do what everybody else has done: pressure him, disguise coverages, take away his first option and see if he’s able to adjust.

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Following are THE NFL ON CBS assignments for Week 9, Week 10 and Week 11 (subject to change).

WEEK 9 – Nov. 6

GAME   PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/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/ANALYST PRODUCER/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

WEEK 11 – November 20 – CBS DOUBLEHEADER

GAME   PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:  

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

·Tennessee @ Atlanta  Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts   Ken Mack/Jim Cornell

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

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

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

4:15 PM, ET starts:

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

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Follow CBS Sports on Twitter: @CBSSportsGang