The CBS Television Network continues its 52^nd year broadcasting the NFL with coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Nov. 20 (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 San Diego Chargers at Chicago Bears game live from Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill.  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 San Diego): What disappoints me this week is the state of the San Diego Chargers offensive line, their health. It’s possible they could have three starters out. That is going to affect you.  I don’t care how deep you are as a football team. The run defense for the San Diego Chargers is a really big issue. There are so many things. I just can’t pinpoint one thing. It’s disheartening when your run defense can’t stop the other team.  It has a chance to destroy your whole team in so many ways - field position, clock management and situations you could put the opposing offense in, how easy it makes it for the opposing offense. It’s endless. Philip Rivers, yes I know he has all these turnovers. He’s the least of the worries when I think of the San Diego Chargers.  One of the greatest traits a quarterback can have is to make a decision to manage himself within the team and give his team the best chance of winning.  That means probably being more conservative in his decision making, play a different way. Even though it might not be the best way for him, he has to make sure it’s the best way for the team.

(On Chicago): It’s almost the exact opposite with the Chicago Bears. Turmoil – nothing was going well early. They fixed their offensive line a little bit.  They call plays differently. The Chicago Bears have accomplished exactly what I just said about the San Diego Chargers. They changed their play calls, helped their offense, helped their offensive line and helped their quarterback. And guess what? The defense is playing better. Football is an unbelievable sport. The dots always connect.  I give Lovie Smith great credit. I actually see him smile and making facial expressions on the sideline. He changed right along with the team. He is not one to show much emotion. As head coach of a football team, when your team makes the adjustments the Bears have made, there has to be a great deal of satisfaction.

DAN DIERDORF

(On AFC North race): They are all starting to take a bite out of each other, and the Ravens are sitting at the head of the table having already taken two big bites out of Pittsburgh.  At this moment (prior to Sunday’s game), they are sitting in the best position.  Having swept Pittsburgh won’t do the Ravens any good if they end up getting swept by Cincinnati.  If Baltimore beats Cincinnati on Sunday, they have a chance to put themselves in complete control of this division.

(On Cincinnati @ Baltimore): It is such a big game for both teams.  But Baltimore is one of the elite teams in the AFC and a real, legitimate Super Bowl candidate.  This is a game they have to win, especially with it being played on your home field.

(On Cincinnati): Nobody expected them to be in this situation, especially when Carson Palmer said he wasn’t going to play anymore.  Ordinarily, that is a crippling-type blow to a football team and the franchise.  Not only did it not cripple the Bengals, they went out and found a real, legitimate quarterback in Andy Dalton. 

(On Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton): Andy Dalton does not resemble a rookie in any way.  He’s careful with the football, makes good decisions, doesn’t take sacks, has confidence and is a leader.  When Joe Flacco was a rookie, he had a whole lot better football team around him.  A year ago, was anybody thinking that the Bengals would be anything this year?  They were 4-12 last year with Carson Palmer as quarterback and two wide receivers named Ochocinco and Terrell Owens.  And, no one thought Marvin Lewis would be coming back.  Look at the success that rookie quarterbacks have had.  Two that come to mind in recent history are Joe Flacco and Ben Roethlisberger.  Both of them started out in more comfortable positions than Andy Dalton did.

Following are THE NFL ON CBS assignments for Week 11 and Week 12 (subject to change).

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

·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

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

WEEK 12 – Nov. 24 – THANKSGIVING DAY

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST         PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

4:00 PM, ET:

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

WEEK 12 – Nov. 27 – CBS DOUBLEHEADER

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST         PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:              

·Buffalo @ N.Y. Jets                Marv Albert/Rich Gannon                 Ross Schneiderman/Mark Grant

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

·Houston @ Jacksonville           Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots         Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley 

4:15 PM, ET starts:

·N. England @ Philadelphia       Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf                Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman

·Denver @ San Diego               Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts                           Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith

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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