The CBS Television Network continues its 48^th year broadcasting the NFL with singleheader coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Nov. 18 (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 Pittsburgh Steelers-New York Jets game live from Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.  Lance Barrow is the coordinating producer and lead game producer and Mike Arnold is the lead game director.

 

Throughout the 2007 season, THE NFL ON CBS will broadcast five-to-six games each week in HDTV, the highest definition television format - 1080i lines of picture resolution - along with 5.1 digital audio.

 

Sean McManus is President, CBS News and Sports.  Tony Petitti is Executive Vice President and Executive Producer, CBS Sports.  McManus and Petitti serve as executive producers of CBS Sports' coverage of THE NFL ON CBS.

 

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PHIL SIMMS

(On New York Jets): I'm curious to see the Jets, even though they are 1-8.  I want to watch Kellen Clemens - just get to meet him, know him, and hear what everybody has to say about him.  I don't know if there is a whole lot of difference between last year and this year with the New York Jets. This year they just can't win the close games.  Anytime a team loses close games like they have, don't look too deep. Don't look for the mythical answer. It's just not there.  And it's a fact - it doesn't fall your way all the time.  What I have learned is that they were a team that could have gone either way last year and found a way to make it go in their favor.  This year they have been that same team but can't find a way to catch teams by surprise or make that one play that is the difference in winning games.  That is how close it is in the NFL for 20 teams.  The Jets are one of those 20 and have been unfortunate so far this year...(On Pittsburgh): For the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger is playing extremely well.  He's got talent.  He's got size.  He's now getting maturity.  Emotionally, in everything else that goes into having success in the league, the Steelers are kind of getting it this year.  A coaching change changed the atmosphere and the players have reacted well to it so far.  It is early, but the thinking is that the offense is a little freer with Bruce Arians as the offensive coordinator.  Again the quarterback, and the whole football team, has reacted well to that.  Bill Cowher did not leave the cupboard bare, that's for sure. They've got talent.  They've got speed.  They're tough. Of course, if you play for the Pittsburgh Steelers you better be tough.  It's all going to show. You hear these phrases all the time - 'no respect,' 'flying under the radar.'  There is no question the Steelers are flying under the radar.  I'm curious to see how they play and react to the spotlight as the year goes on.  And to see if they continue to stay in that top group of teams and get people to start asking, 'Hey, can the Steelers challenge?  Do you think they have a chance?'  Right now, I'd say yes.  They are a top echelon team and we'll find out more about it.

  

DAN DIERDORF

(On San Diego being in control of AFC West): San Diego, by far and away, has the most talented roster in the AFC West.  There is no excuse for them not winning the AFC West.  They are in the lead now, and if they don't end up winning the West it would be a major collapse...(On San Diego's win last week over Indianapolis): It's not every day that you see an offense play as poorly as they did last week and still end up winning the football game.  That is one of those games where you take your good fortune and move on.  You thank the special teams.  You thank Darren Sproles.  You thank the defense and chalk up a 'W.'  There are no style points in the NFL...(On San Diego's offense): Philip Rivers and the Chargers' offense have to look at their recent production and realize that they have to get better.  Philip Rivers, in particular, is not playing football to the level that he needs.  And I'm sure to the level that he would like, or to the level he played last year.  Nobody is putting more pressure on Philip Rivers right now than Philip...(On Jacksonville): They say sometimes that a dog starts to look like its owner, the Jacksonville Jaguars have taken on the characteristics of their coach.  Jack Del Rio has molded this football team to be just like him - hard-nosed physically and mentally.  He has created one tough football team.  We used to say in the old days when you played a team like this there was a line to get into the hot tub on Monday.  That's what you get when you play Jacksonville.  They are a hard-nosed, in-your-face football team on both sides of the ball...(On Jax RB Maurice Jones-Drew): Maurice Jones-Drew is fun to watch.  He is as an enjoyable player to watch as there is in the National Football League.  Whether it's kick returns, catching a pass out of the backfield or running from scrimmage - this guy is fun.  He's not the prototypical running back.  It just goes to show that production can come in all shapes and sizes...(On Jax QB David Garrard returning after missing three weeks with an ankle injury): A lot of people didn't realize, because he got hurt back in October, how well he was playing.  He doesn't have an interception yet.  He has a rating over 100 - 102.9 to be precise.  Because it was an ankle sprain, we'll see how that affects his mobility.  David Garrard can make things happen with his feet.  He can really move...(On San Diego's Antonio Cromartie): This guy is going to love to see Greg Gumbel and me.  The first San Diego game we did this year he fell on a ball in the endzone for a touchdown.  He returned an interception for a touchdown.  Then we saw him Minnesota where he ran the field goal attempt back 109-yards for a touchdown for the longest play in NFL history.  Here we are again.  This guy has just exploded all over the NFL.                               

  

STEVE TASKER

(On Indianapolis coming off two straight losses): This is not going to be a walkover for Indy because of the injuries.  At this point they're not sure if Marvin Harrison and all their receivers are going to be back for Peyton Manning.  It also looks like Dwight Freeney is going to be out and that hurts them.  That gives the Chiefs and their run game a chance to hold on to the football.  It could be a much closer game than it would've looked two weeks ago, even with Larry Johnson out...(On Kansas City): Every game is crucial for them at this point.  They are getting to the point where if one team gets hot and another team loses, in two weeks it could swing the season away from you.  Obviously in the second half of the season the games become much bigger.  The Chargers beat the Colts last weekend and that is one of the tie-breakers, common opponents.  So Kansas City has to keep that in mind.  There is no question that games are getting bigger in the second half and the Chiefs have to keep pace even though the AFC West is weak...(Keys to Game): The Chiefs have to run it.  They have to keep the football on the ground and keep it away from Peyton Manning.  Peyton Manning has to find a way to score points, which he is usually able to do.  The six interceptions last week were an aberration.  I think they'll be back on track.  The Chiefs are going to try and grind it out and play good defense.  They have some experienced cornerbacks that will give Peyton Manning some different looks and hope that those players can carry them. 

 

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            Following are THE NFL ON CBS assignments for Week 11, Week 12 and Week 13 (subject to change).

  

WEEK 11 - Nov. 18

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:

·Cleveland @ Baltimore*          Ian Eagle/Solomon Wilcots                   Bob Dekas/Cathy Barreto       

·Kansas City @ Indianapolis*   Gus Johnson/Steve Tasker                    Victor Frank/Mark Grant

·Oakland @ Minnesota*           Dick Enberg/Randy Cross                    Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith

·Miami @ Philadelphia*            Kevin Harlan/Rich Gannon                    Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley

·San Diego @ Jacksonville*      Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf                   Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman

 

4:05 PM, ET starts:

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

  

  

WEEK 12 - Nov. 22 (Thanksgiving Day)

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

4:00 PM, ET starts:

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

 

WEEK 12 - Nov. 25 - DOUBLEHEADER

  

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:

·Tennessee @ Cincinnati           Bill Macatee/Steve Beuerlein                 Ross Schneiderman/Andy Goldberg

·Houston @ Cleveland Gus Johnson/Steve Tasker                     Victor Frank/Chris Svendsen   

·Buffalo @ Jacksonville Kevin Harlan/Rich Gannon                    Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley

·Oakland @ Kansas City          Ian Eagle/Solomon Wilcots                   Bob Dekas/Cathy Barreto

 

4:15 PM, ET starts:

·Baltimore @ San Diego           Dick Enberg/Randy Cross                    Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith

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

WEEK 13 - Dec. 2

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:

·Jacksonville @ Indianapolis                 TBA                                                     TBA

·San Diego @ Kansas City                  

·N.Y. Jets @ Miami                

·Houston @ Tennessee

·Buffalo @ Washington

 

4:05 PM, ET starts:

·Cleveland @ Arizona  

·Denver @ Oakland    

 

 

* Games broadcast in HDTV