The CBS Television Network continues its 48th year broadcasting the NFL with doubleheader coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Dec. 30 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY, the Network's 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-Baltimore Ravens game, live from M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md.  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.

* * * * *

(On whether New England will go undefeated in the regular-season by beating New York Giants in Week 17)

DAN MARINO

Because of their ability to score points, that's the thing.  When you look at trying to beat the New England Patriots, can you go into their place - they're going to have home-field advantage throughout the playoff - and score 30-plus points?  If you can't do that, you really don't have any chance of winning.  That's the reason why I think they'll go undefeated because of the amount of points they put up.    

BOOMER ESIASON

I do believe the Patriots will go undefeated because the Giants have nothing to play for.  I don't think Tom Coughlin is going to risk anybody that might normally play in an "all hands on deck" scenario.  There's no reason for them to even worry about that.  Get the guys that need to be healthy, healthy and don't worry about this game because for the Giants about extending their season into the playoffs.  It's not about beating an undefeated team.       

BILL COWHER

There's no question that they'll go undefeated for two reasons.  The first being that they are playing well enough right now that they want to keep it going.  Secondly, the New York Giants, given the results of their win on Sunday, I think they're going to rest some players.  They need to do that.  They're going to be ready to go on the road.  They're going to play the next week possibly on a short week.  So, I think there's no question that New England goes 16-0.  But they realize that even though 16-0 is a great regular-season record, they know it's all about championships.  They're going to do what they have to do to win a championship by keeping the momentum going that they created.

SHANNON SHARPE

I don't see the Giants beating them.  I think the Giants have a few guys banged up and won't play all their guys.  New England is really focused.  They have a single-minded approach and have been that way since Day One.  They've pretty much been that way since coach Belichick has been there.  It's going to take a special effort for someone to beat them.  They have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, so it's going to take a bad weather game.  It's going to take someone to go in there and score between 28 and 31 points, and play perfect.  New England is going to have to be off just a little bit.  They have shown that they are vulnerable in certain areas, but they find ways to win ballgames.  With all that being said, I think there is only one team that can possibly go into New England and beat them, and that's the Indianapolis Colts because they've done it before.  

* * * * *

            Following are THE NFL ON CBS assignments for Week 17 (subject to change).

WEEK 17 - Dec. 30 - DOUBLEHEADER

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:

·Jacksonville @ Houston           Dick Enberg/Randy Cross                    Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith

·Cincinnati @ Miami                 Gus Johnson/Steve Tasker                    Victor Frank/Chris Svendsen

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

4:15 PM, ET starts:

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

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

·Kansas City @ N.Y. Jets        Ian Eagle/Solomon Wilcots                   Ken Mack/Andy Goldberg

* Games broadcast in HDTV