Release

"THE NFL ON CBS" BEGINS AFC PLAYOFF COVERAGE WITH BALTIMORE RAVENS-NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS WILD CARD GAME #2 ON SUNDAY, JAN. 10

AUDIBLES WITH LEAD "NFL ON CBS" ANALYST PHIL SIMMS

  

THE NFL ON CBS, home of Super Bowl XLIV and celebrating its Golden 50th year broadcasting the NFL, begins its coverage of the 2010 American Football Conference Playoffs with the national broadcast of Wild Card Playoff Game #2 on Sunday, Jan. 10 (1:00 PM, ET) live on the CBS Television Network.  The No. 6-seeded BALTIMORE RAVENS (9-7) visit the AFC East Champions and No. 3-seeded NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-6).  THE NFL ON CBS's coverage begins with THE NFL TODAY, the Network's one-hour studio show (12:00 Noon-1:00 PM, ET), live from the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City.

 

THE NFL ON CBS lead announce team of Jim Nantz, who this year is marking his 25th with CBS Sports, and Phil Simms call the action live from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.  Lance Barrow is the coordinating producer and lead game producer and Mike Arnold is the lead game director.

 

Throughout the 2010 AFC Playoffs and Super Bowl XLIV, THE NFL ON CBS will broadcast all of its 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, and serves as executive producer of CBS Sports' coverage of THE NFL ON CBS.  Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

 

* * * * *

  

PHIL SIMMS

(On New England losing Wes Welker because of injury): The big thing is that New England can't reinvent itself.  They have two receivers they've thrown to all year, Wes Welker and Randy Moss.  I don't see how they can change in one week. So Julian Edelman is going to have to take the place of Wes Welker and he's going to have to be relied on just like they would on Wes Welker.  They'll put the same plays in, they'll expect him to step in and get it done. I think he's up to it.  If Baltimore thinks he is not, they're making a big mistake.  You can see their offense is creative.  They have a lot of ways to get that position open. Regardless of who's playing it, you have to focus on it.  I can't wait to see that. 

 

(On Joe Flacco in playoffs after now in his second NFL season): Joe Flacco has not had the second year "sophomore slump" -- none of that.  Overall he's played very well.  He's the hitter who might be hitting .250, but you never know when he's going to hit one out of the park.  So that's what scares you and you have to always be alert.  He has a big arm and can make the big throws down the field that wins games.  And you always have to be conscious of that and protect against it.  He's had a very, very good second year.  Baltimore hit the jackpot when they drafted him. 

 

(On Tom Brady): I heard a famous morning show guy saying that Tom Brady doesn't look the same.  The Tom Brady I watch is sharp, takes advantage of opportunities when they're there, and is playing very well.  So if he's hurt, I don't know.  Does it matter?  I only judge what I see on the field and Tom Brady is holding his end up.   

 

* * * * *

  

Following are THE NFL ON CBS assignments for the AFC Playoffs and Super Bowl XLIV (subject to change).

  

AFC WILD CARD GAME #2 - Jan. 10, 2010

  

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:

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

  

  

AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAME #1 - Saturday, Jan. 16

  

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

8:00 PM, ET starts:

TBD @ Indianapolis                 Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf                   Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman

  

AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAME #2 - Sunday, Jan. 17

  

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

4:40 PM, ET start:

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

  

  

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - Sunday, Jan. 24

  

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

3:00  PM, ET start:

TBD                                         Jim Nantz/Phil Simms                Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold

 

  

SUPER BOWL XLIV - Sunday, Feb. 7

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

6:00  PM, ET start:

TBD                                         Jim Nantz/Phil Simms                Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold

  

 

* * * * *

 

CBS Sports Contacts:  LeslieAnne Wade         212/975-5171              lwade@cbs.com

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

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

                                    Jen Sabatelle                212/975-4120              jsabatelle@cbs.com