The CBS Television Network continues its 51^st year broadcasting the NFL with coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Oct. 10 (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 Tennessee Titans-Dallas Cowboys game live from Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.  Lance Barrow is the coordinating producer and lead game producer and Mike Arnold is the lead game director.

 

Throughout the 2010 season, 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.

 

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PHIL SIMMS

(On Tennessee vs. Dallas): The Titans were accused of playing a little dirty last week against Denver. My thoughts on it? Good for them. It's not dirty.  It's edgy.  That is who they are and it's their style of play.  That's how they built their team and you have no choice.  You're going to play that style when you play them because they're going to make it that way. They're not going to go in the center ring and start throwing jabs. They want to get in and fight. They want it to get really messy. It's worked for them over the years and it is a credit to Jeff Fisher that he's built the team exactly the way he wants.  There are two big things to watch with the Dallas Cowboys. Has Dez Bryant gotten further along on the offense?  And then the big question is, will the Dallas Cowboys offensive line be able to play with Tennessee's defensive line?  Tennessee's defensive line may be the best in the NFL.  If it's not, it's because the Dallas Cowboys are the best.

  

  

DAN DIERDORF

(On Indianapolis): The one thing about Indianapolis is that they're a little angry right now.  They're living in a neighborhood they haven't lived in a while.  This is a team that normally explodes out of the gate and opens up the season with a run of wins that over the years has stretched to 13, 14 games.  Indianapolis is used to winning in September and October.  Now they're finding out how everybody else lives and they're not too happy about it.

 

(On Kansas City): Even though Kansas City has had two weeks to get ready for this game coming off the bye, I would suspect that they will encounter a pretty angry group of guys in blue when they get to Indianapolis.  Whether that translates into the Colts playing better defensively, we'll find out because they're going to be up against a really good running game of Kansas City.  They've got diversity in their backs with Thomas Jones, who is a guy that has been getting it done in this League for 11 years.  He runs with power that belies his size.  Then, they have the perfect complement to that type of runner in Jamaal Charles, who is exceedingly fast and quick.  And then they have Dexter McCluster, who some say has Chris Johnson-type speed.  He is an exciting guy when he gets the ball under his arm.

 

(On Kansas City-Indianapolis): I doubt that we can remember in recent memory the last undefeated team in a given NFL season; a) happening this early; and b) going into a game as the largest underdog of the week.  I think the Chiefs are taking that a little personally.

 

(On others' doubts about Kansas City): Kansas City was 4-12 a year ago.  Not just last year, but they've had a run of bad seasons, so three games does not erase recent history.    

 

(On this game being a "statement game" for Kansas City): This is a game where if they lose, it certainly is not the end of the world, especially in the AFC West.  Now if they get manhandled, that would certainly take away a little bit of your confidence.  But if they are to go to Indianapolis and pound the ball against the Colts and come out of there with a win, then who knows what could happen.  They could really catch fire.  For Kansas City, they have tons to gain and really not that much to lose.  Nobody wants to lose, but it has been a rare occurrence lately to go to Indianapolis and return home rockin' on because you just put it to the Colts.  That hasn't happened very often.

 

(On Peyton Manning): Peyton Manning is getting off to a phenomenal start.  With his receiving corps all banged up, he's practicing with practice squad guys.  For him to be playing at this level and this efficient with all the personnel changes going on around him, if you don't appreciate this guy's brilliance when you watch him play you're going to kick yourself when he's gone.

 

DAN FOUTS

(On Denver QB Kyle Orton and going up against Baltimore's Defense): I hope he doesn't have to run for his life because Denver cannot run the ball a lick.  You have to be able to run the ball somewhat. I know Orton is passing for 1,300 yards-or-so, but when you look at their rushing its just embarrassing - only 200 yards total rushing in four games.  It's going to be a long day for Denver if they can't get something going on the ground.

 

(On Baltimore's Defense stopping run): You always have to try to make a team one dimensional.  Baltimore is a very good run-stopping defense.  I'm sure the first thing that they would tell you is we're going to have to continue to give Denver negative thoughts about their rushing attack.  And then on the way to getting to the quarterback, we're going to try to stop the run.  Baltimore's defense has always been tough against the run.

  

 

(On Baltimore QB Joe Flacco): Once you lead your team to a victory like last week - on the road against an opponent such as Pittsburgh - it does a lot for your self confidence.  It also raises your esteem with the team. Now, everyone looks at you with different eyes. They say, 'Okay Joe Flacco has passed this test.'  It's just real positive for the entire team.  I expect to see Flacco improve.

  

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Following are THE NFL ON CBS assignments for Week 5, Week 6 and Week 7 (subject to change).

 

 

  

WEEK 5 - Oct. 10 - CBS DOUBLEHEADER

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:              

·Jacksonville @ Buffalo Gus Johnson/Steve Tasker                    Victor Frank/Mark Grant

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

·Kansas City @ Indianapolis     Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf                   Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman

 

4:15 PM, ET starts:

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

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

  

  

WEEK 6 - Oct. 17

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:              

·Miami @ Green Bay               Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts                             Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith

·San Diego @ St. Louis            Don Criqui/Steve Beuerlein                   Ross Schneiderman/Chris Svendsen

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

·Cleveland @ Pittsburgh           Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley

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

 

4:00 PM, ET starts:

·N.Y. Jets @ Denver                Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf                   Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman

·Oakland @ San Francisco       Bill Macatee/Rich Gannon                     Bob Dekas/Andy Goldberg

 

  

WEEK 7 - Oct. 24 - CBS DOUBLEHEADER

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:

·Cincinnati @ Atlanta                Gus Johnson/Steve Tasker                    Victor Frank/Mark Grant

·Pittsburgh @ Miami                 Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf                   Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman

·Buffalo @ Baltimore                Don Criqui/Steve Beuerlein                   Ross Schneiderman/Chris Svendsen

·Jacksonville @ Kansas City     Bill Macatee/Rich Gannon                     Bob Dekas/Andy Goldberg

·Cleveland @ New Orleans      Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley

 

4:15 PM, ET starts:

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

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

 

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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