The CBS Television Network continues its 51^st year broadcasting the NFL with coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Oct. 24 (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 New England Patriots-San Diego Chargers game live from Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Calif.  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 San Diego surprising 2-4 record): When you look at the San Diego Chargers you say, 'Wow there are a lot of good things about this team on both sides of the ball to like.'  The talent; the plays they run; the execution of a lot of the plays - it's very good.  But when it's bad, it's so bad that it costs them the game.  It's like in golf. It's not about hitting the great shots.  It's about not hitting the really bad ones. That is what they are doing now.  When they hit it bad, they really hit it bad. There is no doubt it has cost them three games - Kansas City, Seattle and Oakland.  They probably got out-played by St. Louis. They had to come away from those three other losses thinking they let one get away.  Those feelings should be felt. You can't make errors in judgment and technique at the wrong time.  That is what the NFL is about. You can have 50 solid plays and two that can cost you the game.  You can't make game-changing errors.

 

(On New England): After watching them last week, for the first time I am starting to believe that all the changes will make their football team better.  But I am like all fans, I want to see it right now and here they are at 4-1.  Last week I saw the talent of their defense rise up at times.  I did see a different feeling about their offense because of Deion Branch.  But the sample is still not big enough.  We have to see more. But the hope is there with some new impressive parts on their team. It won't be solely relying on Wes Welker to get it done.  I saw the two rookies on defense, linebackers Brandon Spikes and Jermaine Cunningham, who are showing talent and knowledge to get it done on the field. Then you have the rookie corner Devin McCourty. You look at these three rookies and they give New England a chance.  Because of this, their defense could keep going upward.

    

DAN DIERDORF

(On Ben Roethlisberger's return): He looked comfortable.  A couple of throws went where he didn't want, but overall I would think he had to be pretty pleased.  He's one of the five best quarterbacks in football, what would you expect? 

  

(On Cream of Crop so far): There are a group of teams that are on a level above everybody else at this point in the season.  They are Pittsburgh, the Jets, Baltimore, and after their performance last week, I move the Patriots up there as well.  Those four teams at this stage seem to be playing better football than any other team in the League.  There is a long way to go, but those four teams are way better than any team I've seen in the NFC.   

  

(On Miami and keeping pace in AFC East): You look at how weak some of the other divisions in the NFL are, and then you look at the AFC East and see how loaded it is, nobody said life was fair.  Heck, I played my whole career in the NFC East (with St. Louis) and we were always chasing Dallas and Washington.  Nobody really cares about your predicament.  But the Dolphins are playing good football.  They are one of these teams on an upward curve.  They are better than they were last year.  Tony Sparano is doing a heckuva job coaching that football team.  When I look at them they are on a graph that has an upward arrow to it. 

 

(On Pittsburgh's defense going against Miami WR Brandon Marshall): I know the Steelers' defense doesn't fear anybody, but there is not a defensive back in football that looks forward to the week when you have to play Brandon Marshall.  In an era when many may be looking for the sidelines, Brandon Marshall is looking for someone to run over.

 

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Following are THE NFL ON CBS assignments for Week 7, Week 8 and Week 9 (subject to change).

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEEK 8 - Oct. 31

 

GAME                              PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:        

·Denver @ San Francisco* Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf       Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman

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

·Miami @ Cincinnati   Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots    Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley

·Buffalo @ Kansas City      Gus Johnson/Steve Tasker        Ken Mack/Jim Cornell

 

4:00 PM, ET starts:

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

 

* Wembley Stadium in London

 

  

WEEK 9 - Nov. 7 - CBS DOUBLEHEADER

 

GAME                              PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:        

·N.Y. Jets @ Detroit          Gus Johnson/Steve Tasker        Victor Frank/Mark Grant

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

·New England @ Cleveland      Bill Macatee/Rich Gannon         Bob Dekas/Andy Goldberg

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

 

4:15 PM, ET starts:

·Indianapolis @ Philadelphia     Jim Nantz/Phil Simms          Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold

·Kansas City @ Oakland    Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots Ken Mack/Jim Cornell

 

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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