The CBS Television Network continues its 49^th year broadcasting the NFL with doubleheader coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Oct. 19 (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 Indianapolis Colts-Green Bay Packers game live from Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisc.  Lance Barrow is the coordinating producer and lead game producer and Mike Arnold is the lead game director.

 

Throughout the 2008 season, THE NFL ON CBS will broadcast virtually 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 Indianapolis): The number one question, are the Colts I saw last week against the Baltimore Ravens for real? Will they show up again this week?  Or, will we see it every three weeks?  I'm not saying they're going to win at Green Bay.  But, if it is the same team that showed up last week, Indianapolis will be a factor the rest of the year in the NFL.  I understand they didn't play the most wide open offense against the Ravens last week, but the speed, the unity, the cohesion, however you want to explain it, was there on defense. Peyton Manning was sharp, healthy and strong.  Probably the biggest story I got out of that game was watching Marvin Harrison run around the field. He was quick and fast and showed no lingering effects from the knee injury from last year...(On Green Bay): For the Green Bay Packers, of course I'm anxious to watch Aaron Rodgers and see if I notice a difference in their offense compared to the Brett Favre years.  I don't think I will. Most importantly, I want to see this Green Bay defense which I thought would advance from where they were last year.  I know they've had injuries and it's been tough, but it has not performed as well as I thought it would, to this point. This will be a good week to gauge their physical capabilities just because of who the offense is going up against...(On Indianapolis-Green Bay): This game is a good measuring stick for both teams. Indianapolis going on the road, on grass - let's see how the show travels. And for the Green Bay Packers, I am looking to see how they measure up against a top flight NFL team.  And, to see if they're capable of duplicating what they did last year.

  

DAN DIERDORF

(On San Diego): For the Chargers, they have a double-whammy in having to pack their bags for a longer trip as they are going on to London to play New Orleans next week.  Buffalo is a heckuva place to have to stop and play on your way to London.  Most people go to London for a vacation.  For the Chargers, this is anything but a vacation...(On playing in Buffalo and getting off to a quick start): I'm expecting this to be a raucous crowd in Buffalo.  It's always a hard place to play.  Anybody that goes to Buffalo would like to get those fans sitting on their hands early, but it's going to take more than a seven or 10 point lead to rattle this crowd.  They are pretty savvy.  These Buffalo fans know how to act.  They are awfully rabid in their support of the Bills.  It's going to take some doing to get them quiet, but if you can pull off a quick start, it's a big plus.  The temperature is supposed to be in the 50s but a lot of times it can be windy in Buffalo.  It will be interesting to see how that plays into the San Diego passing game...(On San Diego QB Philip Rivers): Philip Rivers just tore up New England throwing the football with a lot of long bombs.  San Diego has proven that they have the ability to make the big strike.  Philip Rivers is playing with an awful lot of confidence and he's doing a really good job of taking care of the football.  He has 14 touchdowns against four interceptions.  That is outstanding play.  That is what you look for in a quarterback.  To have twice as many touchdowns than interceptions is very good.  To have more than three times as many is superlative...(More on San Diego): This is a really good San Diego team with a chance to go to a winning record at 4-3.  They are looking at this as a huge game for them.  Last week a couple of their players even said, 'This is a must-win game' (against New England).  This is certainly not a must-win game.  But let's face it, if the Chargers are going to be what we all thought they were going to be, this is the kind of game that they have to win.  If you think you are good enough to go to the Super Bowl, than these are the kind of games you have to be good enough to win...(On Buffalo and QB Trent Edwards): For Buffalo, this is the type of game that is, 'Are you real, or are you rumor?'  The bye came at the right time for Trent Edwards to move past that concussion.  Trent Edwards has to be all the way back.  He has to be completely over the cobwebs from the concussion...(On San Diego-Buffalo): This might be a game of big plays.  These are two teams that have both shown the ability to make big plays.

 

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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. 19 - DOUBLEHEADER

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:              

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

·Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati            Kevin Harlan/Rich Gannon                    Ken Mack/Bryan Lilley

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

·Baltimore @ Miami                 Bill Macatee/Steve Beuerlein                 Ross Schneiderman/Chris Svendsen

 

4:15 PM, ET starts:

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

·Cleveland @ Washington         Ian Eagle/Solomon Wilcots                   Bob Dekas/Andy Goldberg

·N.Y. Jets @ Oakland              Dick Enberg/Randy Cross/Dan Fouts    Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith

 

 

WEEK 8 - Oct. 26

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:

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

·Oakland @ Baltimore Ian Eagle/Solomon Wilcots                     Bob Dekas/Andy Goldberg

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

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

 

4:05 PM, ET starts:

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

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

 

* SD-NO game played in London, England

 

 

WEEK 9 - Nov. 2

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:              

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

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

·Baltimore @ Cleveland            Kevin Harlan/Rich Gannon                    Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley

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

 

4:05 PM, ET starts:

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