The CBS Television Network continues its 49^th year broadcasting the NFL with coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Nov. 2 (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 York Jets-Buffalo Bills game live from Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.  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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RANDY CROSS

(First Half Report Card) Offensive MVP: Clinton Portis; Defensive MVP: Joey Porter; Coach of the ½ Year: Dick Jauron...(Buffalo): Trent Edwards is the real deal.  The defense believes they can stop anyone and Dick Jauron has quietly and calmly done the best coaching job of early 2008. The next two weeks, all in the division, the Jets and at New England are "show me" games that will determine out-right control of the AFC East...(New England): This will be a playoff team by years end but keeping pace with the Bills may prove to be tough. The Patriots need to get in touch with their old "no stars" approach from earlier this decade...(NY Jets): The Jets have all the consistency of an 8-8 football team and that's with Brett Favre playing fairly well. If he goes below 50-50 any given day on touchdowns and interceptions they have serious issues...(Miami): This team is a year away from making serious noise but I expect them to make life miserable for teams not only in this division but anyone on their schedule...(Pittsburgh): Mike Tomlin has seamlessly added to the mix a renewed swagger while keeping all the traits of what has always set this team apart.  Short of a medical Armageddon, the Steelers are still clearly the class of the AFC North...(Baltimore): If this defense can hold up for another 10 games the Ravens stay in the hunt, but a couple of injuries and 2008 could get real long, real quick...(Cleveland): Was that Monday against the World Champs from New York or Sunday against the Jags the real you or just a bad tease?...(Tennessee): On defense the Titans are oppressive, persistent and down right nasty. You owe it to your football viewing pleasure to see the raw power of this defense.  And when you do, concentrate on the defensive line - a pack of carnivorous predators who race each other every down to the ball...(Jacksonville): The Jags are one of the leaders in the clubhouse for "Under Achievers" of the first half...(Denver): Somebody has to be in first place among this so far motley crew

 

in the AFC West.  Every defense in the division is on pace to give up about 400 points for a season.  That has to be some kind of record...(Oakland): Like Mom always said, 'If you can't say something nice, don't say anything.'  I'm not going to go against my Mom...(NY Giants): Not flashy just real solid football is their calling card.  They are a reflection of their head coach Tom Coughlin and quietly, still the best team in the NFL...(Washington): Enjoy the high right now because it isn't going to last the year...(Dallas): Tony Romo comes up huge the rest of the way in the regular season...(Chicago): Chicago is the second best team in the NFC North behind the Packers...(Detroit): I've been on teams this bad.  Anyone who survives a season like this and sees the next decade is either extremely lucky or one of the top players at their position in the NFL...(Tampa Bay): Despite not making enough plays to beat Dallas on Sunday, the Bucs are still the team to beat in the NFC South...(Atlanta): Atlanta is the NFL's feel good story of 2008 after going through a largely self-induced "Nightmare on Peachtree Street" last season. It isn't realistic to think this team can win a playoff spot this season, but you would be hard-pressed to convince anyone in the Falcons locker room that this isn't their season...(New Orleans): The defense is average and the running game is erratic but as long as they have Drew Brees at quarterback and Sean Payton calling plays, they can beat anyone...(Arizona): This is the best team in a sorry NFC West division...(Seattle): This is no way for a great coach and a quality person like Mike Holmgren to leave the NFL...(San Francisco): Right now the Bay Area is where football goes to die.  When it comes to the prospects for the two NFL franchises, the "Black Hole" isn't a part of the Oakland Coliseum stands, it is a spot equidistant between the Raiders and 49ers towards which they are both sliding.

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Following are THE NFL ON CBS assignments for Week 9, Week 10 and Week 11 (subject to change).

  

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

 

WEEK 10 - Nov. 9 - DOUBLEHEADER

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:              

·Tennessee @ Chicago Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf                    Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman

·Jacksonville @ Detroit Kevin Harlan/Rich Gannon                    Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley           

·Cincinnati @ Houston Ian Eagle/Solomon Wilcots                     Bob Dekas/Andy Goldberg

·Buffalo @ New England          Dick Enberg/Randy Cross                    Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith

 

4:15 PM, ET starts:

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

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

(More)

THE NFL ON CBS Week 9 Notes...3

  

WEEK 11 - Nov. 16 - DOUBLEHEADER

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:

·Denver @ Atlanta                    Kevin Harlan/Rich Gannon                    Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley

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

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

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

·Baltimore @ N.Y. Giants         Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf                   Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman

 

4:15 PM, ET starts:

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

 

 

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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