Release
THE NFL ON CBS: WEEK 14 (SUNDAY, DEC. 7) AUDIBLES WITH "NFL ON CBS" LEAD ANALYST PHIL SIMMS AND RICH GANNON
The CBS Television Network continues its 49th year broadcasting the NFL with coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Dec. 7 (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-San Francisco 49ers game, live from Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif. 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 New York Jets-San Francisco): A couple of things to watch for: The 49ers won in Buffalo. They showed a lot of emotion and enthusiasm. They're going to believe more in their coach and they're going home. The 49ers have shown over the last four or five years, even when they've struggled and they weren't a good team, that emotionally they can play these unbelievable games out of nowhere against good opponents. So, that is one of the big concerns that the Jets are going to have, and should have. Are they emotionally going to be able to match the energy the 49ers are going to have playing against them?...(On Jets rebounding from last week's loss): When you lose in the NFL, despite all the nice things that were being said about them last week, it makes you go back to having a sense of urgency. And, it makes you realize how hard it is to win in this league. If you're not emotionally into it, alert and focused on what you're going to do, anybody can beat you. That rule has been reinforced to the Jets once again.
RICH GANNON
(On Buffalo): Without underestimating it, this is a critical game for both teams. It's particularly critical for Buffalo who has lost five-of-their-last-six and three-in-a-row. They are reeling. Whether or not Trent Edwards plays will certainly have an impact on the game. He gives them the best chance to win - the numbers spell that out. Although, he hasn't played particularly well since he suffered a concussion against the Cardinals in Week 5. J.P. Losman is not the same player as Trent Edwards. Offensively, when you watch the Bills on film they are out of sync. In four trips in the Red Zone last week, they missed two field goals, fumbled, and only came away with three points. Buffalo had a chance to win. To lose to a team like the 49ers at home was really painful to watch. So now at 6-6, they have to run the table to have any chance...(On Miami): The Dolphins are in a similar situation at 7-5. When you look at where they were a year ago, Miami is one of the real surprise stories, a big turnaround in the NFL. A lot has to do with the play of Chad Pennington. He has been spectacular and has given them a chance to win each and every week by his production and efficiency. He brings a tremendous amount of leadership to that football team. And they have two good running backs in Ronnie Brown and Reggie Williams...(On Miami-Buffalo): Neither team is doing a whole lot defensively. They are both middle-of-the-pack teams, so this could be a high-scoring game in Toronto. I have no idea whether there's an upset or not, but I do like Miami on the road against Buffalo. Miami is healthier and has been more consistent throughout the year. They are two teams going in completely opposite directions. Miami is continuing to make a charge for the playoffs and Buffalo is beginning to run out of gas...(More on Buffalo's woes) Field goal kicking - what a mess that has been. You talk about a team that's struggling right now. Rian Lindell misses two field goals last week from 20 yards and 40 yards. Before that he made 53 straight field goals from inside 40 yards. Even one of your most consistent players and most accurate kickers in the game can't deliver the play last week. This has been a major meltdown in Buffalo.
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Following are THE NFL ON CBS assignments for Week 14, Week 15 and Week 16 (subject to change).
WEEK 14 - Dec. 7
GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR
1:00 PM, ET starts:
·Jacksonville @ Chicago Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman
·Houston @ Green Bay Gus Johnson/Steve Tasker Victor Frank/Mark Grant
·Cincinnati @ Indianapolis Ian Eagle/Solomon Wilcots Bob Dekas/Andy Goldberg
·Cleveland @ Tennessee Don Criqui/Dan Fouts Ken Mack/Jim Cornell
4:05 PM, ET starts:
·Kansas City @ Denver Bill Macatee/Steve Beuerlein Ross Schneiderman/Chris Svendsen
·N.Y. Jets @ San Francisco Jim Nantz/Phil Simms Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold
·Miami @ Buffalo* Kevin Harlan/Rich Gannon Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley
·New England @ Seattle Dick Enberg/Randy Cross Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith
* Game played in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
WEEK 15 - Dec. 14 - DOUBLEHEADER
GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR
1:00 PM, ET starts:
·Tennessee @ Houston Gus Johnson/Steve Tasker Victor Frank/Mark Grant
·San Diego @ Kansas City Ian Eagle/Solomon Wilcots Ken Mack/Andy Goldberg
·Buffalo @ N.Y. Jets Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman
4:15 PM, ET starts:
·New England @ Oakland Kevin Harlan/Rich Gannon Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley
·Pittsburgh @ Baltimore Jim Nantz/Phil Simms Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold
·Denver @ Carolina Dick Enberg/Randy Cross/Dan Fouts Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith
WEEK 16 - Dec. 21
GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR
1:00 PM, ET starts:
·Cincinnati @ Cleveland TBD
·Miami @ Kansas City TBD
·Pittsburgh @ Tennessee Jim Nantz/Phil Simms Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold
4:05 PM, ET starts:
·N.Y. Jets @ Seattle TBD
·Houston @ Oakland TBD
·Buffalo @ Denver TBD
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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
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Bailey Knecht
212-975-1533 Bailey.Knecht@viacomcbs.com -
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Randall Liu
212-975-5936 randall.liu@viacomcbs.com