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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