The CBS Television Network, home of Super Bowl XLVII, continues its 53^rd year broadcasting the NFL with coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Dec. 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 live from the Pittsburgh Steelers-Baltimore Ravens game from M&T Bank Stadium.  Lance Barrow is the coordinating producer and lead game producer and Mike Arnold is the lead game director.

           Sean McManus is Chairman, CBS Sports, and serves as Executive Producer of CBS Sports’ coverage of THE NFL ON CBS.  Harold Bryant is Executive Producer and Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

 

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PHIL SIMMS

(On Pittsburgh’s quarterback situation): I thought Pittsburgh’s back-up quarterback situation was in great hands.  Not only did they have one, they had two, because they’ve proven it in the past with other teams.  But just as important, they’ve proven it with the Steelers.  I’m sure even the Steelers are surprised that their offense hasn’t played better, even with the back-ups.  People tend to over-react when the back-up doesn’t do well.  But let’s remember, he’s the back-up for a reason and not the starter.  And he’s definitely not getting near the work that the starter gets.  So you can’t expect the same precision on the offensive side.  What you have to see is more ingenuity from the offensive coordinator when the back-up is in there.

(On possibility of Ben Roethlisberger playing): If I had to give a yes or no answer at this point as to whether he will play, I’d say yes.  Knowing his history, and knowing that the Steelers really need him, if they lose this game their margin of error goes down to almost nothing.  Considering that situation, I would expect Ben Roethlisberger to play if there is any chance.

(On Baltimore): The thing about Baltimore that was jumping out at me when I watched their team is I kept thinking that this will be the end of their great defensive era.  But now as I watch them more the last three or four weeks, I’m starting to think that I may have listened to others too much and took their word for it, which is wrong.  I’m definitely seeing things on the defensive side that would give me great hope if I was a Baltimore fan.  They can still get it done.  They have some names that people don’t talk about: Corey Graham, Dannell Ellerbe, No. 59.  These guys jump off the screen when I watch them on TV.          

 

DAN DIERDORF

(On New England): The Patriots are just playing lights-out football.  Coaching staffs always go back and watch the four previous games really closely.  I’m sure that wasn’t a fun experience for the Miami coaching staff, especially the defensive coaching staff.  You can’t play offensive football any better than the Patriots have been playing it on this five-game winning streak. 

(On New England QB Tom Brady): There has been so much attention lavished on Peyton Manning, and justifiably so for the year he’s having, that you just don’t hear Tom Brady’s name kicked around when the MVP discussion is taking place.  You just hear people wonder if Manning going to win the MVP and the Comeback Player of the Year in the same year.  But Tom Brady has had 24 touchdowns and only three interceptions.  He’s 35-years-old and he’s never looked better.  He’s looking just like he looked back in 2007 when he threw 50 touchdowns.  It’s quite a sight to see.

(On Miami): Miami has a new system, a new coach and is a team trying to establish an identity.   There’s a lot to like about this Miami team, but any way you look at it, it’s a rookie quarterback going up against Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.  I have no idea what Belichick’s career record is against rookie quarterbacks, but I would imagine that it’s staggeringly high in his favor.   

(Key for Miami): Miami is going to have to re-create the running performance they had against Seattle last week. Sometimes the old strategies that worked 50 years ago still work today. Miami has to shorten the game and possess the football.  They have to keep Tom Brady on the sideline, and you do that by effectively running the football.  If Miami cannot run the football, if they are forced to have Ryan Tannehill try to win the game by throwing, that will play right into the Patriots’ hands.  And that will be trouble.  Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas are going to have to get loose. They’re going to have to get away from Vince Wilfork somehow and have a big day.

 

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Following are THE NFL ON CBS assignments for Week 13, Week 14 and Week 15 (subject to change).

 

 

WEEK 13 – Dec. 2 – DOUBLEHEADER

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST            PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:              

·Indianapolis @ Detroit         Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts                           Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith

·Jacksonville @ Buffalo        Spero Dedes/Steve Beuerlein             Ken Mack/Jim Cornell

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

·Houston @ Tennessee           Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots         Jim Rikhoff/Mark Grant

 

4:25 PM, ET starts:

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

·Cleveland @ Oakland           Bill Macatee/Steve Tasker                 Victor Frank/Chris Svendsen

·Cincinnati @ San Diego       Marv Albert/Rich Gannon                 Ross Schneiderman/Andy Goldberg

 

 

WEEK 14 – Dec. 9

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST            PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:              

·Baltimore @ Washington        Marv Albert/Rich Gannon               Ross Schneiderman/Andy Goldberg

·Kansas City @ Cleveland       Bill Macatee/Steve Tasker              Victor Frank/Chris Svendsen

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

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

·N.Y. Jets @ Jacksonville        Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots        Jim Rikhoff/Mark Grant

 

4:00 PM, ET starts:

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

 

 

WEEK 15 – Dec. 16 – CBS DOUBLEHEADER

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST            PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:              

·Jacksonville @ Miami             Marv Albert/Rich Gannon               Ross Schneiderman/Andy Goldberg

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

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

 

4:25 PM, ET starts:

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

·Kansas @ Oakland               Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots        Jim Rikhoff/Mark Grant

 

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Follow CBS Sports on Twitter: @CBSSportsGang and @NFLonCBS, #CBSSuperBowl

 

CBS Sports Contacts:

Jen Sabatelle            212-975-4120             jsabatelle@cbs.com

Robin Brendle            212-975-1533             rlbrendle@cbs.com

Jerry Caraccioli          212-975-7466             gwcaraccioli@cbs.com