FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

49ers/Eagles Clash in Philly; Packers/Steelers Battle in Pittsburgh

Billick: “Rest vs. Rust For Saints & Colts”

Bradshaw:  Saints Need To Have Balanced Attack

EAGLES AND PACKERS LOOK TO STAY ON WINNING TRACK – The 2009 NFL on FOX campaign rolls into Week 15 on Sunday, Dec. 20 with double header coverage of six exciting matchups. The 1:00 PM ET matchups kick off with Donovan McNabb and the Eagles hosting Frank Gore and the 49ers. Both teams come off big wins versus division rivals and have an eye focused on the playoffs. Winners of three-in-a-row, Thomas Jones and the Jets aim to continue their climb back into the AFC playoff race when they host the Falcons. Ray Rice and the Ravens, another team looking to remain in the crowded AFC wild card picture, welcome Jay Cutler and the Bears to Baltimore for an interconference matchup. Also at 1:00 PM, Kurt Warner and the Cardinals are in Detroit to take on the Lions. The marquee matchup at 4:15 PM features two of the NFL most storied franchises when Aaron Rodgers and the surging Packers travel to Pittsburgh to face Ben Roethlisberger and the struggling Steelers. Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver call all the action from Heinz Field.

Coverage begins at 12:00 PM ET with America’s most-watched pregame show, FOX NFL SUNDAY.  Terry Bradshaw and Curt Menefee co-host the Emmy Award-winning program and are joined by analysts Howie Long, Michael Strahan and Jimmy Johnson.  The crew is joined by NFL Insider Jay Glazer who presents the latest league news and scoops in the FOX NFL SUNDAY studio and comedic prognosticator Frank Caliendo contributes his weekly “Frank’s Picks” segment. In this week’s show, Menefee examines what has befallen the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. The guys cover the field and break down how to cover kickoff and punt returns.

For instant updates during the week and games from the entire NFL on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NFLONFOX. Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.myspace.com/foxsports.

GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST/SIDELINE COV. TIME

San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles              Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston                         51%        1:00PM

& Tony Siragusa

Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, PA

MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Austin, Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Greensboro, Houston, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Memphis, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Portland, Raleigh, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, Tulsa, Washington

Atlanta Falcons at New York Jets                                 Dick Stockton, Charles Davis                         24%       1:00PM

& Laura Okmin

Meadowlands Stadium – East Rutherford, NJ

MARKETS INCLUDE: Atlanta, Birmingham, Boston, Fort Myers, Greenville, Hartford, Jacksonville, Miami, New York, Orlando, Providence, West Palm Beach

Chicago Bears at Baltimore Ravens                            Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick                      16%       1:00PM

& Chris Myers

M&T Bank Stadium – Baltimore, MD

MARKETS INCLUDE: Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Indianapolis, Louisville, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh

Arizona Cardinals at Detroit Lions                                Sam Rosen & Tim Ryan                     3%       1:00PM

Ford Field – Detroit, MI

MARKETS INCLUDE: Phoenix

Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers                 Joe Buck, Troy Aikman                                      90%      4:15PM

& Pam Oliver

Heinz Field – Pittsburgh, PA

MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, Detroit, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Providence, Raleigh, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Francisco, St. Louis, Tulsa, Washington, West Palm Beach

Tampa Bay Bucs at Seattle Seahawks                        Ron Pitts, John Lynch                                           7%      4:15PM

Nischelle Turner

Qwest Field – Seattle. WA

MARKETS INCLUDE: Fort Myers, Orlando, Portland, Seattle, Tampa

BRIAN BILLICK: “REST VS. RUST FOR THE SAINTS & COLTS” – “It’s great to be in the Saints’ and Colts’ position heading into Week 14.  However, it’s a no-win situation.  It’s the old question of rest vs. rust,” said NFL on FOX analyst Brian Billick.  The game analyst and former NFL head coach recalls a conversation with Peyton Manning last year.  “In talking with Peyton, I got the sense that he was in a frame of mind to play it through.  Peyton looked at Eli when he made his Super Bowl run and saw that the Giants had to play it all the way through.  They had to win at the end of the season to get into the playoffs and he kind of thought that was the way to go.  Now, exactly how long your key guys should play is another question.  I’m less concerned with whether they play in the game or not but if you’ve got the last week or two off, then what about practices?  That could be two to three weeks, maybe even a month where there’s a lack of focus at practice, particularly if you know you’re not going to play.”

BRADSHAW IS WORRIED ABOUT THE UNDEFEATED SAINTS – With the undefeated New Orleans Saints facing a hungry Dallas Cowboys team this Saturday, FOX NFL SUNDAY co-host Terry Bradshaw worries that New Orleans hasn’t been running the ball much on offense.  “The Saints have been balanced all season, but I’m a little concerned about these past two games.  This is two weeks in a row now that they’ve rushed for under 100 yards,” said Bradshaw.  The four-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback says championship teams rely on their running game at the end of the year.  “I’m old school. Championship teams have to run the ball at the end of the season and New Orleans managed only 95 yards on 26 carries against the Falcons on Sunday.”

To read more on this subject from Terry and to view our newly redesigned website log onto:  http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/121409-saints-aint-perfect