ESPN’s Weekend and Monday NFL Studio Features

ESPN’s Weekend and Monday NFL Studio Features

ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown Presented by IBM will preview the day’s NFL matchups Sunday at 11 a.m. ET with Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson.  ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen and NFL insider Adam Schefter will provide headlines and league news.

The program will include reports from Bob Holtzman covering the Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals, Ed Werder at the Bears-Cowboys game, Michael Smith in Minnesota for the Dolphins at Vikings, Rachel Nichols at the Patriots-Jets game, and George Smith covering the Philadelphia Eagles at Detroit Lions.  Other highlights:

Bill Belichick vs. Rex Ryan Pressers: The personae of Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Jets head coach Rex Ryan are polar opposites in how they present themselves to media.  Rachel Nichols uncovers the differences between a Ryan press conference and a Belichick press conference, and the effect it has on the media who cover these coaches and the players they lead.

Arian Foster: The Poet and Running Back: Texans running back Arian Foster burst onto the NFL scene last Sunday, rushing for 231 yards and three touchdowns in a Week 1 victory over the Colts.  A philosophy major at the University of Tennessee, Foster is also a budding poet.  Chris Connelly reports how Foster, in his poetry, explains the arc of a career that transformed him from undrafted free agent last season to overnight NFL sensation.

Peyton and Eli – A Manning Mix: The Manning brothers, both Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks, continue their NFL sibling rivalry.  YouTube sensation DJ Porter, who put music to the public chatter of Bengals receivers T.O. and Ochocinco last Sunday on Countdown, returns to capture memorable moments on the field, soundbites and commercials which define the first family of NFL quarterbacks.

“Mayne Event” – Soft Knocks: While Jets head coach Rex Ryan drew a lot of attention this summer for his profanity-laced language in the HBO series Hard Knocks, the Titans and their head coach Jeff Fisher were filming a similar show that is only just making its way to cable TV on Mayne Event.  This week, Kenny Mayne features a special edition of the Titans’ Soft Knocks.

Dueling Ditkas: Countdown’s Ditka, a Hall of Fame player himself as a tight end for the Bears and Cowboys, offers his unique perspective on the performances of his former teams – the Bears’ near-loss and Cowboys’ loss – in Dueling Ditkas.

EA Sports Virtual Playbook – Redskins’ 3-4 Defense: In EA Sports Virtual Playbook, Tom Jackson breaks down the Redskins’ 3-4 defense vs. Arian Foster and the Texans’ running offense.

Film Room – Darrelle Revis vs. Randy Moss: There is no love lost between Patriots explosive wide receiver Randy Moss and Jets shutdown cornerback Darrelle Revis.  Merril Hoge goes to the film room to explain the importance of the Moss vs. Revis matchup.

Berman, Carter, Ditka, Jackson and Johnson will pick the biggest games of the day and tell fans which players will make the biggest impact as “Breakout Performer” in NFL’s Week 2 action.  The list of game picks will be posted on www.espn.com/sundaycountdown after the show.  In addition, ESPN fantasy guru Matthew Berry will offer his top fantasy sleepers for the week.

MONDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWN, 7 P.M. ON ESPN

Monday Night Countdown Served by Applebee’s with Berman, Carter, Ditka, Jackson, Johnson, Mortensen and Schefter (in Bristol) and Stuart Scott, Matt Millen and Steve Young (at the MNF game in San Francisco) will review Sunday’s games and preview Monday Night Football.  The 90-minute, pre-game show will lead into the New Orleans Saints at San Francisco (8:30 p.m.) game, featuring Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski. Reporters Suzy Kolber (Saints) and Michele Tafoya (49ers) will cover the teams.  Other highlights:

Saints 2009 Soundtracks: From a 13-0 start to a thrilling overtime victory over the Vikings at home in the NFC Championship, 2009 was an historic season for the Saints.  This week’s “Soundtracks” features the best compilation of in-game audio and highlights of the Saints’ championship season.

“Gruden Extra” with Patrick Willis: Countdown’s “Gruden Extra,” featuring Super Bowl-winning coach and Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden in sit-down, Xs and Os breakdown of key game film with a player, will feature San Francisco linebacker Patrick Willis, one of the league’s best at his position.

Mike Singletary Conversation with Mike Ditka: Few coach-player combinations have stood the test of time like former Bears head coach Mike Ditka and his Hall of Fame linebacker, Mike Singletary.  Ditka and Singletary defined an era in Bears history that included a Super Bowl XX victory.  Singletary, now 49ers head coach, is trying to build a new legacy in the Bay Area.  After a surprising week 1 loss to the Seahawks, Singletary sits down for a hard-hitting conversation with Ditka.

WEEKLY MONDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWN SEGMENTS

TEAMS AT 20 – Every 20 minutes reporters Tafoya and Kolber will update news from the teams in their preparations for the game, beginning with NFL Live at 3:30 p.m.

FIELD PASS – Countdown offers an all-access look at pre-game preparations as the players get ready for kickoff.  Analysts will also breakdown the important storylines and key players before the game.

C’MON MAN – Countdown personalities share their head-scratching plays from Week 2.

In addition, Monday Night Football’s Tirico, Jaworski and Gruden will preview the night’s matchup, with Mortensen and Schefter covering breaking news from around the league, and the Countdown analysts offering their predictions for the game.

NFL MATCHUP, SUNDAY 4:30 A.M. AND 7:30 A.M. ON ESPN; 5:30 AM ON ESPN2

NFL Matchup with host Sal Paolantonio and analysts Merril Hoge and Ron Jaworski will preview the weekend’s games by bringing viewers inside the film room for the Xs and Os analysis of the matchups.  The 30-minute program – taped each week at NFL Films in Mt. Laurel, N.J. – highlights team strategy and game planning.  This week’s features:

Patriots @ Jets – While the Jets’ exotic schemes on defense can make most quarterbacks panic, it also creates occasional opportunities for big plays by the opposing offense.  Jaworski reveals how too many Jets disguises leave defenders out of position and vulnerable, especially against a quarterback like Tom Brady.

Giants @ Colts – Jaworski illustrates how the Giants must attack Indy’s defense on the ground – like the Texans did in week 1 – and avoid a Manning shootout to win on Sunday night.

Ravens @ Bengals – The Ravens defense, traditionally strong against the run, allowed a 100-yard rusher in both games last year against the Bengals. Hoge uses his “Clicker” to show how the Bengals use alignment and run-design to successfully attack Baltimore’s defense.

Steelers @ Titans – Jaworski shows how Tennessee quarterback Vince Young, aligned with Chris Johnson on the outside with a two-on-one matchup against a defender in the Titans’ counter-option, yields successful plays against any defense.

Texans @ Redskins – Hoge goes back to film from last season to show how the Texans’ running game will perform against the Redskins’ 3-4 defense.

Bears @ Cowboys – Hoge believes the Bears’ defense might be the perfect remedy for the Cowboys offense, as he explains how Dallas will attack the Bears’ cover-2.

Saints @ 49ers – Jaworski opens his “Playbook” to show how head coach Sean Payton creates mismatches for receiver Marques Colston in the Saints’ imaginative and versatile offense.

Eagles @ Lions – Hoge explains how Michael Vick has the ability and athleticism to do things that no human should be able to do when scripted plays break down.