FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES
Final Playoff Push: NFL on FOX Week 17 Doubleheader Action
Giants/Vikings * Bears/Texans * Rams/Falcons * Panthers/Saints * Cowboys/Eagles
Define NFC Postseason Picture Sunday on FOX
Billick: Falcons Look Ready for Super Bowl Run
NFL ON FOX WEEK 17: LOTS OF PLAYOFF SCENARIOS – With two playoffs spots in the NFC still up for grabs, the NFL on FOX wraps up its 15th regular season with an eight-game doubleheader on Sunday, Dec. 28. Beginning with the 1:00 PM ET games, the Minnesota Vikings will lock up one of those playoff spots as champion of the NFC North with a victory over the No. 1-seeded Giants in Minneapolis. The Panthers can clinch the No. 2 seed and a bye in the first round with a victory in New Orleans or see themselves playing on the road Wild Card weekend with a loss and a Falcons win. After a tumultuous 2007, the Falcons can finish 2008 as NFC South champions with a win at the Rams and a Carolina loss. In Houston, the Bears look to keep their playoff hopes alive when they take on the Texans. Also, the Packers host the Lions. At 4:15 PM ET, the Cowboys can punch their ticket to the postseason with a win over the Eagles. Philadelphia’s slim playoff hopes hinge on a win and help. Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver call all the action live from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. The second half of FOX’s doubleheader concludes with the Redskins at 49ers and the Seahawks at Cardinals.
Coverage begins at 12:00 PM ET with America’s most-watched pregame show, FOX NFL SUNDAY. Co-hosts Terry Bradshaw and Curt Menefee join analysts Howie Long, Jimmy Johnson and Michael Strahan to provide insightful opinions on the NFL. The NFL’s best insider, Jay Glazer, breaks the latest information from the FOXSports.com newsroom. Jillian Reynolds provides the latest, most complete and accurate game day forecasts while critically acclaimed comedic impressionist Frank Caliendo makes his entertaining weekly picks. This week, Bradshaw presents his own humorous look at the players and coaches who have made their mark on the 2008 NFL season, as he hands out his annual “Terry Awards.” Categories include but are not limited to the “Coach Who Never Panics,” “Tough Guy of the Year” and awards for “Great Player” and “Great Hair.”
BILLICK: THE FALCONS ARE BUILT TO MAKE A RUN AT THE SUPER BOWL – The Falcons have already made 2008 a season to remember with their postseason ticket punched and a No. 2 seed and first-round bye within sight if they beat the Rams and the Panthers lose. NFL on FOX analyst Brian Billick looks the reasons that Atlanta could continue their run all the way to Super Bowl XLIII. “The Falcons are built for success in the playoffs. It was big for them to go on the road last week in a very tough environment in Minnesota and win that game. It looks to me like they could make a legitimate run to the Super Bowl. You look at the NFC playoff picture and the Giants are a dramatically different team with or without Brandon Jacobs, so an injury will affect them tremendously. Carolina is an outstanding football team and Atlanta has beaten Carolina. I think the fact that they have a chance to jump from a No. 5 to a No. 2 seed and get a bye in the first round this weekend shows you that they are a force.”
GAME BROADCASTERS COV. TIME
New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings Announcer Dick Stockton 66% 1:00PM
Analyst Brian Baldinger
Sideline Reporter Laura Okmin
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, Denver, Fort Myers, Hartford, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Providence, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tulsa, Washington, West Palm Beach
Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints Announcer Kenny Albert 8% 1:00PM
Analyst Daryl Johnston
On-Field Analyst Tony Siragusa
MARKETS INCLUDE: Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Knoxville, New Orleans, Raleigh
St. Louis Rams at Atlanta Flacons Announcer Sam Rosen 7% 1:00PM
Analyst Tim Ryan
Sideline Reporter Chris Myers
MARKETS INCLUDE: Atlanta, Birmingham, Jacksonville, St. Louis
Chicago Bears at Houston Texans Announcer Matt Vasgersian 7% 1:00PM
Analyst JC Pearson
Sideline Reporter Nischelle Turner
MARKETS INCLUDE: Chicago, Houston
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers Announcer Chris Rose 6% 1:00PM
Analyst John Lynch
MARKETS INCLUDE: Detroit, Milwaukee
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles Announcer Joe Buck 88% 4:15PM
Analyst Troy Aikman
Sideline Reporter Pam Oliver
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, Denver, Detroit, Fort Myers, 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, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, St. Louis, Tampa, Tulsa, West Palm Beach
Washington Redskins at San Francisco 49ers Announcer Ron Pitts 6% 4:15PM
Analyst Tony Boselli
Sideline Reporter Charissa Thompson
MARKETS INCLUDE: Richmond, Sacramento, San Francisco, Washington
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals Announcer Thom Brennaman 4% 4:15PM
Analyst Brian Billick
MARKETS INCLUDE: Phoenix, Seattle
Recent Comments