FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES
NFL on FOX Rings in 2012 With Week 17 Battles for Playoff Position
Johnson’s Biggest Disappointments of the 2011Season & Aikman Interviews Brees Before Showdown with Panthers on FOX NFL SUNDAY at 12:00 PM ET
RECORD-SETTING BREES AND ROOKIE SENSATION NEWTON HEADLINE WEEK 17 ACTION
On Sunday, Jan. 1 FOX Sports rings in the New Year by closing out the NFL regular season with doubleheader coverage of seven NFC matchups – each presented in true HD. A battle of high-flying QBs takes place in the Bayou as all-time single-season passing record-holder Drew Brees and the Saints look to better the aerial and ground show of Cam Newton and the Panthers. Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver call all the action from New Orleans. In Philadelphia, Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy and the Eagles try to close out their season on a strong note as they host NFC East rival Washington. A pair of playoff participants from the NFC North square-off as Matthew Stafford and the Lions head to Green Bay to battle Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Meanwhile the Vikings host the Bears and the 49ers travel to St. Louis to take on the Rams. FOX Sports concludes its doubleheader and regular season coverage in Atlanta as Matt Ryan and the playoff-bound Falcons welcome the Bucs to the Georgia Dome. Also at 4:15 PM ET, the Seahawks and Cardinals meet in Arizona.
Coverage begins at 12:00 PM ET with America’s most-watched Sunday afternoon 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. NFL Insider Jay Glazer presents the latest league news and scoops from the FOX NFL SUNDAY studio while comedic prognosticator Frank Caliendo contributes his weekly “Frank’s Picks” segment.
This Sunday, Aikman catches up with Brees on the field prior to the Saints showdown with the Panthers that helps determine playoff position for New Orleans. Also, Johnson goes through the 2011 season and lists his biggest disappointments. The Cowboys and Giants talk about their mindset as the two teams prepare for their “win and get in” showdown for the NFC East crown.
For instant updates during the week and games from the entire NFL on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NFLONFOX. Follow the NFL on FOX on-air personalities @Buck @Jay_Glazer, @JimmyJohnson, @CurtMenefee, @MikePereira, @MichaelStrahan, @TroyAikman, @KennyAlbert, @CoachBillick, @TimBrewster, @CFD22 (Charles Davis), @DarylJohnston, @The_ChrisMyers, @LauraOkmin, @ChadPennington, @TimRyan99 & @TonySiragusa on Twitter as they provide insight and analysis all weekend. Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports.
GAME
Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
Mercedes-Benz Superdome – New Orleans, LA
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Birmingham, Buffalo, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, Denver, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Providence, Raleigh, San Antonio, San Diego, St. Louis, Tampa, Tulsa, West Palm Beach
Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles Ron Pitts, Charles Davis 9% 1:00PM
Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, PA
MARKETS INCLUDE: Baltimore, Norfolk, Philadelphia, Richmond, Washington
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
Lambeau Field – Green Bay, WI
MARKETS INCLUDE: Detroit, Fort Myers, Milwaukee
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings
Mall of America Field – Minneapolis, MN
MARKETS INCLUDE: Chicago, Minneapolis
San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams Chris Myers, Tim Ryan 11% 1:00PM
Edward Jones Dome– St. Louis, MO
MARKETS INCLUDE: Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle
Tampa Bay Bucs at Atlanta Falcons Dick Stockton, John Lynch 89% 4:15PM
Georgia Dome – Atlanta, GA
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, 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, Providence, Raleigh, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, Tampa, Tulsa, Washington, West Palm Beach
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals
University of Phoenix Stadium – Glendale, AZ
MARKETS INCLUDE: Phoenix, Portland, Seattle
STRAHAN: GIANTS’ RUNNING GAME IS CATALYST FOR TEAM – Following the New York Giants victory this past Saturday over the New York Jets, FOX NFL SUNDAY analyst Michael Strahan is convinced his former team needs its running game to set the tone for the rest of the team. “That game showed the Giants need to let their running game set the tempo for the team,” said Strahan. “Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw were very physical. Their defense then picked it up in the second half unlike they’ve done all season.”
BILLICK: YOU CAN’T PLAY THE GAME AFRAID OF GETTING HURT – On this week’s Coach Speak, NFL on FOX analyst Brian Billick weighed in on Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson’s knee injury in what some called a meaningless game for the 3-12 Vikings. Billick said other teams who have locked up playoff positioning will be faced with a similar decision this week on whether or not to play their star players. “You can’t play the game afraid,” said Billick. “You have to stay in a rhythm, you have to go out and play 100 percent every time. Every time you take someone off the field, you double or triple the reps for someone else and therefore, give them a higher propensity for possibly getting hurt. Although it’s regrettable that Adrian Peterson got hurt, I don’t second guess the fact that he was playing. That’s not the nature of this game. When you play, you’ve got to play. You can’t play being afraid to get hurt.”
To hear Billick’s full analysis, click here for this week’s Coach Speak: http://tinyurl.com/cfjoass
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