Archives for November 2015

Wednesday Night Rivalry – “The Battle For New York” – Rangers-Islanders on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Tuesday Night Doubleheader on NBCSN – Wild-Blackhawks at 8 p.m. ET, Followed by Penguins-Sharks at 10:30 p.m. ET

College Hockey – Massachusetts vs. No. 20 Notre Dame on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN

STAMFORD, Conn. – November 30, 2015 – NBC Sports presents “The Battle For New York” this week on Wednesday Night Rivalry at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN, when John Tavares and the New York Islanders host Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers in the Rangers’ first-ever visit to Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

This week’s NHL action starts with an NBCSN doubleheader tomorrow night, beginning at 8 p.m. ET, when Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks host Zach Parise and the Minnesota Wild. The second half of Tuesday night’s doubleheader features an interconference matchup, when Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins visit Joe Pavelski and the San Jose Sharks at 10:30 p.m. ET. In addition to NHL coverage, NBCSN will present college hockey action on Saturday night at 6 p.m. ET, when Massachusetts faces No. 20 Notre Dame.

NBC Sports Live Extra – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets and connected TVs – will stream this week’s NHL and college hockey coverage.

Three-time Emmy Award-winning play-by-play commentator Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick, U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member and analyst Eddie Olczyk, and Emmy Award-winning ‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst Pierre McGuire will have the call for Rangers-Islanders at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Kenny Albert (play-by-play) and McGuire will call Wild-Blackhawks, Randy Hahn (play-by-play) and Bret Hedican (‘Inside-the-Glass’) will call Penguins-Sharks, and Steve Schlanger (play-by-play) and Brian Boucher (‘Inside-the-Glass’) will provide commentary for UMass-Notre Dame.

Pre-game coverage on NHL Live begins at 7 p.m. ET tomorrow and Wednesday. Kathryn Tappen anchors tomorrow’s studio coverage alongside analysts and former players Jeremy Roenick and Brian Boucher. Liam McHugh hosts on Wednesday with analysts and former players Mike Milbury and Keith Jones. NHL insider Bob McKenzie will join NBCSN’s Wednesday Night Rivalry coverage to provide the latest in-depth news from around the league. In addition, Kathryn Tappen will interview John Tavares as part of Wednesday’s NHL Live pre-game coverage on NBCSN.

 
WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIVALRY – RANGERS-ISLANDERS – WEDNESDAY AT 8 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Rangers and Islanders renew one of the fiercest rivalries in NHL history on Wednesday night, as the Blueshirts make their first-ever trip across the East River to face the Islanders in Brooklyn. Last year, the Isles won three of five meetings against the Rangers to win the season series. John Tavares continues to lead the Islanders (12-8-4, 28 pts; 4^th in Metropolitan Division) offensively, and scored the game-winning goal in the team’s 3-2 comeback win against the Lightning in Tampa on Saturday. Since the 2011-12 season, Tavares has averaged better than a point per game in the regular season, with 301 points (132g/169a) in 292 games, and boasts 21 points in 21 games this year.

The Rangers are looking to snap a three-game losing streak after starting the season with a 16-3-2 record. Mats Zuccarello continues to pace the club with 10 goals and 21 points, and defensively the Rangers lead the league in goals against per game (2.04) this season. The Islanders host Colorado tonight, while the Rangers, who are currently second in the Metropolitan Division, host Carolina this evening.

 

WILD-BLACKHAWKS – TUESDAY AT 8 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Blackhawks (13-8-3, 29 pts; 3^rd in Central Division) host the Wild (11-7-4, 26 pts; 5^th in Central Division) tomorrow night on NBCSN in a matchup that has intensified over the past three seasons. Chicago and Minnesota have met in each of the last three Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Blackhawks eliminating the Wild each time, including a sweep in the second round last postseason. Patrick Kane has carried the Blackhawks offensively and has recorded a point in 19 straight games (11g/20a), breaking the record of 18 straight games with at least one point by an American-born player, previously held by Eddie Olczyk and Phil Kessel.

Minnesota, currently fifth in the Central Division, is coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Western Conference-leading Dallas Stars, and welcomes the return of captain Zach Parise, who played in his first game on Friday night after missing eight games due to injury. Despite having appeared in just 14 games, Parise still ranks second on the club with seven goals.

 
PENGUINS-SHARKS – TUESDAY AT 10:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Sharks host the Penguins tomorrow night in their second of two meetings this season. San Jose (14-9-0, 28 pts; 2^nd in Pacific Division) won the previous meeting between the two teams on Nov. 21 in Pittsburgh, as Patrick Marleau eclipsed the 1000-point mark for his career with two assists in a 3-1 win. Pittsburgh (13-8-2, 28 pts; 3^rd in Metropolitan Division) has required overtime in its last three games, and has been strong defensively to start the 2015-16 campaign, allowing the fourth-fewest goals in the NHL (53). The Penguins are coming off a 3-2 shootout loss at home to Edmonton, while the Sharks enter play following a 5-2 win at home over Calgary.

 
COLLEGE HOCKEY – MASSACHUSETTS VS. NO. 20 NOTRE DAME – SATURDAY AT 6 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

NBCSN continues its coverage of the 2015-16 college hockey season with a Hockey East matchup between Massachusetts and No. 20 Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish (6-4-4) are coming off a 3-1 win over Western Michigan in the Shillelagh Tournament at Notre Dame, while the Minutemen were swept in a home-and-home series by No. 3 Quinnipiac. Last year, Notre Dame won four of five matchups against Massachusetts, including two of three meetings in the Hockey East Tournament, outscoring Massachusetts by a combined score of 26-12.
Following is this week’s NHL and college hockey coverage on NBCSN:

Date	Coverage	Network	Time (ET)
Tues., December 1	NHL Live	NBCSN	7 p.m.
	Minnesota at Chicago**	NBCSN	8 p.m.
	Pittsburgh at San Jose**	NBCSN	10:30 p.m.
	NHL Overtime*	NBCSN	1 a.m.
Wed., December 2	NHL Live	NBCSN	7 p.m.
	Wednesday Night Rivalry – N.Y. Rangers at N.Y. Islanders	NBCSN	8 p.m.
	NHL Overtime*	NBCSN	10:30 p.m.
Sat., December 5	College Hockey – Massachusetts at No. 20 Notre Dame	NBCSN	6 p.m.

*immediately following game coverage
**subject to local blackouts in Chicago and Pittsburgh        

2015-16 REGULAR SEASON COVERAGE ON NBC & NBCSN

NBC Sports Group will deliver coverage of 105 NHL regular-season games during the 2015-16 season, featuring 12 games on NBC and 93 games on NBCSN. All games will be streamed live via NBC Sports Live Extra. This year’s coverage includes 24 Wednesday Night Rivalry games, 6 Wednesday Nightcaps, 12 Sunday Night Hockey contests, and NHL All-Star coverage.

Click here for more information on NBC Sports Group’s comprehensive NHL coverage this season.

NBC SPORTS REGIONAL NETWORKS

NBC Sports Regional Networks, which serve top NHL markets such as Boston (Bruins), Philadelphia (Flyers), Washington D.C. (Capitals), Chicago (Blackhawks) and the Bay Area (Sharks), will air more than 300 live NHL games and surround the 2015-16 NHL season with in-depth news, analysis and original programming on the teams that matter most.

-NBC SPORTS GROUP-

 

 

“It’s obvious that Manning and Brady was to football, for this generation, what Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were three decades ago in the NBA.” – Bob Costas

“That defense is no longer the Legion of Boom.” – Tony Dungy on the Seahawks

 “The Washington Redskins are going to win the NFC East? It almost sounds insane.” – Cris Collinsworth

“You don’t need more effort, you need a quarterback.” – Rodney Harrison on the Rams

 “No matter what happens during the regular season, we’re still waiting to see what they do in the post-season. This is just window dressing.” – Dan Patrick on the Bengals

STAMFORD, Conn. – November 29, 2015 – Following are highlights from Football Night in America, which aired prior to NBC’s Sunday Night Football matchup between the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos. Bob Costas opened the show live from inside Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo., and was joined on site by Sunday Night Football analyst Cris Collinsworth, sideline reporter Michele Tafoya, and NBC NFL analyst Hines Ward.

Dan Patrick co-hosted Football Night, the most-watched weekly studio show in sports, from NBC Sports Group’s Studio 1 in Stamford, Conn. He was joined by Super Bowl-winning head coach Tony Dungy; two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison; and NFL Insiders Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk on NBCSports.com, and Peter King. Carolynn Manno reported from CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Wash., on the Steelers-Seahawks game.

Costas interviewed Broncos QB Brock Osweiler.

Following are highlights from Football Night in America:

ON SEAHAWKS

Harrison: “Seattle is a very dangerous team. They’re an experienced group of guys that can play well under pressure. I like this team, especially if Russell Wilson is throwing a bunch of touchdowns like he did today.”

Dungy: “Russell Wilson is going to have to throw a bunch of touchdowns like he did today because that defense is no longer the Legion of Boom. They’re not what we’re used to seeing. If they win, they’re going to win as an offensive football team.”

ON STEELERS

Dungy on fourth-down FG: “I would have gone for it (the touchdown).”

Harrison: “There are not many teams that have the unique players, the skill-set players that the Pittsburgh Steelers have.”

ON TEXANS

Dungy: “Look out for Houston. I’m telling you, this team is playing great defense.”

Harrison on Colts or Texans: “I don’t like either of these teams to be honest with you…Both of them are bottom feeders. You look at Houston, they have Brian Hoyer. You cannot convince me to believe in Brian Hoyer; maybe to get to the playoffs, but to win a game? Absolutely not.

Dungy: “Houston scares me because they play great defense. Romeo Crennel has them playing defense where they can win with Brian Hoyer playing quarterback.”

ON COLTS

Harrison on Matt Hasselbeck, who complimented Andrew Luck in his post-game comments: “He’s been very complimentary to Andrew Luck, but he’s playing completely opposite of Andrew Luck. He’s spreading the ball around to the wide receivers, to the tight ends, to the backside of the backfield, and he’s content with the five- and 10-yard gains. Everything doesn’t have to be a home run.”

Dungy: “He knows he doesn’t have a great offensive line so he doesn’t put a lot of stress on them. He’s making quick decisions getting rid of the ball, he’s been very accurate, and he’s staying away from the turnovers.”

http://vplayer.nbcsports.com/p/BxmELC/nbcsports_embed/select/8O_n4CyFsZC0?autoPlay=false

ON CHIEFS

Harrison: “I’m going to tell you who’s playing great defense and great team ball and that’s the Kansas City Chiefs. They have an easy schedule, and if you look at their schedule, they could easily run the table.”

ON VIKINGS

Harrison: “They’ll make the playoffs, but they won’t go very far. When you look at Teddy Bridgewater, he’s a good young quarterback, but he’s not good enough to take them to that next level.”

Dungy: “They are legitimate because of Adrian Peterson, and their defense, and the fact they’ll be playing outside, if they can win that division and get to the playoffs. Outside in January up there with that defense, I think they can make some noise.”

ON BENGALS

Patrick on today’s win: “No matter what happens during the regular season, we’re still waiting to see what they do in the post-season. This is just window dressing.”

Harrison: “This is a different team. I promise you, Dan.”

ON REDSKINS

Collinsworth: “The Washington Redskins are going to win the NFC East? It almost sounds insane.”

ON RAMS

Dungy on Jeff Fisher’s post-game “effort” comments: “No one’s questioning their effort, maybe their discipline and some things, but not their effort.”

Harrison: “Why is he so concerned what everyone thinks? Who cares what we think or what someone else is thinking. You don’t need more effort, you need a quarterback.”

ON CARDINALS

Dungy: “They didn’t play well today, they didn’t play their best game, but that’s a mark of a good team — when you can win these ugly games on the road. You just did enough to win and that’s what Arizona did today.”

ON RAIDERS

Harrison: “They won’t make the playoffs. They have a tough schedule. They have a lot of young talent. I think they’re heading in the right direction. They have a franchise quarterback and a really good young wide receiver.”

Dungy: “They’re a team that’s coming, but they’re a year away.”

ON EAGLES

Dungy on whether Chip Kelly will abandon ship: “I don’t think he will. I know Chip very well. He believes in this team. He also believes in himself. He thinks he’s the right guy for the Eagles. I think he’ll be there next year.”

ON JAGUARS

Patrick: “We return to the highlights with the NFL’s longest active losing streak on display in Jacksonville, and for a change it didn’t belong to the Jags.” (Chargers had lost six straight)

ON BRONCOS

Costas on Brady/Manning: “It’s obvious that Manning and Brady was to football, for this generation, what Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were three decades ago in the NBA…We thought we’d see it renewed tonight, but instead it’s Brock Osweiler. He was impressive last week in his first NFL start on the road in Chicago.”

Collinsworth on Osweiler: “The one thing I learned from watching him in practices, his teammates love this guy. They’re poking fun at him, even the defensive side of the ball, everybody was going after him…Is he going to be able to handle the pressure that you know you’re going to get from this New England Patriots team?”

Costas: “He has a confident air about him. Not cockiness, but he believes in himself.”

ON PATRIOTS

Costas on Patriots history of successfully overcoming injuries: “(Tom) Brady and (Bill) Belichick have been able to do this throughout the years…Somehow they patch something together.”

Collinsworth on Brady dealing with injuries to his wide receivers plus the Broncos pass rush: “He has to find some quick release moment in this game to be able to get it out of his hands to keep from getting hit.”

BROCK OSWEILER WITH BOB COSTAS

On what Peyton Manning told him about the Patriots: “He was probably the first conversation I had. We got that victory Sunday against Chicago, and then Monday morning the first person I went and found as soon as I entered the building was Peyton. I wanted to pick his brain, and I wanted to know everything that he could remember from his past experiences against New England. We’ve communicated all week long and he’s been a huge help preparing for this great football team.”

On his confidence level this week compared to last week before the Broncos’ victory over the Bears: “It’s very high. I think the biggest thing for anybody playing in the National Football League is that you have to have confidence. To go out there in Chicago and play a good team football game and get a big team victory on the road, it’s huge for my confidence moving forward.”

On whether he got antsy playing behind Peyton Manning: “It’s hard not to, but at the same time, I think you need to take a deep breath and you just really need to look at the big picture. I’m sitting behind one of the greatest to ever play this game at his position. I reminded myself every single day with a little note that I have in my car – and that was just, stay patient and make the most of every single day.”

On being put in the Broncos’ game against the Patriots in 2013 to attempt to block a punt with his 6’8” stature: “I think our special teams coordinator forgot that I’d been sitting on the bench for four hours in below zero temperatures. I don’t know how high my vertical was that night. I don’t think it was very great. I got as warm as I possibly could in the time that was allowed, and went out there and did my best to block the kick, but I don’t think my hand was anywhere near it.”

–FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA–

 

Close game or not, it just feels a little strange for one half of this generation’s most enduring and intriguing NFL matchup to be missing tonight, just as much as if it were 30 years ago, and the Lakers were playing the Celtics, and either Bird or Magic wasn’t in the lineup.

But more than that, there’s a touch of poignancy about tonight because while Peyton Manning reportedly wants to play another season beyond this one, there’s no question he’s approaching the end of one of the greatest careers the league has ever seen, and he’s doing it with multiple injuries keeping him from reaching the standards of excellence his talent and devotion to craft sustained for so long.

Meanwhile, he’s also, like the rest of us, watching Tom Brady perform at a level that makes you believe that, as he approaches 40, Brady is still in his prime.

And though these teams might meet again in the playoffs in January, it’s possible that tonight represents a missed chance to see two of the very best ever face off against each other one last time.

And is it also possible to be beyond great, as Manning long has been, to embody professionalism, to carry yourself with grace and good-natured humor, and still not be the best of your generation? Our admiration for both Brady and Manning makes us wish we could call it a take-your-choice, flip-a-coin, dead heat. But the cold truth on this cold night is that while Manning has more MVPs – 5 to 2 – and holds more significant career passing records, Brady’s teams have a much better postseason record, they’ve been to twice as many Super Bowls, and have prevailed 11 to 5 head-to-head.

So, as this epic matchup of historic quarterbacking heavyweights nears the final bell, several rounds have gone to Manning, but the overall decision goes to Brady.

 

###

“We’ve communicated all week long and he’s been a huge help preparing for this great football team.” – Osweiler on Peyton Manning

STAMFORD, Conn. – November 29, 2015 – For tonight’s Week 12 edition of NBC’s Football Night In America, the most-watched weekly studio show in sports, Broncos QB Brock Osweiler speaks with Bob Costas. Football Night will also preview NBC’s Sunday Night Football matchup between the Broncos and Patriots, and will include highlights, analysis and reaction to earlier Week 12 games.

Football Night airs each Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on NBC, with Costas hosting the program live from inside the stadium. He will be joined on site by Sunday Night Football analyst Cris Collinsworth, sideline reporter Michele Tafoya, and NBC NFL analyst Hines Ward.

Dan Patrick co-hosts Football Night from NBC Sports Group’s Studio 1 in Stamford, Conn., and is joined by Super Bowl-winning head coach Tony Dungy; two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison; Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk on NBCSports.com and NBCSN, and NFL insider Peter King.  Carolyn Manno will report from CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Wash., on the Steelers-Seahawks game.

INTERVIEW: Below are excerpts from Costas’ interview with Osweiler. If used, please note the mandatory credit: “In an exclusive interview airing Sunday night on Football Night in America.”

BROCK OSWEILER WITH BOB COSTAS          

On what Peyton Manning told him about the Patriots: “He was probably the first conversation I had. We got that victory Sunday against Chicago, and then Monday morning the first person I went and found as soon as I entered the building was Peyton. I wanted to pick his brain, and I wanted to know everything that he could remember from his past experiences against New England. We’ve communicated all week long and he’s been a huge help preparing for this great football team.”

On his confidence level this week compared to last week before the Broncos’ victory over the Bears: “It’s very high. I think the biggest thing for anybody playing in the National Football League is that you have to have confidence. To go out there in Chicago and play a good team football game and get a big team victory on the road, it’s huge for my confidence moving forward.”

On whether he got antsy playing behind Peyton Manning: “It’s hard not to, but at the same time, I think you need to take a deep breath and you just really need to look at the big picture. I’m sitting behind one of the greatest to ever play this game at his position. I reminded myself every single day with a little note that I have in my car – and that was just, stay patient and make the most of every single day.”

On being put in the Broncos’ game against the Patriots in 2013 to attempt to block a punt with his 6’8” stature: “I think our special teams coordinator forgot that I’d been sitting on the bench for four hours in below zero temperatures. I don’t know how high my vertical was that night. I don’t think it was very great. I got as warm as I possibly could in the time that was allowed, and went out there and did my best to block the kick, but I don’t think my hand was anywhere near it.”

–FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA–

Bears-Packers Tops Last Year’s NBC Thanksgiving Game by 21% & Is NFL’s Most-Watched Thanksgiving Primetime Game Ever; Adult 18-49 Demo Up 22% From ‘14

Special Brett Favre Halftime Ceremony Averages 28.2 Million Viewers

Tom Brady and 10-0 Patriots Visit Brock Osweiler and First-Place Broncos This Weekend on Sunday Night Football

 

STAMFORD, Conn. – November 27, 2015 – The Chicago Bears’ down-to-the-wire 17-13 victory over the Green Bay Packers last night on NBC’s Sunday Night Football on Thanksgiving night averaged 27.8 million viewers, to rank as NBC’s second-most watched NFL regular-season game since acquiring the SNF package in 2006, behind only the 30.3 million for the Dallas-Washington, Week 17 “win-and-in” game in 2012.

The game is also the NFL’s most-watched Thanksgiving primetime game ever, topping by 21% last year’s game (22.9 million viewers for Seattle’s victory over San Francisco), according to fast national data released today by The Nielsen Company. The NFL introduced the Thanksgiving primetime game in 2006.

“Like a scene out of a movie. Brett Favre. Bart Starr. The tradition. Lambeau Field. Great. Just great.” – Al Michaels on the scene in Green Bay on Thanksgiving night

Last night’s Bears-Packers game (8:31-11:48 p.m. ET), the 191^st meeting in the NFL’s most-played rivalry, posted a 13.8/28 fast national rating – up 21% from the 11.4/23 for Seahawks-49ers last year. The Adult 18-49 rating increased 22% from last year’s holiday primetime game, averaging a 9.0 in the demo (vs. a 7.4 in 2014).

The Packers’ halftime ceremony honoring Brett Favre (10:15-10:30 p.m. ET), which featured a memorable appearance by Hall of Fame Green Bay quarterback Bart Starr, averaged 28.2 million viewers.

The Bears victory was highlighted by Jay Cutler passing for 200 yards and one touchdown for his first career win in Green Bay, and a defensive stand which stopped four Packers’ goal-to-go pass attempts from the 8-yard-line in the game’s final minute.

 

TOP METERED MARKETS FOR BEARS-PACKERS:

Milwaukee	44.1/72
2. Chicago	29.8/57
3. Minneapolis	28.1/52
4. Las Vegas	21.0/37
5. Denver	19.5/40
6. Buffalo	19.3/34
7.  New Orleans	19.0/31
8.  Indianapolis	17.9/33
9. Norfolk	17.0/30
10. Phoenix	16.8/32

DIGITAL: NBC Sports Live Extra’s presentation of Bears-Packers totaled nearly 10.8 million live streaming minutes, up 71% from last year’s Thanksgiving night game (6.3 million).

NBC’s Thanksgiving weekend NFL coverage continues this Sunday, Nov. 29, as Tom Brady and the unbeaten New England Patriots (10-0) travel to Denver to face Brock Osweiler and the first-place Broncos (8-2) on NBC’s Sunday Night Football. Sunday’s coverage begins with Football Night In America at 7 p.m. ET on NBC.

 

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–