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HARRY KANE & FIRST-PLACE TOTTENHAM VISIT THIRD-PLACE CHELSEA THIS SUNDAY, NOV. 29 AT 11:30 AM ET ON NBCSN AND TELEMUNDO, HEADLINING WEEKEND PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION

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Sixth-Place Everton Host Leeds United This Saturday, Nov. 28 at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Telemundo

Second-Place Liverpool Visit Brighton & Hove Albion Saturday at 7:30 a.m. ET on Peacock Premium

This Weekend’s Match Coverage Kicks Off with Crystal Palace v. Newcastle Friday, Nov. 27 at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN

New Episode of THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW Monday, Nov. 30 at 5:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN Features Everton Manager Carlo Ancelotti; Tottenham’s Jose Mourinho Joins Rebecca Lowe for New Episode of Inside the Mind

STAMFORD, Conn. – Nov. 24, 2020 – Harry Kane and first-place Tottenham visit third-place Chelsea this Sunday, Nov. 29 at 11:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN and Telemundo, highlighting this weekend’s Premier League action.

Spurs, who defeated Manchester City, 2-0, last weekend, are unbeaten in their last eight PL matches and enter the weekend sitting atop the table for the first time since 2014. Kane is tied for fifth in goals (seven) and leads the Premier League in assists (nine), and Heung-Min Son is second in goals with nine. Chelsea carry a three-match Premier League winning streak into this weekend after topping Newcastle, 2-0. Christian Pulisic could return from a hamstring injury. Arlo White and former Chelsea player Graeme Le Saux will call the action live from Stamford Bridge.

On Saturday, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and sixth-place Everton host Patrick Bamford and Leeds United at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Telemundo. Calvert-Lewin, who scored twice last weekend in Everton’s 3-2 win over Fulham, leads the Premier League with 10 goals this season. White and Le Saux will call the match live from Goodison Park.

This weekend’s coverage kicks off Friday at 2:30 p.m. ET with Premier League Live on NBCSN, followed by Crystal Palace v. Newcastle at 3 p.m. ET (NBCSN).

Rebecca Lowe hosts Goal Zone, Premier League Mornings, and Premier League Live on Saturday and Sunday, joined by former Jamaica National Team player Robbie Earle and former Premier League and U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper Tim Howard. Ahmed Fareed hosts coverage on Friday with Earle and on Monday with Earle and Howard.

Saturday’s match action begins at 7:30 a.m. ET on Peacock Premium as second-place Liverpool visit Brighton & Hove Albion on Peacock Premium, followed by Manchester City-Burnley at 10 a.m. ET on NBCSN and Universo. The day’s matches conclude at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN with West Brom-Sheffield United.

Sunday begins with Premier League Mornings at 8 a.m. ET on NBCSN, followed by fifth-place Southampton v. Manchester United at 9 a.m. ET on NBCSN and Telemundo. Following Chelsea-Tottenham, Arsenal host Wolverhampton Wanderers at 2:15 p.m. ET (NBCSN, Universo).

On Monday, Premier League coverage begins at Noon ET with Premier League Live on NBCSN, followed by Jamie Vardy and fourth-place Leicester City v. Fulham at 12:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN, Universo). The weekend’s match coverage concludes at 3 p.m. ET with a Top 10 showdown between eighth-place West Ham and seventh-place Aston Villa (NBCSN, Universo).

Monday’s coverage continues with Goal Zone at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN, followed by a new episode of THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW, hosted by Roger Bennett and Michael Davies, at 5:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN featuring Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti.

“INSIDE THE MIND” OF JOSE MOURINHO

Rebecca Lowe hosts the latest edition of Inside the Mind and speaks with Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho, whose first-place Spurs travel to face his former club, Chelsea, this weekend. The interview can be seen on the Premier League on NBC Sports YouTube channel.

THE 2 ROBBIES PODCAST

Robbie Earle and Robbie Mustoe discuss and dissect the top Premier League storylines after every match day on “The 2 Robbies” podcast. On last Sunday’s episode, Earle is joined by special guest Arlo White to discuss the key stories from Matchday 9 in the Premier League, including Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Leicester City, Tottenham’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City, and more. The “2 Robbies” podcast is available anywhere you listen to podcasts.

PREMIER LEAGUE PICK ‘EM

NBC Sports’ Premier League Pick ‘Em returns on the free-to-play NBC Sports Predictor games app, available in the App Store and Google Play Store. Each match week, Premier League Pick ‘Em features a $50,000 jackpot prize for a “perfect score” – predicting the correct exact results of all featured matches in that contest (information on scoring, prizing, and Official Rules here).

Matches in Play for Premier League Pick ‘Em:

Match Week 10

Date Time (ET) Match
Sat., Nov. 28 12:30 p.m. – NBC, Telemundo Everton v. Leeds United
Sun., Nov. 29 9 a.m. – NBCSN, Telemundo Southampton v. Manchester United
Sun., Nov. 29 11:30 a.m. – NBCSN, Telemundo Chelsea v. Tottenham
Sun., Nov. 29 2:15 p.m. – NBCSN, Universo Arsenal v. Wolverhampton Wanderers
Mon., Nov. 30 3 p.m. – NBCSN, Universo West Ham v. Aston Villa

NBC SPORTS PUB PASS

For commercial establishments looking to show Premier League, they can get the NBC Sports Pub Pass, the new customizable platform specifically for the retail pub/restaurant market in the USA. The NBC Sports Pub Pass offers Pubs, Bars, Clubs and Restaurants and commercial establishments nationwide all the Premier League matches and programming specifically for commercial establishments – Live, Commercial-Free and On-Demand. To subscribe or to find out more information about the NBC Sports Pub Pass go to https://www.nbcpubpass.com/.

LIVE STREAMING

Peacock – NBCUniversal’s new streaming service – features free and premium tiers across mobile, web and connected TV devices. Starting this season, Peacock Premium is the exclusive home of 175 live matches and a total of 1,500 hours of Premier League programming – the most robust offering ever available in the U.S. – including full-event replays for all 380 matches on-demand (after 9 p.m. ET) for the 2020-21 season. Premier League matches are included with Peacock Premium, which is $4.99 per month. Additionally, Peacock will feature Premier League news and other programming from Premier League Productions on its free, exclusive Premier League TV channel on Peacock, now streaming seven days a week. Visit peacocktv.com/premierleague for more information.

Viewers can sign up for Peacock for free at peacocktv.com. Peacock is currently available on the Roku platform; Apple devices including iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD; Google platforms and devices including Android™, Android TV™ devices, Chromecast and Chromecast built-in devices; Microsoft’s Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One S and Xbox One X; Sony PlayStation4 and PlayStation 4 Pro; and VIZIO SmartCast™ TVs and LG Smart TVs. Comcast’s eligible Xfinity X1 and Flex customers, as well as eligible Cox Contour customers, enjoy Peacock Premium included with their service at no additional cost.

Premier League games on NBC and NBCSN will be streamed on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs. Coverage will be streamed via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value for their subscription service, and making high quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. The NBC Sports app is available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV and Amazon Fire.

Following is the match schedule for this weekend’s Premier League coverage (all times ET, subject to change):

Date Time (ET) Match Platform
Fri., Nov. 27 2:30 p.m. Premier League Live NBCSN
Fri., Nov. 27 3 p.m. Crystal Palace v. Newcastle NBCSN
Fri., Nov. 27 5 p.m. Goal Zone NBCSN
Sat., Nov. 28 7 a.m. Premier League Mornings Peacock Premium
Sat., Nov. 28 7:30 a.m. Brighton & Hove Albion v. Liverpool Peacock Premium
Sat., Nov. 28 9:30 a.m. Premier League Live NBCSN
Sat., Nov. 28 10 a.m. Manchester City v. Burnley NBCSN, Universo
Sat., Nov. 28 Noon Premier League Live NBCSN
Sat., Nov. 28 12:30 p.m. Everton v. Leeds United NBC, Telemundo
Sat., Nov. 28 2:30 p.m. Premier League Live NBC
Sat., Nov. 28 3 p.m. West Brom v. Sheffield United NBCSN
Sat., Nov. 28 5 p.m. Goal Zone NBCSN
Sun., Nov. 29 8 a.m. Premier League Mornings NBCSN
Sun., Nov. 29 9 a.m. Southampton v. Manchester United NBCSN, Telemundo
Sun., Nov. 29 11 a.m. Premier League Live NBCSN
Sun., Nov. 29 11:30 a.m. Chelsea v. Tottenham NBCSN, Telemundo
Sun., Nov. 29 1:30 p.m. Premier League Live NBCSN
Sun., Nov. 29 2:15 p.m. Arsenal v. Wolverhampton Wanderers NBCSN, Universo
Sun., Nov. 29 4:15 p.m. Goal Zone NBCSN
Mon., Nov. 30 Noon Premier League Live NBCSN
Mon., Nov. 30 12:30 p.m. Leicester City v. Fulham NBCSN, Universo
Mon., Nov. 30 2:30 p.m. Premier League Live NBCSN
Mon., Nov. 30 3 p.m. West Ham v. Aston Villa NBCSN, Universo
Mon., Nov. 30 5 p.m. Goal Zone NBCSN
Mon., Nov. 30 5:30 p.m. THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW NBCSN

 

–NBC SPORTS–

PEYTON MANNING SET TO QUARTERBACK NEW NBC BATTLE OF THE BRAINS SERIES ‘COLLEGE BOWL’

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Two-Time Super Bowl Champion Will Host a Reboot of Classic Quiz Show Where Students Vie for Life-Changing Scholarships

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – Nov. 24, 2020 – Some of the greatest rivalries among the nation’s universities are being moved from the playing field to the quiz show space as NBC has given a series order to the iconic program “College Bowl,” hosted by two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Peyton Manning, with his brother Cooper Manning as sideline reporter.

From Universal Television Alternative Studio and Village Roadshow Television, the 10-episode series is a reboot of the classic “College Bowl” that previously aired successfully on NBC in the U.S, internationally and on college campuses for many decades. All in the spirit of fun, “College Bowl” has been a beloved competition where universities get to see who comes out on top in a battle of the brains.

Participating teams will be selected from schools of all sizes with the individuals receiving a significant scholarship for participating in “College Bowl.”  The winning team members will have a chance to take home even bigger scholarships, in addition to bragging rights as the “College Bowl” champions.

“We’re excited to bring this beloved college game show back to primetime with a fresh new spin that is sure to not only entertain but also inspire,” said Jenny Groom, Executive Vice President, Unscripted Content. “Peyton’s love for competition, sport and education makes him the perfect host and partner. It will be so much fun to showcase these college rivalries and, more importantly, the incredibly smart and talented students behind them.”

Added Peyton Manning, “I’ve always loved intense college competition, so I’m thrilled to be part of the team bringing back ‘College Bowl.’ Having personally seen the profound impact scholarships can make on deserving students, I can’t wait for the moment when we get to award life-changing scholarships to the winning team.”

Twelve schools will compete in a bracketed tournament over four rounds where teams vie for the most points. The top two teams will advance to the final where they compete head-to-head and where one will ultimately declare victory.

The only five-time Most Valuable Player in NFL history, Manning played 18 seasons and finished his career as the league’s all-time winningest quarterback (200 wins). He is the only quarterback to lead two different teams to a Super Bowl victory, earning MVP honors in Super Bowl XLI with the Colts (2006) before helping the Broncos to a win in Super Bowl 50 (2015) in the final game of his illustrious career.

Manning has personally endowed 45 scholarships to the University of Tennessee, helping to support deserving students at his alma mater every year since 1998. His PeyBack Foundation also recently established nine scholarships across eight different Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs).

Cooper, the oldest of the three Manning brothers, has earned national recognition for his humor and wit as host of “The Manning Hour” on “FOX NFL Sunday.”

“College Bowl” will be executive produced by Peyton Manning, Cooper Manning, Eli Manning, Richard Reid via Richard Reid Productions, Inc., and Mark Itkin via his Tough Lamb Media. David Friedman will showrun the series.

AARON RODGERS, BEN ROETHLISBERGER, LAMAR JACKSON & KHALIL MACK STAR IN CRUCIAL RIVALRY GAMES IN NBC’S THANKSGIVING WEEK FOOTBALL FEAST

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Undefeated Steelers Host Ravens in AFC North Showdown on Thanksgiving Night; Coverage Begins Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC

Tony Dungy Interviews Ryan Shazier at Halftime on Thanksgiving Night

NFC North-Leading Packers Face Second-Place Bears in Storied Rivalry on Sunday Night Football on NBC

Fans Can Participate in “Sunday Night 7” Free-to-Play Game on Thursday and Sunday, Featuring $100,000 Jackpot for Both Holiday Week Contests

STAMFORD, Conn. – Nov. 24, 2020 – AFC North and NFC North division rivals will face off in a pair of holiday week NFL games on NBC, beginning this Thursday when the NFL’s lone undefeated team, the 10-0 Pittsburgh Steelers, host their AFC North-rival Baltimore Ravens (6-4) at 8 p.m. ET on Thanksgiving night. Three nights later, the NFC North-leading Green Bay Packers (7-3) host the second-place Chicago Bears (5-5) at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday Night Football in the franchises’ 201st meeting. Sunday’s coverage begins with Football Night in America at 7 p.m. ET on NBC.

THANKSGIVING NIGHT: RAVENS (6-4) AT STEELERS (10-0) AT 8 P.M. ET ON NBC

Two-time Super Bowl winner Ben Roethlisberger and the undefeated Steelers will host reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and the Ravens on Thursday in the first-ever Thanksgiving game in Pittsburgh. Ravens-Steelers marks the ninth meeting between the clubs in the NBC SNF package – the most among any AFC matchup.

Pittsburgh holds a three-game advantage in the AFC North, and Baltimore is involved in the competitive AFC Wild Card race. The teams met in Week 7 when the Steelers came back from a 17-7 deficit to defeat the Ravens 28-24 and remain undefeated at 7-0. The Steelers hold a slight 28-24 advantage in the all-time series between the division rivals.

An interview between Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy and former Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier will be featured during halftime. The four-minute conversation details Shazier’s remarkable journey in recovering from a spine injury in 2017 and his work in creating the Ryan Shazier Fund for Spinal Rehabilitation. Shazier also visits the first recipient of his new initiative to help spread hope and thankfulness around the holiday season.

Mike Tirico joins 16-time Emmy Award-winner Cris Collinsworth (analyst) in the booth at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on Thanksgiving night. Three-time Emmy Award-winner Michele Tafoya will report from the sidelines and award — via social distancing — a postgame “Turkey Leg Trophy,” in lieu of the traditional turkey legs. Three-time Super Bowl referee Terry McAulay serves as the rules analyst.

Ravens-Steelers caps a Thanksgiving stuffed with tradition-filled programming on NBC, beginning with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade at 9 a.m. ET, followed by the National Dog Show at Noon ET.

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: BEARS (5-5) AT PACKERS (7-3) AT 8:20 P.M. ET ON NBC; FNIA COVERAGE BEGINS AT 7 P.M. ET

The NFC North-leading Packers host the second-place Bears in the first meeting of the season between the rivals on Sunday Night Football. Two-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, who owns an 18-5 career record against Chicago, currently ranks second in the league in touchdown passes (29). Green Bay looks to keep pace with the NFC-leading New Orleans Saints (8-2), while the Bears are only one game out of the NFC Wild Card hunt following their bye week.

In the most-played rivalry in NFL history, the Packers lead the all-time series 99-95-6 as the franchises will meet for the 201st time on Sunday. In last year’s NFL Kickoff matchup on NBC, the Packers defeated the Bears 10-3 in a defensive affair, as part of their season sweep of Chicago.

Tirico will call SNF alongside Dungy at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. The duo currently call Notre Dame on NBC games together. Notre Dame on NBC sideline reporter and NHL on NBC host Kathryn Tappen will make her NFL sideline reporting debut on Bears-Packers. McAulay will serve as the rules analyst.

NBC’s coverage of Sunday Night Football is led by executive producer Fred Gaudelli and director Drew Esocoff. SNF is the only show to win 10 Sports Emmy Awards for Outstanding Live Sports Series.

Liam McHugh hosts FNIA prior to Bears-Packers from NBC Sports Group’s Studio 1 in Stamford, Conn., alongside two-time Super Bowl-winner Rodney Harrison and former NFL quarterback Chris Simms. NFL Insider Mike Florio joins Football Night remotely from his home studio. Jac Collinsworth co-hosts FNIA on-site from Lambeau Field. Football Night is produced by Rob Hyland and directed by Mike Sheehan.

NBCSPORTS.COM & NBC SPORTS APP TO LIVE STREAM ALL NBC NFL GAMES

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will stream all NBC games to desktops, mobile, tablets, and connected TVs via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value to their subscription service, and making high-quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. The full HD-quality video stream will come directly from NBC’s broadcasts. NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app are available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox, and Chromecast.

TELEMUNDO DEPORTES PRESENTS FULL SEASON OF SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Telemundo Deportes will televise the entire NBC Sunday Night Football package live including all Sunday night regular-season games, the NFL Kickoff game, the annual Thanksgiving night game and three Playoff Games. Universo will televise 21 games, with Telemundo to broadcast the newly-added primetime NFL Wild Card playoff game on Sunday, January 10. Coverage of the 2020 NFL season across both Telemundo and sister network, Universo, mark the first time ever that the full SNF schedule is available in Spanish-language in the U.S.

“SUNDAY NIGHT 7” FREE-TO-PLAY GAME AVAILABLE ON THURSDAY AND SUNDAY WITH $100,000 JACKPOT FOR BOTH HOLIDAY WEEK CONTESTS

Fans can participate in NBC Sports’ free-to-play game, Sunday Night 7, on Thursday and Sunday, which features a $100,000 jackpot for both holiday week contests. Sunday Night 7 is available for download NOW on the NBC Sports Predictor app (available in the App Store and Google Play Store) and at NBCSports.com/Predictor.

Last week, three users tied for first place with a score of 55 points, each taking home $600.

PETER KING’S NFL COLUMN “FOOTBALL MORNING IN AMERICA” DEBUTS EVERY MONDAY EXCLUSIVELY ON NBCSPORTS.COM

A new “Football Morning in America” will post every Monday morning exclusively on NBCSports.com. It was announced in May 2019 that King signed an exclusive agreement with NBC Sports Group that included writing a weekly Monday morning NFL column for NBCSports.com; making regular appearances on PFT Live with Mike Florio; and continuing to contribute to Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports.

CHRIS SIMMS UNBUTTONED

NBC Sports’ Chris Simms examines everything happening in the NFL and around the sports world. Along with a rotation of NBC Sports hosts including Ahmed Fareed, Paul Burmeister and Liam McHugh, Chris Simms Unbuttoned analyses the NFL with in-depth Xs and Os breakdowns; one-on-one interviews with players, coaches and executives; and game recaps and preview.

ROTOWORLD

Rotoworld offers comprehensive fantasy football coverage throughout the 2020 NFL season across NBC Sports’ platforms. Rotoworld’s Fantasy Football Draft Guide and premium tools are available for purchase now via Rotoworld’s new subscription model, beginning at only $3.99 per month. The industry-leading source for fantasy football news and information, the 2020 Rotoworld Fantasy Football Draft Guide features more than 450 extensive player profiles, ‘Sleepers and Busts,’ player projections, positional rankings and tier groupings from Rotoworld’s NFL experts, and more. For the first time, Rotoworld’s Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet is downloadable and available for free by registering on Rotoworld.com. The Cheat Sheet, which includes top 200 PPR rankings, PPR positional rankings, dynasty rookies, and more, is also available as part of the 2020 Draft Guide.

PFT LIVE – WEEKDAYS AT 7 A.M. ET ON PEACOCK

Mike Florio and co-host Chris Simms bring fans the latest NFL news and interviews with players and coaches every weekday morning with PFT Live streaming live on Peacock at 7 a.m. ET. Peter King and NBC Football Night in America analyst Rodney Harrison also contribute regularly to PFT Live’s coverage throughout the season.

The two-hour PFT Live is known for delivering inside information and comprehensive analysis from an independent perspective. The show covers all the latest news around the league, breaks down reports and rumors and features interviews with players, coaches and executives. The show will be re-aired on NBCSN from 9-11 a.m. ET.

PODCASTS

NBC Sports’ football podcasts provide extensive weekly offerings from NBC Sports’ most popular personalities and present special guests, exclusive interviews, and robust conversations across all of football on The Peter King Podcast, Chris Simms Unbuttoned, PFT PM, and Rotoworld Football. While The Peter King Podcast features intimate discussions with the NFL’s top players, Chris Simms Unbuttoned and PFT PM dive into deep conversations around the sports’ hottest topics, and Rotoworld Football explores fantasy implications for fans. New episodes of NBC Sports podcasts are available for download each week on all major podcast platforms including: NBCSports.com/podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and iHeart.

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SOCIAL MEDIA

  • SNF ON INSTAGRAM: Through the unique filter of Instagram, fans will get an in-depth look at each week’s Sunday Night Football game with the most engaging photos and videos from across the NFL. SNF also utilizes Instagram Stories for up-to-the-minute coverage of the league.
  • SNF ON TWITTER: The very latest news, video, analysis from the Football Night in America crew and much more lives on @SNFonNBC, the real-time engine for NBC’s year-round NFL coverage.
  • SNF ON FACEBOOK: With more than 3.5 million followers, SNF’s Facebook page is the hub of football conversation. It’s the place to converse and engage with fellow fans on the latest news and action across the NFL.
  • NBC SPORTS ON TIKTOK: New for 2020, NBC Sports’ presence on TikTok puts the spotlight on the offbeat and exuberant side of the National Football League for a young, highly-engaged audience.

NBC SPORTS REGIONAL NETWORKS

NBC Sports Regional Networks, which serve top NFL markets such as New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and San Francisco, will surround the 2020 NFL season with in-depth news, analysis and original programming on the teams that matter most in 32 million U.S. households.

SNF GRILL RETURNS FOR A FOUR-DAY ROAD TRIP TO THANKSGIVING NIGHT

The SNF Grill, NBC Sports’ mobile concession stand setup which thanked first responders and frontline workers in host cities of each Sunday Night Football game through Week 7, returns this week with a special, four-day road trip to Thanksgiving night.

The SNF Grill’s four-stop trip began yesterday, Nov. 23, in Baltimore and will travel to D.C. and Harrisburg before arriving in Pittsburgh ahead of the Steelers hosting the Ravens on Thursday night.

The SNF Grill provided over 3,000 meals for doctors, nurses, fire departments and other essential workers in prior host cities; Kansas City, LA, Seattle, New Orleans and San Francisco.

In accordance with health and safety standards, social distancing and masks will be required at all stops.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD

Seven-time Grammy Award-winner and multi-platinum recording artist Carrie Underwood stars in the show open for NBC’s Sunday Night Football.

Working within social-distancing parameters, the 2020 Sunday Night Football show open was uniquely produced without extras in a studio or stadium, while also celebrating the millions who watch the games.

For the first time, the SNF show open will feature user-generated content from fans showcasing their team spirit. In addition, cameos from some of the NFL’s biggest stars, also recorded remotely, will be highlighted.

NBC’S SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL IS PRIMETIME TELEVISION’S NO. 1 SHOW FOR RECORD NINE CONSECUTIVE YEARS: NBC’s Sunday Night Football finished the 2019-20 TV season as primetime’s #1 TV show in all key metrics for an unprecedented ninth consecutive year – adding to its record for the most consecutive years atop the charts (since 1950), based on official live plus same day data provided by Nielsen. Sunday Night Football also ranked as the No. 1 show in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic for the 10th consecutive TV season.

2020 NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
**Thurs. Nov. 26 Week 12 Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
*Sun. Nov. 29 Week 12 Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
*Sun. Dec. 6 Week 13 Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
*Sun. Dec. 13 Week 14 Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills
*Sun. Dec. 20 Week 15 San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys
*Sun. Dec. 27 Week 16 Tennessee Titans at Green Bay Packers
*Sun. Jan. 3 Week 17 TBD

*Flex Week
** Thanksgiving Night Game

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING: Flexible scheduling will be used in Weeks 11-17. Additionally, in Weeks 5-10, flexible scheduling may be used in no more than two weeks. In Weeks 5-16, the schedule lists the games tentatively set for Sunday Night Football on NBC. Only Sunday afternoon games are eligible to be moved to Sunday night, in which case the tentatively scheduled Sunday night game would be moved to an afternoon start time. Flexible scheduling will not be applied to games airing on Thursday or Monday nights.

For Week 17, the Sunday night game will be announced no later than six days prior to January 3. The schedule does not list a Sunday night game in Week 17, but an afternoon game with playoff implications will be moved to that time slot. Flexible scheduling ensures quality matchups in all Sunday time slots in those weeks, and gives “surprise” teams a chance to play their way into primetime.

– SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL –

“THIS IS US” STAR MILO VENTIMIGLIA FEATURED IN SPECIAL OPEN FOR NBC’S THANKSGIVING NIGHT NFL GAME

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First-Ever Thanksgiving NFL Game in Pittsburgh (8 p.m. ET on NBC) Includes Special Holiday Greetings from Ravens and Steelers

NBC’s Hit Drama Has Prominently Featured Pittsburgh in Storylines Throughout Its Five Seasons

STAMFORD, Conn. – Nov. 24, 2020 – Milo Ventimiglia of NBC’s hit drama “This is Us” stars in the special show open for NBC’s Thanksgiving night NFL game, as the first-place Pittsburgh Steelers (10-0) host their AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens (6-4) at 8 p.m. ET this Thursday, Nov. 26.

Joining Ventimiglia in the show open to deliver special holiday greetings are Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin, and players from both teams.

Thursday night marks the first-ever Thanksgiving Day NFL game in Pittsburgh, which is the site of many storylines and numerous scenes over the five seasons of “This is Us,” including the pilot episode being set in Pittsburgh.

Ventimiglia’s character, Jack Pearson, first met his wife, Rebecca (played by Mandy Moore), in Pittsburgh on Dec. 23, 1972 – the same day as the Immaculate Reception. This led to a season three cameo by Hall of Famer Franco Harris, who caught the fateful scoring pass that led the Steelers to their first-ever playoff win.

Ventimiglia and Moore were special guests at the Steelers’ NFL Draft party at Heinz Field in 2017, and announced the team’s fourth-round selection.

— NBC SPORTS —

CHIEFS-RAIDERS THRILLER ON NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL IS TV’S MOST-WATCHED PRIMETIME SHOW SINCE NFL KICKOFF GAME IN SEPTEMBER

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Game Averaged Total Audience Delivery of 20.2 Million Viewers – Best Week 11 NBC SNF Viewership Since 2017 & Up 17% from Last Year

Raiders Register Highest Local Market Rating in First Season in Las Vegas; Chiefs Deliver Second-Best NBC SNF Rating in Kansas City

STAMFORD, Conn. – November 24, 2020 – The Kansas City Chiefs’ down-to-the-wire 35-31 victory over their AFC West-rival Las Vegas Raiders on NBC Sunday Night Football averaged a Total Audience Delivery of 20.2 million viewers across NBC TV, NBC Sports Digital and NFL Digital Platforms  – to rank as television’s most-watched primetime show since the NFL Kickoff Game on Thurs., Sept. 10, according to official data released today by Nielsen, and digital data from Adobe Analytics.

Sunday night’s viewership average of 20.2 million viewers is the best for an NBC SNF Week 11 game since 2017, and topped by 17% last year’s Week 11 SNF game (17.3 million viewers for Bears-Rams).

Viewership on NBC peaked at 20.9 million viewers from 9:30-9:45 p.m. ET, and also topped 20 million (20.6 million) for the exciting conclusion from 11:15-11:27 p.m. ET, as Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs on the game-winning, seven-play scoring drive, culminating with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce with 28 seconds remaining.

The Average Minute Audience (AMA) for last night’s live stream via NBC Sports digital platforms, NFL Digital platforms, Chiefs and Raiders mobile properties, and Verizon Media mobile properties was 647,000 viewers – the third-most streamed Sunday NBC NFL regular-season game ever – and up 85% from last year’s Week 11 (350,000).

Sunday night’s game (8:23 p.m.-11:27 p.m. ET) registered a national TV household rating of 10.8/23.

Local Market Milestones

The Chiefs delivered a 50.0/74 local rating in Kansas City, marking their second-highest home market performance in 17 games since the NBC SNF package debuted in 2006. The Raiders registered a 22.6/38 local rating in Las Vegas – the highest figure in their inaugural season in the city.

TOP METERED MARKETS FOR CHIEFS-RAIDERS (based on 44 markets available):

1. Kansas City 50.0/74
2. Las Vegas 22.6/38
3. Sacramento 19.5/35
4. San Diego 17.0/32
5. Denver 16.5/31
T6. Seattle 16.4/31
T6. San Francisco 16.4/34
8. Pittsburgh 15.1/26
9. Portland 14.5/29
10. Indianapolis 13.8/25

 

– NBC SPORTS –

NBC SPORTS BAY AREA ANNOUNCES NEW ON-AIR TALENT LINEUPS FOR ITS WARRIORS AND GIANTS “PRE/POSTGAME LIVE” SHOWS

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BONTA HILL to Host “Warriors Pre/Postgame Live” beginning this December;

DORELL WRIGHT to Join Returning Warriors Analysts CHRIS MULLIN & JENNIFER AZZI

Bay Area Broadcasting Legend GREG PAPA to host “Giants Pre/Postgame Live” beginning in 2021; Papa to Continue 49ers and Warriors Coverage Roles

 

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (November 23, 2020) – NBC Sports Bay Area today announced a pair of on-air talent moves for its surrounding pre/postgame coverage of the Golden State Warriors and San Francisco Giants for the upcoming 2020-21 NBA and 2021 MLB seasons.  Beginning December 1, Bonta Hill has been named the new host of Warriors Pre/Postgame Live, while Bay Area broadcasting legend Greg Papa will shift to Giants Pre/Postgame Live beginning next spring.  The announcements were made by Matt Murphy, Senior Vice President/General Manager, NBC Sports Bay Area/California.

Born and raised in San Francisco, Hill currently hosts the popular The Morning Roast with Bonta, Kate & Joe show on Entercom’s 95.7 FM “The Game,” a position he will continue to hold in addition to his new role with NBC Sports Bay Area.  A lifelong Bay Area sports fan, Hill gained his vast multiplatform experience with prior positions held at Cumulus Radio, Yardbarker, Bleacher Report, along with sports correspondent positions with the San Francisco Examiner and San Francisco Chronicle covering professional, collegiate and preps sporting events.  Hill earned his degree in broadcast journalism from San Francisco State University.

In his famed, three-decade-plus career, Papa began his pro sports broadcasting journey handling radio and television duties with the Indiana Pacers from 1984-86 immediately following his graduation from Syracuse University.  Papa then served as the voice of the Warriors for 11 seasons (1986-97), before moving on to San Antonio to be the lead play-by-play announcer for the Spurs (1997-2000).  Following his stint with the Spurs, Papa spent 14 years as the Oakland A’s television play-by-play announcer for a number of Bay Area’s regional sports networks from 1990-2003.  He currently serves as host of NBC Sports Bay Area’s 49ers Central: Ask Papa and 49ers Game Plan, along with being the 49ers radio play-by-play announcer on KNBR AM 680 “The Sports Leader” and the 49ers Radio Network.  Papa will continue to host select Warriors Pre/Postgame Live airings during the 2020-21 NBA season.  Papa previously hosted Giants Pre/Postgame Live from 2010-16, a time frame highlighted by three Giants World Series championships (2010, 2012, 2014).  A three-time “California Sportscaster of the Year” and San Francisco/Northern California Emmy-award winner, Papa was also play-by-play voice for the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Raiders, along with handling numerous national network assignments with ABC, NBC, ESPN and Turner Sports.

“Greg is one of the most popular broadcasters in our region’s history and is a respected pro who has literally done it all,” said Murphy.  “We look forward to delivering Greg’s vast knowledge and always-entertaining approach to our Giants coverage beginning next season.  As for Bonta, his connection with Bay Area sports fans continues to grow and his passion for the NBA speaks volumes.  We’re excited to have Bonta join our team as he will be an excellent addition to our insightful roster of Warriors experts.”

In addition to Hill being named NBC Sports Bay Area’s new Warriors Pre/Postgame Live host, the network also announced Warriors legend/five-time NBA All-Star Chris Mullin will return as a studio analyst for the upcoming season, along with USA Olympic Gold Medalist/former University of San Francisco women’s head basketball coach Jennifer Azzi for select telecasts.

New to Warriors Pre/Postgame Live this season will be the addition of studio analyst Dorell Wright.  Wright, a standout three-point specialist, played ten seasons in the NBA, including two with the Warriors in 2010-11 & 2011-12.  He earned an NBA championship with the Miami Heat in 2006 on a roster that included legendary teammates Shaquille O’Neal, Dwyane Wade, Gary Payton, Antoine Walker and Alonzo Mourning.

NOTES:  For the latest upcoming 2020-21 Warriors/NBA & 2021 Giants/MLB season news, analysis, exclusive video and more, fans can visit the NEW NBCSportsBayArea.com or the “MyTeams by NBC Sports” app.

NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports California, both part of NBC Sports Regional Networks, serve more than four million households in Northern California, Nevada, Southern Oregon and Hawaii.  NBC Sports Bay Area, the television home of MLB’s San Francisco Giants, NBA’s Golden State Warriors, and the official regional sports network of the San Francisco 49ers, also features a robust lineup of Emmy Award-winning news, analysis and original programming. NBC Sports California offers live coverage of MLB’s Oakland Athletics, NBA’s Sacramento Kings, NHL’s San Jose Sharks and MLS’s San Jose Earthquakes. Collectively, these networks deliver more than 600 live game broadcasts per year.  NBCSportsBayArea.com and NBCSportsCalifornia.com provide fans with comprehensive digital coverage of the hometown teams with original stories and content from a team of “Insiders,” breaking news, up-to-the-minute game previews/recaps, highlights and multimedia video clips.  Follow both networks on social media –Twitter: @NBCSAuthentic; Instagram: NBCSAuthentic; and Facebook: facebook.com/NBCSAuthentic.

– NBC SPORTS BAY AREA –

Jeff Nuich – Sr. Director, Communications

NBC Sports Regional Networks

Jeff.Nuich@nbcuni.com

 

NBC SPORTS GROUP & WORLD ATHLETICS PARTNER ON LONG-TERM MEDIA RIGHTS AGREEMENT FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN TRACK AND FIELD

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NBC Sports Continues as the Long-Term U.S. Home of Global Track and Field through 2029; Partnership Features Next Five World Athletics Championships 

NBC Sports’ to Present First-Ever World Athletics Championships Held in U.S. – July 2022 in Eugene, Oregon

STAMFORD, Conn. & MONACO – November 23, 2020 – NBC Sports Group and World Athletics have partnered on a media rights agreement that provides NBC Sports Group with exclusive multi-platform media rights to World Athletics Series events through 2029, both parties announced today.

The new agreement extends the previous World Athletics-NBC Sports partnership, which now includes the next five installments of the World Athletics Championships, the sport’s marquee track and field event.

The 2022 competition will take place in the U.S. for the first time, from July 15-24, 2022, at the iconic Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. NBC Sports has also televised most of the previous World Athletics Championships, beginning with the inaugural event in Helsinki in 1983.

“The World Athletics Championships Oregon22 will be an historic occasion for our sport and we are delighted to have such a trusted broadcast partner by our side to showcase our sport in the United States,’’ said World Athletics president Sebastian Coe. “The next decade presents a tremendous opportunity for us to build our American fanbase for track and field by highlighting the amazing athletes the U.S. produces, and telling their stories as they take on the greatest athletes from around the globe. NBC Sports’ ability to take fans inside those must-watch moments will be vital to our efforts.”

“We are thrilled to extend our long-term partnership with World Athletics,” said Gary Zenkel, President, NBC Olympics. “Track & Field is a cornerstone of the Olympic program, and with the World Championships coming to the U.S. for the first time ever in Eugene in 2022 and a group of young and talented American stars on the rise, we couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to deliver these events and tell their stories for years to come.”

The new agreement, delivered with the support of World Athletics’ global commercial partner, Dentsu Inc, covers every official world championship in track and field, road and cross-country events until 2029.

The following events will be presented across NBC Sports platforms:

    • Five World Athletics Championships
    • Five World Athletics Indoor Championships
    • Five World Athletics Cross Country Championships
    • Five World Athletics Relays
    • Five World Athletics Half Marathon / Road Running Championships
    • Five World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships
    • Five World Athletics Under 20 Championships

 

In addition to the complete suite of World Athletics Series events, NBC Sports currently holds the long-term U.S. media rights to the Wanda Diamond League series and elite USA Track and Field events.

–NBC Sports–

MIKE TIRICO TO CALL NBC HOLIDAY WEEK NFL GAMES — RAVENS-STEELERS WITH CRIS COLLINSWORTH ON THANKSGIVING NIGHT & BEARS-PACKERS WITH TONY DUNGY ON SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

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Michele Tafoya To Report from Sidelines on Thanksgiving Night in Pittsburgh; Will Award Postgame “Turkey Leg Trophy”

Kathryn Tappen to Serve as NFL Sideline Reporter for First Time, This Sunday Night at Lambeau Field

STAMFORD, Conn. – Nov. 23, 2020 – Mike Tirico will handle play-by-play for both of NBC’s holiday week NFL games, featuring the NFL’s only undefeated team, the 10-0 Pittsburgh Steelers, hosting their AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens (6-4) at 8 p.m. ET this Thursday on Thanksgiving night. Then three nights later, it’s the most-played rivalry in NFL history, as the first-place Green Bay Packers (7-3) host the Chicago Bears (5-5) at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday Night Football in the franchises’ 201st meeting.

Tirico joins 16-time Emmy Award-winner Cris Collinsworth (analyst) in the booth at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on Thanksgiving night, and will be alongside Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy (analyst) at Lambeau Field in Green Bay this Sunday night, Nov. 29. Al Michaels has the week off.

Three-time Emmy Award-winner Michele Tafoya will report from the sidelines in Pittsburgh and will award — via social distancing — a postgame “Turkey Leg Trophy,” in lieu of the traditional turkey legs.

Notre Dame on NBC sideline reporter and NHL on NBC host Kathryn Tappen makes her NFL sideline reporting debut on Bears-Packers on SNF. Tappen previously worked on NBC Sports’ pregame coverage at Super Bowls XLIX and LII, served as a reporter on Football Night in America, and covered the Patriots for seven seasons as a TV reporter in Boston. Two weeks ago, Tirico, Dungy, and Tappen worked Notre Dame’s thrilling double-overtime victory over #1-ranked Clemson – which was the most-watched ND on NBC game in 27 years (10.2 million viewers).

Three-time Super Bowl referee Terry McAulay is the rules analyst for both games.

Liam McHugh hosts FNIA prior to Bears-Packers on Sunday from NBC Sports Group’s Studio 1 in Stamford, Conn., alongside two-time Super Bowl-winner Rodney Harrison and former NFL quarterback Chris Simms. NFL Insider Mike Florio joins Football Night remotely from his home studio. Jac Collinsworth co-hosts FNIA on-site from Lambeau Field.

— NBC SPORTS —

PATRICK MAHOMES, SEAN PAYTON & ALEX SMITH SPEAK WITH PETER KING IN THIS WEEK’S “FMIA” COLUMN

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“That play, that situation, those are the moments competitors love. These are the moments you dream of. Honestly, I dreamed of nights like this when I was a kid.” – Mahomes to King on his game-winning touchdown pass against the Raiders on Sunday Night Football

“You know what people think of him – they think he’s a runner. I think he’s a quarterback. And I wanted him to play quarterback early.” – Payton on QB Taysom Hill’s first start

“It’s still so surreal to me that I get to lace up cleats and put a helmet on. Yeah, I gotta wear this brace to do it, but…how awesome that it’s progressed this far.” – Smith on returning to play this season from his 2018 leg injury

STAMFORD, Conn. – Nov. 23, 2020 – Peter King speaks with Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes following the Chiefs’ Sunday Night Football win and New Orleans head coach Sean Payton after the Saints’ victory over Atlanta in this week’s edition of Football Morning in America, available now exclusively on NBCSports.com. King also speaks with Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith about his return to the field this season, hands out his weekly awards, and discusses the news and notes from around the league in Week 11.

Across NBC Sports this week, Peacock’s weekday block of NFL programming from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET includes PFT Live featuring Mike Florio and Chris Simms live at 7 a.m. ET, followed by The Dan Patrick Show at 9 a.m. ET, The Rich Eisen Show at Noon ET, Brother From Another, with Michael Holley and Michael Smith, at 3 p.m. ET, and PFT PM at 5 p.m. ET. On Monday, Safety Blitz, featuring Rodney Harrison and Jac Collinsworth, streams at 6 p.m. ET, and Chris Simms Unbuttoned streams at 6 p.m. ET Tuesday-Friday. ProFootballTalk.com continues to provide the latest offseason news, and the Rotoworld Football Podcast and Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast discuss Week 11.

The following are highlights from this week’s edition of Football Morning in America:

PATRICK MAHOMES & THE CHIEFS

King on the Chiefs’ game-winning drive last night: “The pesky Raiders were becoming a problem, and they were up 31-28 in their new stadium in Nevada, threatening to sweep the season series, when the Chiefs called their last timeout. Second-and-seven, ball on the Vegas 22, just 34 seconds left…Mahomes came to the sideline with a definite idea – just like in the Super Bowl. He had a play he really wanted to run.”

Mahomes to King on how the Chiefs called the game-winning play coming out of the timeout: “Actually, there was a funny moment in that timeout…Coach (Eric) Bieniemy said to me, ‘Well, I like that play, but I really like this other one better.’ He tells me the play, and I think about it for a second. I said, ‘Hey, I like that play a lot.’ That’s what I love about our offense. We communicate. We’re a good team.”

King on the Chiefs’ game-winning touchdown: “For defenses, this play is the dilemma of the Kansas City offense. Four weapons spread across 45 yards of field near the goal line. If the quarterback was a stationary target, or just moderately mobile, the defense wouldn’t have to spy him…What’s a defense to do?”

Mahomes: “That play, that situation, those are the moments competitors love. These are the moments you dream of. Honestly, I dreamed of nights like this when I was a kid.”

King on the Raiders: “Las Vegas is going to be trouble for AFC power brokers down the stretch. The Raiders are just 6-4, and their spot in the playoffs isn’t assured, but they’re going to be a very hard out if they get there.”

Mahomes on the Chiefs-Raiders rivalry: “Our franchise has a deep history with the Raiders, and we can feel it come back now.”

THE SAINTS

King on the Saints starting QB Taysom Hill: “Coach Sean Payton picked Hill to start over the first pick of the 2015 draft, Jameis Winston, for a couple of reasons: He felt he owed it to him and told him he was next in line; and Payton truly felt Hill had a chance to be a new-wave quarterback, runner and thrower.”

King on Payton and Hill’s meeting Saturday night: “‘The Dot Meeting,’ Payton called it. Payton would have maybe 225 plays on his laminated play sheet in different categories (red zone, short-yardage, etc.). Payton liked most of them. (Drew) Brees would pick his favorites, maybe 40, and Payton would put a black Sharpie dot next to the play, then try to call most of them the next day. Ditto with Hill.”

Payton to King on Hill’s first play of the game yesterday: “Box Right Nasty, X Out, Q-8 Smash, and Taysom called it wrong! He forgot the motion!! First play of the game!”

Payton on his game plan for Hill as a starter: “I didn’t want to run him early. You know what people think of him – they think he’s a runner. I think he’s a quarterback. And I wanted him to play quarterback early.”

Hill to King: “I always felt I was capable of playing quarterback, and starting, in this league, but of course, until you do it, that’s just talk.”

ALEX SMITH

King: “We need Thanksgiving in our country this year, for so many reasons…We need Smith and his family and his story to remind us that in the midst of whatever craziness we all have in our lives, we have much to be thankful.”

Smith to King on what he is thankful for after returning to play from his leg injury two years ago: “So tough to put into words…I think certainly first and foremost, grateful for my health right now and my family’s health. You realize looking back what a privileged life I led and had never really faced a challenge like that.”

Smith on returning from his injury: “It’s still so surreal to me that I get to lace up cleats and put a helmet on. Yeah, I gotta wear this brace to do it, but how amazing it is that every day I get to go do this, how awesome that it’s progressed this far. I’m just lucky.”

Smith on when he first returned to the field in Week 5: “It’d been two years since I had been hit. The last time I did, my leg broke. I just spent the previous almost two years doing everything I could to protect my leg, and then all of a sudden now I’m running out onto a field to play tackle football again…Aaron Donald jumping on my back. How was I gonna handle that?”

King: “At 36, there’s been some good, there’s been some bad, and with the warm-and-fuzzies wearing off, Smith knows he has to play well to keep his job for this year and beyond…That’s the thing about football. It’s sentimental for about five minutes, and then you’ve got to play well.”

WEEK 11 NEWS & NOTES

King on the Steelers: “Pittsburgh, with a four-game lead over Baltimore entering Thanksgiving Week. Now that’s a stunner…Ben Roethlisberger with a 24-to-5 TD-to-pick ratio, a defense that can be suffocating at all three levels. That’s a legit 10-0 team.”

King on Saints RB Alvin Kamara: “I’m not normally a fan of second contracts for running backs, but I’ll make an exception for Alvin Kamara…Drew Brees is very likely gone after this year, and whoever quarterbacks this team is going to need that great all-purpose security blanket that Kamara is.”

King on Titans WR A.J. Brown’s go-ahead fourth-quarter touchdown yesterday: “It’s one of the best touchdowns of the year, one of the most football-perfect touchdowns of the year, coming at a time when the AFC South is there to be won for the Titans.”

Brown to King on the play: “So I go the line and get ready to run my route, and Ryan (Tannehill) kind of gave me the look. Everyone knows that look. He double-winked at me. Gave me those big eyes. Like, the ball’s coming to you. At the time, we just really need the first down.”

King on his most underrated receivers in the NFL: “1) Tyler Lockett, and it’s not close. 2) Cole Beasley. 3) Darius Slayton. 4) Willie Snead. 5) Tre’Quan Smith.”

King on Cardinals rookie Isaiah Simmons: “The eighth pick of the April draft, monster defensive back Isaiah Simmons, is out of the witness protection program. He could be a big factor for the Cards in the last six weeks.”

King on former Falcons head coach Dan Quinn: “The fired Falcons coach has done something I think is really bright…He asked TV journalist/analyst Laura Okmin to reach out to 30 to 40 people Quinn had either coached with, coached, or knew well in his NFL life. Quinn asked Okmin to talk to these 30 or so people about what the coach needed to do better. No names; Quinn wanted honesty, and told Okmin to grant anonymity.”

Quinn to King: “I did a 360 on myself…I wanted to know my blind spots. Most often, when you’re the head coach, people tell you what they think you want to hear. I wanted to get the truth, right between the eyes.”

King on what Quinn learned: “One thing he discovered is he didn’t have the kind of pipeline that a coach needs to have to last a long time in one place. He needed to develop – as coaches like Bill Belichick, Mike Tomlin and Andy Reid have done – an ethos that every coach and player in the organization buys into.”

KING’S WEEK 11 AWARDS

Offensive Players of the Week: A.J. Brown, Tennessee, P.J. Walker, Carolina, & Taysom Hill, New Orleans.

King on Hill: “Hill’s waited three-and-a-half years for this moment, since being bypassed in the 2017 draft and waived by the Packers as an undrafted free agent and signing with the Saints and waiting, waiting, waiting…It wasn’t a flashy debut, but the Saints will take a 15-point win over their most hated rival any day.”

Defensive Players of the Week: Justin Simmons, Denver, Olivier Vernon, Cleveland, J.J. Watt, Houston, & Carlos Dunlap, Seattle.

King on Vernon: “The Browns are 7-3, and good teams don’t fold when their best defensive player suddenly is lost for the game. (Myles Garrett has COVID-19.) Excellent time for Vernon to play his best game as a Brown.”

Special Teams Player of the Week: Logan Woodside, Tennessee.

King: “On fourth-and-seven from the Tennessee 49, Woodside lined up as the upback in punt formation, took the snap, rolled right, and found gunner Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for seven yards. Three minutes later, the Titans snuck in a field goal before halftime. Good roster management. Two undrafted free-agents combine for a key play in a very tight game.”

Coaches of the Week: Phil Snow, Carolina (defensive coordinator), & Matt Eberflus, Indianapolis (defensive coordinator).

King on Snow: “Snow, who came from Baylor with coach Matt Rhule this season, let loose with some different blitzes and not being so married to his three-man front. Terrific job all around in Charlotte.”

Read the full FMIA column here and catch the weekly Peter King Podcast here.

The following are additional highlights of NBC Sports’ NFL coverage:

    • Football Night in America: Week 11 Recap with Mike Tirico, Tony Dungy, and Mike Florio
    • PFT Live with NBC Sports’ Mike Florio and Chris Simms streams live on Peacock from 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. ET on weekdays, followed by The Dan Patrick Show at 9 a.m. ET, The Rich Eisen Show at Noon ET, Brother From Another at 3 p.m. ET, PFT PM at 5 p.m. ET. At 6 p.m. ET, Safety Blitz streams on Monday and Chris Simms Unbuttoned stream Tuesday-Friday.
    • ProFootballTalk.com continues to provide the latest news and updates.
    • The Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast and Rotoworld Football Podcast discuss Week 11 and look ahead to Week 12.

 

A new “Football Morning in America” posts every Monday morning exclusively on NBCSports.com through the NFL season. It was announced in May 2019 that King signed an exclusive agreement with NBC Sports Group that included writing a weekly Monday morning NFL column for NBCSports.com; making regular appearances on PFT Live with Mike Florio; and continuing to contribute to Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports.

—NBC SPORTS—

NOTES & QUOTES FROM WEEK 11 EDITION OF FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA ON NBC

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“I don’t care what the stats say, this looks like the best defense in the National Football League.” – Rodney Harrison on the Saints

“The mistake by the lake has been delivering not so many mistakes this year.” – Chris Simms on the Browns

“Tennessee wore them down in the second half and it seemed like they wanted it more than the Ravens did.” – Tony Dungy on Titans-Ravens

“This time last year, we said, ‘Wow, who is going to figure out how to stop them?’ Now it seems like everyone is figuring out a way to keep them in check.” – Mike Tirico on the Ravens

“It’s time for Doug Pederson to give Jalen Hurts an opportunity…to get in the game and be a legitimate quarterback.” – Harrison on Eagles

STAMFORD, Conn. – Nov. 22, 2020 – NBC Sports’ presentation of Week 11 of the 2020 NFL season began tonight from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas with Football Night in America leading into coverage of Chiefs-Raiders on Sunday Night Football on NBC. It is SNF’s first trip to Las Vegas.

Mike Tirico hosted FNIA from NBC Sports Group’s Studio 1 in Stamford, Conn., and was joined by Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy and former NFL quarterback Chris Simms. Two-time Super Bowl-winner Rodney Harrison and NFL Insider Mike Florio joined Football Night remotely from studios in their respective homes. Liam McHugh co-hosted the show on-site from Allegiant Stadium and was joined by Sunday Night Football analyst Cris Collinsworth.

Kansas City Chiefs QB and Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes spoke with McHugh earlier this week. In the interview, Mahomes discusses playing in head coach Andy Reid’s innovative offense, designing plays of his own, offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s potential as a future NFL head coach, and more. The entire eight-minute conversation is available now on NBCSports.com. During pre-game, McHugh interviewed Raiders RB Josh Jacobs.

Al Michaels (play-by-play), Collinsworth (analyst), Michele Tafoya (sideline reporter) and Terry McAulay (rules analyst) are calling tonight’s Chiefs-Raiders game.

Tafoya debuted this week as host of the second season of NBC Sports’ “Sports Uncovered” podcast series, with the newest episode featuring Raiders head coach Jon Gruden. The podcast covers Gruden’s creative offensive schemes, the rare trade of Gruden from the Raiders to the Bucs, and his return to the Silver & Black. To download the podcast, click here.

***

Following are highlights from tonight’s edition of Football Night in America on NBC:

ON CHIEFS

Collinsworth on QB Patrick Mahomes’ case for becoming the best quarterback of all-time: “I think he does have a chance to be exactly that. Anytime you pay a guy half-a-billion dollars and say, ‘That’s a pretty team-friendly deal,’ you feel pretty good about that. What he does on the field is amazing…some of the things he is able to do is phenomenal.”

ON RAIDERS

Collinsworth on Raiders’ success this year: “Derek Carr seems to have taken that next step…When you talk to some of the Kansas City coaches about what (the Raiders) are doing, they say, ‘It’s still Derek Carr’s body out there, but it feels like Jon Gruden’s brain.’”

Simms on Jon Gruden’s offensive philosophy: “He wants to pound the rock. We had a rock in our locker room to remind (us) to run the football…he wants to run the ball to keep his efficient pass game open and be a mad scientist off of it.”

Harrison: “I’m really impressed with Jon Gruden and the job that he’s done with Derek Carr. Carr was an average quarterback when he got there who played very conservative. Now he’s a Top 10 quarterback, he’s playing with a level of freedom, a level of confidence, and that’s because of Jon Gruden.”

Dungy: “We heard all of those fancy passing plays, but it is really running the football and then getting everybody thinking run and now you’ve got those explosive shots.”

ON SAINTS

Simms on QB Taysom Hill: “You don’t know what to expect (with Taysom Hill under center). Play action pass, quarterback designed run, Alvin Kamara — they can do everything.”

Tirico: “Remember when (Drew) Brees got hurt last year, the defense stepped up. You know who stepped up today? The defense.”

Harrison: “I don’t care what the stats say, this looks like the best defense in the National Football League…I think this defense is tremendous, especially the front seven. Demario Davis is the real deal. He’s the best middle linebacker in all of football.”

ON TITANS-RAVENS

Dungy: “Tennessee wore them down in the second half and it seemed like they wanted it more than the Ravens did.”

Simms: “We don’t see the Ravens physically get out-powered and we’ve seen it two weeks in a row, which is kind of shocking.”

ON RAVENS

Simms: “It can’t always be about Lamar (Jackson) and the run game. There has to be more wide receivers involved in the pass game, it’s always just Mark Andrews and Lamar running the football. I don’t know if that’s going to get them to the Super Bowl.”

Tirico: “This time last year, we said, ‘Wow, who is going to figure out how to stop them?’ Now it seems like everyone is figuring out a way to keep them in check.”

Harrison: “The Ravens got physically dominated (today)…this is a definite concern, struggling on the offensive side of the ball and can’t stop anyone on the defensive side of the ball.”

ON PACKERS

Dungy: “Ball-security issues all day for the Packers.”

ON COLTS

Dungy on final minutes in regulation with Colts leading 31-28: “I was so frustrated that I wanted to call Frank Reich. Run the ball, make them use their timeouts. What are you doing? Are you trying to lose this game?”

ON BROWNS

Tirico: “How about the folks in northeast Ohio sitting down at Thanksgiving talking about the second-place Browns!”

Simms: “They’re built to play in this weather, this style of football. It’s been fitting there. The mistake by the lake has been delivering not so many mistakes this year. Way to go Cleveland.”

ON PANTHERS

Dungy on QB P.J. Walker: “He played a great game, didn’t make many mistakes and was on target when he had to be.”

ON EAGLES

Simms on QB Carson Wentz’s pick-six interception: “Same old, same old. No awareness in the pocket and holding the ball like he’s got the greatest offensive line in the history of football … (on the safety) this is the issue all the time, so focused down the field, not really feeling what’s around him and it cost this team throughout the year.”

Harrison: “It’s time for Doug Pederson to give Jalen Hurts an opportunity. I’m not saying to start him, but give him a few series and when you bring him in, I’m not talking about the option, give him an opportunity to get in the game and be a legitimate quarterback…Carson Wentz is all over the place. You owe it to your team to give him a chance to play, your team needs a spark and Carson Wentz has completely lost his confidence…you have to do what’s in the best interest of your team, it doesn’t matter how much a guy makes.”

ON TEXANS

Simms on QB Deshaun Watson: “He all but ended the Patriots playoff hopes (today)…he was amazing.”

Dungy on Watson: “His coach in college Dabo Swinney called him Michael Jordan. He looked like more than that (today)…they had no answer for Deshaun.”

ON PATRIOTS

Simms: “When they have to rely on the pass game too much, they can’t win games this year…I think this all but wipes the Patriots out of the playoff race.”

Dungy: “Deshaun Watson — they couldn’t stop him. They do not have enough defensive playmakers.”

ON DOLPHINS

Simms on QB Ryan Fitzpatrick: “Sometimes it’s Fitz-magic, sometimes it’s Fitz-tragic.”

ON CHARGERS

Simms on QB Justin Herbert: “He’s a phenomenal rookie. He’s a superstar. Some of the throws he made today are jaw dropping.”

ON JETS

Tirico on Jets making a late-game run: “Their fans are yelling, ‘Don’t win! Don’t win!”

***

Below are excerpts from McHugh’s interview with Mahomes. If used, please note the mandatory credit: “In an exclusive interview airing on Football Night in America.”

WATCH: Full eight-minute Mahomes-McHugh conversation on NBCSports.com.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM MCHUGH’S INTERVIEW WITH MAHOMES

Mahomes on playing in Andy Reid’s offense: “My first and second year here, he would call some plays and I would be like, ‘I mean I’ll try it, but I don’t know how that’s going to work with the defense and how they’re playing.’ But it seems like every single time I had that thought, it was a wide-open touchdown. So nowadays, whatever he draws up, I’m just ready to go and ready to go out there and execute it.”

Mahomes on designing plays of his own: “There’s always been plays here and there that Coach Reid does a good job of letting me kind of help create and help design in a certain sense. He has his white board, he just draws up plays all day and so every once in a while I’ll go in there and say, ‘Can we do this?’ And he usually gives me the green light.”

Mahomes on designing and executing ‘Ferrari Right,’ in which he caught the snap while in motion for a touchdown in Week 9: “Ferrari Right kind of started as a joke. It started as I was taking snaps pre-practice and I would start running in jet motion and catching it. And all of a sudden, I was like, ‘Man, I think this can really affect a defense. Let me see if this is legal.’ So, I took it to some coaches and then took it to Coach Reid and we helped design it and make something happen out of it, and it worked out and I was able to score a touchdown on it.”

Mahomes on Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy: “I would say that he has everything it takes to be a head coach, and I think that’s a big thing being a head coach in the NFL. Being able to lead men, being able to hold people accountable but at the same time holding himself accountable even more than that…He’s obviously a great offensive mind but he’s even a better a leader of men. I think that says a lot.”

Mahomes on what he learned from the Chiefs’ Week 5 loss to the Raiders: “I think the biggest thing we learned going into the following weeks is that we’ve got to be patient within our offense. Obviously, we want to have the big play and we want to have the big play every play, but you have to be able to drive the ball down the field play by play. It really, I think, kind of woke us up and showed us that we can win games different ways. And if you’ve seen how we’ve played since that game, we found ways to do just that.”

–FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA–