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ZACH WILSON, TREVOR LAWRENCE & JALEN HURTS HIGHLIGHT NUMBERS 21-25 ON CHRIS SIMMS’ TOP 40 QUARTERBACK COUNTDOWN, NOW ON “CHRIS SIMMS UNBUTTONED” AND “PRO FOOTBALL TALK”

May 26, 2022 By admin Leave a Comment

Simms’ Top 40 QB Countdown Culminates with the Top Four on Monday, June 13; In-Depth Breakdowns for Each Ranking Weekly on Chris Simms Unbuttoned Podcast

Daniel Jones (No. 21), Zach Wilson (No. 22), Justin Fields (No. 23), Trevor Lawrence (No. 24), and Jalen Hurts (No. 25) Ranked #21-25 in the Simms Top 40 QB Countdown

“Arrow pointing up, big time… His arm is ‘some of the best quarterbacks in the league’-type talent.”– Simms on Wilson at No. 21

“He made me say ‘Wow’ maybe the least out of all the quarterbacks drafted last year.”– Simms on Lawrence at No. 24

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 26, 2022 – The first two overall picks of the 2021 NFL Draft, Zach Wilson (No. 2) of the New York Jets and Trevor Lawrence (No. 1) of the Jacksonville Jaguars, along with third-year signal caller Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles, highlight the latest installment of Chris Simms’ countdown of the top 40 quarterbacks in the NFL.

NBC Sports’ Simms continues his countdown of the best quarterbacks in the NFL on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast and on “PFT Live,” unveiling quarterbacks 21-25.

Simms’ quarterbacks ranked 21-40:

21. Daniel Jones, New York Giants 34. Tyler Huntley, Baltimore
22. Zach Wilson, New York Jets 35. Davis Mills, Houston
23. Justin Fields, Chicago 36. Tyrod Taylor, New York Giants
24. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville 37. Gardner Minshew, Philadelphia
25. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia 38. Teddy Bridgewater, Miami
26. Jameis Winston, New Orleans 39. Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
27. Mitchell Trubisky, Pittsburgh 40. Drew Lock, Seattle
28. Marcus Mariota, Atlanta    
29. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami    
30. Jared Goff, Detroit    
31. Trey Lance, San Francisco    
32. Sam Darnold, Carolina    
33. Geno Smith, Seattle    

 

Beginning in May and culminating Monday, June 13 with his top four quarterbacks in the league, Simms will unveil four selections on each Chris Simms Unbuttoned episode and discuss his rankings on “PFT Live” with Mike Florio.

Simms, a third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2003 NFL Draft who played eight NFL seasons, will also offer in-depth player breakdowns and rankings explanations throughout each week on Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

Simms has had recent success in projecting quarterbacks – including those coming out of college by naming Patrick Mahomes as his most exciting prospect in 2017, listing Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen as his top-two QBs in 2018, and having Justin Herbert as his No. 2 QB in 2020.

The rankings will continue Tuesday, May 31 with numbers 20-17 on the next episode of Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

The following are highlights from this week’s edition of Chris Simms Unbuttoned:

No. 25: Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

“Leadership, personality, effect on the football field – it is real. Decision-making, seeing the field, it’s pretty good. He can extend plays. Throwing the ball is below-average starting NFL quarterback quality. [The Eagles’] style of play and the way they’re built, it fits him. There’s not going to be a lot of excuses for Jalen Hurts with this football team. He’s a good deep ball thrower. He can get outside the pocket and run the ball pretty well. The problem is this: it’s the middle of the field throws that you need and that’s where he’s not as good. [There are] too many plays where he can’t get it out quick enough. I’m not sure some of the problems will be fixed.”

No. 24: Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

“He’s got all the tools. He’s big, he’s a good athlete, his arm is strong. He wasn’t in the greatest situation with [former Jaguars head coach] Urban Meyer. The throwing is too inconsistent. He made me say, ‘Wow’ maybe the least out of all the quarterbacks drafted last year. I do think he lost his way a little bit [last season]. [New head coach Doug Pederson and quarterbacks coach Mike McCoy] are going to give him more of a plan of attack. They’re going to call plays where the life of Trevor Lawrence is going to be easier. I expect a big jump here.”

No. 23: Justin Fields, Chicago Bears

“There’s a lot of ‘Wow’ with Justin Fields. He’s as athletic as anyone in this sport. He makes some ‘Wow’ throws every game. He puts himself in danger a little too much. Can he still stay on receivers a little too long sometimes? Yes. But as a whole, [his rookie season] was a positive. This is the year you see tremendous growth. I think the ability to play in the pocket and make throws is better than Jalen Hurts.”

No. 22: Zach Wilson, New York Jets

“Arrow pointing up, big time. He has the type of talent to be top 10-ish. The ball flies off his hand sometimes. His arm is some of the best quarterbacks in the league-type talent. He has a tremendously quick release and can throw it with great power from awkward positions. He was managed the least … [The Jets] ran a real NFL offense and asked him to read plays like a veteran quarterback. His ability to get out of the pocket and make plays is real. At times, he has some mechanical issues…but there are some real special talents here.”

No. 21: Daniel Jones, New York Giants

“When his team wasn’t totally overwhelmed, he played pretty good. He’s got a good arm. He’s one of the better running quarterbacks in football. We got to have more emotion … [he’s] too quiet. Pocket presence, it’s not that great … [but if] you give him a little time, he can make some really nice throws. He was behind the worst offensive line for two years in a row…don’t let that affect your thought of Daniel Jones. I think [new head coach] Brian Daboll has a little bit of ‘eye of quarterback’ mechanics where’s he’s going to help him just like Josh Allen.”

To listen to the full player breakdowns on Chris Simms Unbuttoned, click here.

-NBC SPORTS-

 

Filed Under: Chris Simms, NBC, NFL, Uncategorized

NBC’S “SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” FINISHES TV SEASON AS PRIMETIME’S NO. 1 SHOW FOR RECORD 11TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

May 25, 2022 By admin Leave a Comment

SNF No. 1 in Primetime in Viewership & HH Rating as TV Season Ends Tonight

Boosted by First Season with All Games on Peacock, NBC Sports Digital Sets SNF Streaming Record for Average Minute Audience

SNF Finishes TV Season as #1 Show Among Adults 18-49 For 12th Consecutive Year

For First Time, SNF More Than Doubles Viewership of Top Scripted Show

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 25, 2022 – With the 2021-22 TV season wrapping up tonight, NBC’s Sunday Night Football finishes as primetime’s #1 TV show in all key metrics for an unprecedented 11th 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 12th consecutive TV season.

NBC Sunday Night Football posted a Total Audience Delivery average of 19.3 million viewers in 2021, according to official live plus same day data released by Nielsen, and digital data from Adobe Analytics.

“We are extremely proud to finish an 11th consecutive season as primetime television’s No. 1 show, in addition to presenting our first full season on Peacock, which helped us to an SNF streaming record. We look forward continuing that legacy of excellence as we kick off another eagerly-anticipated Sunday Night Football schedule beginning in September,” said Pete Bevacqua, Chairman, NBC Sports.

Most Consecutive Years, #1 Ranked Show in Primetime, Since 1950

11 years in a row – Sunday Night Football (2011-12 through 2021-22)

6 years in a row – American Idol (2005-06 through 2010-11)

5 years in a row – The Cosby Show (1985-86 through 1989-90)…tied Cheers in ‘89-90

5 years in a row – All in the Family (1971-72 through 1975-76)

4 years in a row – Gunsmoke (1957-58 through 1960-61)

 

SNF VIEWERSHP MORE THAN DOUBLES TOP SCRIPTED SHOW – FOR FIRST TIME EVER

For the first time ever, Sunday Night Football (18.5 million TV viewers) more than doubled the viewership of television’s most-watched scripted show (Yellowstone, 8.9 million across multiple networks), up from a 75% advantage over last season’s top scripted show (NCIS), a 72% edge in 2019-20, and a 45% lead in 2018-19.

In addition, with an average 9.9/23 household rating, SNF topped Yellowstone by +104% — up from a 60% edge in 2020-21, a 57% advantage in 2019-20, and a 38% lead in 2018-19.

BOOSTED BY FIRST SEASON WITH ALL GAMES LIVE STREAMED ON PEACOCK, SNF SETS STREAMING RECORD

With Peacock live streaming all NBC NFL games for the first time in 2021, NBC Sports Digital hit another viewership milestone for Sunday Night Football, with a record Average Minute Audience of 843,000 viewers across Peacock, NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports app, NFL Digital platforms, and Yahoo Sports mobile properties.

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL IS AGAIN HOME TO BEST & BRIGHTEST IN 2022 ON NBC & PEACOCK

With a new announce team of Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, and Melissa Stark, Sunday Night Football is the home to the best and the brightest in 2022.

This season’s SNF schedule is jam-packed with the league’s star signal callers: 15 regular-season games in the SNF package feature at least one quarterback to start in a Super Bowl.

It all begins on Thurs., Sept. 8, with Matthew Stafford and the Rams raising their Super Bowl banner at SoFi Stadium before hosting Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in NFL Kickoff 2022…includes Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes facing off for the sixth time (Week 4), storied rivalries (Bears-Packers on Sept. 18, Cowboys-Eagles on Oct. 16), three holiday games, and the pressure-packed season finale in Week 18. Then it’s on to the postseason, where NBC Sports will showcase three games across the first two weekends of the NFL Playoffs.

For a look at the full season schedule on NBC and Peacock, click here.

 

—SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL—

Filed Under: NBC, NFL, Sunday Night Football, Uncategorized

JAMEIS WINSTON, TUA TAGOVAILOA & JARED GOFF HIGHLIGHT NUMBERS 26-30 ON CHRIS SIMMS’ TOP 40 QUARTERBACK COUNTDOWN, NOW ON “CHRIS SIMMS UNBUTTONED” AND “PRO FOOTBALL TALK”

May 24, 2022 By admin Leave a Comment

Simms’ Top 40 QB Countdown Culminates with the Top Four on Monday, June 13; In-Depth Breakdowns for Each Ranking Weekly on Chris Simms Unbuttoned Podcast

Jameis Winston (No. 26), Mitchell Trubisky (No. 27), Marcus Mariota (No. 28), Tua Tagovailoa (No. 29), and Jared Goff (No. 30) Ranked #26-30 in the Simms Top 40 QB Countdown

“Some of the plays and throws he makes, you go, ‘That’s top-15 quarterback territory.’”– Simms on Winston at No. 26

“I think they can win with Tua. They just can’t put it all on his back and expect him to carry the team.”– Simms on Tagovailoa at No. 29

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 24, 2022 – Over the course of the next month, NBC Sports’ Chris Simms will unveil his list of the top 40 quarterbacks in the NFL on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast and on “PFT Live.” Highlighting Simms’ latest rankings are 2019 NFL passing yards leader Jameis Winston of the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins quarterback and No. 5 overall pick in 2020 Tua Tagovailoa, and former No. 1 overall pick (by Los Angeles Rams) Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions.

Continuing the countdown, Simms unveiled his quarterbacks ranked 26-30. Simms’ quarterbacks ranked 26-40:

 

26. Jameis Winston, New Orleans 34. Tyler Huntley, Baltimore
27. Mitchell Trubisky, Pittsburgh 35. Davis Mills, Houston
28. Marcus Mariota, Atlanta 36. Tyrod Taylor, New York Giants
29. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami 37. Gardner Minshew, Philadelphia
30. Jared Goff, Detroit 38. Teddy Bridgewater, Miami
31. Trey Lance, San Francisco 39. Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
32. Sam Darnold, Carolina 40. Drew Lock, Seattle
33. Geno Smith, Seattle    

 

Beginning last week and culminating Monday, June 13 with his top four quarterbacks in the league, Simms will unveil five selections on each Chris Simms Unbuttoned episode and discuss his rankings on “PFT Live” with Mike Florio.

Simms, a third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2003 NFL Draft who played eight NFL seasons, will also offer in-depth player breakdowns and rankings explanations throughout each week on Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

Simms has had recent success in projecting quarterbacks – including those coming out of college by naming Patrick Mahomes as his most exciting prospect in 2017, listing Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen as his top-two QBs in 2018, and having Justin Herbert as his No. 2 QB in 2020.

The rankings will continue Wednesday, May 25 with numbers 25-21 on the next episode of Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

The following are highlights from this week’s edition of Chris Simms Unbuttoned:

No. 30: Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

“He does have size. He’s tough. He is a pretty good athlete, but I wish he would use his athleticism more. He’s played in some big football games, so he certainly knows how to handle a bit of pressure. His arm is strong, but at times he can lose control. There’s inconsistency in his mechanics…that compromises some of his power. He’s a pretty good decision maker, but he’s not going to carry the team through a tough spot. There is some systematic help that is needed for Jared Goff. This is the year, to me, that is make-or-break. He did nothing last year to solidify in the [Lions’] brain, ‘You’re the guy for the future.’”

No. 29: Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

“He’s got charisma and leadership. He is a very good athlete. He’s slick with his different releases except he does not have a strong arm. He has accuracy…and of course he can run and scramble. There are a lot of big-time throws and yards left on the field on a consistent basis. Playing in the pocket against good defenses, he plays small and he makes bad decisions. I think it’s a great fit for Tua and [Dolphins head coach] Mike McDaniel. With Tyreek [Hill] and [Jaylen] Waddle, it all fits him just right…I think they can win with Tua. They just can’t put it all on his back and expect him to carry the team like Josh Allen.”

No. 28: Marcus Mariota, Atlanta Falcons

“He can really run and he has a pretty damn good arm, and within that, has pretty good control. He’s a little more robotic…but there’s a reason he’s a starter here in Atlanta. He did take a team to the playoffs, and [Atlanta] is going to play a style of football where they’re going to use his ability to run as a threat. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s smart…I think there are some qualities there that are a little better than Tua [Tagovailoa]. I expect it to be a pretty long leash with Mariota [this season].”

No. 27: Mitchell Trubisky, Pittsburgh Steelers

“I think it’s going to be tough for Kenny Pickett to beat him out because there’s real, tangible talent with this guy. His arm is stronger than Ben [Roethlisberger’s] was at the end of his career, he’s obviously a better athlete…That’s where I’d be excited. I’d like him to be a little more of a machine throwing the football. Like [Marcus] Mariota, there’s a reason he was drafted in the top five. It’s an athletic ability that’s up there with a lot of the top athletes at the position.”

No. 26: Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints

“He’s amazing in the pocket. His athletic ability is always better than I remember it being. He is a big-time thrower of the football between 10 and 20 yards. [Last season] there was some growth and he’s coachable and he can play a different style of football. I think there will be less pressure without Sean Payton breathing down his neck. There are some things he needs to improve on…but some of his high-end stuff is high-end. Some of the plays and throws he makes, you go, ‘That’s top-15 quarterback territory.’”

To listen to the full player breakdowns on Chris Simms Unbuttoned, click here.

-NBC SPORTS-

Filed Under: NBC, NFL, Uncategorized

BUFFALO BILLS ARE PETER KING’S NO. 1 TEAM IN THIS WEEK’S “FMIA” COLUMN

May 23, 2022 By admin Leave a Comment

King Ranks All NFL Teams 1-32

“I don’t know that you can say the Bills are overwhelming favorites to get to their first Super Bowl in 29 years…But they’re the favorites for sure.” – King on ranking the Bills at No. 1

“As long as Patrick Mahomes is healthy and dealing, Kansas City’s going to be a Super Bowl contender. That’s how I look at this edition of this team.” – King on ranking the Chiefs at No. 3

“I just don’t take for granted that 45-year-old [Tom] Brady will just pick up where he left off. The Bucs will be seriously challenged by the Saints.” – King on the Buccaneers at No. 6 and the Saints at No. 11

“On their best day, the Cowboys can play with everyone except maybe Buffalo. Problem is, they don’t have enough best days.” – King on the Cowboys at No. 15

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 23, 2022 – Peter King shares his 2022 NFL power rankings with the Buffalo Bills in the top spot in this week’s edition of Football Morning in America, available now exclusively on NBCSports.com. King breaks down each team from 1-32, including the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 2, the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 3, the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams at No. 4, and Green Bay Packers at No. 5. Other rankings include Tampa Bay at No. 6 the defending AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals at No. 7, Dallas at No. 15, and New England at No. 17. King also discusses the NFL’s Coach and Front-Office Accelerator program.

For more NFL coverage, Peacock offers daily programming on the NBC Sports channel for free, including Pro Football Talk at 7 a.m. ET every weekday, Chris Simms Unbuttoned, The Peter King Podcast, The Rich Eisen Show, Brother from Another, and The Dan Patrick Show. To learn more about the NBC Sports on Peacock channel and how to sign up, click here.

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

PETER KING’S 2022 NFL POWER RANKINGS

1) Buffalo Bills 17) New England Patriots
2) Los Angeles Chargers 18) Cleveland Browns
3) Kansas City Chiefs 19) Minnesota Vikings
4) Los Angeles Rams 20) Detroit Lions
5) Green Bay Packers 21) Indianapolis Colts
6) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 22) Arizona Cardinals
7) Cincinnati Bengals 23) Pittsburgh Steelers
8) Baltimore Ravens 24) New York Giants
9) Philadelphia Eagles 25) Seattle Seahawks
10) San Francisco 49ers 26) Washington Commanders
11) New Orleans Saints 27) New York Jets
12) Tennessee Titans 28) Chicago Bears
13) Las Vegas Raiders 29) Jacksonville Jaguars
14) Denver Broncos 30) Atlanta Falcons
15) Dallas Cowboys 31) Carolina Panthers
16) Miami Dolphins 32) Houston Texans

 

King on his offseason power rankings: “The whole idea is to try to pick three or five risers and a couple of fallers, with the understanding that virtually every year there are three or four teams that surprise people. I only have one stunner this year, but a few things should raise ire.”

King on the Bills at No. 1: “I don’t know that you can say the Bills are overwhelming favorites to get to their first Super Bowl in 29 years, what with road games against both Super Bowl teams, home games with both conference top seeds, and a roadie with nemesis Kansas City; KC’s won three of four Mahomes-Allen duels. But they’re the favorites for sure.”

King on the Bills: “I think GM Brandon Beane has done a good job worrying about today while prepping for tomorrow. Beane understands the vital thing is to surround a top-tier franchise quarterback with enough weapons to survive a 17-games-plus-postseason minefield. And Josh Allen definitely has enough to win…A team that obliterated New England and got the overtime coin-flip rule changed in the playoffs is better today than it was in January.”

King on the Chargers at No. 2: “I thought [GM Tom Telesco] won this offseason…Trading for Khalil Mack, though a bit of a health gamble, gives L.A. as good a 1-2 pass-rush tandem with Joey Bosa as any team in football. In the secondary, the Chargers added the best corner in free agency, J.C. Jackson. And [Justin] Herbert should be better if the defense is better, because he won’t have to score 30 every week to win.”

King on the Chiefs at No. 3: “As long as Patrick Mahomes is healthy and dealing, and as long as [head coach] Andy Reid/[GM] Brett Veach have a competitive roster, Kansas City’s going to be a Super Bowl contender. Annually. That’s how I look at this edition of this team. For Kansas City, this offseason has been as much about 2024 as 2022. It’ll be up to Mahomes to win some games with his golden arm to prove this is not a gap year. I think he can do it.”

King on the Rams at No. 4: “The four biggest player drivers to a championship are back and should be as good as ever: Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey. And do not underestimate the force that is [head coach] Sean McVay in moving this team forward. Some coaches coach the team. McVay coaches the team, sets the organizational tone, and gives the team a fervor during the week and certainly on Sundays.”

King on the Packers at No. 5: “They have Aaron Rodgers, coming off two straight MVP seasons. They have a very good running game. They have what should be a top-three NFL defense by Dec. 1. They have a top cornerback, Jaire Alexander. That gives the Packers probably the best chance of any NFC team to win home-field for the third straight year.”

King on the Buccaneers at No. 6: “I just don’t take for granted that 45-year-old [Tom] Brady will just pick up where he left off. Even with bottom-feeders Carolina and Atlanta to get fat off, the Bucs will be seriously challenged by the Saints…I doubt the coaching change to Todd Bowles will be much of a factor. The schedule might be the biggest factor of all.”

King on the Bengals at No. 7: “I like Cincinnati to edge Baltimore for the division title, but a deep run will be tough with a first-place schedule…The Bengals are a team on the rise, without question. I don’t think they can beat Buffalo this year, but in the long haul, I love their prospects to contend in the [Joe] Burrow years.”

King on the Cowboys at No. 15: “I picked the Eagles ahead of Dallas because the Eagles got significantly better this offseason and Dallas (got) worse, with the subtraction of two key contributors (Amari Cooper and Randy Gregory) and the addition of none. On their best day, the Cowboys can play with everyone except maybe Buffalo. Problem is, they don’t have enough best days.”

King on the Lions at No. 20: “Consider how hard they played in a disastrous rookie year of coach Dan Campbell, and how, despite winning only three games, they were 11-6 against the spread, indicative of a team outperforming expectations. Of course, it’s [Jared] Goff who has to be more productive for the Lions to play meaningful December football. This is one of the most interesting teams in football.”

King on the Cardinals at No. 22: “Something doesn’t feel right about the 2022 Cards. Part of it’s the pointed dissatisfaction of quarterback Kyler Murray and his agent over a new contract. Part is the six-game suspension of the best player on the offense, DeAndre Hopkins, to start the season. It’s an odd vibe around the team, and the attitude in negotiations with Murray this summer will tell a lot about the chemistry of the locker room coming training camp.”

NEWS & NOTES

King on the Coach and Front-Office Accelerator program: “The meeting is in response to the slow pace of minority hiring of NFL coaches and GMs…The glacier broke apart a bit recently, with four Black GMs hired over the last 17 months and three minority coaches hired this year. But in the coaching ranks, where the lack of minority hires has been acute, only three Black coaches were hired in the four hiring cycles from 2018 to 2021.”

NFL executive vice president Troy Vincent on the Coach and Front-Office Accelerator program: “Is this the answer? No. Is it part of a solution? It may be. This is a new day. It’s not about forcing anyone to hire anyone. It’s about exposing good coaches to those who make the calls.”

King: “The NFL can’t look for results next year, and maybe not even in 2024. This has to be a long-term commitment. This kind of exposure – owners encountering Black candidates they’ve never met – has to continue every year in some form.”

Vincent: “My hope is that some owners and decision-makers will come back from this meeting and say, ‘I met some people I did not know, and who I was very impressed with.’ They go back to their team and say, ‘I want to get these people on our radar when we might have a decision to make.’ That’s why these kinds of meetings are important.”

King on the Bills: “I think kudos are in order for the Buffalo Bills, taking half-a-day to go en masse to the site of the Tops supermarket shooting that left 10 local citizens dead. What a great comfort to those in the community to see the Bills show up in support of grieving and heartbroken people.”

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

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

    • PFT Live with NBC Sports’ Mike Florio and Mike Golic (Mondays) and Florio and Chris Simms (Tuesday-Thursday) streams on Peacock from 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. ET on weekdays & is available on-demand. The Dan Patrick Show streams 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, Chris Simms Unbuttoned streams Tuesday-Friday.
    • ProFootballTalk.com continues to provide the latest news and updates.
    • NBC Sports EDGE’s A Good Football Show continues the NFL discussion and Bet The Edge Podcast provides daily betting insights.

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—

Filed Under: NBC, NFL, Uncategorized

TREY LANCE, SAM DARNOLD & DAVIS MILLS HIGHLIGHT NUMBERS 31-35 ON CHRIS SIMMS’ TOP 40 QUARTERBACK COUNTDOWN, NOW ON “CHRIS SIMMS UNBUTTONED” AND “PRO FOOTBALL TALK”

May 19, 2022 By admin Leave a Comment

Simms’ Top 40 QB Countdown Culminates with the Top Four on Monday, June 13; In-Depth Breakdowns for Each Ranking Weekly on Chris Simms Unbuttoned Podcast

Trey Lance (No. 31), Sam Darnold (No. 32), Geno Smith (No. 33), Tyler Huntley (No. 34), and Davis Mills (No. 35) Ranked #31-35 in the Simms Top 40 QB Countdown

“The arm is ridiculously strong and he’s a good athlete. I think the accuracy is still the biggest question…You’ve got to start him. The 49ers are a Super Bowl team.”– Simms on Lance at No. 31

“If [the Panthers] slip up and he doesn’t play well, I think he’ll have a short leash this year.”– Simms on Darnold at No. 32

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 19, 2022 – Over the course of the next month, NBC Sports’ Chris Simms will unveil his list of the top 40 quarterbacks in the NFL on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast and on “PFT Live.” Highlighting Simms’ latest rankings are 2021 third overall pick Trey Lance of the San Francisco 49ers, current Carolina Panthers starter Sam Darnold, and second-year signal caller Davis Mills of the Houston Texans.

Continuing the countdown, Simms unveiled his quarterbacks ranked 31-35:

 

31. Trey Lance, San Francisco
32. Sam Darnold, Carolina
33. Geno Smith, Seattle
34. Tyler Huntley, Baltimore
35. Davis Mills, Houston

 

Beginning earlier this week and culminating Monday, June 13 with his top four quarterbacks in the league, Simms will unveil four selections on each Chris Simms Unbuttoned episode and discuss his rankings on “PFT Live” with Mike Florio.

Simms, a third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2003 NFL Draft who played eight NFL seasons, will also offer in-depth player breakdowns and rankings explanations throughout each week on Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

Simms has had recent success in projecting quarterbacks – including those coming out of college by naming Patrick Mahomes as his most exciting prospect in 2017, listing Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen as his top-two QBs in 2018, and having Justin Herbert as his No. 2 QB in 2020.

The rankings will continue Monday, May 23 with numbers 30-26 on the next episode of Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

The following are highlights from this week’s edition of Chris Simms Unbuttoned:

No. 35: Davis Mills, Houston Texans

“One of the more pleasant surprises. He’s got some ability in his game, more than I gave him credit for coming out of Stanford. He knows how to play in the pocket…He can read a defense and make the appropriate decision. He’s not a ‘thrower,’ he’s a ‘passer.’ He’s more about timing and rhythm and anticipation. It’s not huge talent, but it’s good talent, and his ability to play the position is pretty advanced for the age he’s at right now. That’s why I put him ahead of guys like Tyrod Taylor and Teddy Bridgewater…He started making plays and dictating the game himself…If he stays on the course, he’s going to be the starter and be the guy.”

No. 34: Tyler Huntley, Baltimore Ravens

“He maybe was put in the toughest spot of anybody last year. He has a pretty strong arm, he can push the ball down the field, and he can put enough zip on it to put some balls into tight windows over the middle to Mark Andrews and company. The other thing I love about him is he does want to stay in the pocket…He’s a pretty good decision maker. He showed a little bit of a ‘clutch’ gene – the way he played in the Packers and Rams games, he certainly wasn’t afraid of the big lights of the moment. He’s going upwards. I love his game. He’ll be a low-end starter when it’s all said and done.”

No. 33: Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks

“Geno’s big, [his] arm is big, plays in the pocket pretty damn well. [His] release is legit one of the quicker releases in all of football. He’s found the right way to throw the ball for him…It’s a little over the top, but it’s quick. I thought he played really good football against some good teams. He made throws or plays that really changed the game or changed the field position. People are not giving Geno Smith enough credit for his ability…I would say Geno is more accurate and throws the ball better (than Drew Lock). I do think he has the talent and potential to be a mainstay type of starter in the NFL. He’s never going to be top 15, but I do think he can be that guy.”

No. 32: Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers

“He can move and run better than people realize. He doesn’t have any different arm angles – every throw is pretty much the same with [him]. He has a very quick release. That’s the one thing I’ve always liked about him. He doesn’t see the field that well…my biggest complaint about him more than anything is he still misses too many of the big throws down the field. Decision making? Big question mark. Leadership, what he brings to the team? There’s not much. Tyler Huntley, Gardner Minshew, those guys bring something to the offense with their leadership…there’s none of that with Sam Darnold. If [the Panthers] slip up and he doesn’t play good, I think he’ll have a short leash this year.”

No. 31: Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers

“I see the talent, the potential. There’s no doubt. The arm is ridiculously strong and he’s a good athlete. I think the accuracy is still the biggest question – just the pure ability to be a passer and a thrower and then the ability to throw the appropriate ball. I think the thing that’s concerning is…almost 50% of his completions are, ‘Whoa, that guy barely caught it.’ You see very few quarterback plays. Too many of the big plays were just (head coach Kyle) Shanahan serving it up on a platter. Shanahan will highlight the good things he does, and that will help the growing curve. You’ve got to start him…the 49ers are a Super Bowl team.”

To listen to the full player breakdowns on Chris Simms Unbuttoned, click here.

-NBC SPORTS-

Filed Under: NBC, NFL, Uncategorized

KENNY PICKETT, DREW LOCK & TEDDY BRIDGEWATER LEAD OFF CHRIS SIMMS’ TOP 40 NFL QUARTERBACK RANKINGS, NOW ON “CHRIS SIMMS UNBUTTONED” AND “PRO FOOTBALL TALK”

May 16, 2022 By admin Leave a Comment

Simms’ Top 40 QB Countdown Culminates with the Top Four on Monday, June 13; In-Depth Breakdowns for Each Ranking Weekly on Chris Simms Unbuttoned Podcast

Tyrod Taylor (No. 36), Gardner Minshew (No. 37), Teddy Bridgewater (No. 38), Rookie Kenny Pickett (No. 39), and Drew Lock (No. 40) Ranked #36-40 in the Simms Top 40 QB Countdown

“I wish there was more big-play ability and a little more aggressiveness, but as far as being ready to play in the NFL, I have no doubt this guy is going to be ready. He’s going to be able to run an offense.” – Simms on Pickett at No. 39

“He has the type of talent to be in the top 18, top 15, but playing the position, he’s not great at it yet…You can’t trust him.” – Simms on Lock at No. 40

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 16, 2022 – Over the course of the next month, NBC Sports’ Chris Simms will unveil his list of the top 40 quarterbacks in the NFL on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast and on “PFT Live.”

Beginning today and culminating Monday, June 13 with his top four quarterbacks in the league, Simms will unveil four selections on each Chris Simms Unbuttoned episode and discuss his rankings on “PFT Live” with Mike Florio.

Simms, a third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2003 NFL Draft who played eight NFL seasons, will also offer in-depth player breakdowns and rankings explanations throughout each week on Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

Simms has had recent success in projecting quarterbacks – including those coming out of college by naming Patrick Mahomes as his most exciting prospect in 2017, listing Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen as his top-two QBs in 2018, and having Justin Herbert as his No. 2 QB in 2020.

“It’s not an easy exercise. There’s a lot of good quarterbacks in the NFL,” Simms said. “There’s four categories that I’m big on: Physical talent, that’s the number one thing. Throwing and running, taking both of those into account – that’s part of the game right now in the 2022 NFL. The next big thing would be the mental aspect…Third would be leadership, the effect you have on the football team…and the last one to me would be pocket presence, because there is something to that…Those four things to me are really the way I break it down.”

To kick off the countdown, Simms unveiled his quarterbacks ranked 36-40:

36. Tyrod Taylor, New York Giants
37. Gardner Minshew, Philadelphia
38. Teddy Bridgewater, Miami
39. Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
40. Drew Lock, Seattle

 

The rankings will continue Wednesday with numbers and 31-35 on the next episode of Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

The following are highlights from this week’s editions of Chris Simms Unbuttoned:

No. 40: Drew Lock, Seattle Seahawks

Simms: “There’s things to like about his game. There’s real talent to the player. The talent of the player is better than 40. He has the type of talent to be in the top 18, top 15, but playing the position, he’s not great at it yet. To me, the biggest reason he’s at 40 is – for lack of a better way to say it – he’s not in the trust tree. You can’t trust him. You can’t trust him with decision-making, taking care of the football, and that’s the piece we’re still missing with Drew Lock…Consistency is the issue. We’ve seen snippets…but it just never quite gets there. He’s a little bit all over the place when you break him down…He’s a guy who has a higher ceiling than 40 for sure, but right now I can’t put him any higher than that because I don’t really know what to expect out of him when you put him on the field.”

No. 39: Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers

Simms: “A lot of the things that we talk about with Drew Lock that I don’t trust, with Kenny Pickett I don’t have those same feelings…As far as the mental aspect, it’s as impressive as it gets coming out of college the last few years. Mac Jones and Joe Burrow are the only two guys I can remember in recent history…In the pocket, making decisions, going through reads, putting the ball in the right spot. It’s as good as anybody we’ve seen come out there, and I think that’s why some teams absolutely loved him at the draft. It’s the high-end talent that I question, but he’s still a starting quarterback here. I wish there was more big-play ability and a little more aggressiveness, but as far as being ready to play in the NFL, I have no doubt this guy is going to be ready. He’s going to be able to run an offense – he’s been playing in a pro offense – and he’s very well-schooled at playing within the pocket and making decisions and throws that way. That’s why I like him and that’s why I’m going to put him in front of Drew Lock.”

No. 38: Teddy Bridgewater, Miami Dolphins

Simms: “Teddy Bridgewater is the ultimate backup. That’s what he is. I would never want him starting for my football team, as we saw from the two seasons previous to this. That’s just not what he is. Teddy Bridgewater does a lot of really good things. He’s got good control of the football and accuracy, he is a pretty good decision-maker, his arm is solid, he’s a good athlete. My big thing with Teddy Bridgewater, especially at this point in his career, is we know who he is. He’s not big-time and he’s not the future of any franchise, and my biggest thing with him more than anything is…the 2022 NFL, to me, doesn’t translate to a guy like Teddy Bridgewater, to guys who don’t go and try to win the game. They just go and try not to lose it. It’s hard to win in the NFL when you have a quarterback who just tries not to lose.”

No. 37: Gardner Minshew, Philadelphia Eagles

Simms: “One of the best backup quarterbacks in all of football…Ultimately, a low-end starter in the NFL, really high-end backup. You can depend on him as a backup. He’s a natural at the position, a little bit where the physical skills are not as good as Drew Lock or even Kenny Pickett – maybe his arm may not even be as good as Teddy Bridgewater – but Minshew can really play. Minshew is a very good decision-maker, Minshew is really crafty and good in the pocket, Minshew brings a leadership and a flair to your football team that is undeniable. In fact, it’s one of the rarest backups I’ve ever seen from that aspect and the team gravitates towards it…He’s got great anticipation and great touch and can change the arm angle. He’s a guy that can really play…He’s one of the best backups in football and that’s why I have him ahead of Teddy Bridgewater. I think there’s an element he brings to a team that Bridgewater doesn’t and that’s why I notched him up ahead.”

No. 36: Tyrod Taylor, New York Giants

Simms: “I feel bad for the guy at times because he’s been a little unlucky. One of the reasons he’s a backup and in this spot is you can’t depend on him to stay healthy throughout the year. That would be one thing that’s a little concerning about him…but Tyrod Taylor has some big-time elements of his skillset that are starting quarterback worthy…It’s a really good arm. Him and Drew Lock would have the two best arms of the guys here so far. He can pump it down the field 60-yard, 70-yard post routes. He’s got some strength. We know he’s a good athlete too…But Tyrod Taylor has a little bit of the Teddy Bridgewater in him to a degree that does bother me in the fact that it’s a careful football game at times, it’s not always taking advantage of what’s there to be had…There is some ability to make some high-end, awesome stuff happen, but it’s too few and far between at times.”

To listen to the full player breakdowns on Chris Simms Unbuttoned, click here.

-NBC SPORTS-

Filed Under: Chris Simms, NBC, NFL, Podcasts, Uncategorized

Monday Night Football’s Joe Buck and Troy Aikman Media Call

May 16, 2022 By admin Leave a Comment

TRANSCRIPT: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Stephanie Druley Media Call

The post Monday Night Football’s Joe Buck and Troy Aikman Media Call appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..

Filed Under: ESPN, NFL, transcript

PETER KING INTERVIEWS JERRY JONES ABOUT NFL FRANCHISE VALUATIONS & DISCUSSES THE UPCOMING SALE OF THE BRONCOS IN THIS WEEK’S “FMIA” COLUMN

May 16, 2022 By admin Leave a Comment

“The NFL’s a freight train, speeding down the tracks. Ten billion for a franchise? The day will come, and sooner than you think.” – King on NFL franchise valuations

“More than $10 billion. But let me make this very clear, I’ll say it definitively. I will never do it. I will never sell the Cowboys. Ever.” – Cowboys owner Jerry Jones

 “I think one of the most interesting things that happened in the draft was a rookie GM trading in the first round with a team in his own division, then trading in the second round with another team in his division.” – King on the Vikings’ first draft under GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 16, 2022 – Peter King discusses the upcoming sale of the Denver Broncos and why the NFL’s first $10 billion franchise isn’t far away in this week’s edition of Football Morning in America, available now exclusively on NBCSports.com. King also speaks with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, breaks down the 2022 NFL schedule and more.

For more NFL coverage, Peacock offers daily programming on the NBC Sports channel for free, including Pro Football Talk at 7 a.m. ET every weekday, Chris Simms Unbuttoned, The Peter King Podcast, The Rich Eisen Show, Brother from Another, and The Dan Patrick Show. To learn more about the NBC Sports on Peacock channel and how to sign up, click here.

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

THE BRONCOS & NFL FRANCHISE VALUATIONS

King: “The value of an NFL franchise has doubled in five years. The Denver Broncos are about to be sold for an estimated $4.5 billion, twice the number David Tepper paid for the Carolina Panthers in 2018.”

King on the Cowboys: “Think of it this way: Denver’s price will be about 30 times what Jerry Jones paid for the Dallas Cowboys 33 years ago. In 1989, Jones paid $150 million for the Cowboys and for Texas Stadium, the team was losing $1 million per month, and cornerstone owner Lamar Hunt of Kansas City called it ‘the greatest risk I’ve ever seen an owner take.’ … What a difference a generation makes.”

Jones to King on the NFL’s evolution: “Every day, every week, it never ceases to amaze me how the NFL continues to evolve and continues to grow and continues to dominate the [sports] landscape. Every time I think I totally understand it, it still blows me away.”

King on the Broncos’ valuation for their upcoming sale: “Amazing, especially considering that when Forbes did its annual valuation of franchises this year, the Broncos were 10th. So if the Broncos are 10th and worth $4.5 billion, what are the rolling-in-dough Cowboys worth? Forbes says $6.5 billion. The smartest business consultant in NFL circles, Marc Ganis, told me he thinks Jones would get $8 billion or $8.5 billion if he tried to sell.”

Jones on how much he thinks he could sell the Cowboys for: “More than $10 billion. But let me make this very clear, I’ll say it definitively. I will never do it. I will never sell the Cowboys. Ever.”

King on the events that led to the rise in NFL franchise’s values: “One: The NFL has made consecutive 10- and 11-year labor deals with its players union…Two: The NFL owns the sports calendar, and the media is only too happy to cover the league with an unending year-round fervor Three: The NFL just made media-rights deals for a decade totaling $113 billion. Within 10 years, the media money each team will get annually, guaranteed, will rise from $250 million to $380 million.”

Ganis to King: “The NFL has become the emperor of content, in season and out. Technology is changing, and people’s habits are changing, and the NFL is at the forefront of those things. They’re at the forefront of streaming and gambling. If fans didn’t want more content, more events, they wouldn’t support what the NFL is doing. But they do. The NFL had a strategy of creating more events and they’ve all worked.”

Jones on fan interest: “The foibles, the soap opera, the issues. They create interest. Add in the Senior Bowl, the combine, free agency, the draft, training camp, we always got something going. People follow us year ‘round. The owner every now and then gets in the paper. It just adds to the interest, all of it. People love that.”

King: “The next billionaire to love it, really love it, is going to pay in the range of $4.5 billion to own one of these 32 cash cows in Denver. The NFL’s a freight train, speeding down the tracks. Ten billion for a franchise? The day will come, and sooner than you think.”

2022 NFL SCHEDULE

King on the NFL schedule release: “The making of the schedule has become a pretty cool story, going back to the days when a schedule-nerd like me staked out the story every spring…It’s even a bigger deal now – a nationally televised, massively over-covered big deal.”

King on the Titans at Packers on Thursday night in Week 11: “The NFL was going to give Amazon one Packers game…Late in the process, 92 percent of the schedules spat out by the computers had Jets-Packers as the Green Bay home game. Nice, but not great…So Tennessee was put in the Week 11 Thursday slot, traveling to Green Bay.”

King: “That did create one problem the league dreaded. Tennessee would be one of two teams (Dallas the other) to play two short-week Thursday games; this year is the first time that has been required. So if the Jets had stayed in this slot at Green Bay, Tennessee would have had only one Thursday night game. Now the Titans will have two.”

King on the Packers’ schedule: “Of the 17 games on Green Bay’s schedule, a league-high 12 of them will be in national windows…Other teams with 10 or more: Dallas 11, Kansas City 10, Rams 10.”

King on the Rams’ schedule: “This one hit me more than it hit others. The Rams play a Monday night December game at Lambeau Field, a Week-15 game that could have major bearing on home-field in the NFC playoffs (could being the operative word). Pretty big edge for Green Bay, because not only could that be a lousy-weather game for the team from southern California, but also it comes 15 days after the Packers’ previous game. Green Bay will be coming off its bye.”

King on the Steelers’ schedule: “I think of all the stats related to the schedule this season, this one is my favorite: Air miles flown by Seattle in Week 13: 10,566. Air miles flown by Pittsburgh in the four-month regular season: 6,046. The Steelers have eight road trips, and will never leave the Eastern Time Zone. The Seahawks travel through nine time zones to get to Munich to play the Bucs on Nov. 13.”

King on the Chargers’ schedule release announcement: “So the Chargers’ 14-member video/social/wiseass team put together a work of art in what has become a highly competitive business for reasons totally beyond me – social videos trumpeting the release of a team’s schedule… This year, lots of teams used imaginative plotlines to promote their schedules…But the best was the 2-minute, 7-second anime (the Japanese style of animation meant to appeal to adults probably more than children) done by the Chargers that was so full of subtle digs that it’s stunning they crammed all the action into 127 seconds.”

King on the Chargers’ video: “The goal: to reach a sub-culture outside of football, to drive conversation and connect with an audience the Chargers wouldn’t normally relate, in hopes that the franchise would entertain Chargers fans and new fans…the overall imagination – beginning with (Chargers feature producer and editor, Andrew) Cordova, the big anime fan on the Chargers’ staff, was simply superb.”

NEWS & NOTES

King on the Vikings’ draft: “I think one of the most interesting things that happened in the draft was a rookie GM – with a team that’s a sneaky threat to go deep into the playoffs – trading in the first round with a team in his own division, then trading in the second round with another team in his division. And both of those division rivals picked receivers who could haunt the Vikings…It’s arguable that one day he’ll regret trading down from 12th overall to 32nd with Detroit, allowing the Lions to pick Alabama receiver Jameson Williams. It’s arguable, but probably to a lesser degree, that he’ll regret trading down with Green Bay at 34 and handing the Packers wideout Christian Watson.”

King: “So why do I think (Vikings GM) Kwesi Adofo-Mensah did the right thing for his franchise? It comes down to this: The Vikings started the draft with two picks in the top 70. By the time day two was over, they’d made four picks in the top 70. And they were able to, in Adofo-Mensah’s words, ‘do more about the basket of problems we were trying to solve’ than if they’d sat at 12.”

King: “The math says Minnesota started the day with 12 and 47 and, with other picks being involved, turned those into four need players at 32, 42, 59 and 66…This is just me, but knowing what I know and the alternatives the new GM had, I’d have been disappointed if he just sat and picked. Williams could turn out to be a great receiver and he could torment the Vikings, but if three of those four players become valued starters over the next four to five years, it’s a win for Minnesota.”

King on Tom Brady as a future analyst: “I think the easy thing to say about Brady is he’s gotten used to being so vanilla in his public statements that there’s no way he’ll change and be the kind of analyst that once or twice a game will throw a zinger or a dagger. I actually think the opposite, or nearly the opposite…I think he’ll work at it. He’ll know that, just like in football 21 years ago, the TV pros will be looking at him with skepticism. He’s not clever enough, he’s not honest enough. He’ll know that to be good, he has to get out of his comfort zone of all niceties and tell it like it is.”

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

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

    • PFT Live with NBC Sports’ Mike Florio and Mike Golic (Mondays) and Florio and Chris Simms (Tuesday-Thursday) streams on Peacock from 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. ET on weekdays & is available on-demand. The Dan Patrick Show streams 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, Chris Simms Unbuttoned streams Tuesday-Friday.
    • ProFootballTalk.com continues to provide the latest news and updates.
    • NBC Sports EDGE’s A Good Football Show continues the NFL discussion and Bet The Edge Podcast provides daily betting insights.

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—

Filed Under: NBC, NFL, Uncategorized

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL IS AGAIN HOME TO THE BEST & BRIGHTEST IN 2022 – TOM BRADY VS. PATRICK MAHOMES, AARON RODGERS VS. JOSH ALLEN, BEARS VS. PACKERS, COWBOYS VS. EAGLES AND MORE ON NBC & PEACOCK

May 12, 2022 By admin

Buccaneers, Chiefs, Cowboys, and Packers Make SNF-High 3 Appearances Apiece

 Primetime TV’s #1 Show for Unprecedented 11 Consecutive Years Features 15 Games With At Least 1 Super Bowl Starting QB, Including:

  • Josh Allen vs. Matthew Stafford (NFL Kickoff)
  • Tom Brady vs. Dak Prescott (Opening Sunday)
  • Brady vs. Mahomes VI (Oct. 2)
  • Joe Burrow vs. Lamar Jackson (Oct. 9)
  • Aaron Rodgers vs. Josh Allen (Oct. 30)
  • Patrick Mahomes vs. Russell Wilson (Dec. 11)
  • Tom Brady vs. Kyler Murray (Dec. 25)

 Storied Rivalries: Bears-Packers in Most-Played Matchup in NFL History (Sept. 18); Cowboys-Eagles on NBC SNF for Record 15th Time (Oct. 16)

Star QBs in New Places: New Denver QB Russell Wilson and Broncos Host 49ers (Sept. 25) and Chiefs (Dec. 11); New Indy QB Matt Ryan and Colts Visit Cowboys (Dec. 4)

“Happy Holidays”: First-Ever NFL Thanksgiving Game in Minnesota (Patriots-Vikings); Tom Brady vs. Kyler Murray on Christmas Night (Bucs-Cardinals); Matthew Stafford vs. Justin Herbert in New Year’s Night Battle for Los Angeles (Rams-Chargers)

New SNF Broadcast Team – Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth & Melissa Stark – to Debut at Hall of Fame Game on Thurs., Aug. 4

Peacock to Stream Every Sunday Night Football Game & Football Night in America Studio Show in 2022 Season Plus Peacock Sunday Night Football Final Returns

Telemundo Deportes to Present Every NBC Sports NFL Game in Spanish

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 12, 2022 – NBC Sunday Night Football, America’s No. 1 primetime television show for an unprecedented 11 consecutive years, is the home to the best and the brightest in 2022: from Matthew Stafford and the Rams raising their Super Bowl banner at SoFi Stadium before hosting Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in NFL Kickoff 2022, to Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes facing off for the sixth time (Week 4), to the pressure-packed season finale in Week 18 (see: unforgettable 2021 Chargers-Raiders OT #Game272). Then it’s on to the postseason, where NBC Sports will showcase three games across the first two weekends of the NFL Playoffs.

Peacock will stream all NBC Sunday Night Football games, including the playoffs, and the Football Night in America studio show. The exclusive Peacock Sunday Night Football Final returns with expanded postgame coverage following SNF each week.

This season’s SNF schedule is jam-packed with the league’s star signal callers: 15 regular-season games in the SNF package feature at least one quarterback to start in a Super Bowl.

All 2021 NFL playoff teams are on the NBC SNF schedule, including three games each for the NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys, NFC North champion Green Bay Packers, AFC West champion Kansas City Chiefs, and NFC South champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The new SNF announce team of Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, and Melissa Stark will work its first game together at the Hall of Fame Game in primetime on Thursday, Aug. 4 on NBC and Peacock.

Highlights of the 2022 NBC Sunday Night Football schedule:

    • All 19 scheduled NBC SNF games feature at least one 2021 playoff team (Week 18 game TBD) – up from 18 such matchups last year. In addition, 10 contests feature two postseason clubs (vs. nine last year).
    • The season begins with NFL Kickoff 2022 on Thursday, Sept. 8 at SoFi Stadium, as Matthew Stafford and the Super Bowl-champion Los Angeles Rams host the Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen, who has passed for nearly 9,000 yards and led the Bills to a 24-9 record (.727) over the past two seasons.
    • In the season opener of Sunday Night Football on Sunday, Sept. 11, seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit Dak Prescott and the NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys. In last season’s NFL Kickoff Game, the Buccaneers won a two-point thriller in the final minutes at home against the Cowboys.
    • Matchup milestones: The Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears renew the NFL’s most-played rivalry on SNF, with the 205th meeting in the series in Week 2 (Sept. 18) at Lambeau Field. In addition, Cowboys-Eagles on Oct. 16 is the 15th meeting between the clubs on SNF – ranking as the most-played matchup in NBC SNF history (since 2006).
    • New (QB) Faces in New Places: Star quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Matt Ryan are with new teams this season and highlight three SNF games against 2021 Playoff teams. Wilson and the Denver Broncos host the 49ers (Sept. 25) and Chiefs (Dec. 11), while Ryan and the Indianapolis Colts visit the Cowboys (Dec. 4).
    • The eagerly anticipated Brady-Mahomes VI takes center stage on Oct. 2 as Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs visit Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth matchup of the former NFL and Super Bowl MVPs. The first meeting between the star signal callers was on NBC’s SNF on Oct. 14, 2018, with the duo combining for nearly 700 passing yards and six total touchdowns. Brady and the Patriots won 43-40 on a field goal as time expired.
    • Following Brady-Mahomes, the October slate of star-studded QB matchups continues one week later (Oct. 9) with a divisional battle as Joe Burrow and the AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals visit Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. Then to close out the month, back-to-back NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers visit Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills on Oct. 30 in a matchup of 2021 division winners.
    • Holiday Helpings: SNF will showcase a trio of holiday matchups. Kirk Cousins and the Vikings host the first-ever Thanksgiving game in Minnesota, against the New England Patriots and Bill Belichick, who has a 3-1 record on the holiday. Then on Christmas Day, Tom Brady and the Buccaneers visit the Arizona Cardinals and quarterback Kyler Murray, who is only player in NFL history with 70+ passing touchdowns and 20+ rushing touchdowns in his first three seasons. And on New Year’s night, Matthew Stafford and the Rams face the Chargers and AFC passing yards leader Justin Herbert, in a battle for Los Angeles bragging rights.

 

NBC SPORTS TO PRESENT 24 NFL GAMES IN 2022: On NBC and Peacock, NBC Sports will present 20 regular-season games, including 18 regular-season Sunday Night Football games, NFL Kickoff 2022, and the annual Thanksgiving night game. NBC’s original Sunday Night Football agreement, which began in 2006, included 17 regular-season games. It was increased to 18 games in 2010, 19 games in 2012, and 20 games in 2021. NBC Sports will present three postseason games on NBC and Peacock – with a Divisional Playoff game and two Wild Card Playoff games. In the preseason, NBC and Peacock will be home to the Hall of Fame Game (Las Vegas Raiders vs. Jacksonville Jaguars) in primetime on Thurs., Aug. 4.

TELEMUNDO DEPORTES TO PRESENT ENTIRE NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SCHEDULE, INCLUDING PLAYOFFS: Telemundo Deportes will again provide exclusive Spanish-language coverage of the entire NBC Sunday Night Football package with 20 regular season games, including 18 regular-season Sunday Night Football games, NFL Kickoff 2022, and the annual Thanksgiving night game, which will air on Telemundo and wrap up a full day of futbol and football. Telemundo Deportes will present three playoff matchups, including a Divisional Playoff game and two Wild Card Playoff games. All 23 NFL games this season will also be available on live stream via TelemundoDeportes.com and the Telemundo Deportes app.

NFL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE ON NBC, PEACOCK & TELEMUNDO DEPORTES: On the weekend of January 14-15, NBC and Peacock deliver a pair of Wild Card Playoff games, including the primetime Sunday Wild Card playoff game, followed by a Divisional Playoff game on the weekend of January 21-22. Telemundo will broadcast the primetime Sunday Wild Card playoff game, with Universo televising NBC Sports’ second Wild Card Playoff game and the Divisional Playoff game.

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 authentication, 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.

SNF ON PACE TO BE TELEVISION’S NO. 1 PRIMETIME SHOW FOR RECORD 11TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR: Sunday Night Football topped all primetime television series in the fall and is once again pacing to finish as primetime’s #1 TV show in all key metrics for an unprecedented 11th consecutive year. NBC’s SNF extended its record for the most consecutive years atop the charts (since 1950), based on official live plus same day data provided by Nielsen.

Most Consecutive Years, #1 Ranked Show in Primetime, Since 1950

11 years in a row – Sunday Night Football (2011-12 through 2021-22; on pace)

6 years in a row – American Idol (2005-06 through 2010-11)

5 years in a row – The Cosby Show (1985-86 through 1989-90)…tied Cheers in ‘89-90

5 years in a row – All in the Family (1971-72 through 1975-76)

4 years in a row – Gunsmoke (1957-58 through 1960-61)

 

2022 NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Thurs. Sept. 8 NFL Kickoff  Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Rams
Sun. Sept. 11 Week 1   Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys
Sun. Sept. 18 Week 2   Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
Sun. Sept. 25 Week 3   San Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos
Sun. Oct. 2 Week 4 Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
*Sun. Oct. 9 Week 5   Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
*Sun. Oct. 16 Week 6 Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
*Sun. Oct. 23 Week 7 Pittsburgh Steelers at Miami Dolphins
*Sun. Oct. 30 Week 8 Green Bay Packers at Buffalo Bills
*Sun. Nov. 6 Week 9 Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs
*Sun. Nov. 13 Week 10 Los Angeles Chargers at San Francisco 49ers
*Sun. Nov. 20 Week 11  Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
**Thurs. Nov. 24 Week 12 New England Patriots at Minnesota Vikings
*Sun. Nov. 27 Week 12 Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles
*Sun. Dec. 4 Week 13 Indianapolis Colts at Dallas Cowboys
*Sun. Dec. 11 Week 14 Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos
*Sun. Dec. 18 Week 15 New England Patriots at Las Vegas Raiders
Sun. Dec. 25 Week 16 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Arizona Cardinals
*Sun. Jan. 1 Week 17 Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers
*Sun. Jan. 8 Week 18 TBD

 

*Flex Week

** Thanksgiving Night Game

 

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING: This season, “flexible scheduling” for Sunday night may be used twice between Weeks 5-10, and during Weeks 11-15 and Week 17. In weeks of the season eligible for “flexible scheduling,” the games listed for Sunday Night Football are tentative and subject to change. 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 a Sunday afternoon.  

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.

 For more information about NBC Sports shows and properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios and headshots, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com

—SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL—

Filed Under: NBC, NFL, Sunday Night Football, Uncategorized

A Record-Setting 23-Game Slate, Monday Night Football with Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Lisa Salters, and the First ESPN+ Exclusive Game Among the Highlights of the 2022 NFL Schedule for ESPN and The Walt Disney Company

May 12, 2022 By admin

A Record-Setting 23-Game Slate, Monday Night Football with Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Lisa Salters, and the First ESPN+ Exclusive Game Among the Highlights of the 2022 NFL Schedule for ESPN and The Walt Disney Company

The post A Record-Setting 23-Game Slate, Monday Night Football with Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Lisa Salters, and the First ESPN+ Exclusive Game Among the Highlights of the 2022 NFL Schedule for ESPN and The Walt Disney Company appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..

Filed Under: ESPN, NFL

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