GIANTS HOST EAGLES IN CRITICAL NFC EAST SHOWDOWN ON “SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL”
“The Philadelphia Eagles are playing as well as anybody.” – Collinsworth
“You have to be more aware of Michael Vick.” – Dungy
NEW YORK – Dec. 9, 2009 – Two of the three teams at the top of the NFC East standings meet on “NBC Sunday Night Football” when the third-place New York Giants (7-5) host the Philadelphia Eagles (8-4), who are tied with the Dallas Cowboys (8-4) for first place in the division.
Coverage begins with “Football Night in America,” Sunday at 7 p.m. ET with Bob Costas hosting live from inside the stadium. Al Michaels (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analyst) and Andrea Kremer (sideline reporter) call the action from Giants Stadium.
Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann will co-host “Football Night” from NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza studios joined by Super Bowl-winning coach Tony Dungy, two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison and Sports Illustrated’s Peter King. Tiki Barber will report from Cowboys Stadium on the Chargers-Cowboys game.
DUNGY: “Big game. The Giants got their running game going last week. Philly has got to get their running game going to keep that defensive line off Donovan McNabb.”
COLLINSWORTH: “Right now the Philadelphia Eagles are playing as well as anybody and they are going to have a chance to put their mark on this division.”
DUNGY ON MICHAEL VICK: “You have to be more aware of Michael Vick. I have a feeling Andy Reid may have been saving some things for the big division games down the stretch.”
HARRISON ON MICHAEL VICK: “That’s a big headache for defensive coordinators. It creates so many different problems.”
GIANTS VS. EAGLES: The Giants lead the all-time series, which began in 1933, 81-70-2, including four playoff games that the teams split. The Eagles have won the last three contests, including Week 8 this season at home, 40-17, and last year’s NFC Divisional matchup, 23-11, at Giants Stadium. Philadelphia has won three of its last four road games vs. New York.
The Giants have won two of their last three games, including last Sunday at home vs. Dallas, 31-24. The Eagles have won three straight and three of their last four on the road.
GIANTS-EAGLES IN PRIMETIME: Since NBC acquired the NFL’s premier primetime package in 2006, the New York Giants are 3-6 and the Philadelphia Eagles are 1-7 on “Sunday Night Football.” This is the third SNF appearance for both teams this season. The Giants won their first SNF appearance in 2009 by defeating the Dallas Cowboys, 33-31, spoiling the debut of the new Cowboys Stadium. They were defeated by the Arizona Cardinals, 24-17, at home in Week 7. The Eagles lost to Dallas, 20-16, at home on SNF in Week 9 and defeated the Bears on the road, 24-20, in Week 11.
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING: The NFL will utilize flexible scheduling in Weeks 11-17. In those weeks, the schedule will list the games tentatively scheduled for Sunday night on NBC Sports. Only Sunday afternoon games are eligible to be moved to Sunday night, in which case the tentatively scheduled Sunday night game will be moved to an afternoon start time. Flexible scheduling will not be applied to games airing on Thursday, Saturday or Monday nights. A flexible scheduling move will be announced at least 12 days before the game. For Week 17, the move may be announced six days before the game. Flexible scheduling will ensure quality matchups on Sunday night in those weeks and give surprise teams a chance to play their way onto primetime.
“SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” DOMINATES SUNDAY NIGHT: “Sunday Night Football” has won 11 of 12 Sunday nights so far this season. In 2006, SNF’s inaugural season, it won the night nine of 16 times. In 2007, that figure increased to 11 and increased again in 2008 to 13. Sunday Night had a bye in Week 8 due to game four of the World Series.
“Sunday Night Football” is also experiencing its best start since NBC acquired the NFL’s premier primetime package in 2006 (SNF, 2006-Present, MNF, 1970-2005). Below is SNF viewership through 13 weeks:
2009: 19.6 million
2008: 16.3 million, up 20%
2007: 16.5 million, up 19%
2006: 17.3 million, up 12%
ROTOWORLD.COM‘S WEEK 14 FANTASY SLEEPER PICKS: Rotoworld.com managing editor Gregg Rosenthal, who was named Fantasy Football Writer of the Year by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, picks his fantasy sleepers for Week 14.
1. Alex Smith vs. Cardinals: The 49ers have morphed into a bombs-away team, and Smith will have to throw 40+ times to keep up with the Cardinals.
2. Chad Henne vs. Jaguars: We don’t trust the Jacksonville secondary, and the Dolphins staff is trusting Henne to take every snap with the Wildcat withering.
3. Marshawn Lynch vs. Chiefs: He’s Fred Jackson’s backup, but backups score like starters against the Chiefs.
4. Shonn Greene vs. Bucs: Greene has great moves for a big man, and should get more carries than usual against a soft Tampa front seven.
5. Bo Scaife vs. Rams: The return of Vince Young has meant a return to form for his old buddy at tight end.
2009 “NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” REMAINING SCHEDULE
Football Night in America begins every Sunday at 7 p.m. ET
Sun. Dec. 20 *Week 15 Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers (no change)
Sun. Dec. 27 *Week 16 Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins
Sun. Jan. 3 *Week 17 TBA
*Flex Week
NBC & THE NFL: NBC’s long history with the NFL dates back 70 years to 1939 when NBC became the first network to televise an NFL game – Philadelphia Eagles vs. Brooklyn Dodgers from Ebbets Field to the approximately 1,000 sets then in New York. NBC first broadcast the NFL Championship Game in 1955. In 1964, NBC signed a five-year contract to televise the AFL. NBC was awarded the AFC package in 1970, an association that would continue through the 1997-98 season. NBC televised the first Super Bowl in 1967, the historic New York Jets’ upset of the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III in 1969, and this past February broadcast Super Bowl XLIII, the most-watched program in television history.
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