NFL Network’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ Presents Jaguars-Falcons (Dec. 15) & Cowboys-Buccaneers (Dec. 17) at 8:00 PM ET — NFL NETWORK & NFL.COM PROGRAMMING NOTES (12/14 – 12/20)

Falcons QB Matt Ryan 1-on-1 Interview with Deion Sanders on Thursday Night Kickoff Presented by Sears at 6:00 PM ET

Saints QB Drew Brees 1-on-1 Interview with Marshall Faulk & Tim Tebow Features on NFL GameDay Morning Sunday, December 18 at 9:00 AM ET

Live Coverage on Around the League Live & NFL Total Access from League Meeting TONIGHT with Jason La Canfora Reporting

Al Michaels, Matt Damon, Rob Lowe & Mike Florio on The Rich Eisen Podcast Thursday, December 15 at 2:30 PM ET

 

Quarterback Matt Ryan leads the Atlanta Falcons against the NFL’s leading rusher Maurice Jones-Drew and the Jacksonville Jaguars on NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football December 15 at 8:00 PM ET. Brad Nessler provides the play-by-play and Mike Mayock serves as game analyst. Alex Flanagan provides reports from the sidelines of the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Coverage begins with the Thursday Night Kickoff Presented by Sears pregame show at 6:00 PM ET. This week, NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders sits down with Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan for a one-on-one interview.

Thursday’s two-hour pregame show also includes:

• Thursday Night Kickoff crew examine the teams in playoff contention and decide which teams will make it, and which teams will have their bubble burst
• Wired sound of Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow from Denver’s win over the Chicago Bears
• Latest on the Jaguars future in Jacksonville
• Who is to blame in Dallas for the Cowboys’ last two losses?
  

Quarterback Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys look to keep pace in the NFC East division race when they face quarterback Josh Freeman and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a special Saturday edition of NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football December 17 at 8:00 PM ET. Brad Nessler provides the play-by-play and Mike Mayock serves as game analyst. Alex Flanagan provides reports from the sidelines of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

Coverage begins with the Thursday Night Kickoff Presented by Sears pregame show at 6:00 PM ET.

Former Buccaneers star and NFL Network analyst Warren Sapp joins the Thursday Night Kickoff crew in Los Angeles as a guest analyst, along with analyst Kurt Warner and host Lindsay Soto.

Sunday is GameDay, beginning with NFL GameDay Morning at 9:00 AM ET. Join host Rich Eisen and analysts Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin on the first and most comprehensive pregame show on television, taking viewers straight up to kickoff with the latest news, injury reports, pregame analysis, exclusive interviews and game previews.

This week, NFL Network analyst Marshall Faulk sits down with New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees for a conversation. Faulk will report from St. Louis, where he will receive his Hall of Fame ring and have his name added to the Rams’ Ring of Honor during a halftime ceremony.

Additionally, Football Freakonomics examines the statistical unlikelihood of Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow’s comeback victories this season, and NFL Network’s Steve Cyphers discusses all of the circumstances that have aided Tebow in his wins.

Featured on NFL GameDay Morning:

• Why does Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow come alive in the fourth quarter and overtime?
• Why has New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning had the success in the fourth quarter that he’s had this season?
• Why the New York Jets will finish the season strong
• Which team will win the NFC East?
  

NFL Network reporters will provide pre-game news and interviews from the following games:

• Steve Cyphers reports from Kansas City for Packers-Chiefs
• Randy Moss reports from Houston for Panthers-Texans
• Albert Breer reports from New York for Redskins-Giants
• Alex Flanagan reports from Denver for Patriots-Broncos
  

 

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Wednesday, December 14

Around the League Live:

• Jason La Canfora reports from the Winter League Meeting in Las Colinas, Texas
• Cowboys LB Bradie James interview
• Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul interview
• Jeff Darlington reports from Denver
• Albert Breer reports from Green Bay
• Lindsay Soto reports from Dallas
• Melissa Stark reports from New York with the Jets

 

NFL Total Access:

• Texans RB Arian Foster interview
• Broncos RB Willis McGahee interview
• Jason La Canfora reports from the Winter League Meeting in Las Colinas, Texas

 

Thursday, December 15

Around the League Live: Thursday Night Football preview

• Steve Wyche, Alex Flanagan and Stacey Dales report from Atlanta
• Lindsay Soto reports from Dallas
• Jeff Darlington reports from Denver
• Melissa Stark reports from New York with the Giants

 

Friday, December 16

Around the League Live:

• Albert Breer reports from Washington
• Jeff Darlington reports from Denver

 

NFL Total Access:

• Jets QB Mark Sanchez 1-on-1 interview with Melissa Stark

 

Saturday, December 17

NFL Total Access: Thursday Night Football preview

• Steve Wyche, Alex Flanagan and Stacey Dales report from Tampa Bay
• Jeff Darlington reports from Denver

 

 

 

Deion Sanders, Steve Mariucci, Warren Sapp and guest analyst Jalen Rose are featured this week on No Huddle tonight at 10:00 PM ET for a roundtable discussion. The four analysts will discuss the following topics:

• Can Tim Tebow keep up in the scoring column with Tom Brady?
• Can the Cowboys bounce back and win the division?
• Which 10-3 AFC team will go deepest in the playoffs: Steelers, Ravens, Patriots or Texans?
• Can you see Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck playing on the same team?
  

Below are quotes from this week’s edition of No Huddle:

“The popularity of Tim Tebow is bigger than the game. If he ran for president, he would get Sarah Palin’s votes. He’s that popular.” – Jalen Rose on Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow

“It’s OK to have two great ones, an old buck and young buck together and then let it play out. I don’t want Peyton Manning playing against me.” – Steve Mariucci on Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and Stanford University’s Andrew Luck

The latest edition of The Rich Eisen Podcast airs on NFL Network Thursday, December 15 at 2:30 PM ET, with a replay on Friday, December 16 at 3:30 PM ET & 12:30 AM ET. It is also available for download on NFL.com and iTunes.

Academy Award-winning actor Matt Damon discusses his upcoming movie, We Bought a Zoo, as well as his hometown New England Patriots, and actor Rob Lowe calls in to discuss the Indianapolis Colts and his new movie, I Melt With You.

Play-by-play announcer for NBC’s Sunday Night Football, Al Michaels, joins the podcast for the second time to recap last Sunday’s matchup between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys, as well as talk about the recent play of Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow.

Additionally, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio provides all of the latest news surrounding the league, including Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison and which retired head coaches may be back in the league next year.

To download the latest editions of NFL.com’s six podcasts, visit the NFL.com podcast page:

http://www.nfl.com/podcast

 

For the first time, NFL Network airs the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet on Friday, December 16 at 4:30 PM ET.

The award given to the nation’s top NCAA defensive player was awarded during the ceremony in Charlotte, North Carolina on Monday, December 12. Previous winners include Charles Woodson, Champ Bailey, Terrell Suggs and Brian Orakpo.

Friday 8:00 PM ET – AFC Playbook with Solomon Wilcots, Brian Baldinger, Joe Theismann and Matt Millen

• Joe Theismann on how Tim Tebow can use his arm and legs to beat the Patriots and lead the Broncos to their seventh consecutive victory
• Brian Billick film study on how Tim Tebow takes advantage of the Broncos pass protection
• How the Texans can win their eighth consecutive game and stay in the hunt for a first round bye in the playoffs
• Why the Ravens can win their fifth consecutive game to stay atop the AFC North
• How Aaron Rodgers can keep the Packers on the path to perfection
• 2:00 Warning – A look at the fantasy impact wide receivers in the AFC West

 

Friday 9:00 PM ET – NFC Playbook with Solomon Wilcots, Brian Baldinger, Joe Theismann and Matt Millen

• Joe Theismann on how Eli Manning can keep the Giants in first place in the NFC East
• Brian Billick film study on why the Steelers will have trouble running the ball against the 49ers defense
• How Drew Brees can continue his assault on the record books and lead the Saints to their sixth consecutive win
• Why Mark Sanchez can lead the Jets to their fourth consecutive win to stay in the AFC Wild Card race
• 2:00 Warning – A look at the fantasy impact wide receivers in the NFC West

 

 

With a win over the division-rival Carolina Panthers, the Atlanta Falcons moved back into the top 10 of NFL.com’s Week 15 Power Poll, checking in at No. 9. The Falcons face the Jacksonville Jaguars on NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football December 15 at 8:00 PM ET.

The Pittsburgh Steelers moved up to the No. 4 spot with their win over the Cleveland Browns last week on Thursday Night Football, while the top three – Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens – remained unchanged.

Below are the top 10 teams in the NFL.com Power Poll, with their previous week’s ranking listed in parentheses:

1. Green Bay Packers (1)

2. New Orleans Saints (2)

3. Baltimore Ravens (3)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (5)

5. New England Patriots (6)

6. San Francisco 49ers (4)

7. Houston Texans (7)

8. Denver Broncos (8)

9. Atlanta Falcons (T-11)

10. New York Jets (9)

 

To view the entire poll, visit:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d825031ae/article/week-15-pack-saints-still-going-strong-49ers-drop-from-top-5      

 

 

 

Wednesday, December 14

5:00 PM – Around the League Live

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access

8:00 PM – NFL Replay: Chicago Bears at Denver Broncos – Week 14, 2011

9:30 PM – Sound FX: Week 14, 2011

10:00 PM – No Huddle

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL Fantasy Live

12:30 AM – NFL Replay: Chicago Bears at Denver Broncos – Week 14, 2011

2:00 AM – Sound FX: Week 14, 2011

2:30 AM – No Huddle

3:30 AM – NFL Films Presents: Gotta Eat!

 

Thursday, December 15

12 NOON – Sound FX: Week 14, 2011

12:30 PM – NFL Replay: Chicago Bears at Denver Broncos – Week 14, 2011

2:00 PM – NFL Fantasy Live

2:30 PM – The Rich Eisen Podcast

3:00 PM – No Huddle

4:00 PM – Around the League Live

6:00 PM – Thursday Night Kickoff Presented by Sears – LIVE

8:00 PM – Thursday Night Football: Jacksonville Jaguars at Atlanta Falcons – LIVE

11:30 PM – Kay Jewelers Postgame

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL Total Access

 

Friday, December 16

12 NOON – NFL’s Top 10: Coaches Who Never Won a Championship

1:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Players Not in the Hall of Fame

2:00 PM – NFL Fantasy Live

2:30 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Quarterbacks of the ‘80s

3:30 PM – The Rich Eisen Podcast

4:00 PM – NFL Films Presents: Passion & the Piano

4:30 PM – Bronko Nagurski Awards

5:00 PM – Around the League Live

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access

8:00 PM – Playbook: AFC

9:00 PM – Playbook: NFC

10:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Dallas Cowboys

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL Fantasy Live

12:30 AM – The Rich Eisen Podcast

1:00 AM – Playbook: AFC

2:00 AM – Playbook: NFC

3:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Dallas Cowboys

 

Saturday, December 17

7:00 AM – The Rich Eisen Podcast

7:30 AM – Sound FX: Week 14, 2011

8:00 AM – Playbook: AFC

9:00 AM – Playbook: NFC

10:00 AM – America’s Game: 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

11:00 AM – America’s Game: 1992 Dallas Cowboys

12 NOON – America’s Game: 1993 Dallas Cowboys

1:00 PM – America’s Game: 1995 Dallas Cowboys

2:00 PM – Sound FX: Tony Romo

2:30 PM – NFL Replay: Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers – Week 2, 2011

4:00 PM – Tom Landry: A Football Life

5:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Dallas Cowboys

6:00 PM – Thursday Night Kickoff Presented by Sears – LIVE

8:00 PM – Thursday Night Football: Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – LIVE

11:30 PM – Kay Jewelers Postgame

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL Total Access

 

Sunday, December 18

9:00 AM – NFL GameDay Morning

1:00 PM – NFL GameDay Statzone

4:00 PM – NFL GameDay Scoreboard

7:30 PM – NFL GameDay Highlights

11:30 PM – NFL GameDay Final

 

Monday, December 19

1:00 PM – Around the League Live

6:00 PM – Up to the Minute

6:30 PM – The Coaches Show

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access

8:30 PM – The Coaches Show

9:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Meltdowns

10:00 PM – The Coaches Show

10:30 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Motivational Coaches

11:30 PM – NFL Total Access Monday Night Football Presser

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL Total Access Monday Night Football Review

 

Tuesday, December 20

12 NOON – America’s Game: 1970 Baltimore Colts

1:00 PM – America’s Game: 2006 Indianapolis Colts

2:00 PM – NFL Fantasy Live

2:30 PM – Sound FX: Peyton Manning

3:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Power Backs

4:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Undrafted Players

5:00 PM – Around the League Live

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access

8:00 PM – NFL Replay: TBD

9:30 PM – NFL Replay: TBD

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL Fantasy Live

12:30 AM – NFL Replay: TBD

2:00 AM – NFL Replay: TBD

3:30 AM – Sound FX: Peyton Manning