THE NFL ON CBS: WEEK 10 (SUNDAY, NOV. 15)
AUDIBLES WITH LEAD “NFL ON CBS” ANALYST PHIL SIMMS AND DAN DIERDORF
The CBS Television Network, home of Super Bowl XLIV, continues its Golden Anniversary 50th year broadcasting the NFL with THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Nov. 15 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY, the Network’s one-hour studio show (12:00 NOON-1:00 PM, ET), live from THE NFL TODAY studio in New York City.
THE NFL ON CBS lead announce team of Jim Nantz, who this year is marking his 25th with CBS Sports, and Phil Simms call the action from the Cincinnati Bengals-Pittsburgh Steelers game live from Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa. Lance Barrow is the coordinating producer and lead game producer and Mike Arnold is the lead game director.
Throughout the 2009 season, THE NFL ON CBS will broadcast all of its games each week in HDTV, the highest definition television format – 1080i lines of picture resolution – along with 5.1 digital audio.
Sean McManus is President, CBS News and Sports, and serves as executive producer of CBS Sports’ coverage of THE NFL ON CBS. Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.
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PHIL SIMMS
(On Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh AFC North Rivalry and being tied for first at 6-2): Well, of course I never played in it, but I understand the rivalry surrounding it. When I once saw Bill Cowher go in his locker room and do the Cincinnati Bengals chant, ‘Who dey? Who dey,’ and all that, it showed me how heated and personal this rivalry is. I sense it every time I’ve done one of the games. I did the first one this year. It will live up to it.
(On Cincinnati’s best start in 20 years): You always have to find ways to win your division. The Bengals have changed their football team. It didn’t happen overnight, but they’re tougher and play a different style. It matches up better against Pittsburgh and Baltimore at this time. That’s one of the biggest, if not the biggest reason, they’re 6-2. When I read and watch nightly shows about the NFL, it’s interesting that sometimes Carson Palmer’s name doesn’t even come up when they talk about the Bengals. It is about their defense. It is about Mike Zimmer, the defensive coordinator. It is about Cedric Benson, and oh, by the way, Carson Palmer’s still there. That is an example of what a well-rounded team they’ve become. And that is why they’re 6-2.
(On Pittsburgh): The big thing about the Pittsburgh Steelers is that even with four defensive starters out in Denver, they overcame and made some great plays to win. But the biggest thing is the offensive line. Last year when I did their games, I really never could get past their offensive line. But now their offensive line is back to Steeler football – big and physical. They’re unified. They work well together. We are always trying to find a weak link to a football team and last year we said the offensive line was it for the Steelers. You can’t say that anymore. They’ve really, really played well so far this year.
DAN DIERDORF
(On Washington): For the Redskins’ second half of the season, it’s all about being professionals. You’re being paid to play. Your season, in terms of making the playoffs, has gone up in smoke. They’re not in a good position where they have to win their remaining games to go 10-6. So, the playoffs are an unreasonable expectation for them to even be talking about at this point. Now is the time for them to be professionals and do what they are paid to do – work hard during the week; prepare well; and attempt to salvage something from this season.
It is seldom where you see a team where there is such disparity between the offensive and defensive units. They are a playoff-caliber football team defensively. And offensively, they are just woeful. They have so many injuries on the offensive line. It’s the old adage, ‘If you can’t compete on the line of scrimmage.’ I don’t care who you have playing the so-called skill positions, you can’t be competitive. With so many quality players hurt or on injured reserve, the Redskins have to throw out a different line-up every week. They just don’t compete well on the line of scrimmage. That handicaps the quarterback and the receivers. The running game also has suffered because of that.
(On Denver): In any sport, confidence can be very fleeting. At 6-0 and entering the bye week, it was all lollipops, candy canes and sunshine. It was a beautiful world. Then all of a sudden they lose two games in a row where they didn’t just lose the game, they lost the physical part of the game as well. That six-game winning streak must seem like so long ago for the Denver Broncos. They need something to feel good about. They need this game against Washington.
With two big games coming up between San Diego and the New York Giants, this is the kind of game that if Denver goes to Washington and stumbles, all of sudden Josh McDaniels will have his hands full.
Denver’s problem the past two weeks has been very simple. Their inability to run the football just cripples them offensively. They don’t have an Indianapolis passing game. Their play-action is so much of their passing game and Kyle Orton is not a deep-threat quarterback. If Denver can’t run, they’re in trouble. Washington is a really, really good defensive football team. This will be another litmus test for the Denver Broncos as to how they’re going to be able to handle things in the second half of the season.
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TRIP IN THE NFL ON CBS WAY BACK MACHINE…
In commemoration of THE NFL ON CBS celebrating its 50th year broadcasting the NFL, footage from historic highlights will be featured during each game. Included among the clips this week during the Kansas City-Oakland game will be a highlight of Super Bowl IV when the Chiefs, led by Len Dawson and Otis Taylor, beat the Vikings, 23-7, on January 11, 1970.
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Following are THE NFL ON CBS assignments for Week 10, Week 11 and Week 12 (subject to change).
WEEK 10 – Nov. 15
GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR
1:00 PM, ET starts:
●Denver @ Washington Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman
●Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh Jim Nantz/Phil Simms Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold
●Buffalo @ Tennessee Ian Eagle/Rich Gannon Bob Dekas/Andy Goldberg
●Jacksonville @ N.Y. Jets Dick Enberg/Dan Fouts Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith
4:00 PM, ET starts:
●Kansas City @ Oakland Gus Johnson/Steve Tasker Victor Frank/Mark Grant
WEEK 11 – Nov. 22 – CBS DOUBLEHEADER
GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR
1:00 PM, ET starts:
●Indianapolis @ Baltimore Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman
●Pittsburgh @ Kansas City Ian Eagle/Rich Gannon Bob Dekas/Andy Goldberg
●Buffalo @ Jacksonville Bill Macatee/Steve Beuerlein Ross Schneiderman/Chris Svendsen
●Cleveland @ Detroit Don Criqui/Randy Cross Ken Mack/Jim Cornell
4:15 PM, ET starts:
●N.Y. Jets @ New England Jim Nantz/Phil Simms Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold
●San Diego @ Denver Dick Enberg/Dan Fouts Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith
●Cincinnati @ Oakland Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley
WEEK 12 – Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving Day*)
GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR
4:00 PM, ET start:
●Oakland @ Dallas* Jim Nantz/Phil Simms Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold
WEEK 12 – Nov. 29
GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR
1:00 PM, ET starts:
●Miami @ Buffalo Gus Johnson/Steve Tasker Victor Frank/Mark Grant
●Indianapolis @ Houston Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman
●Cleveland @ Cincinnati Ian Eagle/Rich Gannon Bob Dekas/Andy Goldberg
4:00 PM, ET starts:
●Kansas City @ San Diego Dick Enberg/Dan Fouts Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith
●Jacksonville @ San Francisco Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley
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“THE NFL TODAY” FOCUSES IN ON “WHAT NFL COACH IS POLITICAL TIMBER” WITH
FRANK LUNTZ FOR WEEK 10 ON SUNDAY, NOV. 15
THE NFL ON CBS, home of Super Bowl XLIV and broadcasting its Golden Anniversary 50th year of the NFL, continues its 2009 NFL season on Sunday, Nov. 15 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY (12:00 Noon-1:00 PM, ET).
This week THE NFL TODAY welcomes expert in communication and pioneer of the “Instant Response” focus group, Frank Luntz, in the studio to rate sound bites of several coaches and players. Based on his expertise Luntz will answer, “What NFL coach should run for political office?” and “What controversial NFL star player is better off keeping his mouth shut?”
James Brown hosts THE NFL TODAY along with analysts Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, Shannon Sharpe and Bill Cowher, NFL TODAY “General Manager” Charley Casserly, as well as Lesley Visser and Sam Ryan reporting.
I just watched the Frank Luntz segment and thought it was FANTASTIC! Just wanted to let you all know that my husband and I would love to see you have him on again.
Jennifer Visscher
Elizabeth, CO
Broncos Fan