Already the prediction on who will be going to the big show – The Super Bowl. PREDICTIONS from CBS’s experts: DAN MARINO: Pittsburgh-Green Bay – BILL COWHER: Pittsburgh-Atlanta – SHANNON SHARPE: San Diego-Green Bay – BOOMER ESIASON: New England-Green Bay.
NFL Today’s Bill Cowher puts together the ‘Ultimate Game Plan’ to stop New England quarterback Tom Brady.
Kris Jenkins Debuts on THE NFL TODAY as Contributing Analyst in Week 2
Let’s take a look at Week 1 against Miami, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady passed for a team-record 517 yards and threw for four touchdowns. His passing yardage was the fifth-highest total in NFL history. And he became only the 11th quarterback to exceed 500 yards in a game. How did he do it against the Dolphins? And what must San Diego do to stop him this Sunday?
THE NFL TODAY’s Bill Cowher puts together the ultimate game plan to stop Tom Brady in Week 2. Jeff St. Arromand is the producer.
Former New York Jets and Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kris Jenkins makes his first appearance as a contributing analyst on THE NFL TODAY in Week 2. Jenkins recently joined CBS Sports for selected weeks throughout the NFL season as a contributing analyst for THE NFL TODAY, and CBS Sports-produced INSIDE THE NFL ON SHOWTIME.
James Brown hosts THE NFL TODAY along with analysts Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, Shannon Sharpe and Cowher, NFL TODAY “General Manager” Charley Casserly, as well as Lesley Visser reporting.
Eric Mann is senior producer and Bob Matina is director of THE NFL TODAY.
Sean McManus is Chairman, CBS Sports and serves as the Executive Producer for THE NFL ON CBS. Harold Bryant is Executive Producer and Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.
Week 2: On the broadcast deck, THE NFL ON CBS lead announce team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms call the action from the San Diego Chargers-New England Patriots game live from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Lance Barrow is the coordinating producer and lead game producer and Mike Arnold is the lead game director.
The PLAY BOOK:
PHIL SIMMS
(On Tom Brady’s 517-yard passing and offense performance vs. Miami): The throwing was borderline exceptional. The game-plan was exceptional and the Patriots looked more dynamic on offense. I know it’s only one week, but Wes Welker looked like he was back to 100% from the time before his injury. Deion Branch looked like a different receiver, which of course has to be a great sign for the Patriots. You have two tight ends who in their second year progressed in two areas; one their performance, and two, how they looked. You can tell they’ve changed from their rookie year. They’re stronger and faster. From an offensive standpoint, the Patriots are in better shape right now than they were last year.
(On New England’s Defense): The bad is they gave up big yards, a lot of plays. Miami did a terrific job. I’m not going to take it away from Miami. Chad Henne hung in there and made a lot of good throws. The positive for the Patriots defense is they hit the quarterback a lot and hard. Chad Henne, who is big and strong, withstood it and still made plays. If they hit the quarterback every week like they did Chad Henne it’s going to result in turnovers and big plays for the Patriots’ defense.
(On San Diego): The Chargers are healthy again after last year, So, where do they match up against the New England Patriots? It’s a chance for them to prove to themselves and to everybody that they can be one of the top three or four elite teams. The thing about San Diego and Philip Rivers is that offensive line is intact. It’s solid. It’s good. And they have something that all offensive lines need if they are going to be successful, toughness. We judge many things in football, but the toughness factor is big especially when you’re talking about your offensive line as a group.
(On San Diego’s New Defensive Coordinator Greg Manusky): He is a very good coach. I am just judging pre-season and one game, but overall he is very organized and disciplined. I was impressed in their game against Minnesota. Now what they saw and did against Minnesota means nothing because they are facing the exact opposite attack in New England. They defended against the “wishbone” last week. This week they have to defend against the “run-and-shoot.” So it’s a big, big change for the San Diego defense.
DAN FOUTS
(On Houston): I would anticipate that Houston will have a pretty big game period. If you look at what happened to the Dolphins on Monday Night when they gave up one gazillion yards, I think that Houston is licking their chops.
(On Miami Defense): They’re going to be challenged even more so than against the Patriots because of the powerful running attack of Houston. Houston ran the ball 37 times against the Colts. In this day and age in the NFL, that amount of rushes is unheard of. It also means that you’re probably going to win the game.
(On Chad Henne): Chad Henne was sacked four times by the Patriots and now he’s got to face Mario Williams and that defensive line of the Texans. The way they’re using Williams as a linebacker with the rookie JJ Watt on the other side – that’s going to be a real challenge for Miami. They have to be able to run the ball better than just 98 yards last week against New England. It’s going to be a long day for Henne.
(Keys to the Game): I like the pass protection challenge that Jake Long is going to have trying to keep Mario Williams away from the quarterback. It’s not just going to be Jake Long, because they flip Williams from side-to-side, so there will be times when Marc Colombo is going to have to take care of him. That’s going to be a key to this game. Can the Dolphins protect Henne?
Following are THE NFL ON CBS assignments for Week 2, Week 3 and Week 4 (subject to change).
WEEK 2 – Sept. 18 – CBS DOUBLEHEADER
GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR
1:00 PM, ET starts:
·Kansas City @ Detroit Don Criqui/Randy Cross Ken Mack/Jim Cornell
·Oakland @ Buffalo Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley
·Baltimore @ Tennessee Bill Macatee/Steve Tasker Victor Frank/Andy Goldberg
·Jacksonville @ N.Y. Jets Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman
·Cleveland @ Indianapolis Marv Albert/Rich Gannon Ross Schneiderman/Mark Grant
4:15 PM, ET starts:
·San Diego @ New England Jim Nantz/Phil Simms Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold
·Cincinnati @ Denver Spero Dedes/Steve Beuerlein Bob Dekas/Chris Svendsen
·Houston @ Miami Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts Steve Scheer/Suzanne Smith
WEEK 3 – Sept. 25
GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR
1:00 PM, ET starts:
·Jacksonville @ Carolina Spero Dedes/Steve Beuerlein Bob Dekas/Chris Svendsen
·Houston @ New Orleans Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman
·New England @ Buffalo Marv Albert/Rich Gannon Ross Schneiderman/Mark Grant
·Miami @ Cleveland Don Criqui/Randy Cross Ken Mack/Jim Cornell
·Denver @ Tennessee Bill Macatee/Steve Tasker Victor Frank/Andy Goldberg
4:00 PM, ET starts:
·N.Y. Jets @ Oakland Jim Nantz/Phil Simms Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold
·Kansas City @ San Diego Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith
·Baltimore @ St. Louis Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley
WEEK 4 – Oct. 2 – CBS DOUBLEHEADER
GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR
1:00 PM, ET starts:
·Buffalo @ Cincinnati Andrew Catalon/Steve Tasker Victor Frank/Andy Goldberg
·Tennessee @ Cleveland Marv Albert/Rich Gannon Ross Schneiderman/Mark Grant
·Pittsburgh @ Houston Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman
4:15 PM, ET starts:
·Denver @ Green Bay Jim Nantz/Phil Simms Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold
·New England @ Oakland Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley
·Miami @ San Diego Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith
Sean McManus is Chairman, CBS Sports, and serves as Executive Producer of CBS Sports’ coverage of THE NFL ON CBS. Harold Bryant is Executive Producer and Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.
(source: CBS)
