Here’s CBS’ previews of Week 11 in the NFL. We first have The NFL Today’s sneak peek.
“THE NFL TODAY’s” SHANNON SHARPE PREVIEWS SAN DIEGO-CHICAGO GAME BY SITTING DOWN WITH BEARS LINEBACKER BRIAN URLACHER FOR WEEK 11 OF “THE NFL TODAY” ON SUNDAY, NOV. 20
Houston Texans All-Pro Running Back Arian Foster Visits Set of THE NFL TODAY
THE NFL ON CBS, broadcasting its 52nd year of the NFL, continues its 2011 NFL season on Sunday, Nov. 20 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) with THE NFL TODAY (12:00 Noon-1:00 PM, ET).
THE NFL TODAY’s Shannon Sharpe previews the San Diego Chargers-Chicago Bears game by sitting down with Bears lineman Brian Urlacher to talk about the streaking Bears and whether he can lead his team back to the NFC Championship game and further.
From Dick Butkus to Mike Singletary to Urlacher, the Bears have had a long line of legendary middle linebackers. Now in his 12th season, Urlacher is still the key to Chicago’s defense. After starting 2-3, the Bears have won four straight and find themselves right in the thick of the NFC Playoff race. Last week they beat NFC North division rival Detroit, 37-13, and forced six turnovers including an Urlacher fumble recovery. Jeff St. Arromand is the producer.
In addition, Houston Texans All-Pro running back Arian Foster visits THE NFL TODAY live in the studio in New York. Last year’s leading rusher has battled injuries, but has come on strong in the last four games. The Texans find themselves atop the AFC South, but this week lost quarterback Matt Schaub.
James Brown hosts THE NFL TODAY along with analysts Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, Sharpe and Bill 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.
And we move to the quotes from NFL on CBS analysts Phil Simms and Dan Dierdorf about the games they’ll cover on Sunday.
THE NFL ON CBS: WEEK 11 (SUNDAY, NOV. 20)
AUDIBLES WITH “THE NFL ON CBS” LEAD ANALYST PHIL SIMMS AND DAN DIERDORF
The CBS Television Network continues its 52nd year broadcasting the NFL with coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Nov. 20 (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 and Phil Simms call the action from the San Diego Chargers at Chicago Bears game live from Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. Lance Barrow is the coordinating producer and lead game producer and Mike Arnold is the lead game director.
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.
* * * * *
PHIL SIMMS
(On San Diego): What disappoints me this week is the state of the San Diego Chargers offensive line, their health. It’s possible they could have three starters out. That is going to affect you. I don’t care how deep you are as a football team. The run defense for the San Diego Chargers is a really big issue. There are so many things. I just can’t pinpoint one thing. It’s disheartening when your run defense can’t stop the other team. It has a chance to destroy your whole team in so many ways – field position, clock management and situations you could put the opposing offense in, how easy it makes it for the opposing offense. It’s endless. Philip Rivers, yes I know he has all these turnovers. He’s the least of the worries when I think of the San Diego Chargers. One of the greatest traits a quarterback can have is to make a decision to manage himself within the team and give his team the best chance of winning. That means probably being more conservative in his decision making, play a different way. Even though it might not be the best way for him, he has to make sure it’s the best way for the team.
(On Chicago): It’s almost the exact opposite with the Chicago Bears. Turmoil – nothing was going well early. They fixed their offensive line a little bit. They call plays differently. The Chicago Bears have accomplished exactly what I just said about the San Diego Chargers. They changed their play calls, helped their offense, helped their offensive line and helped their quarterback. And guess what? The defense is playing better. Football is an unbelievable sport. The dots always connect. I give Lovie Smith great credit. I actually see him smile and making facial expressions on the sideline. He changed right along with the team. He is not one to show much emotion. As head coach of a football team, when your team makes the adjustments the Bears have made, there has to be a great deal of satisfaction.
DAN DIERDORF
(On AFC North race): They are all starting to take a bite out of each other, and the Ravens are sitting at the head of the table having already taken two big bites out of Pittsburgh. At this moment (prior to Sunday’s game), they are sitting in the best position. Having swept Pittsburgh won’t do the Ravens any good if they end up getting swept by Cincinnati. IfBaltimore beatsCincinnati on Sunday, they have a chance to put themselves in complete control of this division.
(On Cincinnati @ Baltimore): It is such a big game for both teams. But Baltimore is one of the elite teams in the AFC and a real, legitimate Super Bowl candidate. This is a game they have to win, especially with it being played on your home field.
(On Cincinnati): Nobody expected them to be in this situation, especially when Carson Palmer said he wasn’t going to play anymore. Ordinarily, that is a crippling-type blow to a football team and the franchise. Not only did it not cripple the Bengals, they went out and found a real, legitimate quarterback in Andy Dalton.
(On Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton): Andy Dalton does not resemble a rookie in any way. He’s careful with the football, makes good decisions, doesn’t take sacks, has confidence and is a leader. When Joe Flacco was a rookie, he had a whole lot better football team around him. A year ago, was anybody thinking that the Bengals would be anything this year? They were 4-12 last year with Carson Palmer as quarterback and two wide receivers named Ochocinco and Terrell Owens. And, no one thought Marvin Lewis would be coming back. Look at the success that rookie quarterbacks have had. Two that come to mind in recent history are Joe Flacco and Ben Roethlisberger. Both of them started out in more comfortable positions than Andy Dalton did.
And the NFL on CBS announcing assignments are next.
