Tonight, it’s the season finale of Thursday Night Football for NFL Network. It’s been a successful 13 game schedule that has led to record ratings and viewership for the package. It’s been the longest schedule for the series since it began. Most likely, NFL Network will have another year of a 13 game package before the league splits it up and a cable network (ahem, TNT or NBC Sports Network) gets the first half and NFL Network keeps the second half.
So tonight, the series ends in Philadelphia as the Cincinnati Bengals, still in the thick of the playoff hunt, and the Philadelphia Eagles, playing out the string, square off at Lincoln Financial Field. Your Thursday Night Football crew of Brad Nessler, Mike Mayock and Alex Flanagan will be on hand.
The regular Thursday Night Kickoff crew of Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci and Deion Sanders will be at the stadium along with Stacey Dales reporting.
Here are the details from NFL Network.
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13 AT 8:00 PM ET ON NFL NETWORKCoverage from Philadelphia Begins with Thursday Night Kickoff Pregame Show at 6:00 PM ET
NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football schedule concludes this week when wide receiver A.J. Green and the Cincinnati Bengals make a playoff push on the road against rookie quarterback Nick Foles and the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday, December 13 at 8:00 PM ET. Play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler and Emmy-nominated analyst Mike Mayock have the call, while Alex Flanagan provides reports from the sidelines of Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Two hours before kickoff, NFL Network’s Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show is live from the stadium starting at 6:00 PM ET, taking viewers right up to kickoff with analysis and the latest reports. Host Rich Eisen joins Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin,and former NFL head coach Steve Mariucci. Reporters Stacey Dales and Alex Flanagan provide pregame news reports from the locker rooms, as well as interviews with players and coaches.
Featured on the Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show this week:
- NFL Network’s Steve Cyphers reports on Eagles head coach Andy Reid’s legacy in Philadelphia. Features interviews with Donovan McNabb, Ray Didinger and Val Sikahema
- Deion Sanders plays Santa Claus and gives gifts to NFL players
- NFL Network’s Mark Kriegel examines Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis’ comeback
- Super Bowl preview? Thursday Night Kickoff dissects the upcoming San Francisco 49ers-New England Patriots Week 15 matchup
- Reports from Washington, Dallas and Chicago on the NFC Wild Card race
Eisen, Faulk, Sanders, Irvin and Mariucci provide additional analysis on the Halftime Show and the Postgame Show.
Following the game, hosts Chris Rose and Lindsay Rhodes as well as analysts Willie McGinest and Shaun O’Hara will deliver a postgame edition of NFL Total Access live from NFL Network’s studios in Los Angeles.
TEAMS: BENGALS (7-6) EAGLES (4-9) ANNOUNCERS Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Mike Mayock (game analyst); Alex Flanagan (sideline) PREGAME (6:00 PM ET) Thursday Night Kickoff
In Philadelphia: Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Stacey Dales, Alex FlanaganPRE-KICK (8:00 PM ET) Prekick Show
Brad Nessler, Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan, Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Steve MariucciHALFTIME Halftime Show
Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Stacey Dales, Alex FlanaganPOSTGAME Postgame Show
Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
NFL Total Access Postgame Show
In-studio: Chris Rose, Lindsay Rhodes, Willie McGinest, Shaun O’HaraWHERE TO WATCH DirecTV – Channel 212 (SD/HD), DISH Network – 154 (SD/HD)
Verizon FIOS – Channel 88 (SD) 588 (HD), AT&T U-Verse – Channel 630 (SD) 1630 (HD)Check your local cable listings
NFL.com LIVE – live “look-ins” at select moments of game
NFL Mobile Live on Verizon WirelessLOCAL OTA SIMULCAST* CBS Ch. 12 (WKRC) ABC Ch. 6 (WPVI)
That will conclude our Thursday Night Football preview posts for the 2012 season.