Let’s provide you with the previews of the Sunday NFL pregame shows and of Week 4 of the NFL season. I’m too late for ESPN and NFL Network. I’ll provide you with CBS and Fox.
First, NFL on CBS analysts Phil Simms and Dan Dierdorf provide you with their thoughts on the games they’ll be calling today, Oakland at Denver and New England at Buffalo, respectively.
Check it out below.
THE NFL ON CBS: WEEK 4 (SUNDAY, SEPT. 30)
AUDIBLES WITH “NFL ON CBS” LEAD ANALYST PHIL SIMMS AND DAN DIERDORF
The CBS Television Network, home of Super Bowl XLVII, continues its 53rd year broadcasting the NFL with coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Sept. 30 (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 Oakland Raiders-Denver Broncos game live from Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo. 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.
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PHIL SIMMS
(On Oakland @ Denver): Even though there are basically two new coaches involved, no doubt it’s a heated rivalry that will never die. Although Denver lost to maybe the two best teams in football, they are still losses. What is the Bronco’s state of mind? Now, the Raiders have to be feeling good like they’re turning the corner after coming through at the end of the game on both sides of the ball against the Steelers? It makes me think it’s going to be a good game.
(On the quarterbacks): The big thing with the Raiders was Carson Palmer. He was very good on basically every clutch throw in the game last week. And the other side is Peyton Manning. I’ve been beat up all week with questions about him. If you’re following it and a fan of Denver and of Peyton Manning, or if you’re just a football guy, you have to see what he did against Houston. You have to say there is no doubt it’s going forward. Now he’s got enough games, repetitions, getting hit and feeling the competition of the action. He is going to be able to make adjustments. He is actually getting better each week, even though he threw three interceptions. I don’t judge every game on whether you throw an interception or not. He was tested more in the Atlanta game than he was in the first game against the Steelers. He was tested a lot more against the Houston Texans. And I thought he had some long stretches of really good moments. My biggest question about the game is watching the Broncos offense and how they run it through Peyton Manning.
DAN DIERDORF
(On New England @ Buffalo): The New England Patriots have been sitting on the AFC East Division throne more often than not for the past 10 years. The first thing coaches in that division say to their teams each year is, ‘We can’t do anything if we can’t compete with the Patriots.’ That is what Buffalo and everybody in that division has to do. That is job No. 1. The way you make the playoffs is to win your division. Everybody knows that if you’re going to win the AFC East, you have to beat the New England Patriots.
(On New England): Is this a disappointing start for New England at 1-2? Absolutely. Is there a hint of panic, doubt or desperation in that team? No way. The interesting match-up in this game is going to be in protecting Tom Brady. He has been sacked seven times in their three games. And there have been times where their pass protection has not been as stout and strong upfront as they would like. The Patriots are playing against one of the game’s best front fours. With the addition of Mario Williams, their number one draft pick Marcell Dareus, Kyle Williams and the free agent signing of Mark Anderson – these guys are good.
(On playing in Buffalo): Buffalo is one of those places where it is harder to win than others. It is not necessarily because the best team calls it home. It has always been difficult to win in Buffalo. The Bills are one of those teams that traditionally, over the past 20 years, have played better at home. It’s a tough out in Buffalo. The weather won’t be an issue, but their crowd is excited. Bills fans have a chance to watch their team go to 3-1 and at the same time make the big, bad Patriots fly back to Boston at 1-3.
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Following are THE NFL ON CBS assignments for Week 4 (subject to change).
WEEK 4 – Sept. 30
1:00 PM, ET starts:
- New England @ Buffalo — Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf
- Tennessee @ Houston — Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts
- San Diego @ Kansas City — Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots
4:00 PM, ET starts:
- Miami @ Arizona — Bill Macatee/Steve Tasker
- Oakland @ Denver — Jim Nantz/Phil Simms
- Cincinnati @ Jacksonville — Marv Albert/Rich Gannon
And this is what you’ll see on the NFL Today.
“THE NFL TODAY’s” SHANNON SHARPE PREVIEWS TENNESSEE-HOUSTON GAME WITH FEATURE ON TEXANS QUARTERBACK MATT SCHAUB FOR WEEK 4 ON SUNDAY, SEPT. 30
THE NFL ON CBS, home of Super Bowl XLVII and broadcasting its 53rd year of the NFL, continues its 2012 NFL season on Sunday, Sept. 30 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY (12:00 Noon-1:00 PM, ET).
Houston is 3-0 for the first time in franchise history and one of the main reasons is the play of quarterback Matt Schaub. THE NFL TODAY’s Shannon Sharpe previews the Tennessee Titans-Houston Texans game by sitting down with the Texans quarterback to discuss how he felt not playing in last season’s playoffs, how his ear is after last week, and if the Texans have what it takes to make the Super Bowl. Deb Gelman is the producer.
James Brown hosts THE NFL TODAY along with analysts Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, Shannon Sharpe and Bill Cowher, NFL TODAY Insider Jason La Canfora, as well as Lesley Visser reporting.
Eric Mann is senior producer and Bob Matina is director of THE NFL TODAY.
Future NFL on CBS announcing assignments are next.
