Let’s provide the CBS Sports previews for this week. I provide you with the NFL Today preview which includes a Jim Nantz interview of Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. And someone named Billy Gardell will be a celebrity guest prognosticator. He’s from some CBS sitcom that I never watch. I’d rather watch Cialis ads than see silly guests on the NFL Today.
“NFL ON CBS” LEAD PLAY-BY-PLAY ANNOUNCER JIM NANTZ TALKS WITH DENVER QUARTERBACK TIM TEBOW FOR WEEK 15 OF “THE NFL TODAY” ON SUNDAY, DEC. 18
CBS Star of “MIKE & MOLLY” Billy Gardell Returns as Guest on THE NFL TODAY Set on Sunday
THE NFL ON CBS, broadcasting its 52nd year of the NFL, continues its 2011 NFL season on Sunday, Dec. 18 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) with THE NFL TODAY (12:00 Noon-1:00 PM, ET).
THE NFL ON CBS’s lead play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz previews the New England Patriots-Denver Broncos Week 15 game by sitting down with Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow as he prepares to go up against the 10-3 Patriots, led by quarterback Tom Brady and Head Coach Bill Belichick.
The Broncos, finding themselves in last place after a 1-4 start, decided to start Tebow at quarterback. Remarkably, the former Heisman Trophy winner from Florida led Denver to seven wins in eight starts and sole possession of first place in the AFC West. In five of those wins – including each of the last four – Denver erased fourth-quarter deficits to score the winning points in the final 60 seconds of regulation – or in overtime. “Tebow-mania” has become a nationwide phenomenon. Deb Gelman is the producer.
In addition, Billy Gardell from the hit show MIKE & MOLLY (#MikeandMolly) returns as a guest on the set of THE NFL TODAY. Once again, Gardell will help the guys with their weekly picks.
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 reporting.
Eric Mann is senior producer and Bob Matina is director of THE NFL TODAY.
And we have the NFL Today’s Boomer Esiason and Shannon Sharpe discussing what we’ll see in Week 15.
THE NFL ON CBS: WEEK 15 (SUNDAY, DEC. 18)
AUDIBLES WITH “THE NFL TODAY’S” BOOMER ESIASON AND SHANNON SHARPE
The CBS Television Network continues its 52nd year broadcasting the NFL with coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Dec. 18 (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 New England Patriots-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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BOOMER ESIASON
(On New England-Denver): It’s a fascinating match-up because you have one of the NFL’s worst defenses led by a man many say is one of the greatest defensive minds of all-time, Bill Belichick, against an unpredictable, spontaneous quarterback, Tim Tebow, who is playing at a level right now, especially in the fourth quarter, that is driving teams crazy. The fascinating part about this game is going to be how this New England defense, which has been so porous and bad for the entire year, is going to stop Tim Tebow and Willis McGahee, and the rest from doing what they’ve been really successful at over the last 6-7 weeks. What it will really come down to is whether or not Tom Brady can throw up his customary 35 points. If he does that, then the Patriots will win. If he “stubs his toe,” like Marion Barber “stubbed his toe” twice last week, then it could be a different outcome. While Tim Tebow and the defense are playing well, the really fascinating part about all of this is the amount of mistakes the opposing teams have been making against them at crunch time. I’ve never seen anything like it.
SHANNON SHARPE
(On Denver): I’m happy to see the Broncos relevant again. The past couple of years they haven’t been relevant. No one has been talking about them. They were talking about what a bad team and situation it was there, trading all their great players. Whether it’s Tebow-Mania or whatever – they’re relevant. They’re 8-5 atop of the AFC West. If someone had told them before the season that after 13 games into the season they’d be sitting atop the AFC West, they would have gladly accepted that.
(On New England-Denver): New England has to look at it as needing this win because they are trying to get home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Their defense hasn’t played very well and that scares them. Though Denver’s defense is very formidable, New England’s offense is going to have some success moving the football. The question is, if New England races out to a big lead can the Broncos offense overcome that? That is what everybody wants to see. Denver has won some very, very close ballgames. Now, if New England races out to a 17-3 or 21-7 lead, will Denver still have enough confidence to continue doing what they’ve done to win the last seven-out-of-eight ballgames. Do they still feel confident that they can do it? People want to see Tim Tebow play against Tom Brady. But I am also anxious to see how Tebow performs against this defense. This is a defense that Dan Orlovsky of the winless Indianapolis Colts went 30-of-37 for over 350 yards. I will not be surprised if this ballgame is a lot closer, or even the Broncos win this game, given the fact that New England’s defense is not very good.
And we’ll get NBC’s preview of Sunday Night Football next.
