Now we move to the NFL on CBS. The Tiffany Network has the doubleheader this week. Three games early and two games late. The feature game will be the New York Jets at the New England Patriots in an AFC East rivalry game at 4:25 p.m. ET. Of course, Jim Nantz and Phil Simms will be on the case for that game.
At the 1:01 p.m. kickoff, CBS will send Baltimore at Houston to most of the country. Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf will call that game.
Thus for the CBS preview, Phil and Dan give us their thoughts on the games they will call on Sunday. Check it all out below.
THE NFL ON CBS: WEEK 7 (SUNDAY, OCT. 21)
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, Oct. 21 (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 York Jets-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.
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 New York Jets vs. New England): There’s no doubt when you listen to Rex Ryan’s comments over the years that he wants to become the New England Patriots. You want to be a perennial power, win the division and go to Super Bowls. It’s what you judge yourself on, and the Jets are judging themselves against their biggest rivals in their minds. New England is so successful. Everybody wants to be them. Rex Ryan has been competing against Bill Belichick so many times over the years. That is why this game is special.
(On New York Jets offense): I’m probably most curious about the Jets’ offense. Can they do to New England what Seattle did last week? They had a good week last week against Indianapolis, but to be a big time winner in the NFL you have to be versatile. So we’ll see if the Jets can find a way to run the ball against a very good Patriots run defense. Most importantly can they find a way to make big passing plays?
(On Patriots loss against Seahawks): The Patriots are still giving up the big pass plays and letting people move the ball with the pass. Not only that, when games have a certain flow to them, like this past weekend in Seattle, they threw the ball well and moved it up and down the field. But the one element that’s missing is being physical. That means running the football and having success doing it. The Patriots have shown at times they can. But can they do it when they really want it and need it? That will be another test this week. If they get in that situation, can they line up and run the football and win the game?
DAN DIERDORF
(On Baltimore vs. Houston): These are two of the NFL’s heavyweights. Both teams have their issues with the Texans certainly licking their wounds after getting pasted by the Packers, and of course the Ravens having lost Ray Lewis and Lardarius Webb last week. But keep in mind, Houston lost its best linebacker in Brian Cushing in the Jets game two weeks ago. Both of these teams have lost some stellar defensive players.
(On Baltimore): What really has gotten everyone’s attention is that they gave up 227 yards rushing to Dallas last week, after giving up 214 yards rushing against Kansas City in Week 5. Once upon a time a lot of teams didn’t even try to run against them. It was futile. I don’t have access to all the statistics, but the number of teams that have given up 227 yards rushing and still won the game are few and far between. That means the Ravens are good enough to overcome. But if I were on a team that had given up that much rushing yardage the last couple of weeks, the Texans running game with Arian Foster is not the team I’d pick to go up against. Right now the Ravens’ defense is hurting and everybody else on the team has to pick up the slack. The pressure is squarely on the shoulders of Joe Flacco, Ray Rice and the offense to bail out the guys that have been carrying them for years. Baltimore has already won one game by the score of 9-6. I don’t know how many more of those they have left in them. It is incumbent upon the Ravens offense to step up. Their defense has gotten it done for years, now it’s the offense’s turn to get it done.
(On Houston): The Texans are going to be angry and refocused after giving up 42 points and having their lunch handed to them last week by Green Bay.
And now, we have what will be on the NFL Today as Shannon Sharpe talks with members of one of his former team, the Baltimore Ravens before the games on Sunday.
“THE NFL TODAY’s” SHANNON SHARPE TALKS WITH MEMBERS OF BALTIMORE RAVENS FOR WEEK 7 ON SUNDAY, OCT. 21
THE NFL ON CBS, home of Super Bowl XLVII and broadcasting its 53rd year of the NFL, continues its 2012 NFL season on Sunday, Oct. 21 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY (12:00 Noon-1:00 PM, ET).
The Baltimore Ravens are 5-1, atop the AFC North and a Super Bowl contender. Last week they lost the heart and soul of their defense, linebacker Ray Lewis, along with star cornerback Lardarius Webb. Now the pressure is on Baltimore’s offense to carry the team. The only other time the Ravens started 5-1 was in 2000 when they went on to win the Super Bowl.
THE NFL TODAY’s Shannon Sharpe, who was a member of that 2000 Ravens Super Bowl championship team, sits down with head coach John Harbaugh, quarterback Joe Flacco, running back Ray Rice and All-Pro safety Ed Reed in advance of Baltimore’s big road showdown against Houston, the only other team in the AFC with a record above .500. How will the Ravens defense respond to the loss of Lewis and who will fill the leadership void in his absence? Can the offense step it up? Can 2011 Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs come back from injury and how effective will he be? Jeff St. Arromand is the producer.
In addition, THE NFL TODAY doctor, Dr. Neal ElAttrache shares his medical expertise regarding several key injured NFL players and the latest medical news.
James Brown hosts THE NFL TODAY along with analysts Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, 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.
And next, you’ll see the announcing assignments for the NFL on CBS from Week 7 through 9.
