Now we move to CBS’ slate of Sunday NFL pregame shows plus a preview of the games on the Tiffany Network on Sunday. We have quotes from Phil Simms who with Jim Nantz will call the New England at Miami game at 1 p.m. ET and from Dan Dierdorf who will be partnered with Greg Gumbel to witness the New York Jets at Carolina game at 4:05 p.m. ET.
It’s all below for you.
THE NFL ON CBS: WEEK 15 (SUNDAY, DEC. 15)
AUDIBLES WITH “THE NFL ON CBS” LEAD ANALYST PHIL SIMMS AND DAN DIERDORF
The CBS Television Network continues its 54th year broadcasting the NFL with coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Dec. 15 (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), and THAT OTHER PREGAME SHOW on CBS Sports Network (9:00 AM-1:00 PM, ET) live from the CBS Broadcast Center 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-Miami Dolphins game live from Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. 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. David Berson is President, CBS Sports. Harold Bryant is Executive Producer and Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.
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PHIL SIMMS
(On New England): The amazing thing about the New England Patriots is that they basically had to reshape the team on the fly after losing both tight ends from last year, and of course Wes Welker. They have had injuries everywhere on the football team and here they are at 10-3. It shows you they always have a plan in place and ready to activate. It’s an amazing story in the NFL to continue to do what they have done. Now we are seeing Shane Vereen catching passes, so they continuously find ways to keep weapons around Tom Brady so he can still be a productive quarterback.
(On Miami): Everyone always wants to know about their quarterback. We are getting to see Ryan Tannehill late in his second year and see the improvement in his play. He shows the difference on the field physically with his throws and how he plays the game. There is a little bit of an aura around him, which you always want for your quarterback. You can tell he’s the man. I think he thinks he’s the man and it really shows. It’s a hard line to cross as a quarterback and a football team but they are getting close to it. These last three games will show us where they are. If they are able to make that first step and become a playoff team, then go from there.
DAN DIERDORF
(On playoff implications for each team – Jets vs. Carolina): In terms of the gravity of this one game, it’s completely different for the two teams. Obviously the Carolina Panthers have more margin for error than do the Jets. If the Panthers lose, they will be 9-5 and still very much in it. If the Jets lose, it’s pretty much over. Mathematically they will be alive and still have a heartbeat, but it will be a faint one. This is going to be a huge task for the Jets. Defensively, the Jets are better than what they’ve shown the past couple of weeks. They are good enough defensively to keep this game close. The question for them going into this game is, are they going to be able to do much of anything offensively against this Carolina defense?
(On Carolina’s defense): This Carolina defense is an outstanding group. They do everything well. They defend the run. They pressure the passer. They play good on the back end. This isn’t a group of Pro Bowlers in the secondary. But the way the front seven plays, they don’t have to be. Will the Jets and Geno Smith be able to withstand this Carolina defense and not turn the ball over?
(On Cam Newton): Cam Newton has taken care of the football ever since he was a rookie. He’s in his third year now, but even his rookie season he had more touchdowns than interceptions. That’s something the Jets can only dream about from their quarterback position going back to Mark Sanchez. It has really been interesting to watch how Cam Newton has grown and gotten better. The biggest improvement I’ve seen in Cam Newton now is that when he is in the pocket, he is in the pocket to pass. He doesn’t leave the pocket until he’s exhausted his options in trying to find an open receiver. And then of course, when he takes off it’s a thing of beauty. He has run for 28 touchdowns in not even three full seasons in the NFL. He is getting better and better right before our eyes.
And here’s what you’ll see on the NFL Today on CBS and That Other Pregame Show on CBS Sports Network. Check it all out.
“THE NFL TODAY” FEATURES DAN MARINO INTERVIEWING MIAMI DOLPHINS’ RYAN TANNEHILL AND HEAD COACH JOE PHILBIN; JIM ROME LIVE VIA SATELLITE; AND HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER SCHEDULED TO BE LIVE ON-SET FOR WEEK 15 OF “THE NFL TODAY” ON SUNDAY, DEC. 15
“THAT OTHER PREGAME SHOW” ON CBS SPORTS NETWORK CONTINUES WITH TALK ABOUT WEEK 15 ISSUES
THE NFL ON CBS, broadcasting its 54th year of the NFL, continues its 2013 NFL season on Sunday, Dec. 15 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY (12:00 Noon-1:00 PM, ET) and THAT OTHER PREGAME SHOW on CBS Sports Network (9:00 AM-1:00 PM, ET) live from the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City.
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.
This week THE NFL TODAY previews the New England Patriots-Miami Dolphins game as Marino sits down with members of the Miami Dolphins including quarterback Ryan Tannehill, head coach Joe Philbin, wide receiver Mike Wallace and defensive lineman Cameron Wake to discuss the team being in the middle of the playoff hunt and all the distractions that have surrounded the team this season. Charlie Bloom is the producer.
In addition, Jim Rome appears live via satellite to give his unique opinion on the NFL as the playoff picture starts to come into focus. And, the 2013 Heisman Trophy Award winner is scheduled to appear live on the set of THE NFL TODAY. Drew Kaliski is producer and Bob Matina is director of THE NFL TODAY.
THAT OTHER PREGAME SHOW (TOPS) continues its unique fan-focused take on all of the week’s NFL and college action, headlines and hot-button issues, giving viewers all the latest information as it happens. “TOPS” is hosted by Adam Schein along with 11-year NFL veteran Bart Scott, long-time Oakland Raiders executive Amy Trask, CBS Sports Radio’s Brandon Tierney, CBSSports.com fantasy analyst Nathan Zegura and LEAD OFF’s Allie LaForce reporting. Shawn Robbins and Andrew Finger produce and Jay Kincaid directs THAT OTHER PREGAME SHOW.
Sean McManus is Chairman, CBS Sports and serves as the Executive Producer for THE NFL ON CBS. David Berson is President, CBS Sports. Harold Bryant is Executive Producer and Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.
And that will do it.
