Let’s now go over what you’ll see on ESPN’s NFL programming during the weekend.
Highlights of NFL Content on ESPN TV – Week 8
Sunday NFL Countdown: The Patriots and “The Fighter”; Tapping Out; DeMarcus Ware in Sport Science
ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown with Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson (on the main set), and Suzy Kolber, Bill Parcells and Merril Hoge (on the second set), will preview week eight games on Sunday, October 30, at 10 a.m. NFL Insider Adam Schefter and senior analyst Chris Mortensen will provide headlines and up-to-the-minute news. In addition, reporting from key games: George Smith – Dolphins at Giants; Ed Werder – Lions at Broncos; Josina Anderson – Patriots at Steelers; and Sal Paolantonio – Cowboys at Eagles. Highlights:
- The Fighter – Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is known for inviting guest speakers to motivate his team. In August he brought in Mickey Ward, the real life inspiration for the movie “The Fighter.” Ward and the Patriots recount the former boxer’s message and inspiring words. ESPN.com senior writer Greg Garber reports.
- Tapping Out – Last week, quarterback Matt Ryan was heroic, returning from an apparent serious injury to lead the Falcons to a victory against Detroit. Retired MMA fighter Chuck Liddell narrates this revealing feature about the internal struggles that athletes confront battling through injury and fatigue while trying to decide whether to play on or “tap out” of a game.
- Sports Science: DeMarcus Ware – With 88 sacks in six and a half seasons, the Cowboys’ DeMarcus Ware has become one of the league’s premier linebackers. He sacked the elusive Michael Vick three times in the last meeting versus the Eagles. Leading into Sunday’s game, Ware’s play is analyzed in the Sport Science lab by John Brenkus.
- Top-10 Scariest Players – A day before Halloween, Countdown will reveal the top-10 scariest players who dominate in their positions as ranked by fans in an ESPN SportsNation poll.
- Mayne Event: Calvin Johnson –Detroit wide receiver Calvin Johnson’s game-winning touchdown catch against the Bears was famously ruled a drop last year. Last Sunday when Johnson went to spike the ball over the goalpost after a touchdown catch vs. the Falcons, Kenny Mayne wondered if that too is considered a drop. Mayne explores the two plays in this week’s “Mayne Event.”
NFL Matchup: Ron Jaworski Analyzes Three Offenses – Cowboys, Steelers and Redskins
NFL Matchup with host Sal Paolantonio and analysts Ron Jaworski and Merril Hoge will preview Sunday’s key games. Each NFL Sunday morning (ESPN – 3 a.m. and 7:30; ESPN2 – 8:30 a.m.), the trio brings viewers inside the film room for the Xs and Os of the matchups. Highlights:
- Cowboys Offense vs. the Eagles Defense – Just like last Sunday against the Rams, the Cowboys will use designed run plays to specifically target the weaknesses of the Eagles’ wide-nine defense. As Jaworski illustrates, expect the Cowboys offense to combine the Eagles’ up-field rush with pass action at the line to create large running lanes for running back DeMarco Murray.
- Steelers Offense – Jaworski shows how the Steelers’ offense will spread the field, target any perceived weaknesses in coverage and exploit the speed of wide receiver Mike Wallace against the Patriots defense.
- Redskins Offense – Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan is adept at manipulating the reactions of a defense through the use of systematic play calls. Jaworski shows one of the staples of the Redskins offense – play-action pass.
AFC West Showdown on Monday Night Football: First Place San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs on Halloween
Philip Rivers and the first-place San Diego Chargers will face Matt Cassel and the defending AFC West champion Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on ESPN’s Monday Night Football on October 31, at 8:30 p.m. ET. Mike Tirico will call the game with analysts Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski and sideline reporter Rachel Nichols. Chris Berman hosts a 90-minute Monday Night Countdown at 7 p.m., with analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, and NFL Insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter. Stuart Scott will join the show from Arrowhead with analysts Trent Dilfer and Steve Young and contributor Rick Reilly.
MNF will also be televised on ESPN’s Spanish-language network, ESPN Deportes.
CBS’ previews will be next.
