Fox Sports Previews NFC Wild Card Matchup

On Sunday, Fox Sports will air its one NFL Wild Card playoff game on Sunday with the Atlanta Falcons taking on the New York Giants at the New Meadowlands. Game time will 1 p.m.

Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver will be on hand in East Rutherford, NJ to call the game.

There will be a one hour edition of Fox NFL Sunday at noon leading up the game. Let’s take a look at what Fox is saying about its game.

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

NFC Wild Card Battle Sunday on FOX
Falcons Travel to New York for Showdown with the Giants Sunday at 1:00 PM ET

NFL ON FOX: WILDCARD WEEKEND – FOX Sports’ coverage of its 18th NFL postseason begins Sunday, Jan. 8 (12:00 PM ET) when Eli Manning and the NFC East champion Giants host Matt Ryan and the Wild Card Falcons. NFL on FOX’s lead broadcast team of Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver are joined by Chris Myers to call this matchup from MetLife Stadium. The winner moves on to the divisional round to face either the Packers or the 49ers next week on FOX.

Coverage begins at 12:00 PM ET with America’s most-watched Sunday afternoon pregame show, FOX NFL SUNDAY. Terry Bradshaw and Curt Menefee co-host the Emmy Award-winning program and are joined by analysts Howie Long, Michael Strahan and Jimmy Johnson. NFL Insider Jay Glazer presents the latest league news and scoops from the FOX NFL SUNDAY studio while comedic prognosticator Frank Caliendo contributes his weekly “Frank’s Picks” segment.

During Sunday’s special Wild Card edition, Strahan returns to New York to talk with the Giants’ Manning, Victor Cruz and Jason Pierre-Paul and discuss the possibility of New York winning its first SB since he left. Also, Oliver sits down with Falcons’ Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Tony Gonzalez and head coach Mike Smith to find out how Atlanta plans on finally being a successful playoff team. NFL on FOX analyst John Lynch reports live from Denver before the Broncos and Steelers clash and preview the matchup with Hines Ward, Troy Polamalu, Tim Tebow and Champ Bailey.

For instant updates during the week and games from the entire NFL on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NFLONFOX. Follow the NFL on FOX on-air personalities @Buck, @Jay_Glazer, @JimmyJohnson, @CurtMenefee, @MikePereira, @MichaelStrahan, @TroyAikman, @KennyAlbert, @CoachBillick, @TimBrewster, @CFD22 (Charles Davis), @DarylJohnston, @The_ChrisMyers, @LauraOkmin, @ChadPennington, @TimRyan99 & @TonySiragusa on Twitter as they provide insight and analysis all weekend. Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports.

Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver & Chris Myers, 1:00PM
MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, NJ

BILLICK:  PRESSURE IS ON FALCONS QB AND GIANTS SECONDARY – NFL on FOX analyst and FOXSports.com’s NFL writer Brian Billick believes the pressure is on Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan this Sunday in East Rutherford, NJ when they take on the New York Giants. “The Falcons offense has gotten hot at just the right time, but Ryan carries a lot of pressure on his back until he proves he can win a playoff game,” said Billick. On the other side of the field, Billick wonders if the Giants defense can effectively stop the Falcons offense, particularly running plays. “On defense, I worry about the Giants’ secondary and the defense’s ability to stop the off-tackle running plays. Their passing defense starts with pressure up front, their rush ends often run themselves too far upfield and out of run support.”

To read Billick’s complete column, visit: http://tinyurl.com/7yayxar

WHITLOCK: LUCK’S RUN OUT FOR INDY FOOTBALL – In his latest piece, FOXSports.com national columnist Jason Whitlock warns that even Andrew Luck can’t save Indy from an inevitable fall. “Andrew Luck should consider avoiding Jim Irsay and the Colts to avoid the seemingly inevitable bad fate that awaits the franchise. Indiana’s football bubble is bursting,” writes Whitlock. “I’m a Hoosier. I was born and raised in Indianapolis. For 15 years, I’ve watched in stunned disbelief as Peyton Manning transformed Indiana from a basketball state to a football state.  I say it’s over. I say it’s not a coincidence that the Manning era is crumbling in the same year my little hometown is hosting the Super Bowl. The whole thing is playing out like a movie script, a comedic satire. It’s Trading Places, and I’m Billy Ray Valentine with inside information on when it’s time to ‘sell, sell, sell.’  I love football. I played college football. But I’m a Hoosier. We’re basketball people. This Peyton Manning-Bill PolianTony Dungy thing never really made sense in Indiana. It can’t be sustained. Manning, Polian and Dungy were great imports. We produce Oscar Robertsons and Larry Birds naturally. Suck for Luck was a nice little campaign, but smart Hoosiers really want to see Eric Gordon come home, wear the Pacers blue and gold and rekindle memories of Reggie Miller. Someone warn Andrew Luck that Indy’s football era is dead. It’s time for ‘Boom, baby!’”

To read Whitlock’s complete column, visit: http://tinyurl.com/76ldovz

BILLICK:  SAINTS HAVE BEST OFFENSE IN NFL RIGHT NOW – In an appearance on Fox Sports radio’s The Dan Patrick show, NFL on FOX analyst Brian Billick agreed with Patrick’s assertion that the New Orleans Saints have the best offense in the NFL right now. “I have to agree with you,” said Billick. “As impressive as Green Bay has been under Aaron Rodgers, I think New Orleans’ ability to run the ball and not only with Darren Sproles out of the backfield but the combination of Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory. They can run when they want to run in addition to all that Drew Brees delivers. They have pure offensive firepower.”

CBS’ preview is next.

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013. He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television. Fang celebrates the three Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

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