November 23, 2004

THE NFL ON CBS: WEEK 12 (THANKSGIVING DAY, THANKSGIVING DAY, THURSDAY, NOV. 25 & SUNDAY, NOV. 28) AUDIBLES WITH LEAD GAME ANALYST PHIL SIMMS AND RANDY CROSS

PHIL SIMMS
(On Indianapolis's offense): I thought I was watching the greatest offense in the NFL a few years ago when the St. Louis Rams shredded defenses and went to two Super Bowls in three seasons, winning one of them. We might be seeing one that's even better right now. Defenses are faster and more complicated than they were four or five years ago - they're used to seeing spread offenses and all the routes and different combinations, so they can adjust to what the opposition is throwing at them. But there's two things that drive the Indianapolis Colts to overcome even the toughest defense - the talent and the quarterback...This team has two high-quality tight ends, three excellent wide receivers and one of the best running backs in the NFL in Edgerrin James. You put those all on the field with an offensive line that is well coached and a quarterback that can do it all, mentally and physically, and you are treated to one heck of a show...It's this simple: If you play run, they will throw it. When you play pass, they'll run it. The Colts can figure it all out at the line of scrimmage on every down and they can make the quick decisions. If a defense puts the linebackers and defensive backs near the line of scrimmage, Peyton Manning has got their number. He owns them. He play-action fakes, and by the time the defenders recover from what they thought was a running play, the receiver is already behind them. If the defense plays it conservatively and gives a little bit of a cushion, Manning hands it off and now you're getting blocked down the field. The defender eventually comes off the block to make the tackle and James has reeled off seven or eight yards. It's really, truly, that simple...It's not an offense that has a tremendous number of plays, and they don't try to confuse you with fancy formations. The players react off the defense, and every decision has been the right one so far. And that's the reason it's all falling into place for the Colts. Everybody is on a high. The offensive coordinator, Tom Moore, is in a rhythm, the quarterback is at the height of his playing ability and James is healthy and going. That's why the Colts have a truly unstoppable offense...(On Baltimore Ravens): We know the defense is good, but the Ravens offense is starting to become a little more balanced. Quarterback Kyle Boller put up decent numbers for the fourth straight week and has played well. And he even played well when he wasn't achieving the same numbers other winning QBs were ending up with. In the industry today, everybody will judge you on the numbers. How many touchdowns versus your interceptions, and what is the quarterback rating? Those are just the cold, hard facts...Well, the Ravens are winning their games but their offense is almost last. Oh my gosh! That seems to bother people. They don't take into account that the offense is running the football, eating up time on the clock, keeping the defense fresh, and they're doing this to win football games because that's what's best for this team....We, as a society, have a hard time looking at it that way - television commentators don't, pre-game shows don't. "I thought Brian Billick was an offensive genius." Let's hear that phrase one more time. "And they'll never go anywhere with Kyle Boller." Well, Boller is completing 59 percent of his passes and has thrown only one interception in his last five games. When you're the quarterback for a team that can run the ball and play defense, that's not just acceptable, that's very, very good. He's doing everything for the Ravens that Manning is doing for the Colts...(FOR MORE SIMMS ANALYSIS LOG ON TO NFL.COM) (More)

RANDY CROSS
(On New York Giants quarterback situation): Did I hear the gushing out of New York correctly concerning the Giants rookie quarterback Eli Manning? He played well. It was his offensive line and receivers that let him down. Hmmm, it was the quarterback when Kurt Warner was taking the snaps. He had five, six seconds to find receivers that were running wide open all over the field according to numerous accounts. Sweet Jesus, a one week miracle! First the likeness of the Virgin Mary on an E-Bay grilled cheese sandwich and now this!...I'm being silly, sorry. Take a look at the Giants upcoming schedule and the run of defenses the rook will face. For Eli's sake I hope this miracle has legs...(On Drew Bledsoe): Anyone want to bury the career of Drew Bledsoe this week and insert rookie quarterback J.P. Losman? Look no further than the pathetic protection he is afforded on a weekly basis for the reason for his hesitation and shakiness since joining the Bills. Sunday should make the point to all that, given the running game and a bit of pass protection, even an old washed up guy can chuck a few completions...(On Ricky Williams): Just what we need right now is a holistic medicine education and update from Ricky Williams. Grass Valley no less is the site of his latest stop. Nice, let the sound bites begin. Can't we just let this weird and tragic person crawl back under his tent and leave him alone?...(On New Orleans Saints): Has an NFL owner had a weirder week than Thomas Benson of the New Orleans Saints? First, there was the, "We just may have to move" statements, followed by his PR department trumpeting their 38th consecutive sellout at the Superdome. And then yesterday's, "We look like a high school team" rant. I have two questions regarding this situation: Are you fired or paroled from this mess? And, is there a brown paper bag big enough to fit over this whole thing?...(On dark horses getting lighter): I'll end on an upbeat subject and that's the, "Why not us" teams for 2005. The Atlanta Falcons and San Diego Chargers seemed to have settled in as this season's surprise entrants into the Super Bowl derby. Don't look for all the answers on paper or film. In the current NFL, the season starts with the real possibility that your team can go from Chump to Champ and fans in Southern California and Georgia are witness to this year's examples. Consistent winners are built by strong organizations, owners and coaching staffs. Luck, chemistry and momentum propel teams to temporary dizzying heights. These two teams have had great examples in the past of these kinds of teams. Enjoy this season Falcons and Chargers fans - only time will tell if you can look forward to this on a regular basis.

To follow the progress of the teams of THE NFL ON CBS's Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, Randy Cross, Brent Jones, Steve Tasker and Gus Johnson in CBS SportsLine's Gridiron Guru League, log on to http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/fantasy/gridiron for all the standings and statistics.

Following are the NFL assignments for Week 12, Week 13 and Week 14 (subject to change).

WEEK 12 - Nov. 25 (THANKSGIVING DAY)**

GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR 12:30 PM, ET starts:**
·Indianapolis @ Detroit* Jim Nantz/Phil Simms// Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold Bonnie Bernstein

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CBS Television Network...3

Nov. 28 - DOUBLEHEADER

GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR 1:00 PM, ET starts:
·Jacksonville @ Minnesota Dick Enberg/Dan Dierdorf// Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman Armen Keteyian
·San Diego @ Kansas City Kevin Harlan/Randy Cross Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith ·Cleveland @ Cincinnati Craig Bolerjack/Steve Beuerlein Ken Mack/Chris Svendsen ·Tennessee @ Houston Gus Johnson/Brent Jones Jim Rikhoff/Mark Grant

4:15 PM, ET starts:
·Baltimore @ New England* Jim Nantz/Phil Simms// Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold Bonnie Bernstein

·Miami @ San Francisco  Brad Sham/Rich Baldinger                Ross Schneiderman/Brian Lilley
·Buffalo @ Seattle              Don Criqui/Steve Tasker         Victor Frank/Cathy Barreto
·N.Y. Jets @ Arizona            Ian Eagle/Solomon Wilcots               Bob Dekas/Larry Cavolina

WEEK 13 - Dec. 5

GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR 1:00 PM, ET starts:
·Houston @ N.Y. Jets* Dick Enberg/Dan Dierdorf// Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman Armen Keteyian

·New England @ Cleveland*       Kevin Harlan/Randy Cross                Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith
·Tennessee @ Indianapolis       Gus Johnson/Brent Jones         Jim Rikhoff/Mark Grant
·Cincinnati @ Baltimore Ian Eagle/Solomon Wilcots               Bob Dekas/Larry Cavolina
·Buffalo @ Miami                Don Criqui/Steve Tasker         Ross Schneiderman/Cathy Barreto

4:00 PM, ET starts:
·Denver @ San Diego* Jim Nantz/Phil Simms// Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold Bonnie Bernstein
·Kansas City @ Oakland Bill Macatee/Steve Beuerlein Ken Mack/Andy Goldberg

WEEK 14 - Dec. 12

GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR 1:00 PM, ET starts:
·Cincinnati @ New England* Dick Enberg/Dan Dierdorf// Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman Armen Keteyian

·Cleveland @ Buffalo            Don Criqui/Steve Tasker         Ross Schneiderman/Cathy Barreto
·Oakland @ Atlanta              Kevin Harlan/Randy Cross                Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith
·Indianapolis @ Houston Gus Johnson/Brent Jones//               Jim Rikhoff/Mark Grant

4:00 PM, ET starts:
·N.Y. Jets @ Pittsburgh* Jim Nantz/Phil Simms// Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold Bonnie Bernstein
·Miami @ Denver Ian Eagle/Solomon Wilcots Victor Frank/Larry Cavolina

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CBS Television Network...4

Sean McManus is President, CBS Sports. Tony Petitti is Executive Producer, CBS Sports. McManus and Petitti serve as executive producers of CBS Sports' coverage of THE NFL ON CBS.

• THE NFL ON CBS games this week in HDTV, the highest definition television format - 1080i lines of picture resolution - along with 5.1 channel digital surround sound. The unified productions for both the standard definition and HD telecasts will feature the same announcers, camera angles and graphics.

CBS Sports Contacts:    LeslieAnne Wade 212/975-5171            lwade@cbs.com
Robin Brendle           212/975-1533            rlbrendle@cbs.com
                        Jerry Caraccioli        212/975-7466            gwcaraccioli@cbs.com