The CBS Television Network, home of Super Bowl XLVII, continues its 53^rd year broadcasting the NFL with coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Sept. 30 (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 Oakland Raiders-Denver Broncos game live from Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo.  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.

 

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PHIL SIMMS

(On Oakland @ Denver): Even though there are basically two new coaches involved, no doubt it’s a heated rivalry that will never die.  Although Denver lost to maybe the two best teams in football, they are still losses. What is the Bronco’s state of mind?   Now, the Raiders have to be feeling good, like they’re turning the corner after coming through at the end of the game on both sides of the ball against the Steelers?  It makes me think it’s going to be a good game.

(On the quarterbacks): The big thing with the Raiders was Carson Palmer.  He was very good on basically every clutch throw in the game last week. And the other side is Peyton Manning.  I’ve been beat up all week with questions about him. If you’re following it and a fan of Denver and of Peyton Manning, or if you’re just a football guy, you have to see what he did against Houston. You have to say there is no doubt it’s going forward. Now he’s got enough games, repetitions, getting hit and feeling the competition of the action.  He is going to be able to make adjustments. He is actually getting better each week, even though he threw three interceptions. I don’t judge every game on whether you throw an interception or not.  He was tested more in the Atlanta game than he was in the first game against the Steelers. He was tested a lot more against the Houston Texans.  And I thought he had some long stretches of really good moments. My biggest question about the game is watching the Broncos offense and how they run it through Peyton Manning.

 

DAN DIERDORF

(On New England @ Buffalo): The New England Patriots have been sitting on the AFC East Division throne more often than not for the past 10 years.  The first thing coaches in that division say to their teams each year is, "We can’t do anything if we can’t compete with the Patriots."  That is what Buffalo and everybody in that division has to do.  That is job #1.  The way you make the playoffs is to win your division.  Everybody knows that if you’re going to win the AFC East, you have to beat the New England Patriots.     

(On New England): Is this a disappointing start for New England at 1-2?  Absolutely.  Is there a hint of panic, doubt or desperation in that team?  No way.  The interesting match-up in this game is going to be in protecting Tom Brady.  He has been sacked seven times in their three games.  And there have been times where their pass protection has not been as stout and strong upfront as they would like.  The Patriots are playing against one of the game’s best front fours.  With the addition of Mario Williams, their number one draft pick Marcell Dareus, Kyle Williams and the free agent signing of Mark Anderson – these guys are good.

(On playing in Buffalo): Buffalo is one of those places where it is harder to win than others.  It is not necessarily because the best team calls it home.  It has always been difficult to win in Buffalo.  The Bills are one of those teams that traditionally, over the past 20 years, have played better at home.  It’s a tough out in Buffalo.  The weather won’t be an issue, but their crowd is excited.  Bills fans have a chance to watch their team go to 3-1 and at the same time make the big, bad Patriots fly back to Boston at 1-3. 

 

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Following are THE NFL ON CBS assignments for Week 4, Week 5, Week 6 and Week 7 (subject to change).

 

WEEK 4 – Sept. 30

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST            PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:              

·New England @ Buffalo          Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf              Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman

·Tennessee @ Houston           Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts                       Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith

·San Diego @ Kansas City      Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots         Jim Rikhoff/Mark Grant

 

4:00 PM, ET starts:

·Miami @ Arizona                   Bill Macatee/Steve Tasker               Victor Frank/Chris Svendsen

·Oakland @ Denver                 Jim Nantz/Phil Simms                     Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold

·Cincinnati @ Jacksonville       Marv Albert/Rich Gannon                 Ross Schneiderman/Andy Goldberg

 

 

WEEK 5 – Oct. 7 – CBS DOUBLEHEADER

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST            PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:              

·Cleveland @ N.Y. Giants       Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf               Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman

·Miami @ Cincinnati               Marv Albert/Rich Gannon                 Ross Schneiderman/Andy Goldberg

·Baltimore @ Kansas City       Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts                       Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith

 

4:25 PM, ET starts:

·Denver @ New England         Jim Nantz/Phil Simms                     Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold

·Buffalo @ San Francisco       Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots         Jim Rikhoff/Mark Grant

·Tennessee @ Minnesota       Bill Macatee/Steve Tasker               Victor Frank/Chris Svendsen

 

 

WEEK 6 – Oct. 14

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST            PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:              

·Oakland @ Atlanta                Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf              Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman

·Kansas City @ Tampa Bay    Marv Albert/Rich Gannon                Ross Schneiderman/Andy Goldberg

·Indianapolis @ N.Y. Jets        Jim Nantz/Phil Simms                    Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold

·Cincinnati @ Cleveland           Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots        Jim Rikhoff/Mark Grant

 

4:00 PM, ET starts:

·Buffalo @ Arizona                  Bill Macatee/Steve Tasker              Victor Frank/Chris Svendsen

·New England @ Seattle          Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts                      Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith

 

 

WEEK 7 – Oct. 21 – CBS DOUBLEHEADER

 

GAME                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST            PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:              

·Baltimore @ Houston            Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf               Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman

·Cleveland @ Indianapolis       Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots         Jim Rikhoff/Mark Grant

·Tennessee @ Buffalo            Marv Albert/Rich Gannon                 Ross Schneiderman/Andy Goldberg

 

4:25 PM, ET starts:

·N.Y. Jets @ New England    Jim Nantz/Phil Simms                      Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold

·Jacksonville @ Oakland       Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts                         Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith

 

 

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Follow CBS Sports on Twitter: @CBSSportsGang and @NFLonCBS

 

CBS Sports Contacts:

Jen Sabatelle             212-975-4120             jsabatelle@cbs.com

Robin Brendle            212-975-1533             rlbrendle@cbs.com

Jerry Caraccioli          212-975-7466             gwcaraccioli@cbs.com