NFL Previews for Wild Card Weekend

We get ready for a big weekend of NFL playoff action and the league’s TV partners will all have programming for us. Let’s check out what they’re saying.

Beginning with ESPN and what you’ll see on a double edition of Sunday NFL Countdown on both Saturday and Sunday.

ESPN’s NFL Wild Card Weekend Features

Saturday and Sunday Editions of Countdown and Matchup Preview NFL Wild Card Weekend Matchups 

 

ESPN’s comprehensive coverage of the NFL Wild Card Weekend will feature two editions of Sunday NFL Countdown – a one-hour special Saturday, Jan. 9, at 11 a.m. ET, and the regular two-hour edition Sunday, Jan 10, at 11 a.m – with host Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson.  ESPN senior analyst Chris Mortensen and NFL insider Adam Schefter will provide headlines and league news.

NFL Matchup, ESPN’s 30-minute, inside-the-film-room Xs and Os preview program with host Sal Paolantonio and analysts Merril Hoge and Ron Jaworski will also feature Saturday and Sunday editions (7:30 a.m.).  NFL PrimeTime will air two live shows – Saturday, 12:30 a.m. overnight, with Trey Wingo, Hoge and Trent Dilfer, and Sunday at 8:30 p.m. with Berman and Jackson. Additionally, Wingo will host a two-hour SportsCenter Special: Wild Card Weekend Sunday at 9 p.m. on ESPN2 with Hoge and Dilfer, recapping the weekend and looking ahead to the NFL Divisional round.

NFL studio programs on ESPN and ESPN2 this weekend:

Date	Time (ET)	Program
Sat., Jan 10	7:30 a.m.	NFL MatchupPaolantonio, Hoge and Jaworski
	11 a.m.	Sunday NFL Countdown one-hour)Berman, Carter, Ditka, Jackson, Johnson, Mortensen and Schefter
	12:30 a.m.	NFL PrimeTimeWingo, Dilfer and Hoge
Sun., Jan 11	7:30 a.m.	NFL MatchupPaolantonio, Hoge and Jaworski
	11 a.m.	Sunday NFL Countdown (two-hours)Berman, Carter, Ditka, Jackson, Johnson, Mortensen and Schefter
	8:30 p.m.	NFL PrimeTime Berman and Jackson
	9 – 11 p.m.	SportsCenter Special:  Wild Card Weekend (ESPN2) Wingo, Dilfer and Hoge

Sunday NFL Countdown features (Saturday):

• Nichols will highlight the relationship between former USC quarterbacks Carson Palmer of the Bengals and Mark Sanchez of the Jets, who will compete against one another Saturday. In the mid 1990s, Sanchez was Palmer’s ballboy at Santa Margarita High School before following in his footsteps with the Trojans.

• Werder will highlight how the injury to Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware rallied the Cowboys.   

Sunday NFL Countdown features (Sunday):

• A Greg Garber feature looks at the Ravens’ defense versus Tom Brady.

• Holtzman’s story will recount how the Packers made adjustments this season to provide better protection for quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

• In Virtual Playbook, Jackson shows how Ravens running backs will us the ‘stiff arm’ successfully against the Patriots defense.

• With back-to-back Sunday games in warm Arizona, the Packers are grumbling about having to return to frigid Green Bay, says Kenny Mayne in “Mayne Event.”  

• Defensive tackle Darnell Dockett of the Cardinals will be featured in Soundtracks. 

On-site reporters at all four games:

ESPN’s NFL Wild Card playoff coverage will include pre- and post-game reports from all four stadiums: Saturday: Rachel Nichols (Jets-Bengals) and Ed Werder (Eagles-Cowboys) and Sunday: Sal Paolantonio (Ravens-Patriots) and Bob Holtzman (Packers-Cardinals). 

NFL Matchup features (Saturday):

Jets vs. Bengals

• Jaworski opens his ‘Playbook’ and illustrates how the Bengals defense must account for the multi-talented Jets wide receiver Brad Smith in the running and passing game.  Hoge will use his ‘Coaches Clicker’ to show how the Benga
  ls offense can use misdirection to counteract the Jets’ aggressiveness on defense. 

• Jaworski explains how the pre-snap movement by the Jets defense creates deception and indecision in opposing offenses. 

Eagles vs. Cowboys

• Matchup’s quarterback, Jaworski, goes ‘Inside the Matchup’ to point out how the Cowboys offense exploited the Eagles defensive tendencies and weaknesses Sunday.  Hoge breaks down the intricacies of the misdirection runs by the Cowboys offense and explains how the runs unsettled the Eagles defense.

• Jaworski unveils how the Eagles offense can use personnel packages and formations to create favorable matchups against the Cowboys defense.  Hoge looks at the Cowboys defense and how their schemes in blitzing opposing quarterbacks are well planned. 

NFL Matchup features (Sunday):

Ravens vs. Patriots

• Hoge exposes the flaws of the Patriots defense in underneath pass coverage and shows how the team’s poor run and play recognition results in slow reaction and tentativeness.

• Jaworski spotlights how the skills of rookie wide receiver Julian Edelman and the scheme of the Patriots offense can still force defenders to react in the same way that they did with injured Pro Bowl receiver Wes Welker. 

Packers vs. Cardinals

• Jaworski shows how the versatile skills of tight end Jermichael Finley give the Packers offense liberty to expand their alignments, formations and overall scheme.  Hoge goes inside ‘The Film Room’ to explain how a three-man pass rush with a hybrid coverage in the secondary clouds quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ downfield vision, forcing him to hold the ball longer or make careless decisions.

• Hoge uses his ‘Coaches Clicker’ to highlight how the Cardinals offense has found balance with its emerging efficiency and execution in running the ball.

To CBS Sports and one of the features you’ll see Sunday on the NFL Today.

“THE NFL TODAY’s” SHANNON SHARPE SITS DOWN WITH BALTIMORE’S “BROTHERS RAY” LEWIS AND RICE; AND DAN MARINO VISITS WITH ARIZONA QUARTERBACK KURT WARNER FOR WILD CARD WEEK OF “THE NFL TODAY” ON SUNDAY, JAN. 10

Jim Nantz and Phil Simms Report Live from Baltimore-New England AFC Wild Card Game; And Lesley Visser Reports Live from Arizona on Green Bay-Cardinals NFC Wild Card Game

THE NFL ON CBS, home of Super Bowl XLIV and celebrating its Golden 50^th year broadcasting the NFL, begins its coverage of the 2010 American Football Conference Playoffs with the national broadcast of Wild Card Playoff Game #2 – No. 6-seeded BALTIMORE RAVENS (9-7) vs. AFC East Champions and No. 3-seeded NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-6) – on Sunday, Jan. 10 (1:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY (12:00 Noon-1:00 PM, ET) live on the CBS Television Network.

            THE NFL TODAY’s Shannon Sharpe previews Baltimore’s game by sitting down with the Ravens’ “Brothers Ray,” Ray Lewis and Ray Rice, who have formed a special relationship over the past two years. Lewis, now in his 14th season and leader of the Baltimore defense, was just named to his 11th Pro Bowl and recorded his 12th 100-tackle season. Rice, in only his second season and first as a starter, has over 2,000 yards from scrimmage and was named to his first Pro Bowl. Lewis refers to himself and his teammate as “double trouble” talking about their special brotherly bond and the energy they give each other. Deb Gelman is the producer.

            Also, THE NFL TODAY’s Dan Marino visits with Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner. Warner led the Cardinals to the team’s first ever Super Bowl last season and is looking to recapture the playoff magic he and the Cardinals had last year to make another run. Despite suffering a concussion and missing one game earlier in the season, Warner led Arizona to its second straight NFC West title. The two-time MVP and Super Bowl MVP from 10 years ago has a 1-2 record in the Super Bowl. Can Warner become the first quarterback ever to lead two different teams to Super Bowl titles? Jeff St. Arromand is the producer.

In addition, THE NFL ON CBS’s lead announce team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms report live from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. to preview the match-up, while Lesley Visser reports live from Arizona on t
he Green Bay Packers-Arizona Cardinals NFC Wild Card game that day.  

James Brown hosts THE NFL TODAY along with analysts Marino, Boomer Esiason, Sharpe and Bill Cowher, NFL TODAY “General Manager” Charley Casserly, as well as Visser and Sam Ryan reporting.

Eric Mann is senior producer and Bob Matina is director of THE NFL TODAY.

Sean McManus is President, CBS News and Sports, and serves as the executive producer for the Network’s coverage of the NFL. Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

Continuing with CBS Sports, Phil Simms discusses the Baltimore-New England game which the Tiffany Network will carry on Sunday.

“THE NFL ON CBS” BEGINS AFC PLAYOFF COVERAGE WITH BALTIMORE RAVENS-NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS WILD CARD GAME #2 ON SUNDAY, JAN. 10

AUDIBLES WITH LEAD “NFL ON CBS” ANALYST PHIL SIMMS

THE NFL ON CBS, home of Super Bowl XLIV and celebrating its Golden 50^th year broadcasting the NFL, begins its coverage of the 2010 American Football Conference Playoffs with the national broadcast of Wild Card Playoff Game #2 on Sunday, Jan. 10 (1:00 PM, ET) live on the CBS Television Network. The No. 6-seeded BALTIMORE RAVENS (9-7) visit the AFC East Champions and No. 3-seeded NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-6). THE NFL ON CBS’s coverage begins with THE NFL TODAY, the Network’s one-hour studio show (12:00 Noon-1:00 PM, ET), live from the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City.

THE NFL ON CBS lead announce team of Jim Nantz, who this year is marking his 25^th with CBS Sports, and Phil Simms call the action live from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Lance Barrow is the coordinating producer and lead game producer and Mike Arnold is the lead game director.

Throughout the 2010 AFC Playoffs and Super Bowl XLIV, THE NFL ON CBS will broadcast all of its games each week in HDTV, the highest definition television format – 1080i lines of picture resolution – along with 5.1 digital audio.

* * * * *

PHIL SIMMS

(On New England losing Wes Welker because of injury): The big thing is that New England can’t reinvent itself. They have two receivers they’ve thrown to all year, Wes Welker and Randy Moss. I don’t see how they can change in one week. So Julian Edelman is going to have to take the place of Wes Welker and he’s going to have to be relied on just like they would on Wes Welker. They’ll
put the same plays in, they’ll expect him to step in and get it done. I think he’s up to it. If Baltimore thinks he is not, they’re making a big mistake. You can see their offense is creative. They have a lot of ways to get that position open. Regardless of who’s playing it, you have to focus on it. I can’t wait to see that. 

(On Joe Flacco in playoffs after now in his second NFL season): Joe Flacco has not had the second year “sophomore slump” — none of that. Overall he’s played very well. He’s the hitter who might be hitting .250, but you never know when he’s going to hit one out of the park. So that’s what scares you and you have to always be alert. He has a big arm and can make the big throws down the field that wins games. And you always have to be conscious of that and protect against it. He’s had a very, very good second year. Baltimore hit the jackpot when they drafted him. 

(On Tom Brady): I heard a famous morning show guy saying that Tom Brady doesn’t look the same. The Tom Brady I watch is sharp, takes advantage of opportunities when they’re there, and is playing very well. So if he’s hurt, I don’t know. Does it matter? I only judge what I see on the field and Tom Brady is holding his end up. 

And finally to Fox Sports which touts its regular season ratings plus previews Green Bay at Arizona in the last Wild Card playoff game of the weekend.

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

One for the Record Books: 2009 NFL on FOX Season Reaches New Heights

FOX Sports Continues Reign as America’s No. 1 Sports Network for 13^th Straight Year

Coaches Corner: Johnson & Billick Break Down NFC & AFC Playoff Picture

NFC Wild Card Battle: Sunday on FOX

Packers Travel to the Desert to Take on the Cardinals

2009 NFL ON FOX SEASON REACHES NEW HEIGHTS; SMASHES AUDIENCE RECORD – The complete 2009 NFL on FOX regular season averaged 19.1 million viewers, smashing the previous NFL on FOX record of 18.2 million set in 1995 by almost one million viewers and more than two million more viewers than a year ago (17.0 million). As for the household ratings, 2009 averaged an 11.4/23, the NFL on FOX’s best average rating in 14 years (12.5/29 in 1995), and a +9% gain over last season’s 10.5/22.  NFL on FOX NATIONAL GAMES had a remarkable 2009 season and currently rank as television’s highest-rated and most-watched program in any day-part for the season-to-date. This season’s National Games, the 4:15pm games on the NFL on FOX’s nine doubleheader dates, averaged an enormous 15.5/28 and over 26.2 million viewers, both new NFL on FOX records. Compared to other marquee NFL windows, the NFL on FOX National Game out-rated CBS’s National Game by +14% (vs. 13.6/26 through Week 16) and NBC’s Sunday Night Football by +31% (vs. 11.8/19 through Week 16), margins that will increase when Week 17 games are included. While NFL on FOX National Games air only nine times per season, this year it supplied over 27.5 hours of programming, more than a full season of most original hit primetime series.

FOX SPORTS NO. 1 SPORTS NETWORK FOR 13^th STRAIGHT YEAR – FOX Sports continued its position as the nation’s leading producer of big event sports finishing 2009 as America’s No. 1 sports network for the 13^th straight year, according to Nielsen Media Research. All sports-related programs on FOX averaged a 6.1/13 household rating/share, with an average audience of 10 million viewers. FOX Sports out-distanced second place CBS (3.9/9, 6.2 million) by +56% in rating and 61% in audience; ABC (3.0/7, 4.7 mill.) by 103% and 113%, respectively, and ESPN (0.7/2, 1 mill) by 771% and 1000%, respectively.   

NFL ON FOX: WILDCARD WEEKEND – FOX Sports’ coverage of its 16^th NFL postseason begins Sunday, Jan. 10 (4:00 PM ET) when Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers take on Kurt Warner and the defending NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals. 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 Glendale, Arizona. The winner moves on to the divisional round to face either the Vikings or the Saints next week on FOX.

Coverage begins at 4:00 PM ET with America’s most-watched pregame show, FOX NFL SUNDAY. Terry Brads
haw and Curt Menefee co-host the Emmy Award-winning program and are joined by analysts Howie Long, Michael Strahan and Jimmy Johnson. The crew is joined by NFL Insider Jay Glazer who presents the latest league news and scoops in the FOX NFL SUNDAY studio and comedic prognosticator Frank Caliendo contributes his weekly “Frank’s Picks” segment. This week, reporter Pam Oliver talks to the defending NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals to find out if they can make another trip to the Super Bowl. Also, Bradshaw breaks down the progression of Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers and how much he’s grown from last season to this season.

For instant updates during the week and games from the entire NFL on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NFLONFOX. Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.myspace.com/foxsports.

 

HAS NFC’S NO. 1 SEED RUN OUT OF STEAM FOR PLAYOFF RUN? – FOX NFL SUNDAY analyst and Super Bowl-winning head coach Jimmy Johnson looks at the unique position New Orleans finds themselves in heading into the playoffs – The No. 1 seed in the NFC coming off three-straight losses to end the season. “Losing three games going into the playoffs is not good. But I don’t know if it would have been better for the Saints, already set with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, to throw their starters in there to try to win a meaningless Carolina game last week. What if the Saints had lost with their starters playing? All it could have done is cause dissension and possibly lose an invaluable player. The Saints have to prepare for a run at the Super Bowl. I don’t think having momentum is that important when you have a bye. If you are going to play the next week, momentum is more valuable. The Saints can sit back and really prepare for your first playoff opponent.”

WHICH CARDINALS TEAM WILL SHOW UP FOR PACKERS REMATCH? – Green Bay makes a familiar trip for their first-round playoff game this Sunday, right back to where they finished the season – in Arizona against the Cardinals. FOX NFL SUNDAY analyst Jimmy Johnson examines which Cardinals team will show up this Sunday. “The Packers played great on Sunday in Arizona so momentum should help them a lot. Arizona has been a Jekyll and Hyde team all season. The Cardinals have played some stinkers at home. Maybe getting beat as they did might embarrass them just enough to make them play better. Maybe losing as they did will make them mad. Obviously, Green Bay is going back to Arizona with some confidence.”

For more from Jimmy on how the absence of Wes Welker affects the Patriots click link below:  http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Johnson-Welker-big-loss-for-Patriots-010310

BILLICK: “IN THE PLAYOFFS EVERY TEAM HAS A LEGITIMATE SHOT AT SUPER BOWL” – “I think every team playing this weekend and the top two seeds in each conference has a legitimate shot at making a run at the Super Bowl,” said NFL on FOX analyst Brian Billick. “There are obvious hurdles to overcome. The top two seeds are the top two seeds for a legitimate reason. But we can go through the top two seeds in each conference and find some chinks in the armor that could be exposed.”

Bill
ick’s Playoff Break Down

Jets:  “The Jets are a very dangerous team. With a rookie quarterback, you have to question it a little bit but then you look at Joe Flacco making the AFC Championship game last year. They lead the league in defense and running the ball and I wouldn’t dismiss any type of team that plays that good on defense and runs the ball effectively.  As long as they don’t turn the ball over they’re going to have a chance.”

Bengals:  “The way they are running the ball and the defense that they’re playing makes them a viable threat. Although I think they’ll need to get more out of Carson Palmer and the passing game.”

Chargers: “San Diego is the best team in the league right now.”

Cowboys: “Dallas has clearly been one of the most talented teams now for a while. They’re playing with confidence and a little more unity which is a scary combination.”

Patriots: “How do you dismiss Tom Brady and the New England Patriots?”

Ravens:  “I think Baltimore is an extremely dangerous team. The balance that they have with the run and pass plus their defense playing the way it does gives them a legitimate shot in the playoffs.”

If you’re wondering where NBC’s preview is, I already posted it here. We’re done.