NFL Previews for Week 14

Let’s give you the network previews for Week 14 of the National Football League.

We begin with ESPN and the features you’ll see on its studio shows.

ESPN’s Weekend and Monday NFL Studio Features

ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown will preview the day’s matchups Sunday at 11 a.m. ET with Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson. ESPN senior analyst Chris Mortensen and NFL insider Adam Schefter will provide headlines and league news.

The program includes reports from Michael Smith covering the Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts, Rachel Nichols at the Bengals – Vikings game, Wendi Nix in Foxboro, Mass., for the Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots, and Ed Werder in Arlington, Texas, for the San Diego Chargers at Dallas Cowboys. Other highlights:

To Pursue or not to Pursue Perfection?: Should the Saints and Colts (both 12-0) go after a perfect record, or jeopardize a loss while resting players for the playoffs? The Colts, having been in this position before, plan to rest their players once home-field advantage is secured. The Saints say they are going for the record. Greg Garber talks to players on teams that were perfect this late in the season for insights on the pursuit of perfection.

Favre’s Speech: Faced with questions about his commitment to the Vikings, Brett Favre got permission from head coach Brad Childress to address his new team in August. He won them over and was even elected team captain. Ed Werder reports on the details of Favre’s speech and how the veteran quarterback addressed the concerns of his new teammates.

Mayne Event Soundtracks: When NFL Films began mic’ing up players on the field, the series gave fans unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the hardest-hitting game in the world. Kenny Mayne spent Monday in Green Bay shooting his unique version of the popular NFL Films segment in this week’s Mayne Event Soundtracks.

Finishers vs. Faders: The Cowboys have a losing record in the month of December since 2006, while the Chargers have finished strong – 15 straight wins in December since 2006. Countdown looks at the distinguishing characteristics between the “finishers” and the “faders.”

Patriots Week in Review: In first place in the AFC East, the Patriots have lost two straight games for the first time since 2006. Quarterback Tom Brady challenged his teammates to do a better job in meetings, practice and film study. Head coach Bill Belichick sent four players home for tardiness Wednesday. Countdown reviews the Patriots’ week.

Eagles/Giants Soundtracks: The NFC East matchup between the Eagles and Giants is one of the most physical and fiercest rivalries in the NFL. Listen in on the history of the rivalry in this week’s Soundtracks.

Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em with Matthew Berry and Merril Hoge: ESPN’s fantasy football guru Matthew Berry and NFL analyst Merril Hoge debate which players to start or sit this weekend.

Berman, Carter, Ditka, Jackson and Johnson will pick the biggest games of the day and tell fans which players will make the biggest impact in NFL’s Week 14 action. The list of game picks will be posted on www.espn.com/sundaycountdown after the show.

MONDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWN, 7 P.M. ON ESPN

Monday Night Countdown with Berman, Carter, Ditka, Jackson, Johnson, Mortensen and Schefter (in Bristol) and Stuart Scott, Matt Millen and Steve Young (at the MNF game in San Francisco) will review Sunday’s games and preview Monday Night Football. The 90-minute, pre-game show will lead into the kickoff of the Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers (8:30 p.m.) game, featuring Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski

Reporters Suzy Kolber (Cardinals) and Michele Tafoya (49ers) will cover the teams. Other highlights:

“Soundtracks” – Mike Singletary: The former star linebacker of the Chicago Bears has brought his passion and intensity to the West Coast. In this week’s Soundtracks, the 49ers head coach will be featured, wired for sound in San Francisco’s Week 4 win over the Rams.

ESPN The Magazine’s “For Love or the Game” – Kurt Warner: Arizona’s Kurt Warner is paired with his wife, Brenda, and teammate Larry Ftizgerald to see who really knows the Super Bowl-winning quarterback better.

WEEKLY MONDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWN SEGMENTS

TEAMS AT 20 – Every 20 minutes reporters Tafoya and Kolber will update news from the teams in their preparations for the game, beginning with NFL Live at 3:30 p.m.

FIELD PASS – Countdown offers an all-access look at pre-game preparations as the players get ready for kickoff. Analysts will also breakdown the important storylines and key players before the game.

C’MON MAN – Countdown personalities share their head-scratching plays from Week 14.

In addition, Monday Night Football’s Tirico, Jaworski and Gruden will preview the night’s match-up, with Mortensen and Schefter covering breaking news from around the league, and the Countdown analysts offering their “Lead Pipe Lock” predictions for the game.

NFL MATCHUP, SUNDAY 3 A.M. AND 7:30 A.M. ON ESPN

NFL Matchup with host Sal Paolantonio and analysts Merril Hoge and Ron Jaworski will preview the weekend’s games by bringing viewers inside the film room for the Xs and Os analysis of the matchups. The 30-minute program – taped each week at NFL Films in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey – highlights team strategy and game planning. This week’s features:

Eagles @ Giants: Giants Defense – Hoge reveals how the Giants can avoid a repeat of their first meeting (giving up 40 points to the Eagles) by attacking the Eagles’ running game.

Eagles @ Giants: Eli Manning – Jaworski displays how the Eagles’ defense can break Eli Manning down in the pocket by getting bodies around him – specifically, near his feet.

Chargers @ Cowboys – Jaworski pulls out his Xs and Os files to illustrate what blueprints the Cowboys must use to help their red zone offense.

Chargers @ Cowboys – Hoge pulls out his ‘Coaches Clicker’ and highlights how tight end Antonio Gates consistently wins one-on-one matchups, and how quarterback Philip Rivers is delivering the ball with accuracy under pressure.

Bengals @ Vikings – Hoge shows how Cincinnati will try to go after E.J. Henderson’s replacement at middle linebacker with misdirection runs.

Cardinals @ 49ers – Jaworski explains how quarterback Kurt Warner stands in the pocket, knowing he’s going to get hit by unblocked defenders, and delivers the ball downfield with anticipation and accuracy, making him the toughest quarterback to blitz in the NFL.

Saints @ Falcons – In their first meeting, the Falcons sacrificed defenders by unsuccessfully blitzing the Saints without forcing additional pressure on quarterback Drew Brees. Jaworski spotlights how ineffective blitz attempts against the Saints leave coverage mismatches Brees easily exploits.

Broncos @ Colts – Hoge shows how the Broncos use three tightend formations and run-based sets to condense the opposing defense, creating mismatches for wide receiver Brandon Marshall on the outside.

To Fox Sports and check out Michael Strahan’s comments on Flozell Adams of the Dallas Cowboys.

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

Saints March for Perfection Continues This Sunday on FOX

Long: Saints Definitely Have Shot At Perfection

16-0 IN SIGHT FOR SAINTS – The 2009 NFL on FOX campaign rolls into Week 14 on Sunday, Dec. 13 with singleheader coverage of seven exciting matchups. At 1:00 PM ET, fresh off their escape in Washington, Drew Brees and the Saints look to improve to a perfect 13-0 in Atlanta when they take on the Falcons. Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver call the action from the Georgia Dome. Tom Brady and the Patriots return home looking to put an end to their two-game slide. In order to do that, their defense will have to put the clamps on DeAngelo Williams and the Panthers rushing attack. In Chicago, Defensive Player of the Year candidate Charles Woodson and the Packers continue their playoff push against the Bears in a matchup of NFC North rivals. Lions at Ravens and Seahawks at Texans round out the early action. At 4PM ET, Vince Young and Titans attempt to build on their recent success as they welcome Steven Jackson and the Rams to Nashville. Following their exciting win over the Super Bowl Champion Steelers, Bruce Gradkowski and the Raiders return home to face Jason Campbell and the Redskins.

Coverage begins at 12:00 PM ET with America’s most-watched 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. 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 prognostica
tor Frank Caliendo contributes his weekly “Frank’s Picks” segment. In this week’s show, Oliver sits down with Packers defensive stalwarts to discuss their journey from a struggling group adjusting to a new scheme to the menacing ball-hawking unit late in the year. Johnson tries to find out what is wrong with the New England Patriots and what can be done to fix them.

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.

LONG: SAINTS LOOK DESTINED TO WIN – Following their improbable comeback over the Redskins, FOX NFL SUNDAY analyst and Hall of Famer Howie Long thinks that they are destined to finish undefeated. “After seeing them rally for their 12th win of the season against the Redskins, it’s hard to believe Drew Brees passed for 419 yards on what you could say was an off day,” said Long. “They play Atlanta Sunday and Matt Ryan may not play in that one, either. Then they get the Cowboys and Bucs in the Superdome before closing the season at Carolina. They definitely have a shot at 16-0!”

For more on this topic and to get Howie’s thoughts on the NFC East click here: http://bit.ly/4pzcs7

STRAHAN ON FLOZELL ADAMS: “HE’S JUST BEING AN IDIOT, IT’S UNNECESSARY” – Following Dallas Cowboys OT Flozell Adams’ confrontation with NY Giants defenseman Justin Tuck at the end of the second quarter this past Sunday, FOX NFL SUNDAY analyst Michael Strahan assessed the situation: “I like Flozell as a guy, but I think on the field right now he’s just being an idiot, it’s unnecessary,” said Strahan. “I don’t know what Flozell’s issue is with Justin Tuck. It’s like he just doesn’t care. He has that whole thing about where’s he’s going to wreak havoc and pay the consequences later and not worry about it at the time.”

On the NFL Today, Dan Marino will speak with Brett Favre.

“THE NFL TODAY’S” DAN MARINO SITS DOWN WITH VIKINGS QUARTERBACK BRETT FAVRE FOR WEEK 14 ON SUNDAY, DEC. 13

THE NFL ON CBS, home of Super Bowl XLIV and broadcasting its Golden Anniversary 50^th year of the NFL, continues its 2009 NFL season on Sunday, Dec. 13 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY (12:00 Noon-1:00 PM, ET).

This week THE NFL TODAY’s Dan Marino sits down with Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre in preview of the Vikings’ game against Cincinnati. Favre, who just broke the record for consecutive games played, talks about how he feels playing at age 40, his MVP-type season, gearing up for the stretch run as he aims for his third Super Bowl appearance, and how Vikings head coach Brad Childress was instrumental in recruiting him in the off-season. Deb Gelman produces.

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

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

CBS analysts Phil Simms and Dan Dierdorf talk about Week 14.

THE NFL ON CBS: WEEK 14 (SUNDAY, DEC. 13)

AUDIBLES WITH LEAD “NFL ON CBS” ANALYST PHIL SIMMS AND DAN DIERDORF

The CBS Television Network, home of Super Bowl XLIV, continues its Golden Anniversary 50^th year broadcasting the NFL with THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Dec. 13 (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, who this year is marking his 25^th with CBS Sports, and Phil Simms call the action from the San Diego Chargers-Dallas Cowboys game live from Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Lance Barrow is the coordinating producer and lead game producer and Mike Arnold is the lead game director.

Throughout the 2009 season, 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.

Sean McManus is President, CBS News and Sports, and serves as executive producer of CBS Sports’ coverage of THE NFL ON CBS. Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

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PHIL SIMMS

(On San Diego): San Diego has to keep winning because of the Denver Broncos. Four games to go in the NFL is still a season. I always say the season is so long it takes about four different turns and here we are going into the last one. The one thing that sticks out is that San Diego weathered a storm through injuries and has made it work. They’ve won games while they were still trying to determine what they were going to do as a football team. Now, they have a little bit of the fever. They are winning. They are confident and it shows in their play.

(On Dallas): The Da
llas Cowboys being home is huge for them. Like we always know in the NFL, games are so close that sometimes one player making a mental mistake costs you everything. It costs you the game. I think that is what the Cowboys are going to look at and think about their game against the Giants. Mentally they made a few mistakes that you can’t make. They made them and the Giants capitalized on them and won the game.

DAN DIERDORF

(On Minnesota): This is a kind of rebound game for Minnesota. Arizona beat them every which way including the scoreboard and that’s something they’re not use to having happen. Minnesota is a very physical team, and it was Arizona that was the most physical team during that game. It’s very interesting to see now how they’re going to respond at home against a very, very, good football team.

(On Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre): Brett Favre has had a season that I don’t know how else you could describe it, other than astonishing. He’s got 26 touchdowns and five interceptions. He’s 40-years-old for God’s sake! Are you kidding me? I don’t think we can gloss over that. I don’t think we can praise that enough. It’s just truly remarkable.

(On Cincinnati): This is one of the rare teams in the league that actually runs the ball more than they throw it. In a league that is now heavily titled toward the pass, in terms of the rules the way they’ve made it easier to throw the ball, this is a throwback team. Even with Carson Palmer, and even with Chad Ochocinco and Laveranues Coles, this is a team that runs the football, and runs it more than they throw. They have transformed themselves from an explosive passing team into a ball-control running team. They win the time of possession battle with just about every game they play.

(Key to Game): Minnesota has to get Adrian Peterson back in the game. If they can’t get him loose, the play-action passing that Brett Favre does so well isn’t going to work. You have Adrian Peterson going up against the number two-ranked run defense in the league that gives up only 82 yards-per-game. That is the match-up of the game. That is going to be fun to watch.

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TRIP IN THE NFL ON CBS WAY BACK MACHINE…

In commemoration of THE NFL ON CBS celebrating its 50^th year broadcasting the NFL, footage from historic highlights will be featured during each game. Included among the clips this week during the Cincinnati-Minnesota game is a highlight from when Vikings RB Adrian Peterson ran for 296 yards against San Diego on November 4, 2007 to establish a new NFL record for most rushing yards in a game.

Finally, NBC Sports previews Sunday night’s Eagles-Giants game.

GIANTS HOST EAGLES IN CRITICAL NFC EAST SHOWDOWN ON “SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL”

“The Philadelphia Eagles are playing as well as anybody.” – Collinsworth

“You have to be more aware of Michael Vick.” – Dungy

NEW YORK – Dec. 9, 2009 – Two of the three teams at the top of the NFC East standings meet on "NBC Sunday Night Football" when the third-place New York Giants (7-5) host the Philadelphia Eagles (8-4), who are tied with the Dallas Cowboys (8-4) for first place in the division.

Coverage begins with "Football Night in America," Sunday at 7 p.m. ET with Bob Costas hosting live from inside the stadium. Al Michaels (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analyst) and Andrea Kremer (sideline reporter) call the action from Giants Stadium.

Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann will co-host "Football Night" from NBC's 30 Rockefeller Plaza studios joined by Super Bowl-winning coach Tony Dungy, two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison and Sports Illustrated's Peter King. Tiki Barber wi
ll report from Cowboys Stadium on the Chargers-Cowboys game.

DUNGY: "Big game. The Giants got their running game going last week. Philly has got to get their running game going to keep that defensive line off Donovan McNabb."

COLLINSWORTH: "Right now the Philadelphia Eagles are playing as well as anybody and they are going to have a chance to put their mark on this division."

DUNGY ON MICHAEL VICK: "You have to be more aware of Michael Vick. I have a feeling Andy Reid may have been saving some things for the big division games down the stretch."

HARRISON ON MICHAEL VICK: "That's a big headache for defensive coordinators. It creates so many different problems."

GIANTS VS. EAGLES: The Giants lead the all-time series, which began in 1933, 81-70-2, including four playoff games that the teams split. The Eagles have won the last three contests, including Week 8 this season at home, 40-17, and last year's NFC Divisional matchup, 23-11, at Giants Stadium. Philadelphia has won three of its last four road games vs. New York.

The Giants have won two of their last three games, including last Sunday at home vs. Dallas, 31-24. The Eagles have won three straight and three of their last four on the road.

GIANTS-EAGLES IN PRIMETIME: Since NBC acquired the NFL's premier primetime package in 2006, the New York Giants are 3-6 and the Philadelphia Eagles are 1-7 on "Sunday Night Football." This is the third SNF appearance for both teams this season. The Giants won their first SNF appearance in 2009 by defeating the Dallas Cowboys, 33-31, spoiling the debut of the new Cowboys Stadium. They were defeated by the Arizona Cardinals, 24-17, at home in Week 7. The Eagles lost to Dallas, 20-16, at home on SNF in Week 9 and defeated the Bears on the road, 24-20, in Week 11.

That concludes your preview for this week.