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NFL
Cheat Sheet By George Stahl NEW YORK (AQB)--Saturday games. Sunday games. Pregame shows on different times. ABC. CBS. Fox. Can't keep track of it all? Don't worry, this is all you need. Below you will find highlights and descriptions of each NFL studio show this weekend, a listing of each game and its announcers, as well as a comment or two from your favorite NFL media personalities. And don't forget to check out this week's Media Notes, in which John Madden, Cris Collinsworth, Peter King and others discuss the Jets mess, Mike Ditka's dismissal and other NFL topics. Happy viewing! Saturday, Jan. 8 Pregame Shows
Click here to read Randy's review of week two's NFL Preview.
Fox Sports Net NFL analyst and former Bills coach Marv Levy said this week in a conference call that he probably wouldn't have switched quarterbacks like current Buffalo head coach Wade Phillips did, in benching seasonlong starter Doug Flutie for Rob Johnson. "I don't think it is a move that I would have done," Levy said. "The moment Rob Johnson played last week, I said there's a potential Pandora's Box going to be open." Because, as Levy explained, if Johnson played well, then the clamor for him to start would grow louder. If he didn't, then the team would have to determine whether it was worth keeping his huge salary against the cap. "It's not a move that I think I would have made at that point." CBS NFL analyst Phil Simms said, though, that it wasn't a recent decision. "Coaches evaluate their players every day. This decision didn't just happen a week or 10 days ago. It started six weeks ago and inched forward. It took a lot of reinforcement from watching Doug Flutie and Rob Johnson practice. It takes a lot of courage because it's not the safe way. But it's what Wade Phillips feels is best for the team." CBS' Craig James certainly was surprised by Phillips' decision. "Shocking is the word I'd use to describe Wade Phillips' decision. There has to be more to it. But I believe the Bills are going to need some Flute magic to win in the playoffs." CBS' Randy Cross said that in the end, Flutie's concerns were justified. "Everyone thought Doug Flute was being paranoid about Rob Johnson getting the start last week to get reps just in case. Well, the knife Bum's son put in Doug's back answered any paranoia questions. "If you believe in karma, the Bills will go to Tennessee and get their heads handed to them because of this distraction. When you also consider what the Titans' defense did to the offenses of both the Jaguars and Rams this year, especially early in those games, you have to like the chances for an early Titan lead." About Tennessee, James said, "The Titans are a very confident bunch right now and one of the three to four hottest teams in the playoffs. They believe they are the best team in the AFC. I've ranked them second in my playoff rankings behind St. Louis."
Cross likes the Redskins in this one. "This will be a game dominated by the two offenses, but decided by turnovers caused by the Redskins' defense. The Skins' defense has played much better in the second half and its ability to take away the Lions' anemic running game and force the Frerotte/Batch experiment to implode moves them on to the next game.
Pregame Shows
This week's show includes interviews with Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren and Minnesota head coach Dennis Green, as well as reports from John Madden on the Cowboys and Vikings, and from Jeanne Zelasko on the Dolphins and Seahawks.
On this week's show, Bradshaw interviews the resurgent Jeff George, who has led the Vikings to a 5-2 record since taking over quarterback duties at mid-season. Bradshaw and George discuss the resurrection of a career that many, including Bradshaw, said was over after his stint with the Oakland Raiders. Also, Pam Oliver talks to Emmitt Smith about turning around a season that began plagued by injuries and culminated last week by leading the Cowboys to a playoff berth after rushing for 122 yards.
Madden said the Vikings have the potential to shake things up in the NFC. "I think the Vikings have as good a chance to go all the way as anyone. If your're looking for a dark horse, it's the Minnesota Vikings." The biggest thing the Vikings have to do, according to Madden, is eliminate turnovers. Fox Sports Net's Levy also has his eye on Minnesota. "I think Minnesota has the best chance to derail St. Louis and represent the NFC in the championship game," he said, adding that the Vikings are not quite as balanced as St. Louis. Levy, though, does see the Vikings beating Dallas, as does CBS' Cross. "The Vikings' offensive and defensive lines will enable the skill players of the Vikings to embarrass America's former Team. Jeff George, Robert Smith, Cris Carter and Randy Moss should make this an early lead for the Vikes. John Randle and Chris Doleman may just lead a rush that puts [Dallas quarterback Troy] Aikman out of the game again. This seems to be a big mismatch, especially when you factor in the Cowboys' record on the road this year." Fox's Collinsworth isn't as sure. He doesn't think the Minnesota defense stops the run that well, especially when teams go with three receivers, eliminating a linebacker. Plus, because of the Monday night game earlier this season, he sees this as a "nightmarish match-up" for the Vikings.
On this week's show, Nantz talks to Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino and head coach Jimmy Johnson. Also, Allen examines the Seahawks' hopes of ending their late-season slump by advancing in the AFC Playoffs.
Simms said neither team has to apologize for its stumbling finish into the playoffs. "Did either one of these teams back into the playoffs? No. They don't pick the teams that are playing well the last four weeks of the NFL season to go to the playoffs. They pick the teams that had the best year. These two teams have the best records so they don't have to make any excuses. "I can't wait to see the emotional state of both teams and see how it plays out on the field. I think Seattle has accepted their situation much better than Miami. The body almost always imitates the mind. It's a much bigger obstacle for Miami than it is for Seattle. Miami seems a little flat and not the same vibrant team I saw earlier in the year. Can they recapture that? It will be hard, but not impossible. A lot of times a team can recapture that magic in a couple of series. Can Marino rip off a few big plays and get a touchdown? And can the defense get something going? The answer to both is yes. Gumbel said Miami admitted to having a confidence troubles. "Jimmy Johnson, Zach Thomas and Marino told Phil and me last week that the team has a confidence problem. They were 7-1 and had one of the best defenses in the league. Then everything began to fall apart. They can regain it if everyone goes out and gives big performances. "Last week doesn't matter in the NFL. Both teams are struggling, but Seattle has the obvious advantage being at home where they've played well this year in the noisy, noisy Kingdome with the crowd all for them. Jerry Glanville said Miami will have the advantage if the Dolphins can run on the Seahawks. "No team can go forward in the playoffs without being able to stop the run. And against Seattle, anyone can run. The Seahawks have to stop the run against a team [Miami] that doesn't even have a running game or else they're done. The Jets ran at will last week." However, Glanville said, issues between a coach and quarterback could be a problem for Miami. "There seems to be a major power play happening in Miami between the quarterback [Dan Marino] and the coach [Jimmy Johnson]. I always felt that if the quarterback was really good, he's bigger than the coach in a power struggle." Gumbel thinks, though, the end is near for Marino. "No one questions Dan Marino's heart, competitive nature and arm strength. But, Dan's legs aren't what they used to be. With the physical problems he's had this year, I'd be surprised if he didn't retire. He has been such a great Hall of Fame quarterback over the years, I don't think he'd drag himself through another season like this year and tarnish a great career."
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