Sunday NFL Countdown: Dropping the Ball – Brandon Bostick; Frank Caliendo Returns; and More
Sunday NFL Countdown will preview the NFL’s week 2 on September 20 at 10 a.m. ET. Chris Berman will host the show with analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson. Reporter/host Wendi Nix will host select segments, NFL insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter will report the day’s headlines and news, with senior analyst Matthew Berry providing up-to-date fantasy sports information, as well as special contributions by Stephen A. Smith.
The two-hour program will be preceded by a one-hour NFL Insiders: Sunday Edition at 10 a.m. featuring Trey Wingo as host with NFL Insiders Mortensen and Schefter and NFL Front Office Insider Louis Riddick.
Reporter game assignments for week 2:
- Titans at Browns (Josina Anderson)
- Patriots at Bills (Britt McHenry)
- 49ers at Steelers (Ed Werder)
- Cowboys at Eagles (Sal Paolantonio)
Features:
- Dropping the Ball – Brandon Bostick: During the NFC Championship game, the Green Bay Packers backup tight end Brandon Bostick dropped the onside kick in the Seahawks improbable comeback win over the Packers. Bostick was released by the Packers in February and signed to Arizona Cardinals practice squad. Ahead of the 2014 NFC Championship rematch on Sunday, this time in Green Bay, Bostick recounts the events from that game with Countdown’s Jim Trotter, his first media interview about that fateful game.
- Frank Caliendo: Comedian Frank Caliendo, who recently reached a new contract extension with ESPN, invites Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and other Muppets to help him preview the new NFL season in his first Countdown segment of the season. (Ed Note: This feature was moved from last Sunday)
- #SBONTHE50: Countdown’s weekly contest continues with the reveal of the week 2 winner. (At the beginning of the show each Sunday, fans are encouraged to respond to a hashtag on the @ESPNNFL handle. Weekly winners automatically become eligible for the final draw at season’s end to win a trip to Super Bowl 50.)
ESPN’s Monday Night Football: Indianapolis Colts Host New York Jets
In the NFL’s week two finale, Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts host Darrelle Revis and the New York Jets on ESPN’s Monday Night Football. The MNF commentator team of Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Lisa Salters will call the game September 21 at 8:15 p.m.
Prior to the matchup, Chris Berman and Suzy Kolber host Monday Night Countdown (6 p.m., ESPN). NFL analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson and Insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter join Berman in studio while Trent Dilfer, Ray Lewis and Steve Young provide analysis alongside Kolber at Lucas Oil Stadium.
MNF is available on ESPN Deportes and will be streamed live on WatchESPN for fans with video subscriptions from affiliated providers. (Note: ESPN NFL analyst Jeff Saturday will be inducted into the Colts Ring of Honor during a ceremony at halftime. More.) Countdown highlights:
- Ray Lewis Conversation with Chuck Pagano: Countdown’s Ray Lewis sits with his former defensive coordinator and current head coach of the Colts Chuck Pagano for a one-on-one conversation.
- Rick Reilly Feature – A Stroke of Luck: Countdown essayist Rick Reilly reports on how Indianapolis sportswriters found a trove of puns and headlines when the Colts drafted a quarterback with the last name – “Luck.”
- Soundtracks – Todd Bowles: The Jets new head coach, wired for in-game audio in his first game (a 31-10 home win over the Cleveland Browns), is the subject of this week’s Soundtracks on Countdown.
NFL Matchup: Seattle-Green Bay; Jaws Playbook on Cowboys at Eagles; Tom Brady vs. Rex Ryan’s Defense and More
NFL Matchup host Sal Paolantonio and analysts Ron Jaworski and Merril Hoge preview the weekend’s NFL matchups via film-room X’s and O’s analysis Saturday, Sept. 19, at 8:30 a.m. on ESPN2 (re-air on ESPN, Sunday at 4 and 6:30 a.m.). Highlights:
- Seattle at Green Bay: This rematch of the 2014 NFC Championship game drew the attention of Merril Hoge, who takes a look back to explain how Seattle’s offense had success rushing the ball against Green Bay’s defense.
- New England at Buffalo: Buffalo Bills new head coach Rex Ryan’s defense gave quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots offense trouble in recent seasons when Ryan coached the Jets. Ron Jaworski shows the challenges Ryan’s defense presents as the new-look Bills disguise their defensive pass rush.
- Dallas at Philadelphia in “Jaws Playbook”: For the Cowboys offense to be successful against the Eagles defense, Jaworski, in his playbook, explains how wide receiver Terrance Williams would win his man-to-man matchups against Eagles cornerbacks Byron Maxwell and Nolan Carroll, much like he did against the New York Giants defense.
ESPN Radio – Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons at Eli Manning and the New York Giants
On Sunday, Sept. 20, ESPN Radio will broadcast a NFC matchup when quarterback Eli Manning and the New York Giants host the Atlanta Falcons, led by Matt Ryan, at 1 p.m. Marc Kestecher will provide play-by-play alongside analyst and former New York Giant Shaun O’Hara, with reporter Ian Fitzsimmons.
SportsCenter on the Road – Hannah Storm Live from Buffalo
On Sunday, SportsCenter will originate from the New England Patriots-Buffalo Bills game in Buffalo, with Hannah Storm anchoring a two-hour program from outside Ralph Wilson Stadium at 8 a.m. on ESPN. The program is scheduled to include an interview with Bills RB LeSean McCoy while Bills legends Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed and Bruce Smith are scheduled to join Storm on the set. Reporter Britt McHenry also will contribute to the program.
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