Sunday NFL Countdown: Parcells Influence on Vikings Mike Zimmer; Cam Newton’s Dab; Comic Dean Edwards on NFL Quarterback Crisis; and More
ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown host Chris Berman, with analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson will preview NFL week 11 on November 22 at 11 a.m. ET. 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 and special contributor Stephen A. Smith.
The two-hour program will be preceded by a one-hour NFL Insiders: Sunday Edition at 10 a.m. featuring host Trey Wingo, NFL Insiders Mortensen and Schefter and NFL Front Office Insider Louis Riddick.
Reporter game assignments for week 11:
- Colts at Falcons (Britt McHenry)
- Cowboys at Dolphins (Ed Werder)
- Broncos at Bears (Josina Anderson)
- Redskins at Panthers (Sal Paolantonio)
- Packers at Vikings (Bob Holtzman)
Features:
- Mike Zimmer – Bill Parcells Influence: In transforming the Minnesota Vikings into a playoff contender, head coach Mike Zimmer has relied on lessons learned from his mentor Bill Parcells, the Hall of Fame coach who Zimmer worked for with the Dallas Cowboys as defensive coordinator from 2003-06. Zimmer has employed Parcells mantras like “don’t eat the cheese” and “don’t be a celebrity QB” to help catapult the Vikings to first place in the NFC North, reports Countdown’s Michelle Beisner.
- Newton’s Dab: Much has been made about Panthers quarterback Cam Newton’s end-zone touchdown celebration last week in Tennessee. On the 50th anniversary of the first end-zone celebration (a spike by the Giants’ Homer Jones in 1965), Countdown interviewed former NFL players known for their end-zone celebrations — Ickey Woods (Bengals), Jamal Anderson (Falcons), Terrell Owens (Cowboys), and Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith, who spent more time scoring touchdowns than anyone else – to share their thoughts on “Newton’s Dab” and the rights to free expression in the end-zone. Countdown’s Keyshawn Johnson reports.
- Dean Edwards’ NFL Quarterback Crisis: Saturday Night Live alum Dean Edwards makes his ESPN debut this week with a facetious look at the NFL and how so many high-profile quarterbacks have gone down with injuries this season. The comedian and impressionist plays multiple characters – Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, SNL and 30 Rock actor Tracy Morgan, award-winning actor Denzel Washington and ESPN’s own Cris Carter in his first Countdown.
ESPN’s Monday Night Football: Buffalo Bills vs. Undefeated New England Patriots
Tom Brady and the 9-0 New England Patriots host the AFC East division rival Buffalo Bills on ESPN’s Monday Night Football on November 23 at 8:15 p.m. ET. The MNF commentator team of Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Lisa Salters call the game from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
The Bills and Patriots last met on MNF to open the 2009 season when New England won 25-24 on a late fourth quarter comeback. The ESPN Marketing team has published two promotional spots for the game, one highlights the rivalry between head coaches Rex Ryan and Bill Belichick using the song “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” The second spot focuses on the Patriots’ quest for a perfect season.
Leading into the MNF game, Chris Berman and Suzy Kolber host Monday Night Countdown at 6 p.m. on ESPN. NFL analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson and Insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter review Sunday’s games and preview the MNF matchup with Berman in studio, while Trent Dilfer, Ray Lewis, Steve Young and Kolber offer analysis from Gillette Stadium.
MNF is available on ESPN Deportes and will be streamed live on WatchESPN for fans with video subscriptions from affiliated providers. Highlights:
- Gruden’s Grill Session with Chandler Jones: Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones, who leads the league in sacks, visits with Super Bowl-winning coach and MNF’s Jon Gruden, in this week’s “Gruden’s Grill Session.”
- Rex Ryan Conversation with Ray Lewis: Bills head coach Rex Ryan sits for a one-on-one conversation with Countdown’s Ray Lewis, his former linebacker when Ryan was defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens.
- Ricky Reilly Feature – End Zone Militia: Countdown essayist Rick Reilly explores the experience and honor of dressing up as a member of the Revolutionary War militia and firing muskets after every Patriots touchdown at Gillette Stadium.
NFL Sunday on ESPN Radio: Colts at Falcons
ESPN Radio’s national coverage of Sunday afternoon NFL regular-season games will continue Sunday, Nov. 22, at noon with Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts visiting Julio Jones and the Atlanta Falcons at noon. Commentator Marc Kestecher will provide commentary with analyst Bill Polian and reporter Ian Fitzsimmons.
NFL Matchup: Indianapolis at Atlanta; Jaworski and Hoge on Green Bay at Minnesota; Buffalo and New England; 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, Nov. 21, at 8:30 a.m. on ESPN2 (re-air on ESPN, Sunday at 4 and 6:30 a.m.). Highlights:
- Matchup Extra – Indianapolis at Atlanta: Using a Colts play from week 3 vs. the Jaguars that resulted in a Dante Moncrief touchdown reception, Jaworski shows how quarterback Matthew Hasselbeck’s understanding of the concepts in the Colts playbook puts the offense in advantageous positions.
- Hoge Breakdown and Jaws Playbook – Green Bay at Minnesota: Green Bay’s offense has struggled against man coverage and when put under pressure by an opposing defense. Hoge takes viewers through a play against the Lions defense last week, which resulted in a sack. Jaworski explains how the Packers will need to design simple concepts to defeat man coverage, giving Aaron Rodgers defined reads that will allow him to deliver the ball on time to open receivers.
- Matchup Vision – Buffalo at New England: Jaworski explains a play the Patriots offense used several times with repeated success in their first meeting against the Bills.
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