Sunday NFL Countdown: Blair Walsh Inspires Wisconsin Teenager; Tom Brady and Matt Ryan Retell Super Bowl LI Story; and more
Host Sam Ponder and analysts Matt Hasselbeck, Randy Moss, Rex Ryan and Charles Woodson will preview NFL’s week 7 action on Sunday NFL Countdown, October 22, at 10 a.m. ET. The program will feature NFL Insiders Chris Mortensen, Louis Riddick and Adam Schefter, and senior fantasy sports analyst Matthew Berry.
Reporters game assignments for week 7:
- Buccaneers at Bills (Jeff Darlington)
- Ravens at Vikings (Dan Graziano)
- Saints at Packers (Dianna Russini)
- Falcons at Patriots (Jim Trotter)
Features:
- Blair Walsh Inspires: When then-Vikings kicker Blair Walsh missed a NFL Wild Card game-winning field goal against the Seahawks in January 2016, he was forced to deal with criticism and social media vitriol from frustrated fans. Through it all, Walsh, now with the Seahawks, remained strong and responded to the backlash without spite. His public response to adversity caught the attention of Wisconsin teenager Camryn Nasman, who was dealing with depression and thoughts of suicide. Nasman wrote a heartfelt note of encouragement to Walsh. The two met. Today, Nasman credits Walsh’s example dealing with adversity for her newly-found resilience facing depression. Jen Lada
- Dear Brett: Green Bay Packers fans, who have had Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers as the team’s quarterbacks the last 25 years, write an open letter to this week’s new starter, Brett Hundley.
- Super Bowl LI Rematch – Falcons at Patriots: Through the voices of quarterbacks Tom Brady and Matt Ryan, Countdown relives the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history.
- Falcons at Patriots – The Rap Battle: After their Countdown debut in week 5, freestyling rappers DNA and K-Shine return with a barbershop rap battle about the Falcons-Patriots Super Bowl LI rematch.
- Celebrate – Good Times in Titans Locker Room: The Titans adopted the signature Kool and the Gang song “Celebration” as its 2016 locker room tune sung by the players after team victories. This season, head coach Mike Mularkey surprised the Titans with a live appearance by the band during a team meeting. Louis Riddick narrates.
ESPN’s Monday Night Football: Carson Wentz and the Eagles host Kirk Cousins and the Redskins
In an NFC East divisional battle on ESPN’s Monday Night Football, Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles host Kirk Cousins and the Washington Redskins on October 23, at 8:15 p.m. ET. MNF play-by-play voice Sean McDonough will call the game from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia with analyst Jon Gruden and sideline reporter Lisa Salters.
Additionally, the game will be presented in Spanish on ESPN Deportes and ESPN2 with commentators Alvaro Martin, Raul Allegre and John Sutcliffe.
Monday Night Countdown host Suzy Kolber and NFL analysts Matt Hasselbeck, Randy Moss, Charles Woodson and Steve Young will kick off the MNF pregame show from Lincoln Financial Field at 6 p.m. The MNF commentator team will also add to the show and insiders Chris Mortensen, Louis Riddick and Adam Schefter and senior fantasy sports analyst Matthew Berry will provide insight from Bristol, Conn.
Highlights:
- Chris Long and “The Waterboys”: “The Waterboys” includes a network of current and former NFL players who are raising money and awareness about the global clean-water crisis. Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long founded the organization after visiting the East African country of Tanzania in 2013, witnessing firsthand the scarcity of clean and life-sustaining drinking water. Since then, “The Waterboys” has built wells across remote villages in Tanzania, providing clean water and helping reduce the number of water-borne illnesses in villages while improving the agriculture of the area. Michelle Beisner-Buck
- Gruden’s Chalk Talk with Carson Wentz: Second-year quarterback Carson Wentz has led the Philadelphia Eagles to a NFL-best 5-1 record and first place in the NFC East. MNF analyst and Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden visits with Wentz to discuss his leadership and the team’s performance.
- Boomer’ Vault: Chris Berman revisits MNF victories by two Eagles quarterbacks – 22 years apart. Randall Cunningham scrambles through a hit by Carl Banks to throw a touchdown in the Eagles’ 24-13 victory over the Giants in 1988, and Michael Vick throws four touchdowns and runs for two more in a 59-28 win against the Redskins in 2010.
- C’Mon Man: Monday Night Countdown’s look at the moments and blunders from the previous week in football that had our analysts saying, “C’Mon Man!”
ESPN Radio: Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts
Rookie running back sensation Leonard Fournette leads the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Indianapolis Colts in an AFC South rivalry on ESPN Radio, Sunday, Oct. 22, at 1 p.m. Adam Amin and analyst Bill Polian will call the game.
ESPN Digital:
- ESPN NFL Nation reporters polled 155 NFL players to get their thoughts on NFL quarterbacks. Kevin Seifert reveals the results of the QB tell-all.
- ESPN NFL writer Bill Barnwell presents the case for the underrated greatness of Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
- Senior writer and fantasy football expert Matthew Berry offers his take on players who’ll fall short of or exceed expectations this week in fantasy football.
- Staff writer Rob Demovsky profiles Brett Hundley, Green Bay’s starting quarterback this week following the injury last Sunday to Aaron Rodgers.
- Aaron Dodson of The Undefeated writes about “The Making of The Super Freak” – the first signature Air Jordan shoes in the NFL through the voice of the brand’s legend – Randy Moss – and its designer.
- The Undefeated’s senior NFL writer Jason Reid reports from this week’s NFL owners’ meeting in New York: NFL owners, players meeting to work together on race and justice; and a look at Commissioner Roger Goodell’s assessment of the “great opportunity” working with players on social issues.
-30-
-
-
-
-
-
