Two Editions of Postseason NFL Countdown Highlight ESPN Coverage of NFL Divisional Playoffs

Bill Hofheimer

January 11, 2019

Countdown Airs Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. ET
Features on Jared Goff, Travis Kelce, Nick Foles, Tom Brady’s Former QB Coach, and More

ESPN’s extensive coverage of the NFL Divisional Playoff Weekend will feature two editions of Postseason NFL Countdown. Sam Ponder will host a two-hour show on Saturday and the usual three-hour edition on Sunday (both at 10 a.m. ET) with Matt Hasselbeck, Randy Moss, Rex Ryan, Charles Woodson, Louis Riddick, Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter live from ESPN’s Bristol, Conn. studios.

Countdown Features (Saturday):

Jared Goff’s Audibles: Countdown’s Hasselbeck talks to the Rams QB about the creative process for naming audibles.
Travis Kelce Conversation Part II: Chris Berman talks to the Chiefs tight end about how much enjoys being part of the dynamic Kansas City offense.
Kliff Kingsbury Conversation: Countdown host Ponder sits for a one-on-one conversation with new Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury to discuss his move to the pro football sidelines.
Feed Me, Zeke: Countdown features entertaining reactions following big runs by Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott.

Countdown Features (Sunday):

Nick Foles/Texas Roots: Chris Connelly visited Austin, Texas to learn more about Eagles quarterback Nick Foles, who faces fellow Westlake High School alum and Super Bowl-winning QB Drew Brees this weekend.
The Letter: Nine-year old Mikayela Billiot of Louisiana loves football so much that she sent a letter to Sean Payton and Nick Saban promising she’d be their QB one day. ESPN’s Michael Smith narrates an NFL Films-produced story of Mikayela, who opened her playbook for Payton, Drew Brees and Mark Ingram when she was invited to a Saints practice.
143: Before Tom Brady’s QB coach Dick Rehbein died in 2001, Rehbein would text his wife and daughters those numbers with the meaning ‘I love you’. ESPN’s Jeff Darlington tells the story of how the number appeared in unique ways inside the Patriots success after Rehbein passed away, keeping his memory alive.

* More on ESPN’s weekend features, via ESPN Front Row

ESPN reporters for the Divisional Playoff games:

Saturday – Dan Graziano (Colts-Chiefs); Josina Anderson (Cowboys-Rams)
Sunday – Jeff Darlington (Chargers-Patriots); Sal Paolantonio and Dianna Russini (Eagles-Saints)

ESPN coverage of the NFL Divisional Playoff Weekend also includes:

NFL Matchup (Saturday, 4 and 6:30 a.m. ET, ESPN and 9:30 a.m., ESPN2) will preview all four weekend games with host Sal Paolantonio and analysts Matt Bowen and Greg Cosell.
Two weekend editions of NFL PrimeTime (Sunday, 12 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET) with host Trey Wingo and analysts Ryan Clark, Tim Hasselbeck and Jeff Saturday will offer full highlights of the games and look ahead to the Conference Championship weekend.
LA-based reporter Alden Gonzalez will have a SportsCenter feature Saturday on Rams All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
ESPN’s NFL Nation reporters continue to offer comprehensive coverage of the NFL Playoffs with previews, recaps and features. Top stories this week: a Guide to the NFL divisional games; Mike Triplett’s Drew Brees at 40; Mike Reiss on the Bill Belichick vs. Anthony Lynn coaching matchup; and Mike Wells on Andrew Luck’s masterpiece against the Chiefs in the 2013 playoffs.

ESPN shows on NFL Divisional Playoff Weekend (Jan. 12-13):

Date	Time (ET)	Show	Network
Saturday, Jan. 12	4 a.m.	NFL Matchup * reairs 6:30 a.m./ESPN and 9:30 a.m./ESPN2	ESPN
	7 a.m.	NFL’s Greatest Games: 2013 AFC Wild Card Round – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Indianapolis Colts	ESPN2
	8 a.m.	NFL Live (reair)	ESPN2
	10 a.m	Postseason NFL Countdown	ESPN
Sunday, Jan. 13	12 a.m.	NFL PrimeTime	ESPN
	7 a.m.	NFL’s Greatest Games: 2002 AFC Divisional Round – Oakland Raiders vs. New England Patriots – ‘The Tuck Rule’ Game	ESPN2
	8:30 a.m.	Super Bowl XLIV Highlights – New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts	ESPN2
	10 a.m.	Postseason NFL Countdown	ESPN
	8 p.m.	NFL PrimeTime	ESPN

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