ESPN NFL Programming Update – Week 10

Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers Face Matt Cassel and the Chiefs on Monday Night Football

Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers face Matt Cassel and the Kansas City Chiefs on ESPN’s Monday Night Football on Nov. 12, at 8:30 p.m. ET. The Steelers have the longest MNF home winning streak with 14 victories on the Monday Night stage, and head coach Mike Tomlin holds the best record on MNF of active coaches at 6-1 (minimum of five games). Play-by-play voice Mike Tirico and analyst Jon Gruden will call the matchup with sideline reporter Lisa Salters.

Fans can watch MNF on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, as well as on WatchESPN.com (computers) and via the WatchESPN app (tablets), for those who receive their video subscriptions from an affiliated provider.

Prior to the game, Chris Berman will host the two-hour pre-game show Monday Night Countdown at 6:30 p.m. with NFL analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson and NFL Insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter. On-site host Stuart Scott, NFL analysts Trent Dilfer and Steve Young, columnist Rick Reilly and Salters will join the conversation from Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.  Highlights:

• “Gruden Extra” with Mike Tomlin:  Steelers Mike Tomlin is one of the most successful, charismatic coaches in the NFL and was recently voted by players as the coach they’d most like to play for.  As the Steelers start their playoff push, Tomlin sits down with fellow Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden in the MNF bus.
• Rick Reilly Feature – America’s Veterans:  As the nation honors its military on Veteran’s Day, ESPN.com columnist and Countdown essayist Rick Reilly reports the story of a father and son from Chicago, who are going to all 32 NFL stadiums this season and taking wounded veterans along to each game.
• Soundtracks – Eric Berry:  After missing most of the 2011 season with a knee injury, safety Eric Berry has played in all eight Chiefs games in 2012.  Soundtracks will feature Eric Berry’s in-game audio during the recent game against the Raiders.

Sunday NFL Countdown: Doug Martin – Rookie Sensation; Lil Wayne Interviews Randy Moss; Art of Creating the Fumble; and More

Chris Berman, Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, Suzy Kolber, Merril Hoge and Ron Jaworski will preview the NFL’s Week 10 on ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown Presented by IBM on Nov. 11, beginning at 10 a.m. NFL Insider Adam Schefter and senior analyst Chris Mortensen will report the day’s news, and comedian Frank Caliendo will contribute his impressions of ESPN and NFL personalities.

Correspondents Sal Paolantonio (Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles), Rachel Nichols (Denver Broncos at Carolina Panthers), Bob Holtzman (New York Giants at Cincinnati Bengals), Ed Werder (Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints) and Josina Anderson (Houston Texans at Chicago Bears) will report from games.  Highlights:

• Doug Martin – Rookie Sensation:  After setting a Tampa Bay Buccaneers record of 251 rushing yards and four touchdowns last Sunday against the Oakland Raiders and rushing for more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage so far this season, rookie sensation Doug Martin is staking a claim for the NFL Rookie of Year award.  In his path to the NFL, Martin was inspired by YouTube videos of NFL legends, Jackie Chan movies and a passion for playing “tag.”  Countdown’s Suzy Kolber takes a closer look at Martin.
• Randy Moss and Lil Wayne:  Rapper and lyricist Lil Wayne will make his debut as a Countdown guest correspondent in a rare sit-down interview with 49ers wide receiver Randy Moss, who talks about why he retired and returned to the NFL after a one-year hiatus to join San Francisco.
• The Art of Creating the Fumble:  The Chicago Bears defense is better than some team offenses this season and is a major reason the team is 7-1 midway into the season.  While interceptions have been a key to their success, no one has been better at creating fumbles than cornerback Charles Tillman, who has forced seven in 2012 and 36 since 2003. Rachel Nichols examines the art of the strip with Tillman.
• “Mayne Event” – Election in New England:  Election Day isn’t only about the highest office in the land.  At Gillette Stadium, the New England Patriots were involved in making a very important choice.  In this week’s “Mayne Event,” Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and wide receiver Wes Welker assist Kenny Mayne in his quest for the truth.

The three-hour program will also include live look-ins at quarterbacks Matt Ryan, Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning and Cam Newton in their pre-game routines leading into the 1 p.m. games; Jaworski and Hoge’s Xs and Os “Eye in the Sky” segment; a discussion of which quarterback between Michael Vick and Tony Romo has more pressure going into the matchup between their underperforming 3-5 teams Sunday; and Cris Carter’s “Where You At?” 

Snickers NFL Matchup – Michael Vick Struggles out of Empty; Isaac Redman Versus the Giants; Giants Receiver Spacing Issues; and More

NFL Matchup host Sal Paolantonio and analysts Ron Jaworski and Merril Hoge will preview the weekend’s key matchups by taking viewers inside the film room with X’s and O’s analysis on Sunday, Nov. 11, on ESPN at 6:30 a.m. (ESPN2 at 8:30 a.m.).  Highlights:

• Hoge Breakdown – Owen Daniels TD off Run-Action: Hoge breaks down the 39-yard touchdown throw to Houston tight end Owen Daniels to show how the Texans used run-action to impact second-level defenders and change the launch point for their offense.
• “Between the Lines” – Jay Cutler to Brandon Marshall:  With Houston’s defense holding opposing quarterbacks to a league-best 54.5 completion percentage, Jaworski shows how Chicago’s offense can attack  the Texans’ defense with unique plays between quarterback Jay Cutler and wide receiver Brandon Marshall.
• Blitz Breakdown – Philip Wheeler Blitz/Matt Ryan Interception: Teams have used strong pressure to successfully challenge the Falcons’ pass game this season.  Hoge shows one blitz Oakland used to create pressure on Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan and force an interception.
• “Jaworski’s Playbook” – Michael Vick Sack out of Empty: The Eagles have given up three sacks and two fumbles over the last four games when lined up in an “empty” formation. Jaworski uses a sack from Monday night to show why quarterback Michael Vick has struggled against the blitz in ‘empty’ formations.
• “Factor Back” – Doug Martin Catch: With the Buccaneers putting up almost 500 yards of offense per game over the last four games, Hoge highlights how they have used Doug Martin to get favorable matchups against linebackers in a 42-yard catch out of the backfield.
• Jaworski Covers the Field – Giants Receiver Spacing Issues: While critics are talking about how quarterback Eli Manning is struggling, Jaworski “Covers the Field” to explain that the Giants’ issues in the pass game are a result of their lack of adequate spacing by receivers.
• Jaworski’s Drop In – Wes Welker versus Bryan Scott:  After a dominating performance in Week 4, the Patriots are poised for a rematch with the Bills.  Jaworski explains how New England uses pre-snap alignment to dictate a favorable one-on-one matchup between wide receiver Wes Welker and Bills linebacker Bryan Scott.
• “Coaches Clicker” – Isaac Redman versus the Giants: Pittsburgh has had three straight 100-yard rushers for the first time since 2007.  Hoge uses the “Clicker” to analyze Steelers running back Isaac Redman’s game-clinching run against the Giants.
• “Hoge X and O Files” – Bruce Irvin Sack: Hoge shows how the Seahawks’ use of alignment and stunts on their defensive line led to a sack by defensive end Bruce Irvin. 

John Clayton’s NFL Musical Midseason Report

On the heels of his popular “This Is SportsCenter” commercial, ESPN.com senior NFL writer John Clayton offers a three-part NFL mid-season report, grouping and scoring the teams and their on-the-field performances via themes of music genres.

• Part 1 –  Heavy Metal: Features 10 teams Clayton ranks as “striking power chords and rocking all the way to the post-season.”
• Part 2 – Classic Rock:  A collection of 10 second-tier teams “rocking in a free world or living on a prayer.”
• Part 3 – One-Hit Wonders: Final 12 teams Clayton suggests should just “dream on because they are ‘knockin’ on Heaven’s door.”

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