Week One NFL Television Schedule
Week One NFL Television Schedule
While the Pats-Dolphins game is CBS' marquee game, it is not going to get a whole lot of distribution since CBS has no late game and must squeeze six games into one time slot. For some unknown and baffling reason CBS is sending their top broadcasting crew to do a game between the Jets and Raiders - two clubs that are not expected to make the playoffs, combined to go 12-20 last year, and have no marquee names to market the game. The good news is that the Pats-Dolphins game gets CBS' number two broadcasting crew - but while in seasons past that meant having to listen to Dan Dierdorf, that is no longer the case since he has retired been replaced. Trent Green will serve as the analyst, while Greg Gumbel will call the play-by-play.
Thursday Night
Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks
8:30 pm ET on NBC; Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth
Seahawks favored by 5½ with a point total of 46½
Early Sunday Games on CBS
New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins
Greg Gumbel and Trent Green
Broadcast in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Buffalo NY, Florida (except Jacksonville to Orlando), Alabama, southern Mississippi, Texas (except Dallas and Waco), New Mexico, Arizona, eastern Nevada (Las Vegas), Utah, western Idaho, northern Oregon, eastern Washington (Spokane), eastern North Dakota (Fargo, Grand Forks), Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, northern Illinois, Indiana (except South Bend), Alaska, Hawaii.
Patriots favored by 5 with a point total of 47½
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers
Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts
Broadcast in Pennsylvania (except Philadelphia), Rochester NY, Ohio (except Dayton and Cincinnati), West Virginia, western Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, most of Georgia (including Atlanta), Waco TX.
Steelers favored by 6½ with a point total of 41½
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
Spero Dedes and Solomon Wilcots
Broadcast in Delaware, Maryland, Washington DC, eastern Virginia, eastern Kentucky, Cincinnati OH, Dayton OH.
Ravens favored by 1½ with a point total of 43½
Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs
Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon
Broadcast in Tennessee, western Kentucky, northern Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, southern Illinois, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, western North Dakota (Bismark), Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, eastern Idaho.
Chiefs favored by 3½ with a point total of 43½
Jacksonville Jaguars at Philadelphia Eagles
Andrew Catalon and Steve Tasker
Broadcast in Philadelphia PA, Jacksonville FL, Orlando FL, Savannah GA, Dallas TX.
Eagles favored by 10½ with a point total of 52½
Oakland Raiders at New York Jets
Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
Broadcast in New York (except Rochester and Buffalo), New Jersey, California, Reno NV, southern Oregon.
Jets favored by 5½ with a point total of 39½
Early Games on FOX
New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons
Kevin Burkhardt and John Lynch
Broadcast in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, North Carolina (except Raleigh), South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio (except Toledo), Louisiana, Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii.
Saints favored by 3 with a point total of 51½
Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears
Kenny Albert and Daryl Johnston
Broadcast in New York State (except New York City), Toledo OH, Michigan, Indiana, northern Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa.
Bears favored by 6½ with a point total of 47½
Washington at Houston Texans
Thom Brennaman and David Diehl
Broadcast in Connecticut, Pennsylvania (except Philadelphia and Pittsburgh), Washington DC, Virginia, West Virginia, Texas, Oklahoma (except Tulsa), Arizona.
Texans favored by 3 with a point total of 45½
Minnesota Vikings at St. Louis Rams
Dick Stockton and Kirk Morrison
Broadcast in southern Illinois, Missouri (except Kansas City), Tulsa OK, Nebraska, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana.
Rams favored by 4 with a point total of 43½
Later Games
San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys
4:25 pm ET on FOX; Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
Broadcast everywhere except North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida (except Miami, West Palm Beach), Savannah GA, New Orleans LA, Beckley WV.
49ers favored by 4½ with a point total of 51
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4:25 pm ET on FOX; Chris Myers and Ronde Barber
Broadcast in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida (except Miami, West Palm Beach), Savannah GA, New Orleans LA, Beckley WV.
Buccaneers favored by 2½ with a point total of 39½
Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos
8:30 pm ET on NBC; Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth
Broncos favored by 7½ with a point total of 55½
New York Giants at Detroit Lions
7:00 pm Monday 9/8 on ESPN, WABC-New York, WXYZ-Detroit; Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden
Lions favored by 5½ with a point total of 47
San Diego Chargers at Arizona Cardinals
10:20 pm ET Monday 9/8 on ESPN, KUSI-San Diego, KTVK-Phoenix; Chris Berman and Trent Dilfer
Cardinals favored by 3 with a point total of 45
As for Thursday night's game, I think Seattle will win in a close, high-scoring game. Even if Richard Sherman is able to limit Jordy Nelson, that still leaves a now-healthy Randall Cobb (80 receptions for 954 yards and 8 TD in 2012), Jarrett Boykin (49 catches for 681 yards last year), as well as RB Eddy Lacy (35 receptions in 2013) to account for. Seattle nickel back Jeremy Lane has moved up in the depth chart with the departures of Walter Thurmond and Brandon Browner, and he is limited due to a groin injury. If Lane can't go then Pete Caroll may have to shift free safety to the slot, or insert Marcus Burley (who was acquired in exchange for a 7th-round draft pick) into the lineup.
However, the effect of the crowd at the C-Link for the season opener on a night the championship banner will be raised is something you just can't overlook. I'm slightly leaning towards the Packers plus 5½ points and over 46½ total points, but for this game my wallet is staying in my pocket.
Prediction: Seahawks 27, Packers 24
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2014 NFL Calendar and Key Dates for the New England Patriots
