NFL Week 15 TV Info: Patriots-Titans gets extensive early broadcast coverage

Early NFL games typically do not receive extensive broadcast distribution, primarily since there are so many games being played at the same time. There are exceptions to every rule, and in Week 15 the 1:00 pm eastern time kickoff between the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans will be available in either all or most of 31 states in the U.S. on CBS. The other primary games being televised are Carolina at the Giants early on FOX and a crucial matchup for the AFC playoff picture as Denver travels to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers.

So wait, Thursday Night Football will be on Saturday after the season already opened with Sunday Night Football on Thursday?

— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) December 11, 2015

There will also be a fourth prime time game this week; since the college football regular season is over, the NFL can now play games on Saturday. The Jets will play at Dallas on Saturday night; that game as well as Thursday’s between the Bucs and the Rams will start at 8:25 pm ET on the NFL Network. Sunday night’s game should be a good one with Arizona at Philadelphia, and Week 15 wraps up next Monday night with Detroit at New Orleans.

6-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 5-8 St. Louis Rams (pk, 41)

Thursday Dec 17 at 8:25 pm ET on NFLN; Jim Nantz, Phil Simms

Nationwide broadcast distribution.

8-5 New York Jets at 4-9 Dallas Cowboys (+3, 42)

Saturday Dec 19 at 8:25 pm ET on NFLN; Jim Nantz, Phil Simms

Nationwide broadcast distribution.

5-8 Chicago Bears at 8-5 Minnesota Vikings (-5, 43)

Sunday Dec 20 at 1:00 pm ET on FOX; Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch

Mostly upper midwest: broadcast in Illinois, Indiana (except Indianapolis), Iowa, Michigan (except upper peninsula), Minnesota, eastern Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

6-7 Atlanta Falcons at 5-8 Jacksonville Jaguars (-3, 48½)

Sunday Dec 20 at 1:00 pm ET on FOX; Dick Stockton, David Diehl

Only on ten stations: broadcast in northern Florida, Georgia and Chattanooga TN.

6-7 Houston Texans at 6-7 Indianapolis Colts
(no line due to uncertainty with both team’s quarterbacks)

Sunday Dec 20 at 1:00 pm ET on CBS; Greg Gumbel, Trent Green

Regional coverage on 37 stations: broadcast in Illinois, Indiana, Texas, Seattle WA and southern Wisconsin.

8-5 Kansas City Chiefs at 4-9 Baltimore Ravens (+7½, 42½)

Sunday Dec 20 at 1:00 pm ET on CBS; Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon

Most of the west: broadcast in Arkansas, California, Colorado, DC, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.

6-7 Buffalo Bills at 6-7 Washington Redskins (pk, 44)

Sunday Dec 20 at 1:00 pm ET on FOX; Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston

Limited regional distribution on 14 stations: broadcast in DC, Salisbury MD, western New York, Virginia and West Virginia.

3-10 Tennessee Titans at 11-2 New England Patriots (-14, 46½)

Sunday Dec 20 at 1:00 pm ET on CBS; Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts

Primarily available in the eastern United States: broadcast in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Florida (except Jacksonville), Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota (except Minneapolis), Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New York (except NYC), North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington (except Seattle), West Virginia and northern Wisconsin.

13-0 Carolina Panthers at 5-7 New York Giants (+6½, 48½)

Sunday Dec 20 at 1:00 pm ET on FOX; Joe Buck, Troy Aikman

Primary game for FOX: broadcast in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, southern California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida (except Jacksonville, Panama City and Tallahassee), Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts (except Boston), Mississippi, Missouri (except Kansas City), Las Vegas NV, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York (except Buffalo), North Carolina, Cincinnati OH, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee (except Nashville), Texas (except Houston), Utah, Vermont and Wyoming.

3-10 Cleveland Browns at 8-5 Seattle Seahawks (-14½, 43)

Sunday Dec 20 at 4:05 pm ET on FOX; Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis

Limited regional distribution on 22 stations: broadcast in Alaska, Idaho, western Montana, Ohio, Oregon and Washington.

9-4 Green Bay Packers at 6-7 Oakland Raiders (+3, 46½)

Sunday Dec 20 at 4:05 pm ET on FOX; Chris Myers, Ronde Barber

Limited regional distribution on 20 stations: broadcast in northern California, Indianapolis IN, Baltimore MD, Boston MA, Marquette MI, Kansas City MO, Reno NV, Houston TX and Wisconsin.

5-7 Miami Dolphins at 3-10 San Diego Chargers (-1, 45½)

Sunday Dec 20 at 4:25 pm ET on CBS; Andrew Catalon, Steve Beuerlein

Broadcast on just two Charger stations (Yuma AZ and San Diego CA) and three Dolphin stations (Fort Myers, Miami and West Palm Beach FL).

10-3 Denver Broncos at 8-5 Pittsburgh Steelers (-6, 44½)

Sunday Dec 20 at 4:25 pm ET on CBS; Jim Nantz, Phil Simms

Primary late game distribution: broadcast in all markets with the exception of Yuma AZ, northern California, San Diego CA, Fort Myers FL, Miami FL, West Palm Beach FL, Hazard KY, Lexington KY, Ohio and Seattle WA.

10-3 Cincinnati Bengals at 4-9 San Francisco 49ers (+4, 40½)

Sunday Dec 20 at 4:25 pm ET on CBS; Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots

Limited regional distribution on 14 Bengal and Niner stations: broadcast in northern California, Reno NV, Hazard KY, Lexington KY and Ohio.

11-2 Arizona Cardinals at 6-7 Philadelphia Eagles (+3½, 50½)

Sunday Dec 20 at 8:30 pm ET on NBC; Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth

Nationwide broadcast distribution.

4-9 Detroit Lions at 5-8 New Orleans Saints (-3, 51)

Monday Dec 21 at 8:30 pm ET on ESPN; Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden

Nationwide broadcast distribution.