ESPN's Weekend and Monday NFL Studio Features

ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown Presented by IBM will preview the day’s matchups Sunday at 11 a.m. ET with Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson.  ESPN senior analyst Chris Mortensen and NFL insider Adam Schefter will provide headlines and league news.

The two-hour program will include reports from Sal Paolantonio covering the Baltimore Ravens at New New England Patriots, Bob Holtzman at the Lions – Bears game, Rachel Nichols in New Orleans for the Jets at Saints, and Ed Werder covering the Cowboys at Broncos game.  Other highlights:

Playing Your Former Team:  Brett Favre will face his former Packers team on Monday.  Marcus Allen, Jon Gruden and Curtis Martin, who had similar experiences during their NFL careers, tell the story of emotions players carry into games against their former teams.

Fail to the Redskins?:  Following the Redskins loss last week that ended the Lions’ 19-game losing streak, Greg Garber goes “inside the Beltway” to find out the level of dysfunction for the once-proud Washington Redskins.

Film Room: Jets defense vs Saints offense:  Jackson and Carter go head-to-head in the film room for an Xs and Os debate about the unit that will win the key battles in the day’s matchup of unbeaten teams.

Mayne Event: Cowboys Stadium Tour:  Kenny Mayne gets the golden ticket and a VIP tour of the new Cowboys Stadium – given by the team’s owner, president and general manager Jerry Jones.  But as Mayne finds out in this week’s Mayne Event, things aren't always as they appear.

EA Sports Virtual Playbook: Peyton Manning’s Threats:  Despite the loss of Marvin Harrison, quarterback Peyton Manning has the Colts off to a 3-0 start and an explosive offense.  Jackson breaks down the team’s wrinkle in the offense that features putting Manning’s biggest threats – Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark – on the same side of the field.

Ditka’s Doghouse:  In his self-titled segment, the erstwhile mercurial NFL head coach Mike Ditka sends an NFL player to “Ditka’s Doghouse,” much like he did to erring players during his coaching career.

Start 'Em or Sit 'Em with Matthew Berry and Merril Hoge:  ESPN’s fantasy football guru Matthew Berry and NFL analyst Merril Hoge debate which players to start or sit this weekend.

Berman, Carter, Ditka, Jackson and Johnson will pick the biggest games of the day and tell fans which players will make the biggest impact in NFL’s Week 4 action.  The list of game picks will be posted on www.espn.com/sundaycountdown after the show.

MNF’s Jon Gruden to Interview Brett Favre for SportsCenter “Sunday Conversation”  

Leading into his first game against his former Packers team, Vikings quarterback Brett Favre sits down with Gruden for an extensive interview to be featured on Sunday NFL Countdown (11 a.m.), extended version on SportsCenter “Sunday Conversation” at 11 p.m., and Monday Night Countdown (7 p.m.).

MONDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWN, 7 P.M. ON ESPN

Reporter Wendi Nix to Cover the Monday Night Game from Brett Favre’s Steakhouse in Green Bay

Monday Night Countdown Served by Applebee’s with Berman, Carter, Ditka, Jackson, Johnson, Mortensen and Schefter (in Bristol) and Stuart Scott, Matt Millen and Steve Young (at the MNF game in Minneapolis) will review Sunday’s games and preview Monday Night Football.  The 90-minute, pre-game show will lead into the kickoff of the Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings (8:30 p.m.) game, featuring Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski – the first game between Vikings quarterback Brett Favre and his former Packers team.

Reporters Suzy Kolber (Packers) and Michele Tafoya (Vikings) will cover the teams in Minnesota, while Wendi Nix will report from Brett Favre’s Steakhouse in Green Bay.  Other highlights:

Brett Favre Soundtracks:  During his 16 years in Green Bay, quarterback Brett Favre was one of the most accessible players in the NFL, producing some of the best in-game audio to accompany his career highlights.  “Soundtracks” will feature the best sounds from Favre’s career.

Favre's MNF Moments:  Countdown relives some of Favre’s greatest Monday Night Football moments ranging from record-setting touchdown passes, overtime thrillers and his legendary performance at Oakland December 22, 2003, where he threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns in his first game after his father’s death.

EA Sports Virtual Playbook – Adrian Peterson:  Jackson takes viewers on the field to show how blitzing to stop Adrian Peterson could backfire on the Packers.

WEEKLY MONDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWN SEGMENTS

TEAMS AT 20 – Every 20 minutes reporters Tafoya and Kolber will update news from the teams in their preparations for the game, beginning with NFL Live at 3:30 p.m.

FIELD PASS – Countdown offers an all-access look at pre-game preparations as the players get ready for kickoff.  Analysts will also breakdown the important storylines and key players before the game.

C'MON MAN – Countdown personalities share their head-scratching plays from Week 4.

In addition, Monday Night Football's Tirico, Jaworski and Gruden will preview the night’s match-up, with Mortensen and Schefter covering breaking news from around the league, and the Countdown analysts offering their “Lead Pipe Lock” predictions for the game.

NFL MATCHUP, SUNDAY 3 A.M. AND 7:30 A.M. ON ESPN

NFL Matchup with host Sal Paolantonio and analysts Merril Hoge and Ron Jaworski will preview the weekend’s games by bringing viewers inside the film room for the Xs and Os analysis of the matchups.  The 30-minute program – taped each week at NFL Films in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey – highlights team strategy and game planning.  This week’s features:

Packers @ Vikings – Jaworski and Hoge shows how Aaron Rodgers’ ability to throw on the run from designed movement and the lack of zone coverage responsibilities in Minnesota secondary could spell trouble for the Vikings.

Ravens @ Patriots – Hoge unveils how using base personnel and run action could take some pressure off quarterback Tom Brady against Baltimore’s complex defense.

Jets @ Saints – Jaworski and Hoge explain how recognizing the blitz and pocket movement will be vital to both quarterbacks Drew Brees and Mark Sanchez in the matchup of unbeaten teams.

Chargers @ Steelers – Hoge clarifies his position that if the Chargers lean on their base offense they will actually become more versatile and even tougher to defend.

Lions @ Bears – Jaworski shows how quarterback Jay Cutler’s special qualities as a passer are starting to show up on film in Chicago.

Cowboys @ Broncos – Hoge pulls out his ‘Clicker’ and reveals how Denver’s big men up front can do things that no other team in the NFL can. 

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