2014 NFL Broadcast Preview: NFL Network

One of the biggest offseason stories in sports television was CBS acquiring a new primetime Thursday Night Football package, once the sole ownership of NFL Network. Now, every Thursday night from Sept. 11 to Oct. 23 (as well as Dec. 20), NFL games will air on CBS and also be simulcast on NFL Network as part of Thursday Night Football. Here's a look at the other big changes coming to NFL Network this fall.

Richard Deitsch | Sep 9, 2014

2014 NFL Broadcast Preview: NFL Network /

The NFL Network will get mega-exposure from an odd place this year: CBS.

2014 NFL Broadcast Preview: ESPN

One of the biggest offseason stories in sports television was CBS acquiring a new primetime Thursday Night Football package, once the sole ownership of NFLN. Now, every Thursday night from Sept. 11 to Oct. 23 (as well as Dec. 20), NFL games will air on CBS and also be simulcast on NFL Network as part of Thursday Night Football. Games in Weeks 9-12 and Weeks 14-16 will be televised on NFL Network and will be simulcast on over-the-air stations in the primary markets of the participating teams. All TNF games (they are all divisional matchups) will kick off at 8:25 p.m. ET, with the exception of the Week 16 Saturday doubleheader, when the NFL Network will air its game at 4:30 p.m. ET with CBS at 8:00 p.m. Here’s a snapshot of what NFL fans can expect from NFL Network’s coverage this year.

Complete coverage of former Ravens RB Ray Rice's release and suspension

Biggest change: Obviously, the Thursday Night partnership with CBS is the season’s focus. The TNF pregame show will go across two networks from 6:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m, starting with NFL Total Access Kickoff at 6:00 p.m. ET. (CBS picks up the show at 7:30 p.m.) The host of the NFLN portion will be Rich Eisen, with analysts Michael Irvin, Marshall Faulk and Steve Mariucci live from a venue outside the stadium. The NFL Network will also air a postgame show immediately following each TNF game where a player or coach from the winning team will join the crew on-set. I have details on the pregame show in this piece.

Outside of Thursday night, NFLN has debuted NFL GameDay Live, which airs Sundays from 1:00-7:30 p.m. ET and offers highlights and analysis of the Sunday games, as well as live fantasy updates and reports, press conferences, interviews and live reports from game sites. The hosts are Kevin Frazier and Dan Hellie. The analysts are Brian Billick, Heath Evans, LaDainian Tomlinson and Daniel Jeremiah. Rhett Lewis and Erin Coscarelli are the new hosts for the daily NFL AM, which has added LaVar Arrington as a full-time analyst. NFL GameDay Morning has added a slew of quality reporters: Steve Cyphers, Andrea Kremer, Mike Silver, and Mark Kriegel. Former Seattle Seahawks fullback Michael Robinson joins NFL GameDay First, which airs Sunday at 7:00 a.m. ET.

2014 NFL Broadcast Preview: NBC

Talent losses: Host Paul Burmeister left for NBC Sports. Reporter Michelle Beisner left for ESPN. Analyst Darren Sharper was fired following multiple charges of rape and aggravated rape and an arrest for drug possession.

Keep an eye on: How CBS and NFL Network collaborate on Thursday night. Executives and production crews from both networks have been saying the right things publicly -- that it will be a collaboration between the two entities. NFLN has a four-part series called Finding Giants premiering September 25 following Thursday Night Football. It’s a yearlong look at scouting and team building in today’s NFL featuring the Giants’ scouts.

Ratings of note: Last year’s 13-game schedule produced the most-watched season for Thursday Night Football, with an average of 8.0 million viewers. That was up 10 percent from the 2012 season average. NFL GameDay Morning averaged 478,000 viewers for the 2013 season.

Banks: No way back for Ray Rice | Former teammate reacts to Rice video

On the Redskins’ nickname: "We don’t instruct our analysts and hosts on exactly how to refer to each club," said a network spokesperson. "As a network that covers the NFL 24 hours a day, we will continue our practice of using the official name and logo of each of the 32 clubs in our programming."

Best games:Steelers at Ravens (Sept.11), Saints at Panthers (Oct. 30) and Cowboys at Bears (Dec. 14).

Digital extensions: The network’s news-breakers, from Ian Rapoport to Albert Breer and draft experts such as Jeremiah are must-follows for a daily NFL diet. NFL Now is a video service that offers fans access to the largest digital library of NFL video anywhere, accessible through apps and browsers across an array of Internet-connected devices. The service includes access to game highlights and original content from NFL Media and the 32 NFL clubs, and live press conferences and video from the NFL Films vault. Full details can be found here.

Week 1 of the 2014 NFL Season

Antonio Brown

While returning a punt against Cleveland, Antonio Brown tried to hurdle Spencer Lanning and ended up drawing an unnecessary roughness penalty when his foot hit the punter in the face.

Antonio Brown

Joe Flacco

With eight seconds left in the first half against Cincinnati, Joe Flacco and the Ravens lined up at the 15-yard line for a shot at the end zone. But Flacco instead ran toward the sideline, failed to get out of bounds, and tripped as he attempted this pass. The clock expired.

A.J. Green

Wide receiver A.J. Green of the Bengals keeps his eye on the ball, before scoring a touchdown on this play.

Chris McCain

Ryan Allen of the New England Patriots has his first-quarter punt blocked by Chris McCain of the Miami Dolphins.

Tony Romo

Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys found himself on the ground a bunch in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Vernon Davis

Vernon Davis pulls in one of his two touchdown receptions against Dallas

Antoine Bethea

Antoine Bethea breaks up a pass intended for Jason Witten.

Dallas Cowboys

The view before kickoff between the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers in Arlington.

Robert McClain

Robert McClain of the Atlanta Falcons intercepts a touchdown pass intended for Brandin Cooks of the New Orleans Saints.

Julio Jones

Julio Jones of the Falcons loses control of the ball before he can cross the goal line.

Marques Colston

Marques Colston lost this fumble in overtime, leading to a game-winning scoring drive by the Falcons.

Fred Jackson

Fred Jackson dives for the endzone against the Bears but came up short.

Matt Forte

Matt Forte had 17 carries for 82 yards in Chicago's overtime loss to Buffalo.

Alshon Jeffery

Alshon Jeffery didn't score against the Bills but did pull in five passes for 71 yards.

Brandon Marshall

Brandon Marshall hangs on to an 11-yard pass from Jay Cutler for a third-quarter touchdown.

Jay Cutler

Jay Cutler threw for 349 yards and two touchdowns but was also intercepted twice in an overtime loss to Buffalo.

Dan Carpenter

Dan Carpenter kicked three field goals in Buffalo's upset win at Chicago, including a game-winning 27-yarder in overtime.

Chicago Bears pregame

The Bears take the field for their season opener.

Brandon Marshall

Brandon Marshall questions an incomplete pass call at the end of the third quarter. The call was challenged and overturned for a complete pass.

New York Jets pregame

A tribute to the late Joan Rivers is seen on the video board at MetLife Stadium during the third quarter of a game between the New York Jets and the Oakland Raiders.

Chris Ivory

A 71-yard touchdown run by Chris Ivory provided the deciding points for the Jets in their victory over visiting Oakland.

Nick Folk

Nick Folk of the New York Jets kicks a field goal against the Oakland Raiders.

Rod Streater

Rod Streater gave the Raiders a brief 7-3 lead with this 12-yard score on a pass from rookie Derek Carr.

Derek Carr

Derek Carr completed 20 of 32 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns in a losing effort against the Jets.

James Jones

In his first game as a Raider, James Jones made three grabs for 36 yards and scored once.

Robert Griffin III

Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is sacked by Houston Texans linebacker Brooks Reed (58) and linebacker Mike Mohamed .

Andrew Luck

Andrew Luck managed to get this ball across the goal line for a touchdown before he went out of bounds.

Hakeem Nicks

Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks of the Indianapolis Colts leaps over and is tackled by strong safety T.J. Ward of the Denver Broncos.

Montee Ball

Montee Ball accentuates his scoring run with a dive into the endzone.

Jared Cook

Jared Cook of the St. Louis Rams makes a catch against Robert Blanton of the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings beat the Rams 34-6.

Travis Kelce

Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs reaches out for the ball in the endzone as Blidi Wreh-Wilson of the Tennessee Titans defends during the second half.

Tyler Eifert

Tight end Tyler Eifert of the Cincinnati Bengals suffered an elbow injury early in the game against Baltimore and didn't return to the game.

Tyler Eifert

Team officials tend to Tyler Eifert.

Derrick Johnson of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts as he is taken off the field during the first half of the game against the Tennessee Titans. He injured his Achilles and could be out for the remainder of the season.

Justin Hunter

Ron Parker of the Kansas City Chiefs breaks up a pass intended for Justin Hunter of the Tennessee Titans.

Linval Joseph

Linval Joseph of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after sacking Austin Davis of the St. Louis Rams.

Ben Roethlisberger

Ben Roethlisberger looks to pass downfield in front of Buster Skrine of the Cleveland Browns.

Alan Ball

Alan Ball of the Jacksonville Jaguars intercepts a pass in the end zone intended for Brent Celek.

Rob Gronkowski

Rob Gronkowski celebrates his second-quarter touchdown as teammate Danny Amendola looks on.

Josh McCown

Josh McCown is hit by defensive end Charles Johnson of the Carolina Panthers. McCown threw an interception on the play.

Jordy Nelson

Jordy Nelson stepped out of bounds before he could score on this play. He led Green Bay with nine receptions and 83 yards.

New York Jets pregame

The scene at MetLife Stadium.

Published Sep 9, 2014

RICHARD DEITSCH

Richard Deitsch is a writer & editor for Sports Illustrated. He has worked at nearly every division of SI and now primarily covers sports media, women’s sports & the Olympics.