FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, December 6th, 2020
NOTES & QUOTES FROM WEEK 13 EDITION OF FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA ON NBC
“It’s official – I Believe-land!” – Chris Simms on Cleveland Browns
“They better be glad I don’t own the Jets. Gregg Williams and Adam Gase would both be unemployed tomorrow.” – Rodney Harrison
“On a day when we saw all kinds of questionable coaching decisions, Sean Payton continues to demonstrate great coaching.” – Tony Dungy on the Saints
“We thank the Bengals for participating this year. They’re eliminated.” – Mike Tirico
NBC News Political Correspondent Steve Kornacki Analyzed NFL Playoff Probabilities from the Big Board on FNIA
STAMFORD, Conn. – Dec. 6, 2020 – NBC Sports’ presentation of Week 13 of the 2020 NFL season began tonight from Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., with Football Night in America leading into coverage of Broncos-Chiefs on Sunday Night Football on NBC.
Mike Tirico hosted FNIA from NBC Sports Group’s Studio 1 in Stamford, Conn., and was joined by Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy, two-time Super Bowl-winner Rodney Harrison and former NFL quarterback Chris Simms. NFL Insider Mike Florio joined Football Night remotely from his home studio. Jac Collinsworth co-hosted the show on-site from Arrowhead Stadium and was joined by his father and Sunday Night Football analyst Cris Collinsworth.
Steve Kornacki, NBC News’ celebrated political correspondent, joined FNIA to analyze NFL playoff probabilities from the Big Board following the conclusion of the Week 13 afternoon games. He will also appear at halftime of tonight’s game. For more information about Steve Kornacki, click here.
In addition, Jac Collinsworth conducted a pre-game interview with Broncos LB Bradley Chubb and NBC Sports’ Liam McHugh interviewed Chiefs S Tyrann Mathieu earlier this week.
Al Michaels (play-by-play), Collinsworth (analyst), Michele Tafoya (sideline reporter) and Terry McAulay (rules analyst) are calling tonight’s game.
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Following are highlights from tonight’s edition of Football Night in America on NBC:
ON VIKINGS (6-6) & CARDINALS (6-6) BATTLING FOR FINAL NFC PLAYOFF SPOT
Kornacki: “That Arizona loss today was costly, knocked them out of the playoffs (as of now) and puts Minnesota, by virtue of their victory over Jacksonville, in (the playoffs) … but the model still says Arizona (52%) with an easier path to the playoffs. So Arizona a better probability (than Minnesota 32%), despite falling out of the playoffs today.”
ON CHIEFS
Cris Collinsworth on what he respects about WR Tyreek Hill: “His ability to practice the way that he does. When you watch that guy practice, he’s going full speed all the time.”
Harrison on Hill: “He tries to not only beat you, but embarrass you.”
Cris Collinsworth on the greatness of the Chiefs offense: “What makes it so intriguing right now is that Patrick Mahomes is so young. We don’t know if he’s just ascending (or if) he might get better, and he’s already far and away the best quarterback…right now, he’s the best in the game.”
Simms: “The offense really has no weakness…there’s no formula to beat them. They’re the best offense in football. There’s no doubt about it.”
Dungy: “I’ve been really impressed with Andy Reid’s evolution. When I was younger and coached against Andy, it was all pass, but I really think Eric Bieniemy (Chiefs offensive coordinator) being a former running back has helped him…they can do everything now.”
ON PACKERS
Simms on QB Aaron Rodgers: “That’s the MVP of football for my money right now.”
ON BROWNS
Simms: “It’s official – I Believe-land!”
Cris Collinsworth: “It was the passing game that was in question for Cleveland. Good weather today and they did a little showing off.”
Simms: “We questioned, can they beat playoff-caliber football teams? They didn’t beat the Tennessee Titans today. They dominated them…their front-four is as good as anyone in football. Myles Garrett is the best pass rusher in football…Watch out for Cleveland. I think they’re more than a playoff contender now.”
ON SAINTS
Cris Collinsworth: “You look at Taysom Hill’s highlight reel and he can play. 225 pounds…can run 4.5, the (defense) can’t catch him. The question was could he throw the ball…and today, he goes off throwing the ball as well as running it.”
Dungy: “On a day when we saw all kinds of questionable coaching decisions, Sean Payton continues to demonstrate great coaching. His last eight games without his starting quarterback, he’s 8-0.”
ON RAMS
Simms: “The first thing we’ve got to do is give credit to defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. He was phenomenal. He had a plan as far as stopping Kyler Murray from scrambling, especially to the right side.”
Dungy: “Great plan. The Rams executed it well.”
ON GIANTS
Dungy: “They got great coverage and were able to get pressure rushing four guys on Russell Wilson…big plays were few and far between. That secondary did a great job.”
Harrison: “Their defense is real. They’ve got a front four that can get to the quarterback. They don’t have to blitz in order to get pressure. Blake Martinez, he’s all over the field.”
ON PATRIOTS
Dungy on QB Cam Newton: “Vintage Cam Newton with the Superman leap and then the Superman pose.”
ON DOLPHINS
Simms on QB Tua Tagovailoa: “He’s smart, poised, takes care of the football and gets out of the pocket…he understands the big picture of the game, I think that’s the most impressive thing about Tua.”
Simms on TE Mike Gesicki: “He’s one of the best red zone targets in football. He’s big, athletic and can jump up and get it.”
Tirico on Bengals Special Teamer Mike Thomas’ illegal hit on WR Jakeem Grant’s punt return attempt: “Here’s where things turn ugly. Mike Thomas is the guy in the middle of all this. Complete cheap shot here on Jakeem Grant.”
Simms: “Ridiculous. I don’t know what to say. That just can’t be allowed in our sport anymore. And then for the guy to do it again.”
Tirico: “Seven minutes in between (illegal hits) and this leads to a wild melee. People were very upset…Somehow, when all the players get thrown out – New York was involved, the League office – they didn’t throw out Mike Thomas, who was the guilty party twice. How does he not get thrown out when New York is involved? What are you guys thinking?”
ON BENGALS
Tirico: “We thank the Bengals for participating this year. They’re eliminated.”
ON RAIDERS
Tirico: “Where is my man Brent Musburger? Jackpot for the Raiders!”
ON JETS
Dungy on final play of the game: “You can’t all-out blitz now here, can you? Leaving your corner one-on-one, are you kidding me?”
Simms: “Why is the corner jumping on the underneath route?”
Dungy: “Why is he one-on-one?”
Harrison to Dungy on the all-out blitz call by defensive coordinator Gregg Williams giving up the game-winning TD pass: “If you’re Adam Gase, do you overrule that?”
Dungy: “You practice that before it ever happens…As you know, your Friday practice, your Saturday practice, ‘Hey, here’s the last play of the game. How are we going to play it?’ That was unbelievable.”
Harrison: “It seemed like they were trying to lose to get the number one (draft) pick.”
Harrison: “They better be glad I don’t own the Jets. Gregg Williams and Adam Gase would both be unemployed tomorrow.”
ON EAGLES
Dungy on QB Jalen Hurts: “Philly fans have been calling for this. Can this man give them a spark? He did today.”
Harrison: “He’s not just an option quarterback. Let him be a quarterback, give him a chance…quarterback play inspires everyone.”
ON LIONS
Tirico on when Lions were losing 30-20: “The Lions are down double digits. They never come back from double digits. Hold the phone…”
ON BEARS
Dungy on Bears leading 30-27 late in the game: “This is what I had trouble figuring out. Trying to run the clock out two times in a row (leading to a) sack-fumble.”
–FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA–
