Tag: NBC

Power Rankings: Unless you’re the Chiefs, you’re (probably) below the Bills

Power rankings polls following the Buffalo Bills in Week 14.

The Buffalo Bills defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 26-15, on Sunday Night Football, during the Week 14 slate of NFL games and are now 10-3. The Bills inched closer to clinching a playoff spot. 

But really the focus isn’t on the Bills and Steelers in this week’s power rankings. Instead, it’s on the Bills and Kansas City Chiefs. 

Aside from Buffalo, there’s only one team in the league that’s consistently ranked higher and it’s the Chiefs… and hey, that’s a conversation the Bills will gladly accept. You vs. the defending champ? What more could one want?

With that, here’s exactly how some of the national power ranking polls break down the Bills after Week 14: 

USA Today

4. Bills (5)

What a year from WR Stefon Diggs, who leads the league with 100 grabs and will set Buffalo record for one season – he currently shares it with Eric Moulds – with his next reception.

Touchdown Wire

3. Buffalo Bills

(10-3. Last Week: 5)

Don’t look now, but the Buffalo Bills might be the second-best team in the AFC.

They made such a case on Sunday night, dispatching the Pittsburgh Steelers and showing strength on both sides of the football. In the first half it was their defense. While Josh Allen and company were struggling the Bills notched a defensive touchdown on this Pick-Six.

In the second half, the offense made their mark. Buffalo scored on their first two possessions of the third quarter, and on their second such touchdown drive Allen hit on three big passing plays, including a rocket shot for a touchdown to Gabriel Davis.

With the win, the Bills ensured that for the first time since 2008 a team outside of New England will win the AFC East. Buffalo can lock the division up next Saturday with a win over the Denver Broncos. But with how they are playing right now – on both sides of the ball – their eyes should be aimed higher.

Sports Illustrated

3. Buffalo Bills (10-3)

Last week: Win vs. Pittsburgh 26–15
Next week: at Denver

Washington ruined Buffalo’s chance to hand Pittsburgh its first defeat of the season, but this was nonetheless a statement win for the Bills, who are closing in on what would be their first AFC East crown since 1995.

Sporting News

3. Buffalo Bills 10-3 (5)

Josh Allen is red-hot again and the Bills are showing all kinds of offensive swag, led by Stefon Diggs. Their defense is also starting to come up with big plays. Taking down the 49ers and Steelers back to back in a short week is impressive.

Yahoo! Sports

3. Buffalo Bills (10-3, LW: 5)

The Bills defense played its best game of the season on Sunday night. We all know that side of the ball has talent, and has probably underachieved a bit this season. If the performance against the Steelers was a sign that the Bills can play like a top-10 defense the rest of the way, look out.

Bleacher Report

3. Buffalo Bills (10-3)

High: 3

Low: 4

Last Week: 5

Week 14 Result: Won vs. Pittsburgh 26-15

At 10-3, the Buffalo Bills are on the verge of their first AFC East title in a quarter-century.

Sunday night’s statement win over the Pittsburgh Steelers established the Bills as perhaps the biggest threat to Kansas City in the AFC. The Bills are riding as high as they have since the 1990s.

It’s funny how that coincided with the arrival of Stefon Diggs in western New York.

With 10 catches for 130 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers, Diggs has already tallied 1,167 receiving yards on 100 catches for the season. After the game, Bills quarterback Josh Allen raved about the impact Diggs has made for the team.

“All he wants to do is help his team win football games,” Allen told reporters. “He’s a competitor, and we have very similar mindsets. I love the guy. He goes out there and competes his tail off and I’m just super blessed that we traded for him.”

The tests aren’t over yet for the Bills, who face New England and Miami over the final two weeks of the regular season. But in Gagnon’s opinion, it’s well past time to take the Bills seriously as a Super Bowl threat.

“For a while, I was afraid to trust the Bills because they lack experience and their so-so scoring margin was concerning,” he said. “But they’ve now won four of their last five games by double-digit margins, and their only loss since Week 7 came on a Hail Mary on the road against a playoff-caliber team. It’s time to admit they’re a true contender.”

Pro Football Talk

2. Bills (No. 4; 10-3)

Some teams step up in December. Some teams don’t. The Bills are.

ESPN

3. Buffalo Bills (10-3)

Offense: 9

Defense: 15

Special Teams: 18

The Bills’ offense is a complete turnaround from last season’s anemic unit, as Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs have combined to form one of the most potent QB-WR duos in the NFL. Although their defense began the season hemorrhaging yards, it has regained its 2018 and 2019 form over the past few weeks. Mix in a special-teams unit that features the league’s most efficient returner in Andre Roberts, and you’ve got a team ready to make a deep playoff run.

[lawrence-related id=74712,74705,74699,74694]

Shane Bacon joins Golf Channel and NBC, will co-host new show, ‘Golf Today’

Shane Bacon is joining Golf Channel and NBC and will co-host a new live, daily program, Golf Today.

Golf Channel and NBC have a new host and a new program.

On Tuesday the network announced the hiring of Shane Bacon, who will serve as a co-host for a new, live daily show, Golf Today. Fellow hosts are Damon Hack, Anna Whiteley and Jimmy Roberts. Bacon will also be a member of Golf Central Live From and will provide play-by-play commentary and reports during live tournament coverage.

The announcement bookends what has been an up-and-down year for the network. In May, NBC and Golf Channel on-air personalities took voluntary pay cuts amid the pandemic. In June, major layoffs were announced for its Orlando-based staff after February’s news of Golf Channel moving its offices from Florida to Stamford, Connecticut, as part of a corporate consolidation.

A week later, the USGA announced the media rights for its championships had moved from Fox Sports to NBCUniversal. Bacon was the former host of Fox’s golf coverage and currently hosts a podcast with PGA Tour pro Max Homa.

More: Brandel Chamblee gives tour of Golf Channel’s Orlando studio

“Golf Today represents a natural progression in our daily studio programming. At midday, we can lead the daily golf conversation with access to newsmakers in all time zones, Tour players on the range preparing for upcoming tournaments and live press conferences.” said Golf Channel executive producer Molly Solomon via a press release. “We’re also thrilled to welcome Shane Bacon as a co-host of Golf Today. Shane has developed an avid fan base with his fresh and insightful approach across his work on golf broadcasts, social media and podcasts, and he’ll be a great fit with the Golf Today, Live From and tournament teams.”

Golf Today was the original name of the network’s live tournament pre-game show and will replace it’s current morning show, Morning Drive. The show debuts on Monday, January 4.

“I’m excited to be joining the GOLF Channel and NBC family – it’s where golf happens, and I’m a golfer,” said Bacon. “The fact that I get to work with the top of the top in terms of analysts, play-by-play voices, and behind-the-scenes folks is a dream come true. I’ve known Damon for a long time and he’s the cream of the crop when it comes to golf journalism. Being a part of a new show will allow us to be creative and collaborative, lean on those ideas that we like, and build a great team together.”

[lawrence-related id=778080379,778078467,778050638]

How to watch: TV, streaming information for the 75th U.S. Women’s Open

NBC and Golf Channel are teaming up to provide 25 hours of live coverage from Houston of the 75th U.S. Women’s Open, the final major of 2020.

NBC and Golf Channel are teaming up to provide 25 hours of live television coverage of the 75th U.S. Women’s Open, the final major in golf for the 2020 calendar year.

For the first time in U.S. Women’s Open history, the championship will be staged on two golf courses. With reduced daylight due to the move to December and with 156 players still in the field, both Cypress Creek Course and the Jackrabbit Course at Champions Golf Club in Houston will split up the action in the first and second rounds. The third and final rounds will then be at Cypress over the weekend.

The tournament was originally scheduled for June 4-7. This is the first-ever December U.S. Women’s Open and the second time it will be played in Texas.

Champions Golf Club previously hosted the 1967 Ryder Cup, the 1969 U.S. Open and the 1993 U.S. Amateur.

In the event there’s a tie after four rounds, a two-hole aggregate playoff will take place immediately following the final round, followed by sudden death, if necessary.

Jeongeun Lee6 is the defending champion. The winner of the U.S. Women’s Open earns $1 million.

Champions Golf Club Cypress Creek Course
The 12th hole of Champions Golf Club Cypress Creek in Houston. Photo by Russell Kirk/USGA

Wednesday, Dec. 9

Practice round, 2-3:30 p.m., Golf Channel

Thursday, Dec. 10

First round, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Peacock

Golf Central Pre Game, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Golf Channel

First round, 12:30-6 p.m., Golf Channel

Golf Central, 6-7 p.m., Golf Channel

Friday, Dec. 11

Golf Central Pre Game, 10-11 a.m., Golf Channel

Second round, 1-3 p.m., Peacock

Second round, 3-6 p.m., Golf Channel

Golf Central, 6-7 p.m., Golf Channel

Saturday, Dec. 12

Golf Central Pre Game, 10-11 a.m., Golf Channel

Third round, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Golf Channel

Third round, 1-2:30 p.m., Peacock

Third round, 2:30-6 p.m., NBC

Golf Central, 6-7 p.m., Golf Channel

Sunday, Dec. 13

Golf Central Pre Game, 10-11 a.m., Golf Channel

Final round, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Golf Channel

Final round, 2-5 p.m., NBC

Golf Central, 5-6 p.m., Golf Channel

[lawrence-related id=778079520,778079512,778079187]

Tale of the Tape: Team Stats – Notre Dame vs. Syracuse

Don’t expect much different from Notre Dame when it plays Syracuse in its regular-season finale.

Don’t expect much different from Notre Dame when it plays Syracuse in its regular-season finale. A dominant defense, especially on the ground and in third-down situations, will compliment a strong rushing offense. Overall, that offense is more likely to find success on third down than not, and it has the ability to pick up score regularly. Even if it’s not facing third down, the offense will pick up first downs anyway, and it will hold onto the ball for long periods of time.

The Orange practically have nothing to counter any of that. They rank dead last nationally in time of possession, second-to-last both in total offense and giving up first downs, third-to-last in red zone offense and fourth-to-last in rushing offense and third-down conversions. All of this is why this game will be over quickly, which will be bad news for NBC’s ratings in its final Irish telecast of the year. But if you’re on the team or simply a fan, you’ll take a nice easy game before the real work begins.

Ravens vs. Steelers: Time, TV channel and how to stream online

This game has moved three separate times already but here’s how to watch the Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers live stream.

It might be the understatement of the year to say this game is going to be weird. It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time for football? Indeed it is as the Baltimore Ravens are finally set to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers for Week 12 . . . albeit smack dab in the middle of Week 13.

This game has been rescheduled three separate times as the Ravens have dealt with an outbreak of the coronavirus that has seen 22 players head to the Reserve/COVID-19 list over the last 10 days. Baltimore hasn’t seen a single day without a positive test result, including finding out about another positive while on the plane to fly to Pittsburgh last night. Yet, this game is still happening as of now, and here’s how you can watch what will be the weirdest football game of your life.

Ravens vs. Steelers game information:

Baltimore Ravens (6-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-0)

Wednesday, Dec. 2, 3:40 p.m. ET

Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

Ravens vs. Steelers streams:

Live stream: fuboTV (Watch for free)

Ravens vs. Steelers TV channel:

NBC – WBAL Ch. 11 (Baltimore)

TV broadcasters:

Mike Tirico (play-by-play)
Cris Collinsworth (analyst)
Michele Tafoya (reporter)

Radio:

WBAL (1090 AM/101.5 FM)
98 Rock (97.9 FM)

Radio broadcasters:

Gerry Sandusky (play-by-play)
Femi Ayanbadejo (analyst)

[vertical-gallery id=56516]

Notre Dame Football on NBC Crew Will Call Bears-Packers on SNF

Since Notre Dame is on the road at North Carolina this week, Irish fans will watch the game on ABC.

[jwplayer xGyTGm1B-er0jUifI]

Since Notre Dame is on the road at North Carolina this week, Irish fans will watch the game on ABC. But that doesn’t mean the Notre Dame on NBC broadcast crew won’t be calling football over the weekend. In fact, they’ll be on the call for when the NFL’s oldest rivalry is renewed at Lambeau Field:

Irish fans who really like Mike Tirico in particular should appreciate him while they have the chance. Conventional wisdom is that he’s being groomed to eventually take over Sunday Night Football full-time whenever Al Michaels retires. He knocked the Irish’s upset win over Clemson out of the park, but nothing less should have been expected from him.

In the meantime, football fans who don’t watch Notre Dame will get to experience a crew they haven’t heard in 2020. Nothing less than the best is expected when covering Irish football on television, but we already knew that, didn’t we?

Watch Dave Chappelle’s full, 16-minute (!) SNL monologue on Trump, COVID-19, and more

For the first Saturday Night Live after the presidential election, they turned it over to Dave Chappelle and let him go.

For the first Saturday Night Live after the presidential election, the showrunners turned over the opening monologue to comedian Dave Chappelle … and got out of the way.

Chappelle went for a full 16 minutes to start the show. With a cigarette lit, he ran through jokes on Donald Trump, COVID-19, the election, and more. Chappelle has been doing outdoor, hometown comedy shows in Ohio this summer, and you could tell that some of the jokes he’d been working out there.

There were also some jokes that you could tell weren’t quite there — some were offensive, and some were just straight up not fully formed jokes yet. Not everything worked for me, but it’s wild to see a comedian working out his material with the whole country watching.

Four years ago, Chappelle was the man who took the mic when Donald Trump had been elected. This time, he closed with a message of reconciliation … and an ask for people to not turn on each other despite their fears.

[lawrence-related id=926230,903835,699204]

Notre Dame-Clemson: Biden speech to change television broadcast outlet

With Joe Biden speaking tonight the Notre Dame vs. Clemson game is switching channels for part of the evening. Find new viewing details

If you’re not already aware, Joe Biden has won the 2020 Presidential election. You might be wondering what that has to do with Notre Dame and Clemson’s showdown in South Bend tonight, but I promise there is good reason to connect this and you’ll thank me for the information shortly.

Biden is scheduled to address the nation tonight for the first time as the President-Elect.

As a result, NBC will drop out of coverage of the No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 4 Notre Dame game to carry his address.

During that time, the game will switch to being shown on USA Network, just as the South Florida game was back in September.

Once Biden is done with his speech, NBC will return to covering the game on network television.

What a week.

College GameDay notes ahead of Clemson-Notre Dame

Have you ever wondered about how Notre Dame has fared when Lee Corso and company have been in attendance?

It’s the game of the year in the ACC as No. 1 Clemson goes on the road to face No. 4 Notre Dame in a game that has massive implications for the College Football Playoff.

ESPN’s “College GameDay” will broadcast from Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday morning, marking the program’s first trip to South Bend since the season opener against Michigan in 2018 and their 10th trip to Notre Dame overall.

In the nine games ESPN has broadcast “College GameDay” from Notre Dame previously, the Irish are 5-4 overall, including a win over No. 1 Florida State the first time the show ever went remote, in November 1993 for that epic No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown.

Have you ever wondered how Notre Dame has fared when Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and company have been in attendance?  Find that out and plenty of other notes about “College GameDay’s” history with both Notre Dame and Clemson:

  • Lee Corso is 6-4 when picking Notre Dame with his headgear pick all-time and 10-5 when picking against the Irish
  • Corso has been right five of the last six times he has picked Notre Dame with his headgear pick
  • Corso has picked against only Oklahoma more (19) than he has against Notre Dame all-time (15)
  • Corso is 10-2 all-time when picking Clemson with his headgear pick, including being correct in his last nine predictions
  • Corso is 5-7 when picking against Clemson
  • This is Clemson’s 18th appearance on “College GameDay” since the start of the 2015 season, the most of any team in the country during that time
  • Clemson has not lost a regular-season game with “College GameDay” in attendance since their 2013 loss to Florida State.  They did however lose last year’s national championship game to LSU with GameDay there.
  • Saturday marks the 27th all-time game “College GameDay” has been in attendance for between a pair of top four teams. The home team has won 18 of the previous 26 games.

Previous game results Notre Dame has hosted “College GameDay” for:

Sept. 1, 2018: 24-17 win over No. 14 Michigan
Oct. 13, 2012: 20-13 OT win over No. 17 Stanford
Oct. 15, 2005: 34-31 loss to No. 1 USC
Sept. 9, 2000: 27-24 loss to No. 1 Nebraska
Sept. 5, 1998: 36-30 win over No. 5 Michigan
Sept. 28, 1996: 29-16 loss to No. 4 Ohio State
Oct. 21, 1995: 38-10 win over No. 5 USC
Sept. 10, 1994: 26-24 loss to No. 6 Michigan
Nov. 13, 1993: 31-24 win over No. 1 Florida State

 

College GameDay notes ahead of Clemson-Notre Dame

Have you ever wondered about how Notre Dame has fared when Lee Corso and company have been in attendance?

It’s the game of the year in the ACC as No. 1 Clemson goes on the road to face No. 4 Notre Dame in a game that has massive implications for the College Football Playoff.

ESPN’s “College GameDay” will broadcast from Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday morning, marking the program’s first trip to South Bend since the season opener against Michigan in 2018 and their 10th trip to Notre Dame overall.

In the nine games ESPN has broadcast “College GameDay” from Notre Dame previously, the Irish are 5-4 overall, including a win over No. 1 Florida State the first time the show ever went remote, in November 1993 for that epic No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown.

Have you ever wondered how Notre Dame has fared when Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and company have been in attendance?  Find that out and plenty of other notes about “College GameDay’s” history with both Notre Dame and Clemson:

  • Lee Corso is 6-4 when picking Notre Dame with his headgear pick all-time and 10-5 when picking against the Irish
  • Corso has been right five of the last six times he has picked Notre Dame with his headgear pick
  • Corso has picked against only Oklahoma more (19) than he has against Notre Dame all-time (15)
  • Corso is 10-2 all-time when picking Clemson with his headgear pick, including being correct in his last nine predictions
  • Corso is 5-7 when picking against Clemson
  • This is Clemson’s 18th appearance on “College GameDay” since the start of the 2015 season, the most of any team in the country during that time
  • Clemson has not lost a regular-season game with “College GameDay” in attendance since their 2013 loss to Florida State.  They did however lose last year’s national championship game to LSU with GameDay there.
  • Saturday marks the 27th all-time game “College GameDay” has been in attendance for between a pair of top four teams. The home team has won 18 of the previous 26 games.

Previous game results Notre Dame has hosted “College GameDay” for:

Sept. 1, 2018: 24-17 win over No. 14 Michigan
Oct. 13, 2012: 20-13 OT win over No. 17 Stanford
Oct. 15, 2005: 34-31 loss to No. 1 USC
Sept. 9, 2000: 27-24 loss to No. 1 Nebraska
Sept. 5, 1998: 36-30 win over No. 5 Michigan
Sept. 28, 1996: 29-16 loss to No. 4 Ohio State
Oct. 21, 1995: 38-10 win over No. 5 USC
Sept. 10, 1994: 26-24 loss to No. 6 Michigan
Nov. 13, 1993: 31-24 win over No. 1 Florida State