Big Game day one
All you need to know about the Steelers coming Baltimore for the opening game of the 2011 football season is that CBS will be sending their top broadcasting team to M&T Bank Stadium for the 1pm broadcast.
I was talking with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms this week there is no doubt that they will be happy to be opening the season with these two teams. It’s more than they could have expected.
JW: What is it like to broadcast a game one between to bitter rivals?
Nantz: “As most people know we will be airing the U.S. Open Finals Sunday at 4pm so we don’t have a double header game. That easily makes the Steelers at the Ravens game the biggest opening week 1pm game that we have broadcast since I have been at CBS. You simply don’t get two of the NFL’s biggest and best rivals facing off to open the season in an early game. I know as a broadcaster this is as good as it gets.”
JW: From a players standpoint what is it like to get your rival for game one?
Simms: “To be honest both teams will be ready to play. They don’t like each other and they know that this will be another chance to get a quick start in the division race and that is important. The Steelers have an “us against the league,” feeling because they just lost the Super Bowl and they feel they should be going back. Meanwhile in Baltimore they are still feeling that loss to the Steelers that ended their season so they want to even the score. What concerns me is that Baltimore will face the Steelers with an offensive line that barely knows each other. That could be a huge problem for the Ravens but being at home could help. Hey it is going to be a great opener and that is all we can ask for.”
