CBS Sports is treating Chiefs-Bills game on Sunday like it’s a postseason contest
Anticipation is one of those things that connects us as humans.
It doesn’t matter if you’re waiting for Christmas to arrive or perhaps for a guy to pop the question, or even for the start of a big sporting event, the waiting is the hardest part. At least that’s what Tom Petty once crooned.
For CBS Sports, it’s been waiting for Week 11 of the NFL season to arrive because it meant the Chiefs would be facing the Bills in Orchard Park, New York. CBS Sports shared a hype video ahead of the contest, which is a rematch of the Chiefs’ 27-24 win in January’s AFC Divisional playoff game.
Chiefs-Bills is a big deal for CBS Sports. The network had asked the NFL for the rights to the game and undoubtedly was thrilled when the league schedule was announced.
The network is treating the game like it’s another postseason matchup. CBS Sports’ top broadcast team of Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson will be on the call, and the “NFL Today” crew will be in Orchard Park.
It’s rare for CBS Sports to have its pregame show originate from an NFL stadium during the regular season. That’s usually reserved for the playoffs. And CBS made a big to-do out of the decision to broadcast from the parking lot outside Highmark Stadium.
Although kickoff is at 3:25 p.m., it’ll be a national broadcast, which is another rarity for a Sunday afternoon. It is CBS Sports’ only late-window game and will be seen in all parts of the country. Thus, there is no broadcast map. If you are reading this in the United States, you’ll be able to watch.
This is only the second time there has been a nationally-televised Sunday afternoon game this season. The other was last month’s Chiefs-49ers Super Bowl LVIII rematch on Fox.
Broadcast assignments
Fans in Kansas City also will see the Ravens-Steelers game on KCTV-5 and Bears-Packers matchup on WDAF-TV. Both games begin at noon.
This is the full list of broadcaster assignments for Week 11 (all games on Sunday except where noted).
Commanders at Eagles, 7:15 p.m. Thursday on Amazon Prime: Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit and Kaylee Hartung (reporter)
Packers at Bears, noon on Fox: Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady with Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi
Ravens at Steelers, noon on CBS: Ian Eagle, Charles Davis and Evan Washburn
Jaguars at Lions, noon on CBS: Kevin Harlan, Trent Green and Melanie Collins
Rams at Patriots, noon on Fox: Adam Amin, Mark Sanchez and Kristina Pink
Colts at Jets, noon on CBS: Andrew Catalon, Tiki Barber, James McCourty and A.J. Ross
Browns at Saints, noon on Fox: Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma and Jen Hale
Vikings at Titans, noon on CBS: Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta and Aditi Kinkhabwala
Raiders at Dolphins, noon on CBS: Tom McCarthy, Jay Feely, Ross Tucker and Tiffany Blackmon
Falcons at Broncos, 3:05 p.m. on Fox: Kevin Kugler, Darryl Johnston and Laura Okmin
Seahawks at 49ers, 3:05 p.m. on Fox: Joe Davis, Greg Olsen and Pam Oliver
Chiefs at Bills, 3:25 p.m. on CBS: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson
Bengals at Chargers, 7:20 p.m. on NBC: Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth and Melissa Stark
Texans at Cowboys, 7:15 p.m. Monday on ABC and ESPN: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Lisa Salters
