CBS gearing up for Dolphins vs. Raiders game on Sunday in London

Written by Matthew Cannata | Twitter: @PhinManiacs
NFL games in London are a huge deal to the NFL executives and because of that, they want to make sure everything is perfect. That trickles down to the broadcast of the game and as a result, CBS will have their hands full in fulfilling all of the demands of not only their normal routine each week but also from Roger Goodell and others heavily involved in these games.

If this game were in the United States, we would probably be seeing a broadcast crew that was low on the totem pole. After all, it's an 0-3 Oakland Raiders team vs. a Miami Dolphins team at 1-2. However, because of the significance of this game, at least in the eyes of the NFL, CBS will be sending their second best team, which consists of Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts. Coming into the game, Fouts spoke to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald and had this to say about the Dolphins and their current situation.

"The biggest matchup is who has the hotter seat: {Miami's] Joe Philbin or [Oakland's] Dennis Allen," Fouts said. "It is that time of the year when fans and the media start to look at teams that are not doing well and speculate on the futures of not only coaches, but the quarterbacks as well.

"With Ryan Tannehill in Miami you’ve got a quarterback who has been very inconsistent.  People want to know should they go to Matt Moore at this point. Joe Philbin said yesterday that everything is on the table. So that means we might see Matt Moore. At 1-2 and with your team not playing very well, your quarterback inconsistent in a new offense and you have a veteran quarterback who’s had success in the league, this probably wouldn’t be bad idea. Fortunately for the Dolphins they are playing a team that is struggling as well at 0-3."

As far as the Raiders go, Fouts offered these opinions:

"They have to start running the ball better," Fouts said. "Hopefully Maurice Jones-Drew is able to play and give them a one-two punch with Darren McFadden.  I’m anxious to watch the young quarterback Derek Carr play. I think that he has all the tools, but he is just getting into his fourth game as an NFL quarterback.  If they can run the ball and the proverbial, “Take the pressure off” the young quarterback, then they have a shot."  

Of course, the broadcast team means nothing in terms of who wins the game but they will be the ones talking about the various storylines and will be the ones in production meetings with the coaches and players leading up to the game so it will be interesting to hear what they have to say about the current mess in Miami.

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