CBS Sports Scores Thursday Night Football

Jan 27, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; General view of CBS sports broadcast at the media center in the Convention Center prior to Super Bowl XLVII. The Baltimore Ravens will play the San Francisco 49ers on February 3, 2013 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Thursday nights will have a little different feel in 2014 when the NFL airs its games.  On Tuesday it was announced that CBS Sports will broadcast eight Thursday Night Football games while producing a total of 16.  The other eight games will be broadcast on NFL Network.  The eight on CBS will also be simulcast on NFL Network.  CBS play-by-play man Jim Nantz and analyst Phil Simms will announce all 16 games.

In addition to the 16 Thursday night schedule, CBS will also broadcast two Saturday games.  It appears to be a win-win for everyone.  CBS will immediately bring a wider audience to Thursday nights for those who don’t have or can’t get the NFL Network.  Now the big question for Arizona Cardinals fans is, does this translate into more than one primetime game for them next season?  The answer is still two months away however regardless if this deal had been made or not, I think it is safe to say the Cards will have multiple primetime games in 2014.

The NFL has said in the past they’re always looking at tweaking the schedule where they can to make the audiences bigger and better.  I would agree with those that say they’ve done this here.  As for the Cards, I could see them on two or three national games.

Best bets for Cards primetime games in 2014:

Seattle, @Seattle

San Francisco, @San Francisco

@Denver

San Diego

Kansas City

Philadelphia

@Dallas

The deal with CBS is for 2014 only, however the NFL does hold an option for an additional year.  My guess is it will be a big hit and that option year will be picked up.