“If you’ve got a shot at Bill (Belichick), you don’t turn that down.” – Devin McCourty on potential of coaching vacancy in Dallas following loss to Packers
“They’re actually close. They’re good friends, they really like and respect each other. But the working relationship? It would be interesting.” – Jason Garrett on Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Bill Belichick
“It was domination from the get-go. Jordan Love was looking like Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers.” – Chris Simms on the Packers
“The energy is crazy. This city is ready to explode.” – Tony Dungy on the atmosphere in Detroit
STAMFORD, Conn. – January 14, 2024 – NBC Sports’ Football Night in America continued its coverage of NFL Super Wild Card Weekend, leading into tonight’s coverage of Rams-Lions on NBC and Peacock from Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., as the Lions host their first playoff game in 30 years.
Ahmed Fareed hosted FNIA from NBC Sports’ Studio 1 in Stamford, Conn. He was joined by former NFL head coach Jason Garrett, three-time Super Bowl champion Devin McCourty, former NFL quarterback Chris Simms, fantasy sports industry pioneer Matthew Berry and NFL Insider Mike Florio.
Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy and two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison joined co-host Jac Collinsworth to preview Rams-Lions and provide reports from Ford Field in Detroit.
Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analyst), Melissa Stark (sideline reporter), and Terry McAulay (rules analyst) will have the call for Rams-Lions tonight on NBC and Peacock.
Pre-game coverage included Devin McCourty’s interview with Rams QB Matthew Stafford.
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Following are highlights from tonight’s Football Night in America on NBC and Peacock:
ON LIONS
Simms on QB Jared Goff: “I think the biggest moment tonight is for the guy who’s quarterbacking the Detroit Lions – Jared Goff. Matthew Stafford asked to leave Detroit…everything has been good for him. He went to the Rams and won the Super Bowl. Goff is saying, ‘Wait, you got rid of me, didn’t like the way you got rid of me. The other guy who replaced me won the Super Bowl.’ This is personal for him tonight and important for him to control his emotions.”
Dungy on the atmosphere in Detroit: “The energy is crazy…I grew up a Lions fan. I’m 68 years old and they’ve only won three playoff games in my lifetime. This city is ready to explode. I was with (Pro Football Hall of Famers) Calvin Johnson and Barry Sanders, they’re fired up tonight. The emotion is going to be high.”
Harrison: “(Lions head coach) Dan Campbell did a great job of sending a message: ‘Hey, this week is just another football game. Don’t put any added pressure on yourselves. Just go out and play.’”
Dungy on head coach Dan Campbell: “He’s turned the team around and they love him…in the playoffs, it’s great to have that aggressiveness, but you have to coach smart and make sure you don’t lose the games (with your aggressiveness).”
Harrison on Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson: “He reminds me of (Raiders DE) Maxx Crosby…He’s got to be the guy that creates these negative plays.”
ON RAMS
Simms on the Lions’ fans booing former Detroit QB Matthew Stafford during warmups: “It wasn’t personal – now it’s personal, I can guarantee you that!”
McCourty on Stafford: “If you think this guy is going to be nervous tonight, you’re wrong. This is the same guy who on the last drive of the Super Bowl throws a no-look in-cut to Cooper Kupp. He’s going to be ready to go.”
Simms: “The 2023 Rams are about the run game. Matthew Stafford and his right arm are awesome, but Kyren Williams is one of the best running backs in football. They’ve got a bigger offensive line than in years past so they’re capable of overpowering you in the run game.”
Dungy on Rams DT Aaron Donald: “He’s got quickness, he’s got power, he’s got experience. He sets the tone and the Rams say, ‘we’ve got to stop the run and turn Aaron loose.’”
ON COWBOYS
Garrett on 48-32 loss to the Packers: “It’s just an incredibly disappointing loss. (Owner and general manager Jerry Jones) said he felt like this team had the best chance to go all the way of all of the teams he’s had in recent years. To land with a thud in the Wild Card Round – he’s certainly going to be emotional tonight. One thing about Jerry Jones – we had some disappointing losses in the Divisional Round. He’s great with players, he’s great with coaches and the team after the game. But then he’s going to settle back and have a lot of conversations with a number of different people and he’s going to start making changes. I expect him to be really good tomorrow but we will see what happens as the week unfolds.”
Florio on coaching situation: “The guy we have to keep an eye on is Bill Belichick. He’s been linked to the Falcons for most of the last week, but now that the Cowboys go one and done, McCarthy has one more year left on his contract. There’s plenty of chatter about this possibility of McCarthy out and potentially Belichick in. It all starts with step one – what will Jerry Jones do about his head coach.”
McCourty on possibility of Bill Belichick to Dallas: “I expect a big change. We’ve heard the rumors. You watched that game today. I think there’s a good chance we don’t see Mike McCarthy back on the sidelines coaching the Cowboys…if you’ve got a shot at Bill (Belichick), you don’t turn that down.”
Simms: “I’ve got to see it though. Jerry Jones and Bill Belichick together? I don’t picture that going all positively.”
Garrett: “They’re actually close, they’re good friends, they really like and respect each other. But the working relationship? It would be interesting.”
ON PACKERS
Simms on Packers QB Jordan Love and the offense in Green Bay’s Wild Card win over Dallas: “It was domination from the get-go. Jordan Love was looking like Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers (throwing) off the backfoot. The Packers’ offense was rolling early.”
McCourty: “Green Bay had everything going. Aaron Jones and the run game were going, the defense played well, Jordan Love continued his streak…Green Bay really has to feel confident heading to the next round.”
-- Football Night in America --
