MANNING AND THE COLTS BATTLE TOMLINSON AND THE CHARGERS ON 'NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL'

"When you are talking about the Indianapolis Colts you're talking about one of the two top teams in the NFL."- NBC's Madden

"So far this year they haven't gotten their roll started." - Madden on the Chargers

NEW YORK � November 7, 2007 � Peyton Manning and the defending Super Bowl champion Colts (7-1) look to bounce back from their first loss since Dec. 24, 2006 (27-24 at Houston) when they travel to San Diego to take on reigning NFL MVP LaDanian Tomlinson and the Chargers on "NBC Sunday Night Football." A win is vital to the Chargers (4-4) who are tied atop the AFC West. Coverage begins Sunday night at 7 p.m. ET with the "Football Night in America" studio show.

Al Michaels (play-by-play), John Madden (analyst) and Andrea Kremer (sideline reporter) will call all the action from Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Ca. Bob Costas (host) and Cris Collinsworth (co-host), Keith Olbermann (co-host), analysts Tiki Barber and Jerome "The Bus" Bettis, and reporter Peter King of Sports Illustrated, comprise the "Football Night in America" studio team.

JOHN MADDEN ON HOW THE COLTS BOUNCE BACK FROM LAST WEEK'S LOSS TO THE PATS: "Last week was just a great game against a great team. I don't think there is anything that they have to bounce back from. Teams that have to bounce back are teams that are down, the Philadelphia Eagles have to somehow bounce back, the Baltimore Ravens have to bounce back. When you are talking about the Indianapolis Colts you're talking about one of the two top teams in the NFL and there is no bounce back needed from that game."

MADDEN ON CHARGERS STRUGGLES THIS YEAR: "They don't seem to be playing with the same confidence. Last year when they started out, Philip Rivers was developing and as he got better they had more confidence offensively. Last year I thought the offensive line played better, the defense played better, they got on a roll and were able to keep the momentum. So far this year they haven't gotten their roll started."

MADDEN ON IF THE CHARGERS ARE A PLAYOFF CONTENDER: "They are 4-4 in a weak division, which makes them a legitimate playoff contender. Are they playing like a playoff team? No. When Adrian Peterson sets an all-time NFL rushing record against their defense, that's not a playoff contender. Are they really a playoff type of team right now, no they are not, but will they be in the playoffs probably because their division is not strong."

COLTS-CHARGERS IN PRIMETIME:

Each of these teams has played in primetime on NBC this season. The Colts defeated the Saints 41-10 on the opening Thursday night game of the season and the Chargers lost to the Patriots in New England 38-14 in Week 2 on "Sunday Night Football."

The Colts appeared on SNF three times last season winning all three and hold a 21-10 all-time record on the NFL's premiere primetime network package (ABC's MNF 1970-2005, NBC's SNF 2006-Present).

The Chargers were also undefeated in three SNF appearances last season and hold an all-time record of 17-15 on the NFL's premier primetime network franchise.

COLTS VS. CHARGERS:

This is the 22nd regular-season meeting between these two franchises with the Chargers holding a 13-8 advantage. The Chargers won the last game in this series 26-17 in 2005 in Indianapolis. The last time the Colts and Chargers played in San Diego was back in 1999 with the Colts prevailing 27-19.

SNF NEXT WEEK: PATS-BILLS:

Earlier this week the National Football League announced its first "flexible scheduling" game of the season. The New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills game on November 18, previously listed for 1 p.m. ET, was selected to be moved to Sunday Night Football, an 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff on NBC.

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING:

The 2007 NFL schedule will utilize flexible scheduling in Weeks 11-17. In those weeks, the schedule will list the games tentatively scheduled for Sunday night on NBC. Only Sunday afternoon games are eligible to be moved to Sunday night, in which case the tentatively scheduled Sunday night game will be moved to an afternoon start time. Flexible scheduling will not be applied to games airing on Thursday, Saturday or Monday nights. A flexible scheduling move will be announced at least 12 days before the game. For Week 17, the move may be announced six days before the game. Flexible scheduling will ensure quality matchups on Sunday night in those weeks and give surprise teams a chance to play their way onto primetime.

As an indication of the success of the inaugural year of flex scheduling, three of the final four games on NBC achieved ratings more than 20 percent higher than the comparable games in 2005.

"NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL":

"NBC Sunday Night Football" the premier primetime game of the week, is preceded by the "Football Night in America" studio show, which kicks off NBC's regular season coverage each Sunday at 7 p.m. ET. NBC has assembled the most honored broadcast team ever: Joining Al Michaels, the commentator called "TV's best play-by-play announcer" by the Associated Press, and John Madden, the most honored NFL broadcaster of all time with 15 Emmy Awards, are Bob Costas, the most honored studio host of all time with 19 Emmy Awards, who hosts NBC's "Football Night in America" studio show alongside co-host Cris Collinsworth, the most honored studio analyst in history with eight Emmy Awards; co-host Keith Olbermann, named one of the Top Ten Most Powerful People in TV News for 2007 by Television Week; and analysts Tiki Barber, a three-time NFL Pro Bowler for the New York Giants, and Jerome Bettis, one of the most popular players in recent NFL history. "NBC Sunday Night Football" coverage also includes sideline and feature reporter Andrea Kremer, whom the Los Angeles Times has called "the best TV interviewer in the business of covering the NFL." Peter King, who covers the NFL for Sports Illustrated and is considered one of the country's foremost NFL reporters, serves as a reporter for the "Football Night in America" studio show.

"NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL" REMAINING 2007 NFL SCHEDULE:
Sunday, Nov. 11 � Indianapolis at San Diego
Sunday, Nov. 18 � New England at Buffalo (Flex Game)
Sunday, Nov. 25 � Philadelphia at New England (Flex Week, Teams Subject to Change)
Sunday, Dec. 2 � Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (Flex Week, Teams Subject to Change)
Sunday, Dec. 9 � Indianapolis at Baltimore (Flex Week, Teams Subject to Change)
Sunday, Dec. 16 � Washington at NY Giants (Flex Week, Teams Subject to Change)
Sunday, Dec. 23 � Tampa Bay at San Francisco (Flex Week, Teams Subject to Change)
Sunday, Dec. 30 � Kansas City at New York Jets (Flex Week, Teams Subject to Change)

CREDITS: Fred Gaudelli is the producer of "NBC Sunday Night Football" and Drew Esocoff is the director. This is Gaudelli and Esocoff's second season at the helm of "Sunday Night Football." The Emmy Award-winning duo came from ABC where they worked together for five seasons on "Monday Night Football."