ESPN Sets 2002 NFL Schedule

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

The National Football League Super Bowl champion New England Patriots will
make two appearances on ESPN as part of the network's 2002 Sunday Night
NFL schedule.

ESPN's schedule will also feature appearances from all 12 of last year's
playoff teams, including a Dec. 15 game featuring the National Football
Conference champion St. Louis Rams.

ESPN kicks off the season with the Sept. 5 New York Giants-San Francisco
49ers contest, the first ever Thursday-night season-opening game. The network
will also feature a rare Saturday-night game Dec. 21 between Dallas and
Philadelphia.

Other notable contests include Oakland at Pittsburgh Sept. 15, Miami at the New York Jets Nov. 10 and Miami at Denver
Oct. 13.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.