2018 NFL on CBS Announcers

Jim Nantz, Tony Romo & Tracy Wolfson -- Google Images

Finally! For those of you who are starting to get mad that CBS Sports didn't release their NFL commentating lineup for the 2018 season, breathe an MAJOR sign of belief. Because CBS Sports' annual NFL announcing seminar was held on Wednesday in New York City and therefore the network released their announcing pairings for their Super Bowl-airing season this afternoon. And by the way, most of the people from last year's crews return this season. However, there are two new faces to the NFL on CBS coverage starting this year with newcomers Bruce Arians and Melanie Collins.

Well then, Let's take a look. Remember, CBS is your home for Super Bowl LIII from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on February 3, 2019.

NFL on CBS Schedule

1. Jim Nantz/Tony Romo//Tracy Wolfson
2. Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts//Evan Washburn
3. Greg Gumbel/Trent Green/Bruce Arians//Melanie Collins
4. Kevin Harlan/Rich Gannon//Steve Tasker
5. Andrew Catalon/James Lofton//Jane Slater (Weeks 1, 3) or John Schriffen (Week 5) or Amanda Balionis (Weeks 8, 12) or Jay Feely (Weeks 10, 17)
6. Spero Dedes/Adam Archleuta//Otis Livingston (Week 14)
7. Tom McCarthy/Steve Beuerlein
8. Beth Mowins/Jay Feely

* Nantz/Romo/Wolfson:
Play-by-play man Jim Nantz, analyst Tony Romo and reporter Tracy Wolfson return as CBS Sports' lead announcing team for the second straight year. Nantz is an solid pro, Romo is adjusting really well in his new-found role and Wolfson is an wonderful sideline reporter. They up open their season on Sunday, September 9th with the Week 1 game between the Houston Texans featuring young quarterback Deshaun Watson and the New England Patriots featuring running back James White at 1:00 PM ET on CBS. Following this, this crew will have Patriots-Jaguars in Week 2, Bills-Vikings in Week 3 and Saints-Giants in Week 4.

* Eagle/Fouts/Washburn:
Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts and Evan Washburn return as CBS Sports' #2 NFL announcing team for the fourth second year. The Eagle/Fouts/Washburn will work the Saints-Chargers preseason game this Saturday night at 8:00 PM ET. The trio says hello to the regular season on Sunday, September 9th with an Week 1 game between the Kansas City Chiefs featuring Patrick Mahomes and the Los Angeles Chargers featuring Melvin Gordon at 4:05 PM ET on CBS. Following this, this crew will have Chiefs-Steelers in Week 2, Chargers-Rams in Week 3 and Bills-Packers in Week 4.

* Gumbel/Green/Arians/Collins:
Former Temple and Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians joins CBS Sports this season. He will work alongside longtime NFL commentators Greg Gumbel and Trent Green. Melanie Collins joins this team as the sideline reporter, replacing Jamie Erdahl, who is moving on to the SEC on CBS. Gumbel, Green, Arians and Collins will work the Lions-Buccaneers preseason game this Friday night at 8:00 PM ET. The quinet opens up the regular season on Sunday, September 9th with an Week 1 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers featuring Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster and the Cleveland Browns featuring Tyrod Taylor at 1:00 PM ET. Following this, this crew will have Raiders-Broncos in Week 2, Raiders-Dolphins in Week 3 and Bengals-Falcons in Week 4.

* Harlan/Gannon/Tasker:
One of the most exciting and versatile play-by-play commentators ( .. "UP HIGH and DOWN HARD" .. ) Kevin Harlan returns for his 21st NFL season for CBS Sports. This season, for the 5th straight year (and for the 8th season overall), he's teamed with former Oakland Raiders quarterback and NFL MVP Rich Gannon. One of the best NFL commentating crews that you will ever find. Steve Tasker joins this full-team as the full-time sideline reporter for working sidelines for select games in previous seasons. The Harlan/Gannon/Tasker will work their first NFL game this season on Sunday, September 9th with an Week 1 matchup between the Buffalo Bills featuring Zay Jones and the Baltimore Ravens featuring Michael Crabtree at 1:00 PM ET on CBS. Following this, this crew will have Dolphins-Jets in Week 2, Bengals-Panthers in Week 3 and Dolphins-Patriots in Week 4.

* Catalon/Lofton:
For the second straight year, their #5 team consists of play-by-play man Andrew Catalon and analyst James Lofton. Last season, this crew really surprised me because Andrew is just great in everything that he does and James provides great analysis. They have an nice rapport with each other on and off air, so that's good. The Catalon/Lofton team will work their first NFL game this season on Sunday, September 9th with an Week 1 matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals featuring A.J. Green and the Indianapolis Colts featuring Andrew Luck at 1:00 PM ET on CBS. Following this, this crew will have Texans-Titans in Week 2, Broncos-Ravens in Week 3 and 49ers-Chargers in Week 4.

* Dedes/Archleuta:
For the second straight season, CBS will be pairing up play-by-play announcer Spero Dedes alongside analyst Adam Archleuta. Last season, Dedes sounded an lot better than he did while he worked with Solomon Wilcots (remember, him?) and Archlueta felt more comfortable with an slight increase in his workload. Expect this team to only get better throughout the season. The Dedes/Archleuta team will work their first NFL game this season on Sunday, September 9th with an Week 2 matchup between the Indianapolis Colts featuring Andrew Luck and the Washington Redskins featuring Alex Smith at 1:00 PM ET on CBS. Following this, this crew will have Titans-Jaguars in Week 3 and Texans-Colts in Week 4..

* McCarthy/Beuerlein:
Philadelphia Phillies television announcer Tom McCarthy begins his 5th year with CBS Sports following an one-year stint at Fox Sports in 2013. McCarthy worked with Steve Beuerlein and Steve Tasker for games last season. But, while Steve Tasker is getting promoted to an full-time sideline reporter role with Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon, notice that Tasker's analyst days at CBS is over. However, while some people Beuerlein might be fired from CBS, CBS is giving Beuerlein another chance to work with McCarthy, whose is alright but not very good. The McCarthy/Beuerlein team will work their first NFL game this season on Sunday, September 16th with an Week 2 matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo Bills at 1:00 PM ET on CBS.

* Mowins/Feely:
Longtime sportscaster Beth Mowins made some huge advances in terms of women calling major professional sporting events. Last year, Mowins became the first women in 30 years to cover an NFL game when she called the Chargers-Broncos MNF game for ESPN. In addition, Mowins picked up some NFL work with CBS (first female to call NFL games for them), calling some lower-tier games. Mowins gets teamed up again with analyst and former NFL kicker Jay Feely for the second straight season. While Feely might be considered "vanilla" for me, Mowins is what helps keep this crew somewhat an good listen.

H/T CBS