Jim Nantz, the lead play-by-play man on CBS Sports’ NFL broadcasts believes the New York Giants will be a surprise team in 2020.
Speaking in a phone interview with Rich Eisen on Eisen’s NBCSN show on Friday, Nantz was discussing the games he and analyst Tony Romo will be personally be covering this season.
Traditionally, CBS Sports has covered the AFC games and interconference games where AFC teams have been the road team. This year, there are some overflow games that will switch networks to balance out the television coverage. In Week 5, the Giants’ trip to Dallas, normally a primetime game or a boon for FOX, will be broadcast on CBS. Nantz and Romo drew the assignment.
“We got an NFC East game with the Giants at Dallas in Week 5,” said Nantz on Eisen’s show. “That’s big for us. A lot of people build a perception of a matchup that might be based on last year’s record. I think the Giants are going to be pretty good. I really do. I think they’re really going to surprise some people.”
“I think they’re going to be a real force.”
Nantz is likely basing his opinion on the addition of former New England Patriots assistant Joe Judge as the Giants’ new head coach. No one has called more Patriots games over the last two decades then Nantz, first with Phil Simms as his partner and now Romo.
Nantz likely knows that Judge was Bill Belichick’s most trusted confidant the past few seasons and will inject discipline and direction to the rudderless Giants, who had a very strong offseason in both free agency and the draft.
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