TAMPA, Fla. — Tom Brady will jog onto the field Sept. 9 and head to the north end zone at Raymond James Stadium, where he will let loose his ear-splitting, game-day primal scream of “Let’s goooooo!!!”
It will be the kickoff to the NFL’s 102nd season, and a nation will be watching the Super Bowl 55 champions begin the defense of their world title.
But there will be some other stars coming out of the visitors’ tunnel and not just the ones on the helmets of the Dallas Cowboys.
Quarterback Dak Prescott, who missed 11 games after suffering a compound fracture and the dislocation of his right ankle last season, will make his return for the Cowboys. He will be followed by offensive talents like running back Ezekiel Elliott and receivers Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb.
It’s Bucs-Cowboys, and America will be watching at 8:20 p.m. on NBC to see if the then-44-year-old Brady can kick around America’s Team.
But that’s just the appetizer for Bucs fans, who will be treated to watching their team on a club-record five prime-time nationally televised games.
Perhaps none will be more compelling than the Week 4 game at New England, where Brady spent 20 seasons.
The prodigal son will return to Gillette Stadium Oct. 3 for a Sunday Night Football game against former head coach Bill Belichick.
However, the NFL schedule-makers didn’t do Brady and the Bucs any favors. That game comes after a Week 3 game against the Rams in Los Angeles Sept. 26. It begins a stretch of three road games in four weeks.
The Bucs also appear in prime time Oct. 14 at Philadelphia in a Thursday night game (NFL Network/Amazon), host the Giants on Monday Night Football on Nov. 22 (ESPN) and vs. the Saints at Raymond James Stadium Dec. 19 on Sunday Night Football (NBC).
The Bucs' bye comes in Week 9 after games vs. Chicago (Oct. 24) and at New Orleans (Oct. 31).
Other marquee matchups include the Bucs hosting the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 12. Brady has beaten the Bills 32 times, more than any other team. But this isn’t your father’s Bills. Quarterback Josh Allen is one of the best in the NFL, and they won the Brady-less AFC East before falling to Kansas City in the conference championship game.
The Bucs have one cold-weather game to be concerned about, against the New York Jets on Jan. 2.
Not only will the Bucs get to kick off the NFL season, but fans will be treated to a concert in Tampa. The league is working with the Tampa Bay Sports Commission on a kickoff musical event and other activities surrounding the game, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Wednesday.
The Cowboys finished 6-10 in 2020 and haven’t won a playoff game since 1995 but nonetheless hold the title of America’s Team. Last season, they also owned one of the league’s worst defenses, allowing 29.6 points per game. But they hired former Falcons head coach Dan Quinn as their defensive coordinator.
It’s a comeback game for Prescott who, despite his injury, signed a four-year, $160 million contract.
“I’m excited to get back on the field,” Prescott told ESPN. This game means more than the opponent and their rings.”
Said Brady during an interview on the Hodinkee podcast, “I took on a big challenge going to Tampa, and I don’t think that final story has been written yet.”
