The 2021 NFL regular season will kickoff with a battle between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from Raymond James Stadium. The Cowboys won just six games in 2020 and believe that they can win a mediocre NFC East Division with a healthy Dak Prescott at quarterback. RB Ezekiel Elliott is reportedly in top shape and looking to bounce back from a career worst 979 rushing yards a season ago.
Dallas must improve on a defense that ranked in the bottom half of the league in total yards (386.4 ypg) and surrendered an alarming 29.6 points on average. Former Atlanta head coach Dan Quinn was hired in the offseason to become the Cowboys’ new defensive coordinator. Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch make the Dallas linebacking group the strength of the defense.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the defending Super Bowl Champions and are looking to be the first team to repeat since the 2003-2004 New England Patriots. Forty-four year old QB Tom Brady started all 16 games for the Buccaneers and threw for 40 touchdowns. Wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin combined for 1,846 receiving yards and 20 scores.
Tampa Bay finished last season sixth in total defense (327 ypg) and allowed 22.2 points per contest. Defensive tackles Vita Vea and Ndamukong Suh clog up the interior of the line, while linebackers Lavonte David and Devin White fly all over the field.
