History in the Making

So it begins. The 2021 season will be underway Thursday Night, kicking off with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs the Dallas Cowboys. No team has won back-to-back Super Bowls going 17 seasons — the longest stretch in NFL history without a repeat Champion.

The Last team to pull it off, the New England Patriots 2003 and 2004. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a legitimate shot at breaking the drought this season.

On Thursday, Tom Brady has the chance to throw for 300 yards and join former Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees as the only players in history to have at least 100 career games with 300 or more passing yards. Brees has 123.

Additionally, Tom Brady will enter the game at the age of 44 and become the 4th oldest person on record to play in a season opener.

George Blanda 48
Adam Vinatieri 46
John Carney 45

The Game: Dallas Cowboys @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

When: Thursday, SEPT. 9, 2021 – 8:20 PM ET-

Where: Raymond James Stadium

Head Referee: Shawn Hoculi

How to Listen & Watch:

NATIONAL RADIO: Westwood One: Kevin Harlan, Kurt Warner
SIRIUS: 81 (Dal.), 211 (TB) | XM: 226 (Dal.), 225 (TB) | SXM App: 808 (Dal.), 829 (TB)
TV: NBC (8:20 PM ET): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya (field reporter)

Player Points of Interest

Buccaneers

(QB)TOM BRADY – tied-2nd in NFL with 40 TD passes & ranked 3rd in pass yards (4,633) last season. Became 1st player in NFL history with 7 SB titles & 5 SB MVPs. Is NFL all-time leader in TD passes (581) & ranks 2nd in pass yards (79,204). Needs 300+ pass yards to join DREW BREES (123) as the only players with 100+ 300-yard games in NFL history.

(R) RONALD JONES – set career highs in scrimmage yards (1,143) & scrimmage TDs (8) in 2020.

(RB) LEONARD FOURNETTE -had 448 scrimmage yards (112 per game) & 4 TDs (3 rush, 1 rec.) in2020 postseason.

(WR) MIKE EVANS – had 1,006 rec. yards in 2020 & became 1st player with 1,000+ rec. yards in each of his 1st 7 seasons. Had rec. TD in the last meeting.

(WR) CHRIS GODWIN – had 65 catches for 840 yards & 7 TDs in 2020.

(WR) ANTONIO BROWN – had 45 receptions for 483 yards & 4 TDs in 8 games last season. Has 9 rec. TDs in 10 career games on TNF.

(TE) ROB GRONKOWSKI – ranks 3rd all-time among TEs with 86 rec. TDs.

(LB) LAVONTE DAVID – had the 8th-career season with 100+ tackles (117) in 2020. Has 31 tackles (7.8 per game) in 4 career games vs. Dal.

(LB) DEVIN WHITE – had career-high 140 tackles & 9 sacks last season. Had 2 INTs & 2 FRs in 3 postseason games in 2020.

(LB) JASON PIERRE-PAUL – had a 5th-consecutive season with 7+ sacks (team-high 9.5) last season.

(LB) SHAQUIL BARRETT – had 8 sacks in 2020 reg. season & 4 sacks in the postseason.

(CB) CARLTON DAVIS – led team with 4 INTs & 18 PD in 2020.

Cowboys

(QB) DAK PRESCOTT – had 1,856 pass yards & 12 TDs (9 pass, 3 rush) for 99.6 rating in 5 games in 2020. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. TB with rush TD. Has 5 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 98.4 rating in 4 career games on TNF. Aims for his 3rd in a row on TNF with 300+ pass yards.

(RB) EZEKIEL ELLIOTT – had 1,317 scrimmage yards (979 rush, 338 rec.) & 8 TDs (6 rush, 2 rec.) in 2020 & became 3rd player with 1,250+ scrimmage yards & 8+ TDs in each of his 1st 5 seasons in NFL history. Has 297 scrimmage yards (148.5 per game) & rush TD in 2 career games vs. TB. Has 333 scrimmage yards (111 per game) & 4 TDs (3 rush, 1 rec.) in 3 career games on TNF.

( WR) AMARI COOPER – led the team with career-high 92 catches & had 1,114 rec. yards in 2020. Had 12 catches for 173 yards & rec. TD in only career game at TB (10/30/16 w/ Oak.). Has 3 rec. TDs in his past 3 on TNF. WR CEEDEE LAMB set rookie franchise records
in catches (74) & rec. yards (935) last season.

(WR) MICHAEL GALLUP – had 59 catches for 843 yards & 5 TDs in 2020. Had rec. TD in the last meeting. TE DALTON SCHULTZ set career highs in catches (63), rec. yards (615) & rec. TDs (4) last season.

(LB) JAYLON SMITH – had career-high 154 tackles in 2020. Had 10 tackles & 69-yard FR TD in the last meeting. LB KEANU NEAL makes Dal. debut. Had 98 tackles & 9 TFL in 2020 with Atl.

(DE) DEMARCUS LAWRENCE had sack in last meeting.

(CB) TREVON DIGGS tied for the lead among rookies with 3 INTs in 2020.