At least Dallas plays in the NFC East, the worst division in the league a year ago, a trend that could well extend to 2021. Now I'm saving my hard earned to buy a pair of Air Jordans like the blue and silver 1s new Jumpman rep Prescott rocked in Tampa.Ĭowboys' playoff chances: Since 1978, when the NFL expanded its schedule to 16 games, only 24% of teams that started 0-1 wound up reaching postseason and just 14% claimed divisional crowns. LOSERSīrady the pitchman: As Thursday night wore on, Brady also tried to sell me cryptocurrency – with help from his spouse, Gisele Bündchen.

maybe.īrady the pitchman: Guess he needed to make more bread given the cheddar his wife generates. And, for those of you who have suggested the Bucs might go 20-0 on their way to a Super Bowl repeat? Well. All eight of the division winners in 2020 won their first game, as did 11 of the 14 teams that qualified for last season's postseason field. Ryan Succop: Tampa Bay's (fully vaccinated) kicker only recently returned from a bout with COVID-19 but nailed the game-winning 36-yard field goal with 2 seconds to spare.īuccaneers' playoff chances: Since 1978, when the NFL expanded its schedule to 16 games, 53% of teams that won their opener went on to qualify for the playoffs and 32% secured division titles. NFL POWER RANKINGS: Which teams look like Super Bowl contenders entering Week 1? NFL 2021: Super Bowl 56, playoffs, MVP and other awards predictions from USA TODAY Sports experts USA TODAY SPORTS' WEEK 1 NFL PICKS: Browns-Chiefs highlights schedule for opening weekend of 2021 Gronk was also spearing passes from Brady with one hand on his way to eight receptions (for 90 yards) and generally looking like a 26-year-old version of himself.Ĭowboys WRs: Dallas' CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper staked an early claim that they're now the league's top receiving duo, combining for 20 receptions, 243 yards and three TDs. Rob Gronkowski: The greatest tight end in NFL history – yeah, that's right – snagged a pair of TDs, giving him 10 all-time in season openers, most in league history at his position. Not the result he hoped for, but plenty of reason for optimism given all the questions about Prescott's leg (and the throwing shoulder he injured during training camp) entering this game. It was the eighth 400-yard passing game of Prescott's six-year career, one fewer than all other Dallas quarterbacks. Statistically, Prescott was better than Brady, throwing for 403 yards, three TDs and finishing with a 101.4 passer rating. 11 – one that ended his 2020 season prematurely and required multiple surgeries – he was spectacular.

TB12 is also 6-0 all-time against Dallas.ĭak Prescott: In his first game action since he suffered a stomach-turning ankle injury Oct. Brady is now 15-4 all-time in Week 1, the most wins during the NFL's opening weekend during the Super Bowl era (since 1966).

Tom Brady: What else is new? The guy with seven Super Bowl rings orchestrated a game-winning field-goal drive on the Bucs' final possession, marching them 57 yards in 82 seconds, the key play a gorgeous 24-yard back-shoulder completion to Chris Godwin at the Dallas 18-yard line. But let's not stop there! It only takes a little extra digging to reveal several other W's and L's from the first NFL game that counts in more than seven months.

Given the result, it's pretty obvious to everyone who the primary winner and loser was from Week 1's opening matchup. The first of the NFL's 272 regular-season games this season – a new record as the league expands to a 17-game schedule for each team – is in the books following the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 31-29 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night's 2021 kickoff game in Tampa. Watch Video: ‘It’s the culture’: Chris Godwin explains why Tom Brady is so comfortable in Tampa

Cowboys score last night