The 2021 NFL Season Opener lived up to the hype with the defending Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers beating the Dallas Cowboys 31-29. Running games were nearly non-existent on both sides with Tom Brady and Dak Prescott dueling for the win until the very end. In the end, the Cowboys would leave too much time on the clock and Brady would march the Buccaneers down the field for a game-winning field goal. The 2021 NFL Season Opener did not disappoint.
Welcome back, football.@Buccaneers win the season opener! #Kickoff2021 pic.twitter.com/0xmgdSPtCJ
— NFL (@NFL) September 10, 2021
Tom Brady looked much younger than his 44 years would suggest and threw for 32 completions, 379 yards, and four touchdowns with two interceptions in 50 attempts. Antonio Brown racked up five catches for 121 yards and a touchdown as well as one carry for six yards. Chris Godwin posted nine catches for 105 yards and one touchdown while Rob Gronkowski posted eight catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Godwin also caught the final pass that set the Buccaneers up for the game-winning field goal. On the defensive side, Carlton Davis had the team’s one interception.
Brady showing off the deep ball now to Antonio Brown ? pic.twitter.com/3BOkUCS6s2
— Def Pen Sports (@DefPenSports) September 10, 2021
Dallas came up with four turnovers, but couldn’t come up with enough points to win the game. Dak Prescott looked fully recovered from his ankle injury in the 2021 NFL Season Opener. He threw for 42 completions, 403 yards, and three touchdowns in 58 attempts. Amari Cooper had a massive night with 13 catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns. CeeDee Lamb caught seven passes for 104 yards and a touchdown. Jourdan Lewis and Trevon Diggs each recorded an interception. A glaring issue was kicker Greg Zuerlein missing a field goal attempt from 31 yards and a PAT after a Cowboys’ touchdown.
