The 2021 NFL season might be far away but it feels a lot closer today. The full Week 1 schedule was released on Wednesday morning and we now know how each team will open up the season.
It all starts on Thursday, Sept. 9 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys. This one will be Tom Brady vs. Dak Prescott in Prescott’s return after missing the last 11 games of the 2020 season due to a compound fracture and right ankle dislocation.
Other matchups of note in this first week include the New York Jets vs. the Carolina Panthers, the Green Bay Packers vs. New Orleans Saints, and the New England Patriots vs. the Miami Dolphins.
The Packers are currently unsure if Aaron Rodgers will be their quarterback at the start of the 2021 season and the Saints will be opening a new post-Drew Brees era at home against Green Bay.
Carolina’s quarterback Sam Darnold will face his former New York team when the Panthers open up at home against the Jets.
And the Patriots will open the season at Gillette Stadium with Cam Newton as their likely quarterback against the Dolphins. There is the slight chance Mac Jones could get the start, so something to keep an eye on.
The Sunday Night Football opener will feature a Chicago Bears-Los Angeles Rams matchup. And, the Monday Night Football opener will be between the Baltimore Ravens and the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 13.
Don't forget, this will be the first week of a season that includes a 17th regular-season game for each team.
Lucy is a sports betting content producer with Audacy and BetQL. She has worked with WEEI and Audacy as a writer, radio producer and podcaster. Lucy lives in Boston and loves Tom Brady and prop bets. Follow Lucy on Twitter at @LucilleBurdge.
