NFL 2021

 

 

By Andrew Rosario

 

Thursday night kicks off the 2021 National Football season in what is shaping up as one of the most anticipated seasons in recent memories. The defending Super Bowl champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tom (7 rings) Brady host Dallas and Dak Prescott and the Cowboys. Prescott did not play one down in the 3 preseason games while healing his throwing shoulder. He is also coming off the horrific ankle injury last October that cut his season short after signing a 4-year $160 million contract. The Bucs, led by Brady last year, are returning virtually all of their players and are looking to be the first team to repeat since New England won back to back Super Bowl’s 17 years ago. As every year, especially in Dallas, their are high expectations to not only win the division but go deep in the playoffs. Said Owner Jerry Jones of his team this year, “I feel this is the team that I thought we were going to have last year. Of course, that was before Dak’s injury. That was the euphoria for me over having Mike McCarthy as our coach. Certainly not anticipating the injuries and certainly not anticipating the breakdown we had in defense.” The Cowboys will have stiff competion not only in their division but the NFC conference as well. The Green Bay Packers and quarteback Aaron Rodgers resolved their issues as they got within one game of the Super Bowl last year. The Rams, Seahawks, 49ers and Cardinals will have a say in the postseason as injuries could be a major factor in how deep teams will go in January.

 

Locally, both the Giants and Jets are not expected to make noise in their division. Big Blue is relying on quarterback Daniel Jones under the second year offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. In his short career, Jones has been prone to turning the ball over. Second year head coach Joe Judge has simpliffied the play book hoping it will cut down on fumbles and interceptions. Running back Saquan Barkley is coming off major knee surgery last year and like Prescott did not play in the preseason. Barkley is expected to be in the backfield when Big Blue host the Denver Broncos Sunday. Said Judge, “”I want to see how he responds to a couple things physically within his body and make the best assessment going forward for him this week and going forward past that.” Meanwhile, the Jets fired their head coach Adam Gase after the team finished the season 2-14. They went out to the west coast and hired defensive coordinator Robert Saleh from the San Fransisco 49ers. The organization then went and traded quarterback Sam Darnold and drafted Zack Wilson from BYU with the #2 pick. Saleh has raved about Wilson’s performance during the preseason. “You watch tape and you’re like, ‘This guy is pretty good.’ Then you watch more tape and you’re like, ‘Man, this guy is reallygood.’ The arm talent is undeniable.”

 

Football fans will flood the stadiums all across the country. Unlike last year where attendance was limited due to the pandemic. One game has been added to the schedule to the delight of all. Expect the ratings for the prime time games to be very high. 

 

The New York Beacon has the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC championship game and the Buffalo Bills facing the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC championship game. Super Bowl LVI will take place February 13, 2022 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles with Seattle taking on Baltimore with the Ravens raising the trophy.