New Orleans Saints: NFC South standings heading into Week 1 of 2021

Buccaneers vs. Cowboys – Sept. 9 (7:20 CST)

Per tradition, the NFL season opens up with the defending Super Bowl champion hosting the first game of the season so, unfortunately, that means Tampa Bay is playing host to the first game of the 2021 regular season.

Their opponent will be “America’s Team” aka the Cowboys, who are hoping to prevail in a weak NFC East. Cowboys fans think every year will be the year they get back to the Super Bowl and while Dak Prescott is a talented quarterback and their offense is full of good players, it’ll be a tough task for them to waltz into Raymond James Stadium and walk out with a win.

The Bucs have the easiest schedule in the league this year and they’ll start their run toward what they hope will be another successful season on Thursday night.

In the time since the league started having the defending champ open up the season at home, only one team has lost and that was the Patriots in 2017 who lost to the Chiefs (2013’s Ravens/Broncos game doesn’t count due to the Ravens playing on the road that year). In other words, it’s really hard for the home team to lose these games, especially after not having fans in the stands for a year.

Saints fans hope to see the Bucs fall flat in Week 1 but that’s not likely. Tampa is currently an eight-point favorite over the ‘Boys, per WynnBet.