TAMPA, Fla. — Lofty, maybe even gargantuan, expectations don’t faze Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The reigning Super Bowl champions open the 2021 NFL season against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, confident they have everything it takes – at least on paper – to become the first team to win back-to-back titles since Brady led the 2003 and 2004 New England Patriots to consecutive crowns.
No one knows what it’s like to have a target on your back every week more than Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl winner who turned 44 during training camp – a few days after reminding teammates the first order of business is leaving last season behind.
The Bucs return all 22 starters from a top 10 offense and defense, but Brady and Coach Bruce Arians stress talent alone doesn’t guarantee continued success.
“In one way, you’re not really defending it much, it’s kind of in the books. They can’t take away what we’ve done. It’s really just a whole other year and experience,” Brady said.
“We have a lot of continuity. We have a lot of things to build on and a lot more experience together. That’s really all you can ask for as players is to be in the position that we’re in. I’d just like us to go out and take advantage of that.”
With Brady entering his second season working with a bevy of playmakers that includes receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown, and tight ends Rob Gronkowski, Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard, the Bucs think they can be even more potent on offense.
The defense returns intact, too, with linebackers Devin White, Lavonte David, Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaquil Barrett leading the way and a youthful group of cornerbacks and safeties looking to make names for themselves.
“As good as we played with the same group of guys, I’d love to see where we can get this year,” Brady said.
“Again, all of it is earned. There’s nothing given. It’s not about a bunch of hype or a bunch of buildup. We have to go do it. I think that’s about a bunch of guys that are really mature and see ourselves as professional athletes. We want to go out there and put our best out there.”
The Cowboys are coming off a 6-10 finish in which they played most of the season without quarterback Dak Prescott.
Prescott returns Thursday night for the first time since suffering the severe ankle injury that ended his year last October. He didn’t play in the preseason, either, after straining his right shoulder early in training camp.
Cowboys Coach Mike McCarthy is excited to get Prescott back on the field and spoke to his team about the opportunity to face a seemingly ageless Brady and the defending champs in the season opener for the entire NFL.
“We talked about … just how fortunate we are to be part of it on whatever level, most importantly the players,” McCarthy said.
“There’s definitely a youthfulness that has to exist to be successful, and I think (Brady’s) a good example if there ever was one that has played the game, or any sport, of the way you need to go about it,” McCarthy said. “He exudes with that every time he lines up. Very consistent. I think it’s a big part of his continued success.”
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