On Wednesday, May 12th, the NFL will officially announce the 2021 NFL Schedule. This is the first time the NFL has formally announced exactly when the schedule will drop. Usually, it’s been a guessing game and rumors about when we’d get to see the upcoming slate of games.

As a tradition, the defending Super Bowl champions have hosted a home game to kick off the NFL season. Since that tradition started in 2004, a year after the BUCS won their first Super Bowl, this will be the first time they will be scheduled for a Kickoff Game.

Since the announcement of the schedule release, there has been plenty of speculation about who the Team would face. There are a few interesting storylines that could drum up some major national interest going into the season for several possible opponents.

Tampa will host eight regular-season games as per usual. Three of the teams the BUCS will host had a winning record from 2020.

In the last 15 years, no Super Bowl-defending champion has faced a team that had a losing record from the previous season in the NFL Kickoff Game. For the sanctity of national interest, we’ll assume this practice will continue this season.

But, for entertainment purposes let’s make an exception that would likely draw plenty of eyes to tv screens as well as fill up Raymond James Stadium.

The Dallas Cowboys have been one of the most featured teams in the League. They always end up in nationally televised games regardless of what their record was the previous year.

They have a huge following.

8.5 million people follow them via Facebook, one of the largest social media platforms in the world. And according to Forbes, the Cowboys are the world’s most valuable sports franchise. These two factors make Dallas one of the more compelling teams on the schedule simply because of the possibility for big television viewership.

Throw in the fact that it could be Dak Prescott’s return game after missing most of last season due to a compound fracture suffered on October 11th and it’s almost guaranteed to be a hit as far as ratings go.

I’m just now sure how good of an idea it would be to have a returning Prescott go up against the level of defense the BUCS put on display for the vast majority of last year. One would have to think there’s some sadistic schedule maker with a vendetta against the young fella. I mean, who would do such a thing? Maybe the same guys that put the Buccaneers on the road for five weeks including a trip to London a couple of years ago.

I can see this game being the choice mostly due to the fact that the Cowboys have a big following. They’ve got a few big-name players, but they’re coming off a terrible season overall.

The BUCS will host one of three intra-state matchups between Florida teams this year. The Miami Dolphins will be on the road for two of those games.

The Dolphins ended up with a winning record last season. So, this possible season opener would feature two teams with the proverbial arrow pointing UP.

Miami fielded the #6 Defense in the League last season. On paper, they’d make for a seriously formidable opponent for a Tampa offense that had plenty ups and downs and, especially slow starts, throughout 2020.

Miami had its rollercoaster experience on offense as well. Specifically, at the QB position where rookie Tua Tagovailoa was constantly rotating with veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick rather than completely taking over as he was expected to. The game could be framed as a potential coming-out party for the 2nd year signal-caller. But, against a BUCS defense that dismantled three of the best QBs in the League en route to a championship, it’s highly doubtful.

Then again…there was Taylor Heinicke. Anything can happen.

While a Buccaneers vs Dolphins game may not be the ratings hit that would come against a team like Dallas, the young talent on both sides of the ball could make for an interesting showcase as the only game in town.

Coming off a 13-3 season, the Bills will enter the 2021 campaign with just about as much optimism as any team in the League. They were one game away from being the BUCS Super Bowl opponents. And many, myself included, thought they could’ve been a scarier opponent Tampa had they made it.

Buffalo had the #2 Offense in the League last year. Higher than the Chiefs(#6). What Kansas City did do was best Buffalo by way of their defense. The Chiefs’ #10 ranked defense was able to stifle Buffalo. The Bills and their #16th Defense couldn’t stop that almost inevitable surge that Mahomes and company tend to have.

So, while Buffalo’s average defense could be an opportunity to showcase the BUCS and its many weapons, that offense on the other side could make for some explosive action to start the season. Very similar to what was expected by Kansas City in the Super Bowl.

-Carlton Davis going up against Stefon Diggs in prime time?

-The former king of the AFC quarterbacks and the current runner-up for the throne.

-Brian Daboll, offensive coordinator and the AP Assistant Coach of the year facing Todd Bowles and his #1 Defense.

This game could be one of the best of the season. Super Bowl-level excitement to kick off the season.

So, what could be better than a Super Bowl-level matchup to start the season?

How about a drama-filled division rivalry featuring two potent offenses, two stifling defenses, an evil genius head coach, one of the dirtiest players in the game, two red-hot personal WR-vs-CB rivalries, and a failed #1 Overall draft pick.

That’s about its size when it comes to the next game pitting the Buccaneers against that team from New Orleans.

It should be noted that Division rivals haven’t played each other in the NFL Kickoff Game often. It’s only happened three times. All three times in the NFC North. The Giants faced Washington in 2008 for the season opener. And then New York faced Dallas in 2012 as the defending champs after beating New England in Super Bowl XLVI.

And the third time didn’t feature either Super Bowl teams. The Bears hosted the Packers in 2019 to kick off the season. They were chosen to commemorate their 100th season in the NFL.

The buzz around this potential matchup has been building since the Divisional Championship game ended in last season’s playoffs. It’s been on the minds of national media and fans alike.

It was the BUCS that retired New Orleans’ beloved quarterback.

With Drew Brees retiring, it’s assumed that the BUCS’ former starting QB would be taking the reigns of Sean Payton’s offense. And that’s about half of the drama in itself. It was Payton that said he believed Taysom Hill, the gadget QB that took over while Brees was injured, would be his guy when Brees called it quits.

There’s no real answer as to who he’s going with once the season gets going.

The history of Winston in Tampa is a rough one. From being the #1 Overall Pick to being picked on as a complete laughing stock, JW3 has had his share of detractors as well as absolute cult-like fanatics. People will tune in to either see him get his “revenge” on the Team that finally gave up hope on him after 5 tumultuous seasons or see him, once again, embarrass himself while he tries to do or say too much in an attempt to look like a hero.

Everyone’s waiting to see if the “Harvard Of Quarterback Schools” was worth the tuition.

On the other side, Brady didn’t have the greatest outings against New Orleans in the first two games in the regular season. In Week 1, he went for 2 TDs and 2 INTs in a loss. In the second game, he threw 3 INTs and 0 TDs. It wasn’t until the third game in the playoffs that he was truly solid ending up with 2 TDs and 0 INTS. Even though he threw for under 200 yards, he didn’t do anything to bury the Team. And that was the much-welcomed approach most of us fans wanted when that other guy left.

Also, this one doesn’t require some manufactured madness. There’s some real bad blood as well as tough physical matchups here.

-Wirfs vs Jordan

-Davis vs Thomas

-Evans vs Lattimore

-White vs Kamara

-Bowles vs Payton

You don’t even have to be a fan of either team to want to see this one. So many storylines and so much drama can be made from all the personalities of each side of the field. This would be must-see tv as the NFL Kickoff Game.

Who do you think makes the most exciting matchup for the BUCS opening night?

Leave a comment below.