League unveils schedule
Dallas, Tampa Bay will kick off season return
The NFL is returning to London in October and Tom Brady begins his pursuit of an eighth Super Bowl title against Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys when Tampa Bay hosts the league’s annual kickoff game on Sept. 9.
The first game in London since the coronavirus pandemic began will be played on Oct. 10, when the Atlanta Falcons face the New York Jets. A week later, the Jacksonville Jaguars meet the Miami Dolphins. Both games will be played at the stadium of Premier League soccer team Tottenham. The Falcons and the Jaguars will be the home teams.
The NFL’S first 17-game season opens on the same field where the Buccaneers defeated the Chiefs to become the first team to win a Super Bowl at home. It will be Prescott’s first game since sustaining a gruesome ankle injury last October.
Brady returns to New England to face Bill Belichick and the Patriots in a Sunday night game on Oct. 3.
Most teams are expected to be at full capacity following a season played before limited crowds because of COVID -19.
Reigning AFC champion Kansas City hosts the Cleveland Browns in a playoff rematch in Week 1.
Four teams play on Christmas. Baker Mayfield and the Browns go to Green Bay and the Colts visit Kyler Murray and the Cardinals.
The Bills visit the Chiefs in a rematch of the AFC championship game on Sunday night Oct. 10. A potential Rodgers-mahomes battle is set for Week 9 in Kansas City.
Obituary: Jerry Burns, the colorful character who took over as the Minnesota Vikings’ head coach in a time of turmoil and led the team to three playoff berths, has died. He was 94. The team announced Burns’ death. Vikings spokesman Bob Hagan said Burns’ son-in-law informed him Wednesday morning.