Prescott under focus as much as Brady
Hey, he’s back!
No, not Tom Brady, who is only 44 and as healthy as any NFL quarterback. Dak Prescott will be behind centre for Dallas, returning from a gruesome ankle injury that derailed the 2020 season for the Cowboys.
There will be as much focus on Prescott on Thursday night when the schedule kicks off at Tampa as there will be on Brady.
“I’m definitely ready,” said Prescott, who sat out the preseason games with a shoulder issue. “I put in a lot of work to get to this point. Whether it was months ago, rehabbing the ankle, to the last few (weeks), keeping the feet working while I was letting my arm rest.”
At his age, many would be advising nothing but rest for Brady — as a retiree. That’s simply not him.
“I feel pretty good,” Brady said. “I feel like we have a great opportunity ahead of us and anytime you start the season and it’s the first game of the year, it’s pretty exciting.”
Important to bear in mind here is where this game very well could be decided: on defence. And that is a huge edge for the Buccaneers, who return all 22 starters from their Super Bowl team. Dallas had a historically inept unit last year and spent much of the draft in April trying to upgrade it.
FanDuel Sportsbook has the defending champions as
7 1 ⁄ -point favourites. That might 2 be low. Pick: Buccaneers, 31-21
SUNDAY
> Chicago (plus 7) at Los Angeles Rams: We can’t see the Bears winning this prime-time match.
Best bet: Rams, 25-13
> Minnesota (minus 3 1⁄2) at Cincinnati: Just don’t like what’s been coming out of the Vikings recently. Upset special: Bengals, 24-23
> Green Bay (minus 4 1⁄2) vs. New Orleans (at Jacksonville, Fla.): We liked the Packers even before Hurricane Ida forced relocation of this one. Pick: Packers, 27-20
> Cleveland (plus 6 1⁄2) at Kansas City: Lots of folks forecast this as the AFC title preview. We’ll see. For now … Pick: Chiefs, 30-21
> Pittsburgh (plus 6 1⁄2) at Buffalo: Big Ben’s last season, and last gasp for another title, might begin ignominiously. Pick: Bills, 33-23
> Miami (plus 21⁄2) at New England: The (fruitless?) chase of the Bills begins now for the Dolphins and Patriots. Pick: Patriots. 20-14
> Jacksonville (minus 2 1⁄2) at Houston: Worst team of 2020 visiting likely worst team of 2021. Welcome to the NFL, Trevor Lawrence. Pick: Jaguars, 17-13
> Seattle (minus 2 1⁄2) at Indianapolis: Probably the toughest game to handicap in Week 1. That Indy defence could be special.
Pick: Colts, 18-16
> New York Jets (plus 5) at Carolina: Gang Green’s defence looks at opposing quarterback and says: “Hey, we know that guy.” Pick: Panthers, 31-16
> Arizona (plus 3) at Tennessee: Derrick Henry will be the difference in lots of games this season, starting here. Pick: Titans, 27-21
> Philadelphia (plus 3 1⁄2) at Atlanta: Not enamoured of either team, so go with the hosts and the veteran quarterback.
Pick: Falcons, 19-17
> Los Angeles Chargers (minus 1) at Washington: Tough opener for Chargers, who could be rising team. Pick: Washington, 19-16
> San Francisco (minus 7 1⁄2) at Detroit: Not such a tough opener for the Niners. Pick: 49ers, 33-17
> Denver (minus 2 1⁄2) at New York Giants: The Broncos look vastly improved, the Giants only moderately so. Pick: Broncos, 23-15
MONDAY
> Baltimore (minus 4 1⁄2) at Las Vegas: At last, fans in the Raiders’ stadium for a real NFL game. Too bad it will be … Pick: Ravens, 26-20
2020 RECORD
Straight up: 176-91-1. Against spread: 133-117-8 The Associated Press