Cowboys 29 vs Bucs 31 summary: score, highlights | NFL Week 1
The NFL regular season started off with a bang, and plenty of fireworks Thursday night in Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay outlasted Dallas to pull off a last second victory courtesy of a late field goal from Ryan Succop. Tom Brady had another night to remember, passing for four touchdowns in the Bucs 31-29 win.
Tampa Bay starting back-to-back bid off right
The opening night of the new NFL campaign gave us everything we could have asked for and more. It was a game that featured plenty of points, plenty of yards, and a surplus of entertainment.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers came into tonight looking to get their title defense off to a good start after an offseason that saw all 22 of their starters return on defense and offense.
Brady to Gronk for the 100th time
Tom Brady, and the majority of those starters sat through the preseason. Tonight proved the Super Bowl champs were fine tuned and ready to go in Week 1. No one showed that more that Brady and Rob Gronkowsk, who connected for two touchdowns, their second of which was the 100th time the quarterback and tight end have linked up for a touchdown.
The five time Super Bowl MVP shared the love as Antonio Brown and Chris Godwin had triple digit receiving yards, with Gronk had 90 and two touchdowns, Including one that looked like it was going to seal the game early in the fourth quarter.
While Tampa’s offense put up 31 points and combined for 393 yards, it was the defense that had trouble with Dak Prescott and the Dallas offense.
Dak back, and maybe better than ever
Prescott made his return to the football field on Thursday night after suffering a compound fracture to his ankle 11 months ago. This was the first we saw of the Dallas QB since last October, but Dak looked back to his best tonight, or even better.
The Dallas offense had more than 450 total yards, but it must said they did struggle in the red zone. Tampa commited four turnovers but the Cowboys kept settling for field goals, which Greg Zuerlein made three of five.
Boys' late lead lasted just a minute
The Bucs lead the entire way, but a 60 yard drive led by Prescott put the Cowboys in the drivers seat with 1:24 to go in the fourth quarter.
With just under 90 seconds left Tom Brady took over at his own 25 yard line and in less than a minute the Bucs were in field goal range thanks to some big plays from Grondkowski and Godwin.
Succop kicked his first field goal of the night with 10 seconds remaining in the game. The former South Carolina kicker split the uprights from 36 yards giving the Bucs their opening win of the new season.
The NFL regular season started off with a bang, and plenty of fireworks Thursday night in Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay outlasted Dallas to pull off a last second victory courtesy of a late field goal from Ryan Succop. Tom Brady had another night to remember, passing for four touchdowns in the Bucs 31-29 win.
Tampa Bay starting back-to-back bid off right
The opening night of the new NFL campaign gave us everything we could have asked for and more. It was a game that featured plenty of points, plenty of yards, and a surplus of entertainment.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers came into tonight looking to get their title defense off to a good start after an offseason that saw all 22 of their starters return on defense and offense.
Brady to Gronk for the 100th time
Tom Brady, and the majority of those starters sat through the preseason. Tonight proved they Super Bowl champs were fine tuned and ready to go in Week 1. No one showed that more that Brady and Rob Gronkowsk, who connected for two touchdowns, their second of which was the 100th time the quarterback and tight end have linked up for a touchdown.
The five time Super Bowl MVP shared the love as Antonio Brown and Chris Godwin had triple digit receiving yards, with Gronk had 90 and two touchdowns, Including one that looked like it was going to seal the game early in the fourth quarter.
While Tampa’s offense put up 31 points and combined for 393 yards, it was the defense that had trouble with Dak Prescott and the Dallas offense.
Dak back, and maybe better than ever
Prescott made his return to the football field on Thursday night after suffering a compound fracture to his ankle 11 months ago. This was the first we saw of the Dallas QB since last October, but Dak looked back to his best tonight, or even better.
The Dallas offense had more than 450 total yards, but it must said they did struggle in the red zone. Tampa commited four turnovers but the Cowboys kept settling for field goals, which Greg Zuerlein made three of five.
Boys' late lead lasted just a minute
The Bucs lead the entire way, but a 60 yard drive led by Prescott put the Cowboys in the drivers seat with 1:24 to go in the fourth quarter.
With just under 90 second left Tom Brady took over at his own 25 yard line and in less than a minute the Bucs were in field goal range thanks to some big plays from Grondkowski and Godwin.
Succop kicked his first field goal of the night with 10 seconds remaining in the game. The former South Carolina kicker split the uprights from 36 yards giving the Bucs their opening win of the new season.
The Bucs win their season opener and start their title defense off on the right foot.
Pollard tackled after a gain of 10 and it's all over from Raymond James Stadium.
Touchback. DAL will take over at the 25 yard line, and have 2 seconds to find a miracle.
FIELD GOAL IS GOOD
Succop drills the 36 yard field goal!!! Bucs take the lead with 2 seconds left.
Pass incomplete from Brady, 4th and 10.. 36 yard FG coming up. 6 seconds left.
Brady's pass well over the head of Fourntte. 3rd and 10 coming up from the 28
Brady's short pass to the left is incomplete, 14 seconds remain.
Back shoulder throw from Brady to Godwin for 24 yards. Bucs are on the DAL 18. 1st and 10.
Brady goes deep, but nobody was home. 24 seconds to go, 2nd and 10 coming up.
Gronk over the middle to the DAL 42 yard line. 30 seconds to go
Brady finds Gronk on the sidelines. Clock stops after Gronk went out of bounds.
False start called against Brady and Smith. TB will take the timeout to avoid the 10 second run off.
Barnard make a tough five yard catch for first down.
Brady's pass got tipped on it's way to Evans. 3rd and 2 coming up
Short pass to Bernard taken for 8 yards. Clocked stopped as Bernard ran out of bounds.
Brady has 1:24 to drive down the field and win the game
Zuerlein with the 48 yard FG right down the middle!!
Cooper over the middle, spinning and pick up 13. 4th and 6 coming up from the 29.
Holding on the short pass play to Elliott which will push the Cowboys back 10 yards. 3rd and 16 coming up from the TB 40.
Elliott picks up four yards. 3rd and 6 coming up, but not before the Bucs call a timeout to stop the clock at 1:43
Prescott's pass to high for Lamb. 2nd and 10 coming.
Timeout DAL. They'll have it at the TB 34 with 1:51 left in the fourth quarter.
Lamb with a catch and a big run on 3rd and 11. The comeback and release from Lamb results in a 31 yard catch and run.
Wilson picks up 10 yards on the comeback route. We are at the two minute warning!! Don't go anywhere! This great game deserves a great ending.
Prescott tucks it in to a pocket for Lamb on a 24 yard gain, but the play will be called back after a holding call on Smith will make it second and 20 form the DAL 26.
Prescott pressured and couldn't complete his pass to Jarwin.
Cooper on the slant pattern gets 11 yards and a first down.
Prescott to Lamb for 6 yards and a first down.
Offside on Suh which will bring DAL to the 20 and makes it 3rd and 1.
Schulz on the out route, picks up 4 yards. 3rd and 6 to go from the 16 yard line.
Elliott runs left for a gain of one.
UNDER 5:00 TO GO IN THE GAME.
Godwin made the reception and making an extra effort to get the touchdown, coughs up the ball and it's picked up by DAL's Lewis to the DAL 10.
GAME CHANGING PLAY BY THE COWBOYS DEFENSE.
Fournette just inches over the first down marker. First and 10 from the 13.
Fournette up the gut for 6 yards. 3rd and 1 from the DAL 13
Brady to Brown on the pass in the flat for three yards.
Fournette takes the hand off and picks up 7. First and ten form the DAL 23.
Brady's pass caught by Evans for 9 yards, after a false start on first down. 2nd and 6 to come from the DAL 30.
Fournette snatches Brady's pass out of the air, after Brady was going down in traffic and released a dangerous pass which found Fournette for a gain of 7. First down TB.
Brown on the end around for six yards, 2nd and 4 from the 41 coming up.
Godwin breaks a couple tackles on a short pass and picks up 9 yards and a first down.
One handed snag by Gronk to pick up 7.
62 Yard Punt, returned for 7 yards. TB will start the drive from their own 37. 10:54 to go in the fourth quarter.
Three and out for DAL after Prescott's pass to Cooper is incomplete.
Dak's pass to Cooper is incomplete, 3rd down and 8 coming up.
Pollard rushes right for a couple yards. 11:20 to go in the fourth quarter.
Punt from Pinion pins the the Cowboys at their own 6.
Godwin was in all kinds of space, but can't come up with the catch after having to adjust while the ball was in mid air.
Brady's pass incomplete to Evans, after a slight tip by Lewis in the secondary. 3rd and 10 coming up.
Fournette met at the line with the defense, he'll be lucky if he got a yard.
Brady to Evans on a short first down pass for 4 yards.
Fournette picks up a yard. 3rd and 2 from the TB 48.
Fournette up the middle for 7 yards to start the fourth quarter.
Fournette again, but this time gets stopped behind the line of scimmage, but an illegal hands to the face against DAL's Diggs will give Tampa five yards and an automatic first down. And that brings up to the end of the third quarter.
Fournette runs left and gets 10 yards and a first down.
Touchback, TB will take if from their 25.
TOUCHDOWN!!!
Cooper on a fade route, and Dak put the pass right on the numbers. 21 yard TD pass for Prescott who has three on the night. PAT is good, 33 second to go in the third quarter.
Elliott runs left and gets 4 yards.
1:00 remaining in the third quarter.
Prescott scrambles to pick up a couple yards after some heavy pressure in the back field. 2nd and 8 to come.
Play action for Dak who rolls left and finds Schulz for 6 yards and a first down.
Lamb picks up 8 with a short pass from Dak. Dak now has over 300 yards. 3rd and 1 coming up
Elliott stopped at the line of scrimmage.
Schulz gets banged around after the catch, but still picks up 10. 1st and 10 from the TB 42.
First down picked up by Pollard on a gain of three.
Prescott to Jarwin for seven yards.
Elliott on a big gain with a run to the right picks up a first down with a 12 yard scamper.
Touchback, DAL takes over at the 25 with 6:23 to go in the third.
TOUCHDOWN!!!!
Brady finds Gronk up the middle on the delayed seam pattern. Nine yard TD pass for Brady, his fourth of the night. PAT is good. 6:23 to go in the third quarter.
Fornette on the out rout, picks up 2 yards. 3rd and 6 from the DAL 9.
Godwin on a short reception for two yards on first down.
Back shoulder throw from Brady to Gronk on first down. Gain of 20.
Prescott's first throw is deflected up in the air and picked off by Davis at the 50. The return was taken to the 19, but an illeagl block in the back will force the Bucs to start their drive from the 35.
Lamb takes the punt back form the DAL 13 to the 25.
Pass incomplete again, and a holding call against the Bucs in declined. 4th and 10 coming up.
Another pass incomplete to Godwin, 3rd and 10 coming up from the 33.
Brady's pass incomplete to Godwin.
Mickens with another solid return, takes if from the one all the way to the 33. TB
Zuerline sneaks in the short FG from 19 yards away.
The option play is shut down for a loss of two. Fourth down coming up
Dak on the roll out finds Elliott for a gain of 3. 3rd and goal from the 2.
Dak on first and goal, rushes up the middle and gets to the 5.
Pollard on the comeback rout picks up the first down.
Pollard on the swing pattern picks up 6.
Incomplete pass, but a defensive pass interference called against Adams will give DAL a first down and the ball at the TB 18.
Pass incomplete from Dad to Lamb
Cooper on a crossing route complete for 14 yards and a first down
Elliott up the middle for no gain
Cooper on the catch for six yards on first down.
Cooper on the out route, for a gain of 12. First down Cowboys from their own 44.
Schulz on a five yard reception to start the second half. Third and five after an incomplete pass on first down.
Back in action in the second half of play. DAL will start from the 25 after a touchback.
Dak's first TD in almost a year. What a half for Dak
Antonio Brown has 118 yards on four receptions, Lamb has 58 yards on 4 receptions.
No rusher has more that 18 yards, as both teams are really struggling on the ground, or thriving in the air...
Brady has 213 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions on 13/21 passing
What a first half for Prescott, who hadn't played in 11 months, has 224 yards and two touchdowns on 224 yards.
Brady launches a hail mary, but Lewis picked it off and ran it back past the 50 but was taken down to end the half. Exciting end to the half.
Another incomplete pass, 6 seconds left in the half.
Incomplete pass from Brady to Bernard down the sideline.
Zuerline comes up short on a 60 yard FG attempt. Which leaves Brady 16 seconds to come up with a score before the half.
Prescott picks up two on the scramble. 4th and 30 coming up from the TB 45.
Holding on the offense will make it 3rd and 32.
Barrett on the sack! A big loss for the Cowboys, 3rd and 22 coming up.
Pass incomplete to Lamb on first down.
Prescott to Lamb, who got some yards after catch, and a first down. Ball at the TB 20. 1:11 to go in the half
Pass intended for Gallup is broken up, and it's 3rd and 3 for the Cowboys at the 30 yard line.
Dak finds Cooper on the short hook route for 7 yards.
Comeback route from Gallup is good for eight yards. Pass interference and Personal foul call on Dean which pushes DAL us to the TB 44.
2:00 Warning from Tampa, DAL with possesion from their 36.
Touchback for DAL, Cooper with a gain of 12 on a first down completion.
TOUCHDOWN!!!
Brady finds Brown on a bomb for the 47 yard touchdown!!! Simple seem route down the middle, and Brady put it in Brown's lap. PAT is good, 2:38 to go in the half
Godwin on an 11 yard reception and a first down
Mickens on the kick return, picks it up at the 1, and takes it 42 yards to the TC 43.
This time Zuerline's 35 yard FG splits the uprights. 3:16 to go in the second quarter.
Almost picked off by Davis, as Dak's pass over the middle was deflected and almost resulted in a TO.
Pass incomplete to Gallup bringing up 3rd and 6.
Dak to Lamb for a gain of four on first down.
INTERCEPTION!!!
Two turnovers in two staright snaps for the TB offense. Fournette bobbled the screen pass and Diggs came up with the interception on the TB 21.
Mickens brings it out from the one to the TB 20.
TOUCHDOWN!!!
Cooper on the comeback route, tucks his feet inside the sideline for the five yard touchdown reception. Dak fumbled the low snap, gathered himself and make a poised throw for the touchdown. PAT no good, as Zuerline banged it of the post.
Dak tucks and runs on first and 10, picks up seven.
Wilson on a crossing pattern on a gain of 13 yards. 1st and 10 from the TB 12
Prescott throws it way behind Lamb, 3rd and 8 coming up from the 25. Timeout with 5:37 to go in the second quarter
Elliott with a gain of two on first down.
TB takes over from their own 24, butJ Jones fumbles on first down and the Cowboys recover on the TV 27.
4th down, and Zuerline shanks his first field goal attempt of the seasosn. 6:36 to go in the second quarter.
Davis almost comes up with the pick, as Prescott was looking for Lamb in the endzone.
Prescott to Cooper for a gain of seven on second down.
The ruling on the field stands.
9:09 to go in the second quarter.
Prescott to Schultz for six yards, but the play will be challenged.
Daivs called for defensive pass interference and the Cowboys will advance to the TB 39 and have afirst down.
Dak to Lamb over the middle for a big gain of first down for a gain of 22.
Touchback, and the DAL will take it from their 25.
TOUCHDOWN!!!
Brady on the roll out finds Gronk for the three yard reception. PAT is good! 9:48 to go in the second quarter.
Fournette up the gut picks up 4, and gets to the 2.
Godwin over the middle for a gain for 14, and it's first and goal from the six for the Bucs.
Out route from Godwin picks up 19 and a first down. Offsetting tauting and personal foul calls will leave TB at the DAL 24.
Brady finds Gronk for five yards, 3rd and 3 coming up for the Bucs.
Fournette up the middle picks up 2.
TB will take it from the 50 after a block in the back penalty on the punt.
Pollard wrapped up by the defense and a quick three and out for the Cowboys
Prescott over the middle to Pollard for six yards. 3rd and 3 coming up
Wilson with the short reception for two yards.
WIlson recieves the kick on the DAL 9 and takes it to the 11 after a couple spins. Block in the back against DAL will penalize the Cowboys half the distance to the goal.. 1st and 10 from the DAL 5
Pinion pinned Dallas inside the five, but a holding call with force TB to track back and punt again.
Brady incomplete pass to Brown, fouth down coming up after the quarter change.
Brady almost got stripped, but some strong hands allow him to release the ball but incomplete to Fournette. 3rd and 5 coming up.
Fournette up the middle for a five yard gain.
Brady connects with Brown for a big game to the DAL 45. First down Bucs.
Touchback off the kickoff. Forntette on first down picks up 7
TOUCHDOWN!!!
Prescott over the top dropping a dime to Lamb for the Touchdown. 22 yard go route from Lamb and Dak couldn't have put it in a better place to be caught. PAT is good and we're all tied with 1:35
Jarwin on an out pattern connects with Prescott for 7 yards.
Prescott back to Gallup who did a toe tap on the sideline for first down, to the TB 31.
Pollard on a fake reverse, keeps the ball for a gain of 7 on first down.
Slant pass to Gallup picks up 12
Pass to Gallup to the left side for 8 yards to Gallup
Prescott finds Pollard for 11 yards on a pass to the flat on first down.
TOUCHDOWN!!!
Brady connects with Godwin over the middle for the touchdown, and the first score of the game. PAT good and the Bucs lead by 7, with 5:23 in the first quarter.
Fournette up the gut for three yards. to the Cowboys 14
Brady back to Brown for 13 yards and another first down.
Brady over the top to Brown! What a dime for 29 yards for the Bucs.
Brady finds Gronkowski over the middle for 20 yards.
Brady pass too far wide for Evans on first down form the 18.
Brady hits Evans on a slant from the right side for 8 yards, 1st down Bucs.
The Bucs start up with a Jones run up the middle for five yards.
Punt from Anger pins the Bucs down to the 6 yard line. Timeout from Tampa Bay.
Prescott in pressure, tosses a pass that was too far ahead of Cooper. 4th down coming up form the TB 44.
Back to Lamb, but this time he drops the pass that hit him in the chest. 3rd and 10 from the TB 39 yard line.
Pass from Prescott to Lamb was left a bit behind the receiver.
Screen pass to Schultz, who takes it to the TB 39 yard line. 1st down Cowboys
Elliott on a run to the right, picks up 4.
Elliott picks up 2 on third down, and picks up enough for a first down.
Schultz picks up a four yard reception, 3rd and 1 coming up form the Cowboys 41.
Elliott picks up 4 yards on first and ten.
Prescott on the first play in 11 months, goes for 28 yards to Cooper.
Brady's pass on third down incomplete, searching for Godwin. 4th and 2 coming up. What a punt from Pinion who pins the Cowboys back to the 2 yard line.
Back to Fournette, who picks up 3, 3rd and 2 coming up.
Fournette picks up 4 yards on the first play of the game.
We are underway in Tampa, and the 2021 regular season is underway. Touchback for the Bucs who will take it from the 25 yard line.
MIchelle Williams is giving a stunning rendition of the Star Spangled Banner as we are just minutes away from kick off.
How and where to to watch tonight's game
The 2021/22 NFL season is set to commence as Dallas Cowboys face reigning Super Bowl Champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the new season opener on Thursday, 9 September. This is game 1 of a new 17-game schedule with the 2022 Super Bowl set to be staged in Los Angeles on 13 February, 2022.... (Full article here)
These two teams went a combined 1-6 in preseason. We all know how little preseason records mean, but perhaps more importantly niether team played many of their starters in the tune up games.
Under 30 minutes until gametime! Who's ready for some football?
Dak Prescott hasn't played in 11 months, and didn't play a snap in preseason, he will be fed to the lions tonight against one of the top defenses of last year.
It's been a while since we have seen Dak's preseason dance, but JaQuan Hardy is giving us a refresher course.
It's primetime, and no team likes the spot light more than the Cowboys. It might not be Sunday night, but tonight's game is part of the NBC Sunday package. It's the 50th the will be a featured team in one of NBC's spotlight games.
Sheeren to kick off the festivities
When you think of hard hitting, smash mouth, Americana football, the first person who comes to mind is probably Ed Sheeren... Maybe not so much..
Sheeren was picked to perform before kickoff tonight, and it has many fans puzzled. But hey.. He is a five time Grammy winner, and like him or hate him, you can't help sing along.
Tix to tonight's game didn't come easy, or cheap
The average cost for a tickets to tonight’s game according to Vivid Seats is $582, the highest for a Bucs game in 10 years.
Full house tonight in Tampa Bay
The fans will be in full force tonight at Raymond James Stadium tonight, and all throughout the season. The Covid restrictions have been lifted in all 32 stadiums across the league.
The Bucs have all 22 starters on the offensive and defensive side returning after with Super Bowl winning season.
No recent Super Bowls, but Cowboys still America's team
Dallas, “America’s Team,” has not been past the divisional playoffs since 1995, when they won the Super Bowl. In the ten years they have had just four plus .500 seasons.
Kickoff Thursday to start the NFL season
Hello everyone and welcome to Raymond James Stadium for Kickoff Thursday. The Super Bowl Champion Buccaneers start their title defense tonight against a Dallas Cowboys team that is looking to get back to where they were 25 years ago.
After a lengthy offseason, and a shortened preseason, the NFL regular season is finally here. The reining Super Bowl champions will begin their title defense against the Dallas Cowboys. AS English will be with all night providing live coverage, highlights, stats and scores of tonight’s season opener from Raymond James Stadium.
New season, same look for Bucs
Not much has changed from the Bucs’ Super Bowl team from last year, and their 53-man roster at start this season. All 22 starters from the offense and defense are returning for Bruce Arians’ side. Six players were on the verge of entering the free agent market after last season, but all six decided to stick around for a run at back-to-back Lombardi Trophies.
The Cowboys are coming off a disastrous season that saw their face of the franchise go down in the early stages of the campaign with a season ending injury. Quarterback Dak Prescott suffered a compound fracture and a dislocated ankle against the New York Giants in early October. Dallas went 6-10 finished the season in third place in a dreadful NFC East.
Prescott back under center for Dallas
Prescott was recovered and ready to make his return to live action this preseason, but a shoulder injury has limited his time in practice. Dak will go into the season opener not having played a snap.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones showed an incredible amount of faith in his quarterback last year when he offered Prescott a multi-year blockbuster contract just months after the gruesome injury. Dak can repay Jones’ confidence by taking Dallas to their first Super Bowl in over 25 years.
First test for Dak: The Super Bowl Champs
Dak will be thrown to the wolves tonight. He hasn’t played in almost 11 months, and his return to action will be against the defending champions.
While Tampa’s pass defense wasn’t among the best in the league their run defense was nearly impenetrable. They allowed a league best 80.6 rushing yards last year and gave up just 22.2 points a game.
The Cowboys new look defense will also have a trail by fire, after a miserable 2020 season. They finished in the bottom six, giving up a shade under 30 points a game.
Brady has all of his weapons back
Brady and his endless supply of weapons on the receiving end will be looking to put on a spectacle infront of the home fans. The five time Super Bowl MVP threw for 40 TDs and just 12 interceptions with a QB rating of 102.2.
The Cowboys are desperate to get back to where they think they belong in the NFC, and while it won’t happen overnight, they could make a big statement to the rest of the league with a win tonight over the Bucs. Tampa will being their title defense tonight at 8:20 p.m. ET from Raymond James Stadium.