Photo by Thomas Park on Unsplash

2021 NFL season Preview

The 2021 NFL season is fast approaching, and we cannot wait! The first NFL game is this Friday with the 2021 Super Bowl champs Tampa Bay Buccaneers facing off against the Dallas Cowboys. Currently, the favourite to go all the way and win the Super Bowl are the Kansas City Chiefs. They are currently set at 19/4 outright. Followed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Buffalo Bills at 13/2 and 12/1 respectively.  

Follow the NFL 2021 on Sky Sports NFL and Main Event, as well as via live stream on Now. Navigate to the full NFL 2021 schedule here.

NFL favourites 2021

The Chiefs were defeated by Tampa Bay in SuperBowl LV, but a year before that in SuperBowl LIV they were able to cast aside the San Francissco 49ers, 31 to 20. They look to become only the fourth team to make three SuperBowls in three years. The other three being: Miami Dolphins 1971-1973, third favourites to win this year- Buffalo Bills from 1990 to 1993 and more recently the New England Patriots led by legendary quarter-back Tom Brady, from 2016 to 18.  

Despite the Chief’s recent SuperBowl heartbreak, they are still the bookies favourites to go all the way and win their second SuperBowl in three years. 

NFL 2021 schedule

With the NFL season coming, we have access to all the upcoming match-ups. Time to start marking your calendar for some of these dates! Week 2 of the NFL (Sunday, September 19th) will see the Chiefs go to the Baltimore Ravens, this match has been at the heart of some of the best NFL games to date, it’s always a feisty affair. Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes are two top quarter-backs, and both defences will have a job on their hands to keep the other quiet.  

Week 17 has a tasty game lined up with the Cleveland Browns heading to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Last season the Browns showed very promising signs, they smashed the Steelers in the Super Wildcard Weekend. A big shock to all football fans, except maybe the optimistic Browns supporters. You can catch this game on Monday 3rd January 2022. 

Two of the bookies’ favourites go head-to-head in week 5, with the Buffalo Bills facing the Kansas City Chiefs. The two sides faced off in the AFC Championship game last season. This was one of the more mouth-watering post-season games that sadly ended with disappointment. A quite dull showing, this year’s re-match looks to make up for that. Sunday 10th October.  

Week 4, Sunday- October 3rd 2021. The prodigal son of New England and one of the greatest quarter-backs of all time, Tom Brady returns to the Gillette Stadium for the first time since switching Patriot colours to Buccaneers. Since his departure, Brady’s and the Patriot’s fates have been very different. The player went on to win another SuperBowl title with Tampa Bay, while his former team struggled through a transitional season. The game will have a stadium capacity, and it will be very interesting to see what sort of reception Brady is given.  

2021 NFL season: Players to watch 

There is a lot of fine talent in the NFL for the 2021-22 season. We have of course some 2021 top 10 NFL players who will look to carry on their great form into another season. Quarter-back of the Bills Josh Allen will look to build on his impressive previous season. He finished 87th in the top 100 in 2020 and jumped all the way to 10th for 2021. If the Bills are to go all the way and win next years’ SuperBowl, Allen will play a significant role. 

Another player who we know is going to have an impact is the man we have already mentioned, Tom Brady. The six-time SuperBowl champion will be looking to win back-to-back SuperBowls for the second time in his career. This would be an unbelievable feat and massive for Tampa-Bay.  

Another quarter-back to look out for is Patrick Mahomes. The Kansas City man is the bookmakers’ favourite to win the MVP award for the season, with his team favourites for the SuperBowl. There is a feeling that if the Chiefs have a good year, Patrick Mahomes will be at the centre. In and around the MVP shouts. 

Big trades & signings 

This off-season has seen some very big trades go down in the NFL. Maybe not as huge as the football transfer window of 2021 (if you know, you know…). But nonetheless there has been some very impactful trades and signings.  

• Julio Jones- Atlanta Falcons to Tennessee Titans 
• Orlando Brown- Baltimore Ravens to Kansas City Chiefs 
• Carson Wentz- Philadelphia Eagles to Indianapolis Colts 
• Matthew Stafford- Detroit Lions to LA Rams 
• Rodney Hudson- Las Vegas Raiders to Arizona Cardinals 

• Gabe Jackson- Las Vegas Raiders to Seattle Seahawks 
• Sam Darnold- NY Jets to Carolina Panthers  
• Jared Goff- LA Rams to Detroit Lions 

These 8 are perhaps the most impactful trades/signings that could heavily change up some teams ahead of the NFLs start this Friday. 

Author: Jude Sutcliffe