The good news for the fans is that the NFL schedule release for the 2021-2022 seasons has already happened. This will make it possible to plan for the next season, which will have 1 additional day.
With the help of Kate Richardson, an expert in American Football, we prepared here the main highlights of the NFL Calendar and what to expect of this new season.
The Preseason
After the cancelation of last year’s preseason, fans are set for the return of the exhibition curtain-raiser series ahead of the 2021 NFL season.
The new NFL season start will happen on August 5, with the preseason match between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers, ending the six-month wait for NFL fans for football action.
The Tom Benson Stadium, in Ohio, will host this game, which will see the clash between two exciting rookie prospects: Micah Persons, from Cowboys, and Najee Harris, from Stellers. Both will be making their debuts.
How many preseason games are there?
The new pre-season format foresees 49 games played as The Steelers and Cowboys will play four preseason games while the rest of the league will play three.
This will be the first year of the NFL’s three-game, 17-game regular-season preseason format. There will be a total of 49 games played during the preseason. After the Hall of Fame game on Thursday, there will be a weeklong lull until the action starts to get thick and fast with the Patriots v Washington and Eagles v Steelers on Thursday, August 12.
The pre-season action ends on August 29 before the regular-season opener between the Cowboys and Buccaneers on Thursday, September 9. So when does the NFL season start?
When Things Really Get Going
The Pre-season is important. But what really counts and matters, after all, is the actual season. That’s why one of the main questions of fans is “when does NFL season start?”
We are here to answer that. We’ll go over key fixtures including the opening match, and then we’ll get to see some interesting matches that we don’t recommend you miss out on.
Buccaneers – Cowboys Opening Match
The 2021-2022 NFL season officially kicks off Thursday, September 9, in the same stadium as the last Super Bowl, right on the NFL start date. Defending champions, the Bucs will host the Cowboys at Raymond James Stadium.
This match will mark the return of Dak Prescott, who was seriously wounded in the ankle during the 5th day of last season. An opening match that promises to be electric in any case, between two of the best receiving corps in the league.
Tom Brady’s return to Foxborough
4 match days after the NFL season start, Tom Brady will cross paths with the Patriots for the first time since leaving New England, when the Buccaneers will travel to Foxborough. We can’t wait to see Brady and Belichick reunite.
Duel of numbers 1
Also during Week 4, we will have a nice duel between the last two numbers 1 of the Draft. Joe Burrow’s Bengals, 1st pick in 2020, will host the Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence, 1st pick of this year.
At the end of the season, on the 16th day, another shock between young Quarterbacks will take place. It will be a duel of rookies, between the 2 first choices of the Draft 2021, since the Jets of Zach Wilson will welcome the Jaguars of Trevor Lawrence.
Conference finals remake
For 3 years, the Chiefs have participated each season in the AFC conference final, with 2 consecutive appearances in the Super Bowl.
Back in January, Kansas City defeated the Bills in the conference final. A remake of this match will take place during the 5th day, with a superb duel announced between Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. Buffalo will want to take power in the AFC.
Quarterback exchange
During this same Week 7, two Quarterbacks will face their former teams. Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff were traded in the offseason, and the Rams will host the Lions in October at SOFI Stadium.
Other QBs will face their former clubs this year, such as Sam Darnold (Panthers vs Jets in Week 1) or Cam Newton (Panthers vs Patriots in Week 9).
An 18th day
For the first time in history, the regular season will therefore have 18 days. During this final day, many potentially decisive matches are on the bill. Finals in the NFC West, NFC East or AFC North conferences are possible.
The NFL returns to London
Canceled last year due to the pandemic, the International Games are back. No matches planned in Mexico, still hard hit by the Covid, but two matches are announced in England.
The fabulous Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London will host the following two posters:
- Week 5: Jets – Falcons
- Week 6: Dolphins – Jaguars
NFL Programs
As always, NFL 2021 features games on two very special dates on the American calendar: Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Here is the game schedule for each of them:
The Thanksgiving program
- Bears – Lions
- Bills – Saints
- Raiders – Cowboys
Christmas day program
- Browns – Packers
- Colts – Cardinals
Betting on the NFL
Being one of the most popular sports in the US, and also with many fans around the world, it is normal to find the NFL among the options of sports betting Portugal.
And since betting is a game of skill, not luck (see the difference Here), any American Football fan can go to a betting site and start betting on the best matches and best players in the NFL.
