The new NFL season opens with a bang as the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Dallas Cowboys on "Thursday Night Football."
It's sure to be a charged atmosphere inside Raymond James Stadium, site of Super Bowl 55, where the Bucs became the first team to win the league's championship on home soil back in February. Led by the ageless Tom Brady, Tampa Bay looks to be one of the favourites to win it all again this year.
On the opposite side of the field are the Dallas Cowboys, who aim to rebound from a disappointing season. Much of the team's problems can be traced back to October 2020, when quarterback Dak Prescott suffered an ankle injury that kept him out for the remainder of the campaign.
Prescott is back, presumably healthy despite having a limited training camp due to a slight shoulder injury, and ready for a head-to-head matchup with one of the NFL's all-time greats in Brady.
“I’m definitely ready,” he told reporters last week, as quoted by Yahoo. “I’m excited. I put a lot of work [getting] 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. There is so much work I put into this I'm just excited to go out there and be a part of the full game ...
"Obviously, I have high expectations for myself," Prescott added. "I plan to come out starting fast.”
The Cowboys will have recent history on their side as they've won the two most recent meetings between the two teams — although both of those wins came before Brady joined the Bucs.
With the spotlight firmly on the defending champs and "America's Team," which side will prevail?
Here's more info about the matchup, plus everything to know about how to watch "Thursday Night Football."
Who plays on "Thursday Night Football" this week?
- Matchup: Cowboys at Buccaneers
- Location: Raymond James Stadium
The Cowboys lead the all-time series, 15-4-0.
What time is the Cowboys vs. Buccaneers game?
- Date: Thursday, September 9
- Kickoff time: 8:20 p.m. ET
The 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff time is standard for Thursday night games.
How to watch "Thursday Night Football" in Canada: TV, live stream
- TV channel: CTV2, TSN
- Live stream: DAZN
Cowboys vs. Buccaneers — like every NFL game during the 2021 season — is available on DAZN Canada.
DAZN Canada is the only place to watch NFL Game Pass, with access to every regular-season NFL game (including Monday, Thursday, Sunday afternoon via NFL Sunday Ticket, and Sunday night games) and every playoff matchup. Each game is available live and on demand.
DAZN Canada is also where NFL fans can watch RedZone — every touchdown, every game, every Sunday.
The "Thursday Night Football" game between the Cowboys vs. Buccaneers is also available on CTV2 and TSN.
How to stream Cowboys vs. Buccaneers for free
In Canada, DAZN offers new customers a 30-day free trial period. You can learn how to sign up for a free trial here.
The free-trial period would include the Cowboys vs. Buccaneers, plus access to all of DAZN's live and on-demand programming, which includes not only NFL games but Premier League, Champions League and more.