2021 NFL Season Preview

The 2021 NFL season will come in full force. The NFL has 32 teams, and 31 of them look to leap this year with one mission in mind, making sure Tom Brady doesn't win another Super Bowl. Once that mission is completed, then they can go for the Lombardi themselves. To be the master, you have to beat the master, right?

That's enough banter. Every offseason, storylines develop, teams make moves, draft rookies, and try to make a step towards their objectives. Some do it correctly, and others mess up. This article will go over a full offseason recap and a complete preview of the upcoming NFL season.

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2021 NFL Season Biggest News:

For most of the offseason, we had a plethora of news coming our way, so here are the best of them:

• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won Super Bowl LV and brought back their 22 starters to run it back in 2021, becoming the first team since 1994 to do so.
• After a whirlwind offseason, QB Aaron Rodgers will stay with the Packers for at least one more year. Green Bay has a record of 26-6 the last two seasons with two NFC Championship Game appearances. Can they get over the hump in 2021, the odds have them as a top team in the NFC.
• Texans' QB, Deshaun Watson, said he demanded a trade. However, he got slammed with dozens of charges of coercive and lewd sexual behavior. As of now, he is still seeking a trade.
• After a losing season, New England went all-in at the start of Free Agency, spending the most money out of the 32 franchises in the league.
• After a season-ending injury, the Dallas Cowboys signed their QB Dak Prescott to a 4 year, $160 million contract extension.
• Following the Super Bowl loss due to a weak offensive line, the Kansas City Chiefs revamped their O-Line. They signed guard Joe Thuney, center Austin Blythe, and LT Orlando Brown Jr. They also brought former Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long out of retirement on a one-year contract.
• After they landed Carson Wentz on a trade, Indianapolis finally got his hands on a possibly top-tier talent at QB.
• The Rams also have a new guy at the helm. They traded their former QB, Jared Goff, to the Lions in exchange for gunslinger Matthew Stafford.
• The Carolina Panthers found their next QB after a trade with the Jets over three-year-prospect Sam Darnold.
• Denver brought competition for the QB1 position. Drew Lock will fight for the starting spot against veteran Teddy Bridgewater.
• Former NFL one-hit-wonder, Tim Tebow, is back in the league. However, he won't play QB anymore, as he is the Jaguars' newest Tight End.
• The Tennessee Titans reinforced their already big offense by trading for perennial Pro-Bowl receiver Julio Jones.

2021 NFL Season Best Free Agency Signings

Now, let's take a look at the Free Agency moves that will pop your eyes out:

• The Patriots added OT Trent Brown, TE Jonnu Smith, TE Hunter Henry, EDGE Matt Judon, LB Kyle Van Noy, WR Nelson Agholor, among others, for $163.4 million.
• Three-time DPOY JJ Watt left the Houston Texans in a blockbuster move to the Arizona Cardinals.
• Former top draft pick, DE Jadeveon Clowney, signed for the Browns on a one-year, $10 million deal.
• OLB Bud Dupree signed an $82.5 million, five-year contract to help the Tennessee Titans' defensive woes.
• Pro-Bowl C Corey Linsley signed a two-year deal with the LA Chargers, reuniting with former Packers OL Bryan Bulaga.
• The NY Giants signed showstopper WR Kenny Golladay on a 4-year, $72 million deal.
• Veteran CB, Patrick Peterson, left the Cardinals to play for the Minnesota Vikings.

2021 NFL Season Format

• The 2021 NFL Regular Season format will consist of an 18-week schedule, with each team playing 17 games and one Bye Week.
• The NFL Postseason will have 14 teams, seven from each conference (AFC and NFC).
• Only the top seed from each conference will have a postseason Bye Week. As for the remaining playoff teams, they will face in the second-ever Super WildCard weekend.
• If a team has a Covid-19 outbreak due to unvaccinated players and cannot play, they will automatically lose the game.
• The NFL has no intentions of extending the season. No Covid-19 or other reason will make the NFL extend the regular season.
• The Kick-Off Game will have the Super Bowl champion, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, hosting the most expensive franchise in sports, the Dallas Cowboys, at the Raymond James Stadium on Thursday, September 9. 
• The playoffs are scheduled to start on January 15, 2022, and will conclude with Super Bowl LVI, at SoFi Stadium in California, on February 13.
• Legends like QBs Drew Brees and Philip Rivers retired. Among other notable retirements are WR Julian Edelman, TE Jason Witten, twin C Mike, and Maurkice Pouncey.

Who raised their stock?

Here we'll see the teams who have improved in the offseason to face the 2021 NFL regular season.

AFC:

- AFC West

• Los Angeles Chargers
• Kansas City Chiefs
• Denver Broncos

- AFC East

• NY Jets
• New England Patriots
• Miami Dolphins
• Buffalo Bills

- AFC North

• Cleveland Browns
• Baltimore Ravens
• Cincinnati Bengals

- AFC South

• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Indianapolis Colts
• Tennessee Titans

NFC:

- NFC West

• LA Rams
• Arizona Cardinals
• San Francisco 49ers

- NFC East

• Dallas Cowboys
• NY Giants
• Washington Football Team

- NFC North

• Minnesota Vikings
• Chicago Bears

- NFC South

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Carolina Panthers

Whose stock dropped?

These are the teams who have failed to get better in the offseason. The 2021 NFL season may be long and bitter for them.

AFC:

- AFC West

• Las Vegas Raiders

- AFC East

• All teams improved from last year.

- AFC North

• Pittsburgh Steelers

- AFC South

• Houston Texans

NFC:

-NFC West

• Seattle Seahawks

-NFC East

• Philadelphia Eagles

-NFC North

• Detroit Lions
• Green Bay Packers

-NFC South

• Atlanta Falcons
• New Orleans Saints

Favorites to Win the AFC

1. Kansas City Chiefs +200
2. Buffalo Bills +400
3. Cleveland Browns +600
4. Baltimore Ravens +800
5. Tennessee Titans +1000

Favorites to Win the NFC

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers +200
2. Green Bay Packers +500
3. San Francisco 49ers +550
4. Seattle Seahawks +900
5. Dallas Cowboys +1000

Top 10 odds to win Super Bowl

1. Kansas City Chiefs +400
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers +500
3. Buffalo Bills +900
4. Green Bay Packers +900
5. LA Rams +1000
6. Cleveland Browns +1200
7. San Francisco 49ers +1200
8. Baltimore Ravens +1400
9. Seattle Seahawks +2000
10. Tennessee Titans +2200

Key matchups of the 2021 season

• Browns at Chiefs, Week 1
• Chiefs at Ravens, Week 2
• Packers at 49ers, Week 3
• Buccaneers at Patriots, Week 4
• Bills at Chiefs, Week 5
• Chargers at Ravens, Week 6
• 49ers at Colts, Week 7
• Packers at Cardinals, Week 8
• Packers at Chiefs, Week 9
• Rams at 49ers, Week 10
• Colts at Bills, Week 11
• Buccaneers at Colts, Week 12
• Ravens at Steelers, Week 13
• Bills at Buccaneers, Week 14
• Seahawks at Rams, Week 15
• 49ers at Titans, Week 16
• Rams at Ravens, Week 17
• Seahawks at Cardinals, Week 18