TAMPA, Fla. — After a pandemic-impacted regular season, magical post-season run and a Super Bowl crown won in their own stadium, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are ready for 2021.

To make a run at doing it all over again.

What You Need To Know

The defending Super Bowl champions open the 2021 NFL season Thursday at Raymond James Stadium against the Dallas Cowboys.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m.

And the Bucs begin their title defense with all 22 starting players returning, including quarterback Tom Brady.

Tom Brady turned 44 during training camp and is not showing any signs of getting old. He has a plethora of playmakers at his disposal, as well as one of the NFL's top defenses to help him chase his eighth Super Bowl title and a third for Tampa Bay.

The return of O.J. Howard, who missed most of last season with an Achilles tendon injury, provides Brady with yet another talented playmaker to go along with receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown and Scotty Miller, running backs Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones, and fellow tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate.

For coach Bruce Arians and the Bucs, it's Super Bowl or bust.

The team's first NFC South title in 14 years is a short-term goal, but Brady won't be satisfied with anything short of hoisting an eighth Lombardi Trophy.

Neither will a ball-hawking defense assembled around linebackers Devin White, Lavonte David, Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaquil Barrett.

No team has repeated as Super Bowl champs since the Brady-led 2003 and 2004 Patriots. A compelling argument can be made, though, that no reigning champion since then has been more equipped for the challenge than this year's Bucs.

Game Day Traffic: What you need to know

A sold-out crowd is expected to begin arriving at Raymond James Stadium Thursday afternoon. Drivers and pedestrians are advised to allow for extra travel time and to travel through the area with caution. 

Those not attending the game are encouraged to travel on alternate routes. 

Heavy traffic will be anticipated on the main roads around the stadium: Dale Mabry, Himes, Columbus and Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. 

Tom McEwen Blvd. (Tampa Bay Blvd.) will also be closed between Dale Mabry and Himes Ave.

For fans, masks are not required in Raymond James Stadium but they are recommended. All retail and food and beverage locations insidethe stadium will be cashless. Here's additional things to know before you go.

Event Information:

Parking:

  • Parking lots open at 4:45
  • RVs can park in Lot 14
  • No overnight parking. All vehicles left are subject to towing.

Gates:

  • Suites/Clubs- 5:45 PM
  • All other gates- 6:45 PM

Kickoff Experience at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park

To further celebrate the return of football, the 2021 Kickoff Experience will take place starting at noon Thursday at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park.

Kickoff Experience is free and open to the public on a first come, first serve basis. The NFL OnePass app is required for admission. 

Attractions include: 

  • Appearances by Buccaneers legends
  • Photo ops with the Vince Lombardi Trophy and all 55 Super Bowl rings
  • NFL Kickoff Photo Frames 
  • Bucs cheerleaders, local musicians, Florida A&M University marching band 

At approximately 7 p.m. Ed Sheeran will take the stage. Sheeran has amassed more than 60 billion streams and sold over 50 million albums.​

Info from the Associated Press was used in this report.