TAMPA, Fla. — Practices are done. The preseason is over. The game plan is in place.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are ready to officially kick off the season.

“We’ve practiced against each other and beat each other up. Now we want to play against somebody else and get this thing going,” Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans said.

After one of the most topsy-turvy offseasons in Tampa Bay Bucs history, the focus now turns to the football field for a prime time matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

“Obviously, you live for games like this,” Bucs offensive tackle Donovan Smith said. “You know, it’s a great stadium, a great team. You go out there and it’s not but trying to silence everybody. You live for games like this. It’s a Sunday night game and it’s a good test for us as a team.”

For the second straight year, the Bucs open their season against the Cowboys. Tampa Bay kicked off the 2021 season with a 31-29 win. It set a tone and its one they’d like to set again.

“They’re similar to last year. They’re very big upfront, they’re quick on the defensive side of the ball,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said. “They’ve got ball-hawks in the secondary, they pressure you quite a bit.”

It sounds like a defensive challenge, but Bucs quarterback Tom Brady is certainly up for it, especially against Dallas. In fact, the GOAT is a perfect 6-0 all time against the Cowboys.

“They rush the passer, I think they have a good scheme, they mix things up quite a bit,” Brady said. “We’re playing them at home and they’ve got a very good offense, so they’re a tough team to beat. It’s going to be a big challenge for the opener.”

Brady is playing with a lot of new faces on offense this season, but change can be good.

And it can lead to another long playoff run for the Bucs. Many pundits are predicting big things for Tampa Bay this year. 

But the team’s belief in themselves is the most important one.

“I’ve always been very confident in our team, from the day that I got here,” Brady said. “That hasn’t changed at all. We’ve still got to go do it. It doesn’t matter, you’ve still got to go out there and execute under pressure, which is when the fans are watching and the TV is turned on, you’ve got to go out there and do a great job.”