The National Football League (NFL) is about to start its 102nd season, which features an extended 18-week regular slot and brand-new schedule that will see all 32 teams from the league each play 17 games, as opposed to the previous 16 games. The 2021-22 season is set to run from 9 September 2021 to 9 January 2022, followed shortly by the NFL playoffs, before finally culminating in Super Bowl LVI, which will take place at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on 13 February 2022.
Whilst last year's kick-off saw players greeted to the sound of simulated crowd noise as they embarked onto the playing field, this year's season will see US stadiums once again flooded with spectators and authentic cheers.
The season-opener sees defending Super Bowl LV champion, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, host the Dallas Cowboys at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on 9 September. Tickets for Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys are on sale now. You can also purchase tickets for the rest of the 2021-22 season here, as well as check out the exciting schedules lined up for upcoming games.
The Buccaneers will be attempting to buckle down and secure another Super Bowl this season, with Veteran quarterback and Football MVP Tom Brady looking to lock down his second Super Bowl victory for the Bucs and eighth win overall in his career.
Here's the icing on the kicker: British football fans will be thrilled to know that the NFL is also scheduled to return to the UK to play International Series Games in October 2021, with 2 games to be held at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Atlanta Falcons will host the New York Jets on 10 October, and the Jacksonville Jaguars will be at home against the Miami Dolphins on 17 October. Tickets are available for both matches, as well as coveted hospitality packages, which will give fans exclusive access to the VIP lounges, private suites, as well as the best seats in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium!
UK fans will be able to catch some of the league's most exciting quarterbacks from the first 2 picks of the 2021 NFL draft, including rising stars Trevor Lawrence of the Jaguars, Zach Wilson of the Jets, as well as 4-time Pro Bowler Matt Ryan of the Falcons and the talented Tua Tagovailoa, play-caller for the Dolphins.
The popularity of football (or American football as many of our international fans call it) grows bigger every day in its worldwide fanbase. If you're a newbie to football and you want to learn the whole 9 yards, then you're in the right place! The aim of football is to kick an egg-shaped ball through the opposing team's goalposts or run into their goal area (also known as an endzone) to score a touchdown! Be careful not to get tackled to the ground, though – you have 4 quarters, each made up of 15 minutes to score as many points as you can!