As Head Coach Bruce Arians has said time and time again, never apologize for a win – even if that win came down to a nail-biting last-second field goal in your home opener.
That's what happened to the Buccaneers as they kicked off the 2021 NFL season at home against the Dallas Cowboys, eeking by on a 31-yard field goal with two seconds left on the clock. It took an absolutely clinical drive by quarterback Tom Brady, who got the ball back with 1:24 down one point, to get Tampa Bay into field goal range but thanks to two chunk plays on a snag by tight end Rob Gronkowski and redemption grab by wide receiver Chris Godwin, kicker Ryan Succop was given a manageable situation.
It wasn't pretty, with the Bucs losing the turnover battle by three, surrendering 451 yards of offense to Dallas and giving up a lead twice – but it didn't seem to affect the rankings, which stayed exactly the same from Week One.
Spoiler alert: the Bucs are still good.
See the full list of NFL power rankings below.
- Rank: 1
- Last Week: 1
- NFL Top 5: Bucs, Chiefs, Rams, Seahawks, Steelers
- NFC South: Saints (10), Panthers (25), Falcons (28)
- Week 2 Opponent Ranking: Falcons (28)
- Rank: 1
- Last Week: 1
- NFL Top 5: Bucs, Chiefs, 49ers, Rams, Cardinals
- NFC South: Saints (6), Panthers (23), Falcons (29)
- Week 2 Opponent Ranking: Falcons (29)
- Rank: 1
- Last Week: 1
- NFL Top 5: Bucs, Chiefs, Rams, Browns, Saints
- NFC South: Saints (5), Panthers (23), Falcons (31)
- Week 2 Opponent Ranking: Falcons (31)
- Rank: 2
- Last Week: 2
- NFL Top 5: Chiefs, Bucs, 49ers, Rams, Seahawks
- NFC South: Saints (20), Panthers (22), Falcons (29)
- Week 2 Opponent Ranking: Falcons (29)
- Rank: 2
- Last Week: 2
- NFL Top 5: Chiefs, Bucs, Seahawks, Rams, Bills
- NFC South: Saints (9), Panthers (23), Falcons (27)
- Week 2 Opponent Ranking: Falcons (27)
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