Two brand new eras collide in the NFL in Week 1, as rookie quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota — the first two players taken in this year’s NFL Draft — hit the field in a much-anticipated battle between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans. Neither the Titans or Buccaneers are favored to make it to the playoffs in 2015, but both will kick off the new season with plenty of optimism, while one of them will even start off 1-0. Above all, it’s the official start of two potentially special pro careers when both former Heisman Trophy winners square off on September 13.
Despite the fact that this affair will be showcasing two much-hyped rookie quarterbacks in their very first NFL game, tickets on the secondary market are an absolute bargain, clocking in with an average of $159, while the get-in price is just $47. Not only is this an important season opener for both clubs, with each squad looking to begin the new campaign with some momentum, but this game will also be looked back on many years down the road, when pundits and fans alike are comparing the two rookie QBs later on in their careers.
As a result, even if you’re an out-of-town fan with no rooting interesting in either team, you might be tempted to make arrangements anyway in order to attend this clash in person. Fortunately, Hipmunk.com makes it a quick and painless process, featuring marvelous deals across the board. They have affordable Tampa airfare from a good amount of major airline carriers, and for those wanting to make a football getaway out of it, Hipmunk also sports cheap hotels in Tampa, FL, with rooms starting from as little as $41.
Tennessee realizes they’re highly unlikely to crack the postseason this year, but their No. 1 goal is simply to get Mariota, their new franchise quarterback, settled so he can consistently improve throughout his rookie season. Doing so may be a little difficult thanks to instability in the running game, as rookie rusher David Cobb is already injured and the starter from last season, second-year back Bishop Sankey, doesn’t evoke much optimism. The team did make a trade to land former Browns runner Terrance West, but establishing the ground game could be a tall order from the onset. As for his receivers, Mariota will likely be leaning on
Ironically, the biggest reason the Titans might prevail in Tampa has to do with an individual on the sidelines, where longtime NFL defensive guru Dick LeBeau resides as an assistant head coach controlling the team’s defense. After coaching the vaunted Steelers defense for the last 10 seasons, LeBeau begins a new tenure with the Titans this year. Interestingly, LeBeau’s teams are 19-2 when facing a rookie quarterback, which could factor into this ballgame. Either way, while both teams are coming off disastrous campaigns a year ago, this will certainly be one of the must-watch games of Week 1.
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