The 2026 NFL season kicks off this week with 16 matchups in Week 1 sptread across four different days. From the NFL Kickoff Game, a Super Bowl rematch between the New England Patriots vs Seattle Seahawks, to the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs clashing on Monday Night Football.
It’s now time for our NFL Week 1 predictions, early projections for how we think each matchup on the NFL schedule will play out.
Seattle Seahawks 20, New England Patriots 14
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In Super Bowl LX, the Seattle Seahawks only outgained the New England Patriots by 4 total yards and won 29-13 largely thanks to 3 pivotal takeaways. It’s fair to assume this matchup will be closer, especially now that Kenneth Walker III (161 scrimmage yards) is off in Kansas City. New England upgraded its offensive line this offseason and remade its receiving corps with A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, but it can take time for a new-look passing game to find its rhythm. Against a phenomenal defense in a hostile environment, we suspect Drake Maye will get sacked 3-plus times and get pressured into an interception. With Sam Darnold protecting the football, that’s all Seattle needs to open the season with a win.
Los Angeles Rams 27, San Francisco 49ers 21
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It’s an NFC West clash of titans on Thursday night in Melbourne. The San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams, on Netflix, is easily one of the best games on the NFL Week 1 schedule. The rivals split their regular-season series in 2025, with Los Angeles putting up 65 total points and 857 total yards combined in the two contests. Even with Nick Bosa back, we just don’t see the talent nor depth on San Francisco’s defense to keep pace with the Rams offense and that feels even harder to do this season with Los Angeles now boasting Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie on its defense.
Cincinnati Bengals 28, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24
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A matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1 could be one of the highest-scoring games of the season. We have to credit both front offices, though, for investing significant resources this spring into strengthening their offense. What hurts Tampa Bay is that its receiving corps is a bit banged up right now and passing the football on Cincinnati will be more difficult than it has been in recent years. This should be a back-and-forth game, but we suspect Joe Burrow is able to lead the Bengals on a fourth-quarter comeback for the victory in the home opener.
Detroit Lions 31, New Orleans Saints 24
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While we have the Detroit Lions coming out on top in our NFL predictions for Week 1, don’t sleep on the possibility of an upset here. The New Orleans Saints boasted a top-12 defense in the second half of the 2025 season and Tyler Shough has the physical tools to take advantage of an injury-depleted Detroit secondary. With that said, the absence of rookie receiver Jordyn Tyson looms large in this matchup and home-field advantage is another factor in the Lions’ favor. It’ll be a close one, with Dan Campbell’s club narrowly pulling one out.
New York Jets 31, Tennessee Titans 21
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We expect to see a very different version of the New York Jets this season. The offensive line is underrated and quarterback Geno Smith has a viable supporting cast that could position him to be closer to the caliber of quarterback we saw in Seattle. On the other side of the field, the Tennessee Titans offense has dealt with some real issues this summer so it’s not like this remade Jets defense can’t handle Cam Ward and the ecosystem around him. We’ll be a bit bold with our NFL picks for Week 1, projecting a two-score win for New York.
Baltimore Ravens 28, Indianapolis Colts 20
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We know the reports coming out of Indianapolis Colts training camp regarding Daniel Jones were very promising, but this is still going to be his first start since suffering an Achilles tear. Any limitations with his mobility are a major weak point that Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter, a defensive mastermind, can exploit with Trey Hendrickson and the rest of this pass rush. We also see Baltimore having a big advantage with its ability to run the football on Indianapolis, allowing the Ravens to cruise somewhat comfortably to a Week 1 victory on the road.
Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Atlanta Falcons 17
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The Atlanta Falcons, without James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker, don’t have anything resembling a competent pass-rushing unit. That means 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers can just sit in a clean pocket and fire on-target passes to Michael Pittman Jr. and DK Metcalf. Meanwhile, Falcons starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is coming off a disastrous showing this summer and now faces one of the league’s top defensive lines. It’s hard to picture a realistic scenario where the Falcons beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, unless Bijan Robinson goes nuclear.
Chicago Bears 28, Carolina Panthers 17
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With the injuries currently impacting the Carolina Panthers‘ offensive line and the limitations Bryce Young has throwing deep, it is difficult to see the Chicago Bears‘ defense truly being exploited in this one. Chicago might not necessarily win the time of possession battle, but they should create plenty of explosive plays through the air with Luther Burden and Colston Loveland. Maybe the Panthers’ passing game surprises us with a deep shot to Jalen Coker setting up a big score to flip this game, but the realistic outcome is the Bears winning at Bank of America Stadium in convincing fashion.
Jacksonville Jaguars 28, Cleveland Browns 10
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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) is wrapped up by Cleveland Browns linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during the second quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Browns defeated the Jaguars 18-13. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
No game is a guaranteed win in the NFL, but the Jacksonville Jaguars cruising to victory in Week 1 at home against the Cleveland Browns feels like a virtual certainty. Deshaun Watson will give Jacksonville’s defense ample opportunities for takeaways and few units around the league were better at seizing on those chances than this one last season. A suffocating defense paired with the Jaguars’ diverse passing led by Trevor Lawrence forms the ingredients that could lead to a blowout by NFL standards.
Houston Texans 17, Buffalo Bills 14
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The Houston Texans‘ defense just always seems to be the kryptonite for Josh Allen. In 2025, the Buffalo Bills managed just 19 points in a loss with three turnovers and they went 5 of 16 on third down. That came a year after Buffalo scored 20 points on 12 total drives and went 3 of 14 on third down in Houston. We’re not betting against DeMeco Ryans’ defense considering its track record, but C.J. Stroud will give the Bills an opportunity to win this one.
Las Vegas Raiders 24, Miami Dolphins 17
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It’s a battle between two of the league’s worst teams in NFL Week 1. We likely won’t see Fernando Mendoza in this one, with Kirk Cousins drawing the start. Las Vegas has to feel very good about how its offensive line looked during the preseason and clean pass protection is all Cousins will really need to let his pass-catchers, primarily Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer, make plays. As for the Miami Dolphins, this roster just isn’t good enough to win on the road.
Green Bay Packers 27, Minnesota Vikings 24
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The Green Bay Packers will be without Josh Jacobs and edge rusher Micah Parsons in this Week 1 matchup, complicating their chances of winning on the road against the Minnesota Vikings. With that said, we do believe the Packers’ passing game is better than realized entering the 2026 season and there could be some ups and downs for Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray in his first start. This is a coin-flip matchup, but we lean Green Bay.
Related: Game by Game Green Bay Packers Predictions 2026
Philadelphia Eagles 31, Washington Commanders 14
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The Washington Commanders offense appears to be in a very rough spot entering the 2026 NFL season, largely because of the offensive line. It’s the worst possible situation to be dealing with when facing defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. To make matters worse for Washington, it has a first-time offensive play-caller going against one of the most talented defenses in football. Even if Jalen Hurts acclimates slowly to Sean Mannion’s system on the other side, Philadelphia can ride its defense and run game to a one-sided victory.
Los Angeles Chargers 35, Arizona Cardinals 27
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Don’t sleep on the Arizona Cardinals offense in 2026. There are few passing games with a better group of weapons than the collection of Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson and Jeremiyah Love. We also saw this past season that quarterback Jacoby Brissett can put up good numbers with the talent around him. With that acknowledged, the Cardinals’ defense gives them no shot to win against Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1.
Dallas Cowboys 28, New York Giants 17
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The Dallas Cowboys defense is going to exceed the low bar of expectations many around the country have for it in 2026. We’re particularly intrigued to see this front seven, coordinated by Christian Parker, against New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart. While the Giants’ front seven is one of the few units in the league capable of creating consistent pressure on Dak Prescott without blitzing, New York’s secondary is also alarmingly vulnerable and will be exposed by George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb in Week 1.
Denver Broncos 28, Kansas City Chiefs 21
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The Kansas City Chiefs will be relying on quite a few young, inexperienced players this year and the growing pains are often even more apparent in Week 1. Sean Payton will find ways to exploit them on Monday Night Football, especially now that this Denver Broncos offense pairs Courtland Sutton with Jaylen Waddle. While Patrick Mahomes might ordinarily give Kansas City an opportunity to overcome its young defense, that’s less likely to happen in his first real action back off his ACL tear.