NFL 2026 Season Week 1: One Bet For Sunday's Slate
We've already had two games played - including the first ever in Australia, and Sunday's slate has 13 games on it.
The first week of the season has produced some strange results in recent years, including the AFC champions Patriots losing to the Raiders, who finished with a 3-14 record.
Some standout games this weekend include the Bills at the Texans and a mouthwatering NFC North clash between the Packers and Vikings in Minnesota.
We've selected one bet from each game.
Bears @ Panthers, Sunday 6pm
Bears (-3.5)
Chicago was a genuine playoff-caliber team by point differential.
Carolina's record flattered a much worse underlying team. A 3.5-point line undersells that gap.
Buccaneers @ Bengals, Sunday 6pm
Buccaneers +4.5
Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield got his new three-year contract worth $165m signed just in time for their season opener in Cincinnati.
The Bengals need to keep their quarterback Joe Burrow fit if they are to return to the Super Bowl.
Saints @ Lions, Sunday 6pm
Lions -7.5
New Orleans finished bottom of the NFC South with just six wins, and they know three more wins would have seen them win the division.
Detroit also finished fourth in their division - arguably the toughest in the NFL - and a lot is expected of Dan Campbell's team this season.
Jets @ Titans, Sunday 6pm
Under 38.5 Total Points
Between them, these two teams won a combined six games - three wins each, but unless there's a tie, one of them will be 1-0.
These were the two worst offenses in the league last year by points scored (300 and 284) — nothing here suggests a sudden change in scoring output.
Bills @ Texans, Sunday 6pm
Under 45 total points
Buffalo went 12-5 with a +116 point differential behind the league's most explosive offense (481 points scored).
Houston matched that 12-5 record with a +109 point differential built on the AFC's stingiest defense (295 points allowed).
Ravens @ Colts, Sunday 6pm
Colts +3.5
Baltimore finished 8-9 with a modest +26 point differential, competitive but inconsistent in close games.
Indianapolis also went 8-9 but posted a healthier +54 point differential, suggesting they underachieved relative to how they actually played.
Browns @ Jaguars, Sunday 6pm
Jaguars -9.5
Cleveland was among the league's worst teams at 5-12 with a -100 point differential and the NFL's second-lowest scoring offense.
Jacksonville was one of the AFC's best teams at 13-4 with a +138 point differential, tops in their division.
Cardinals @ Chargers, Sunday 6pm
Chargers -9.5
Arizona was the NFC's worst team at 3-14 with a -133 point differential.
Los Angeles went 11-6 with a +28 point differential, a genuine playoff-level season in the AFC West.
Falcons @ Steelers, Sunday 6pm
Steelers -3.5
Pittsburgh was a clearly better team last season on both record and differential and Aaron Rodgers is back for one final season.
Atlanta is a mess after naming Tua Tagovailoa as their starting QB, although he has issues with his back.
Dolphins @ Raiders, Sunday 6pm
Dolphins +3.5
Miami finished 7-10 with a -77 point differential — below average, but far more competitive than Las Vegas.
Las Vegas was one of the league's worst teams at 3-14 with a -191 point differential.
Packers @ Vikings, Sunday 9.25pm
Packers +0.5
Green Bay went 9-7-1 with a +31 point differential, the better underlying number of the two NFC North rivals.
Minnesota finished 9-8 with a +11 point differential, solid but a notch below what Green Bay's numbers show.
Commanders @ Eagles, Sunday 9.25pm
Eagles -4.5
Washington was one of the NFC's worst teams at 5-12 with a -95 point differential.
Philadelphia went 11-6 with a +54 point differential, one of the better overall seasons in the conference.
Cowboys @ Giants, Monday 1.25am
Over 48 Total Points
Dallas finished 7-9-1 with a -40 point differential, a high-scoring but leaky team that put up 471 points while allowing 511.
New York was one of the league's worst teams at 4-13 with a -58 point differential, and still gave up plenty on defense (439 allowed).
