The 2026-27 NFL season is off to the races, and while the Super Bowl favourite Los Angeles Rams may have stumbled out of the gate, we’re back to help keep your picks up and running throughout the season.
Week 1 is jam-packed with divisional matchups, head-coaching debuts and franchises that have done serious remodelling.
Here is everything to note in your predictions as football returns for another 18-week marathon.
Buffalo Bills @ Houston Texans: 1 p.m. ET
Josh Allen rolls into Houston looking to exorcise some demons. He is 1-4 all-time against the Texans, with the lone win coming at home.
That said, with the addition of wide receiver DJ Moore and offensive coordinator Joe Brady taking over as head coach, the Bills’ offence is taking steps in a positive direction.
But the real changes came on defence after former head coach Sean McDermott was ousted along with defensive coordinator Bobby Babich. Enter Jim Leonhard, who has flipped the scheme on its head in hopes of creating a more explosive and unpredictable group.
Look for the revamped Bills to make a statement in Week 1.
Chicago Bears @ Carolina Panthers: 1 p.m. ET
Caleb Williams and the Bears surprised many last season when they captured the NFC North and lost by a field goal to the Rams in the divisional round. Now they’re reloaded and ready for another run in 2026.
Bryce Young and the Panthers also shocked many last year when they rebounded mid-season to claim the NFC South and lost by a field goal to the Rams in the wild-card round. They’ve also retooled and are ready for another push in 2026.
Sneakily one of the best matchups of Week 1, this will be a closer game than many expect. But the Bears will be fighting for a hot start to their much tougher path as they aim to defend their division title.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Cincinnati Bengals: 1 p.m. ET
Baker Mayfield was reportedly just as surprised as the rest of the league that his new three-year, $165-million deal was inching closer to reality. With those distractions now aside the Buccaneers can return their focus to the field, where the loss of future hall-of-famer Mike Evans is set to sting.
But the Bengals defence was among the worst in the NFL in a lot of categories in 2025-26, which will not surprise Mayfield or his new offensive coordinator Zach Robinson who will be ready to take shots at will.
Bengals head coach Zach Taylor is well aware that his seat is one of the hottest in the league and has more than enough power on offence to win games but can the Bengals rebound enough on the defensive side to support a healthy Joe Burrow?
The hook is sitting in Tampa Bay’s favour in what is sure to be a high-scoring game.
Baltimore Ravens @ Indianapolis Colts: 1 p.m. ET
A new era begins in Baltimore as head coach Jesse Minter will lead the Ravens onto the field for the first time. But all eyes will be on Lamar Jackson, who is coming off an injury-riddled season. With a freshly signed Zay Flowers, Derrick Henry showing no signs of losing horsepower in the backfield and an able-bodied Jackson, the Ravens are still the betting favourites to win an evolving AFC North.
The Colts got off to an unexpectedly strong start last season, led by Daniel Jones’ incredible resurgence, but it all came crashing down when he exited their Week 14 matchup with a season-ending Achilles injury. Jones is set to return just 9 months later, and the Ravens will be itching to make a statement after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
Atlanta Falcons @ Pittsburgh Steelers: 1 p.m. ET
The Steelers will introduce just their fourth head coach since 1969 as Mike McCarthy returns to his hometown to reunite with old friend Aaron Rodgers — who has announced that it will be his last season in the NFL.
Quarterbacks will be the focal point in this matchup, as the 42-year-old Rodgers will look to connect with new weapon Michael Pittman and rookies Germie Bernard and Kaden Wetjen after lacking true route runners outside of DK Metcalf in last season’s push into the playoffs.
On the other side of the field, third-stringer Cooper Rush will be tasked with the start after both Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa were ruled out ahead of the contest with injuries. His hands will be full as the Steelers’ pass rush remains among the best in the NFL with T. J. Watt, Nick Herbig and Alex Highsmith set to pick up right where they left off.
New York Jets @ Tennessee Titans: 1 p.m. ET
Head coach Robert Saleh looks poised to dominate his former team as he makes his debut at the helm of the Titans. Tennessee should take a big step offensively, as 2025 No. 1 pick Cam Ward will now team up with newly hired coordinator Brian Daboll and wide receiver Carnell Tate, who was the fourth overall selection in 2026.
Speaking of picks, the Jets failed to record a single interception across the entire 2025-26 season. While they completely overhauled their staff under Saleh’s eventual successor, Aaron Glenn, the changes they made on both sides of the ball won’t pull them out of the AFC East’s basement alongside the Dolphins.
New Orleans Saints @ Detroit Lions: 1 p.m. ET
The Lions battled injuries en route to a middling 9-8 record last season and missed the playoffs entirely after entering the year with Super Bowl expectations. Now, with a healthier roster heading into the year, they are once again favoured to capture the NFC North.
While the Saints have an improved group to pair with second-year quarterback Tyler Shough and could turn some heads as the season unfolds, rolling into Detroit and upsetting the Lions would be a massive feat. But a touchdown spread is quite large for a Lions team that still needs to prove they’re back in top form.
Cleveland Browns @ Jacksonville Jaguars: 1 p.m. ET
Newly hired head coach Todd Monken has determined that Deshaun Watson will be the Week 1 starter over Shedeur Sanders for the ever-rebuilding Browns, much to the dismay of the fan base.
Whoever he chose didn’t mean much to the Jaguars, who are on the opposite end of the spectrum and are returning with much of the same group on offence after dropping a close wild-card game to the Bills last season. They’ll be hungry for plenty more.
This isn’t one to overthink; the Jaguars should open the year with a roar.
Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles: 4:25 p.m. ET
One of the marquee matchups is the first of two huge NFC East clashes on the docket. Jayden Daniels and the Commanders storm into Philadelphia after falling from the NFC title game in 2024-25 to just a five-win season last year.
Jalen Hurts awaits with a new No. 1 target in 2020 Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith, along with the 20th overall selection in 2026, Makai Lemon. Hurts is under the guidance of a new offensive coordinator for the 11th time in 11 seasons in both college and the NFL, proving that a change in targets will be nothing new to the Super Bowl LIX MVP.
Five and a half is too high for an early divisional clash; expect the Commanders to cover a close contest with the Eagles muscling out a victory late.
Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings: 4:25 p.m. ET
Kyler Murray is kicking off his Vikings tenure with a divisional tilt against Jordan Love and the Packers in a tightly contested NFC North division.
On the other side of Murray and the Vikings offence will be his former head coach in Arizona, Jonathan Gannon, who is taking over the Packers defence after his dismissal in the desert.
The Packers lost five straight games to end last season, including a wild-card game to the Bears, squandering not only the division but another year of quarterback Jordan Love’s prime. They’ll be without star running back Josh Jacobs after he pleaded no contest to misdemeanour charges of battery and criminal damage to property and is currently on the Commissioner’s Exempt List.
Despite also missing Micah Parsons, the Packers defence should take advantage of Gannon’s familiarity and a quarterback learning an entirely new system.
Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Chargers: 4:25 p.m. ET
The Chargers will debut their reinvented offence under new coordinator and guru Mike McDaniel as they try to return to the playoffs following last year’s disappointing loss to the New England Patriots in the wild-card round.
With household names Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater back to begin the year on an offensive line that was badly battered last season, Justin Herbert will be set up for more consistency.
The Cardinals are entering the season with new head coach Mike LaFleur and Jacoby Brissett at quarterback, coming off a terrible 3-14 season. They could also be missing 2026 third-overall selection Jeremiyah Love, who is listed as questionable with an ankle sprain.
This should be a springboard into a fast start for the Bolts.
Miami Dolphins @ Las Vegas Raiders: 4:25 p.m. ET
While both teams host fresh head coaches and new quarterbacks these are two franchises heading in opposite directions.
The Raiders have weapons on both sides of the ball and 2026 first-overall pick Fernando Mendoza learning behind veteran Kirk Cousins. Meanwhile, the Dolphins lack any offensive talent outside of the running back position and have more rookies on their active roster than any other franchise, with 13.
Jeff Hafley and Malik Willis will have a tough year on their hands unless there are real surprises from multiple first-year players.
Las Vegas should easily handle this field-goal spread.
Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants: 8:20 p.m. ET
Sunday night hosts the other NFC East matchup as the Cowboys ride into New York where the new-look Giants are eager to begin the John Harbaugh era.
Jaxson Dart will have running back Cam Skattebo back at his disposal but his top wideout Malik Nabers remains questionable as he returns from a season-ending ACL injury suffered in Week 4 last season.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys have missed the playoffs in two straight seasons, but have high expectations of making a return with head coach Brian Schottenheimer entering his second season. He has a healthy Dak Prescott and a two-headed monster in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens atop his receiver room, not to mention a restocked defence from the Micah Parsons trade.
The Giants may be on a road to relevance once again, but they’ll hit an early speed bump as the Cowboys get out to a hot start.
Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs: 8:15 p.m. ET (Monday)
After finally knocking the Chiefs from atop the AFC West division in 2025-26 the Broncos’ fate was sealed after Bo Nix broke his ankle in their divisional-round victory over the Bills. With Nix back under centre to start the year alongside off-season acquisition Jaylen Waddle, Sean Payton has even more to work with on offence.
On the other side, Patrick Mahomes is returning from a major injury for the first time in his illustrious career. While many were quick to declare the Chiefs’ dynasty over after finishing 6-11 last year, they’ll be out to prove that Travis Kelce made the right choice to run it back one more time. Not to mention, they picked up last year’s Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker to help even out their passing and running attack.
With both quarterbacks coming off major leg injuries, it will be interesting to see who can shake the rust off first. This is set to be another close primetime matchup.
*BetMGM lines subject to change