NFL Week 1 Picks 2026: Game-by-Game Predictions & Winner Guide

NFL Week 1 picks 2026 cover all 16 games across four days, starting Wednesday, September 9 with a Super Bowl LX rematch in Seattle and ending with Patrick Mahomes back on Monday night. Every pick below is straight up, with the injury news that shaped it.

Week 1 also brings the first regular season game in Australia, ten head coaching debuts and new starting quarterbacks in Minnesota, Las Vegas, Atlanta and New York. Full kickoff times and TV are in the NFL Week 1 schedule, and you can track your own calls on the printable Week 1 pick’em sheet. These are fan predictions for entertainment and discussion.

Wednesday, September 9

New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks, 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock

Seattle won Super Bowl LX over New England 29 to 13, and most of that title defense is back. Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba run the offense under new coordinator Brian Fleury after Klint Kubiak left to coach the Raiders, and Kenneth Walker III is gone to Kansas City.

Drake Maye adds A.J. Brown as his top target, but rookie back TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) and center Ben Brown (knee) are ruled out. Seattle lists safety Ty Okada out and Nick Emmanwori questionable. Banner night at Lumen Field is a hard place to open.

✅ Pick: Seahawks

Thursday, September 10

San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams, 8:35 p.m. ET on Netflix (Melbourne, Australia)

The first regular season game in Australia is at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with the Rams as the home team. Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua lead the offense, and the defense added Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie. Aaron Donald came out of retirement but did not travel and will not play.

Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey are healthy, and George Kittle returns from an Achilles tear on a managed snap count. San Francisco lost defensive tackle Alfred Collins for the season with a torn patellar tendon in Melbourne. The Rams have the deeper roster.

✅ Pick: Rams

Sunday, September 13: Early Games (1:00 p.m. ET)

Chicago Bears at Carolina Panthers (FOX)

Caleb Williams enters year three in a settled Ben Johnson offense. Rome Odunze has a new foot issue and is day to day, but Luther Burden and Colston Loveland give Chicago depth. Carolina has offensive line injuries that limit what Bryce Young can do downfield.

Pick: Bears

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals (FOX)

Joe Burrow has Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins cleared after minor scares in camp. Baker Mayfield signed a three year extension this week, and Emeka Egbuka (turf toe) is trending toward playing. Cincinnati at home has the firepower edge.

Pick: Bengals

New Orleans Saints at Detroit Lions (FOX)

Detroit is a contender again behind Jared Goff and Jahmyr Gibbs, though Isiah Pacheco starts the year on injured reserve. New Orleans is likely without Alvin Kamara (knee) and has rookie receiver Jordyn Tyson on IR. Ford Field is a rough opener for the Saints.

Pick: Lions

Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers (FOX)

Two new head coaches meet. Mike McCarthy reunites with Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh. Kevin Stefanski starts Tua Tagovailoa in Atlanta because Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is not ready. The Falcons pass rush is thin with Jalon Walker on IR and James Pearce Jr. suspended, so Rodgers should get clean pockets.

Pick: Steelers

Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans (CBS)

Joe Brady makes his head coaching debut with Josh Allen, James Cook and new receiver DJ Moore. Buffalo has lost its last five regular season trips to Houston and has not won there since 2006. C.J. Stroud has a rebuilt offensive line, but Allen tilts a close one.

Pick: Bills

Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts (CBS)

Jesse Minter takes over as Ravens head coach with Lamar Jackson still the difference maker. Daniel Jones makes his first start since tearing his Achilles in Week 14 last season, with Jonathan Taylor and Alec Pierce (ankle, expected to play) beside him. Baltimore controls tempo.

Pick: Ravens

Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars (CBS)

Deshaun Watson makes his first start since 2024 under new coach Todd Monken, with Myles Garrett traded to the Rams. Jacksonville went 13 and 4 and won the AFC South last year with a defense that feeds on takeaways. Trevor Lawrence at home is the clear choice.

Pick: Jaguars

New York Jets at Tennessee Titans (CBS)

Robert Saleh faces his former team in his Titans debut and calls the defense himself. Cam Ward starts year two under new coordinator Brian Daboll with Calvin Ridley, Wan’Dale Robinson and rookie Carnell Tate. Geno Smith is back with the Jets after a year in Las Vegas, but New York went 3 and 14 in 2025 and opens on the road.

Pick: Titans

Sunday, September 13: Late Games (4:25 p.m. ET)

Miami Dolphins at Las Vegas Raiders (FOX)

Kirk Cousins starts for new coach Klint Kubiak, with No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza as the backup and Brock Bowers as the top target. Ashton Jeanty (ankle) is expected to play. Miami is rebuilding under Jeff Hafley after trading Jaylen Waddle to Denver.

Pick: Raiders

Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles (FOX)

Philadelphia opens without A.J. Brown for the first time in years, but Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and a Vic Fangio defense remain. Jayden Daniels leads a healthy Washington team that pushed the Eagles last season. Home field decides it.

Pick: Eagles

Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Chargers (CBS)

Justin Herbert has a healthy offensive line and new play caller Mike McDaniel. Mike LaFleur makes his head coaching debut for Arizona with Marvin Harrison Jr., Trey McBride and rookie back Jeremiyah Love, who is expected to play behind Tyler Allgeier after an ankle injury. The Cardinals defense is the problem.

Pick: Chargers

Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings (CBS)

Kyler Murray makes his Vikings debut after winning the job over J.J. McCarthy, with Justin Jefferson waiting. Green Bay is without Micah Parsons (PUP list, at least four games) and Josh Jacobs. Jordan Love keeps it close, but U.S. Bank Stadium tips it to Minnesota.

Pick: Vikings

Sunday Night Football

Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants, 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock

John Harbaugh makes his Giants debut with second year quarterback Jaxson Dart, who beat Dallas 34 to 17 at home last season. Malik Nabers is expected to play in his return from an ACL tear, and he is the only proven receiver after Darius Slayton was released. Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens face a thin Giants secondary.

Pick: Cowboys

Monday Night Football

Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN

Patrick Mahomes is expected to start his first game since tearing his ACL and LCL in December, and Kenneth Walker III joins the backfield. Bo Nix now has Jaylen Waddle next to Courtland Sutton after Denver went 11 and 2 in one score games last year. Arrowhead on Monday night and a healthy Mahomes flip that script.

Pick: Chiefs

NFL Week 1 Picks 2026: Quick Recap

Date	Matchup	Time (ET)	TV	Pick
Wed, Sep 9	Patriots at Seahawks	8:20 PM	NBC	Seahawks
Thu, Sep 10	49ers at Rams (Australia)	8:35 PM	Netflix	Rams
Sun, Sep 13	Bears at Panthers	1:00 PM	FOX	Bears
Sun, Sep 13	Buccaneers at Bengals	1:00 PM	FOX	Bengals
Sun, Sep 13	Saints at Lions	1:00 PM	FOX	Lions
Sun, Sep 13	Falcons at Steelers	1:00 PM	FOX	Steelers
Sun, Sep 13	Bills at Texans	1:00 PM	CBS	Bills
Sun, Sep 13	Ravens at Colts	1:00 PM	CBS	Ravens
Sun, Sep 13	Browns at Jaguars	1:00 PM	CBS	Jaguars
Sun, Sep 13	Jets at Titans	1:00 PM	CBS	Titans
Sun, Sep 13	Dolphins at Raiders	4:25 PM	FOX	Raiders
Sun, Sep 13	Commanders at Eagles	4:25 PM	FOX	Eagles
Sun, Sep 13	Cardinals at Chargers	4:25 PM	CBS	Chargers
Sun, Sep 13	Packers at Vikings	4:25 PM	CBS	Vikings
Sun, Sep 13	Cowboys at Giants (SNF)	8:20 PM	NBC	Cowboys
Mon, Sep 14	Broncos at Chiefs (MNF)	8:15 PM	ABC/ESPN	Chiefs

Running a pool? Print the free NFL Week 1 pick’em sheet. For venues and streaming options see the NFL Week 1 Schedule 2026, and check NFL bye weeks for the rest of the season.

Week 1 Injuries That Shape the Picks

• Out: TreVeyon Henderson (NE), Ben Brown (NE), Aaron Donald (LAR, inactive), Alfred Collins (SF, season), Jalon Walker (ATL, IR), James Pearce Jr. (ATL, suspended), Micah Parsons (GB, PUP), Josh Jacobs (GB), Jordyn Tyson (NO, IR), Jayden Higgins (HOU, season), Tank Dell (HOU, IR), Isiah Pacheco (DET, IR).
• Doubtful or day to day: Alvin Kamara (NO, knee), Rome Odunze (CHI, foot), Michael Penix Jr. (ATL, knee).
• Expected to play: Patrick Mahomes (KC), George Kittle (SF), Malik Nabers (NYG), Daniel Jones (IND), Emeka Egbuka (TB), Ashton Jeanty (LV), Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins (CIN), Alec Pierce (IND), Jeremiyah Love (ARI).

Injury statuses are current as of Wednesday, September 9 and will change with the final Friday reports.

Most Watchable Games of Week 1

• Patriots at Seahawks: Super Bowl LX rematch on banner night in Seattle.
• 49ers at Rams (Melbourne): NFC West rivals make history in Australia on Netflix.
• Packers at Vikings: Kyler Murray’s Minnesota debut against a shorthanded rival.
• Cowboys at Giants (SNF): John Harbaugh’s Giants debut against a division rival.
• Broncos at Chiefs (MNF): Patrick Mahomes returns in an AFC West showdown.

FAQs about NFL Week 1 Picks 2026

NFL Week 1 picks 2026 lean on healthy quarterbacks, home crowds and the injury list above. Seattle, the Rams and the Chiefs headline the standalone games, and Sunday favors the home teams in most spots. We will update this page with results as each game finishes.