All articles tagged with #week 1 2026
Gerry Dulac lays out his 2026 NFL Week 1 predictions for the Post‑Gazette, delivering a game‑by‑game set of picks and final scores across the slate (including a Steelers 27-13 win over the Falcons) for Sunday and Monday matchups.
The MMQB’s Conor Orr unveils the Week 1 2026 NFL power rankings, listing 1–32 with team-by-team takes that crown the Rams at No. 1 and the Seahawks at No. 2, while highlighting early-season questions, injuries, coaching moves, and strategic fit that will shape the opening kickoff and the season ahead.
Four New Orleans Saints players were listed on Wednesday's injury report for Week 1 against the Detroit Lions: TE Oscar Delp (hamstring, did not participate), Audric Estimé (thigh, did not participate), Cameron Jordan (hamstring, did not participate), and Alvin Kamara (knee, limited). The Lions also listed multiple players with injuries across several positions (groin, hamstring, knee, ankle and hand), with some players noted as limited participation, potentially shaping the Week 1 matchup.
New England locked up star corner Christian Gonzalez with a four-year, $135 million extension that pays about $33.75 million per year and includes early guarantees ($53.928 million) and no per‑game roster bonuses in the first two years, representing a strategic win for both sides as Gonzalez lands on the high end of the cornerback market while the Pats set a path for other deals; Breer also notes potential extensions for other top corners, quarterback situations around the league, and notable roster moves ahead of Week 1.
Mike Florio offers his Week 1, 2026 NFL picks for amusement purposes only, predicting winners for all Week 1 games with brief rationale (e.g., Patriots over Seahawks; Rams over 49ers in Melbourne; Texans over Bills; Bengals over Buccaneers; Bears over Panthers; Lions over Saints; Ravens over Colts; Steelers over Falcons; Titans over Jets; Jaguars over Browns; Eagles over Commanders; Vikings over Packers; Chargers over Cardinals; Dolphins over Raiders; Giants over Cowboys; Chiefs over Broncos), while reiterating these should not be used as wagering advice and noting his shift away from betting content toward entertainment discussions.
ProFootballTalk unveils its Week 1 2026 NFL power rankings, ranking the Seahawks No. 1 with the Rams, Texans, Broncos, and Bills in the top five; the full 32-team list previews opening-week dynamics and includes notes on key storylines from Lamar Jackson's new offense to Bryce Young's future in Carolina and Deshaun Watson's two-game audition.
USA TODAY used Microsoft Copilot to predict all 16 Week 1 games for the 2026 NFL season, providing scores and brief rationale for each matchup along with human takes. The article highlights several close games and the general edge for rosters and home-field advantage, while noting occasional AI delays or outdated info in some predictions.
SportsLine's projection model, on a 32-19 run on top-rated college football money-line picks since 2024, simulates Week 1 (10,000 trials) and highlights Auburn (-7.5) over Baylor and Cincinnati (-7.5) over Boston College as strong bets, while also weighing large spreads and key early-season matchups; full picks and win/covers are available to subscribers.