POPULAR BOB'S NFL FORECAST
NFL opener features Super Bowl rematch
The Patriots and Seahawks open the NFL season in a rematch of last year's Super Bowl, while the Rams and 49ers make history in Australia
A rare Week 1 meeting between the previous season's Super Bowl combatants is among the highlights this week when the NFL kicks off season No. 107 on Wednesday night with New England playing at defending champion Seattle.
Another must see/listen game is scheduled for Thursday night (U.S. time) when the LA Rams and San Francisco tangle in the first league game ever played in Australia.
Across the board, six rookie head coaches will be making their debuts (with Arizona, Baltimore, Buffalo, Cleveland, Las Vegas and Miami), the most in a season since there were seven in 2021. Over the past five years in openers, first-time bosses have gone 12-10 straight up when dueling with a veteran coach, but 9-13 ATS. However, it doesn't look good for them this week.
Here鈥檚 a closer look at the 16 matchups. Odds are courtesy of teamrankings.com (2025 regular-season records in parentheses; all times MDT).
Wednesday
鈥�> New England Patriots (14-3) at Seattle Seahawks (14-3), 6:20 p.m.
Seahawks -3 (44.5 O/U)
Seattle's pass rush and offensive ground game were key reasons it bashed New England in last year's title game. But Super Bowl MVP running back Kenny Walker was lost in free agency and backup Zach Charbonnet is on IR (knee). The RB expected to get the bulk of the carries is Notre Dame rookie Jadarian Price, who averaged only 9.4 carries a game as a backup last season.
A key for the Patriots is whether second-year OLT Will Campbell can improve his pass blocking. New England yielded a record 21 sacks in last year's playoffs.
One more thing: In league history, defending champs have gone 8-3 SU/ATS in regular-season rematches from the previous season's Super Bowl. And this is only the third time they've met in a season opener.
Forecast: Seahawks 17, Patriots 16
Thursday
鈥�&驳迟;&苍产蝉辫;San Francisco 49ers (12-5) vs. LA Rams (12-5) in Australia, 6:35 p.m.
Rams -3.5 (48.5 O/U)
In the first game to ever be played in Australia, San Francisco has the difficult assignment of facing the league's heavy favorite to win the Super Bowl.
Making matters worse is that, as of Tuesday afternoon, the 49ers had 10 starters dealing with injury issues and listed as questionable, including six on offense. Among them RB Christian McCaffrey and TE George Kittle.
However, it may help San Francisco that they鈥檒l only be facing half of the Rams鈥� Fearsome Twosome in Myles Garrett. The other half of the duo, Aaron Donald, who came out of retirement in August, did not make the trip Down Under.
But, LA did revamp its secondary with high-profile talent, which was the weakest part of its defense in 2025.
Forecast: Rams 28, 49ers 17
Sunday
鈥�> Tampa Bay Bucs (8-9) at Cincinnati Bengals (6-11), 11 a.m.
Bengals -3.5 (50.5 O/U)
Coach Zac Taylor's Bengals had big-time trouble opening seasons his first six years in the league, going a cumulative 1-11 in Weeks 1-2 from 2019-2024. Then last year Cincinnati won its first two. Maybe he's found the formula. QB Joe Burrow and Pro Bowl WRs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins should thrive against a Bucs squad that probably won't put much pressure on the QB.
Forecast: Bengals 30, Bucs 20
鈥�> New Orleans Saints (6-11) at Detroit Lions 9-8), 11 a.m.
Lions -7 (49.5 O/U)
In a game between teams with the easiest schedules, based on their foes' win expectancies, the Lions will be without their top-notch safeties. Uh-oh! But on offense Detroit should have enough strength at RB in Jahmyr Gibbs (1,224 yards, 5.0 yards per carry in 2025) against a Saints defense that lost its its two top tacklers in free agency.
Forecast: Lions 24, Saints 14
鈥�> NY Jets (3-14) at Tennessee Titans (3-14), 11 a.m.
Titans -1.5 (39.5 O/U)
Ex-Jets coach Robert Saleh, who was fired midseason in 2024, makes his debut for Tennessee. It's ironic that his first victory for NYJ came against Tennessee in 2024. And his next to last triumph, too, two years ago. Can't trust a Jets team whose top RB, Breece Hall, is dealing with a groin injury.
Forecast: Titans 27, Jets 14
鈥�> Baltimore Ravens (8-9) at Indianapolis Colts (8-9), 11 a.m.
Ravens -3.5 (47.5 O/U)
Indy QB Daniel Jones, who led the Colts to an 8-4 record last hear before tearing his Achilles, reportedly will be a full-go for the opener. And so will RB Jonathan Taylor, their top dog whose 1,585 rushing yards tied for third most in the league last year.
Forecast: Colts 31, Ravens 20
鈥�> Atlanta Falcons (8-9) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7), 11 a.m.
Steelers - 3.5 (42.5 O/U)
Former Miami starter Tua Tagovailoa gets the QB nod for the Falcons over last year's No. 1 guy, Michael Penix Jr. It won't matter against Pittsburgh, which added 1,000-yard rusher Rico Dowdle in the offseason.
Forecast: Steelers 28, Falcons 13
鈥�&驳迟;&苍产蝉辫;Chicago Bears (11-6) at Carolina Panthers (8-9), 11 a.m.
Bears -3 (47 O/U)
Chicago's offense should have a big day, and so should Carolina's in what likely will be a scorefest.
Forecast: Bears 37, Panthers 27
鈥�> Cleveland Browns (5-12) at Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4), 11 a.m.
Jaguars -8.5 (40.5 O/U)
Is it too early for the Browns to start tanking?
Forecast: Jaguars 31, Browns 13
鈥�> Buffalo Bills (12-5) at Houston Texans (12-5), 11 a.m.
Bills -1 (44.5)
Buffalo QB Josh Allen faces his Kryptonite, a Texans team that held him to a career-low 30 percent completion rate in a Houston home victory in 2024 and last year gave him a career-high eight sacks in another defeat in Houston.
Forecast: Texans 23, Bills 17
鈥�&驳迟;&苍产蝉辫;Miami Dolphins (7-10) at Las Vegas (3-14), 2:25 p.m.
Raiders -3.5 (40.5)
Enough said.
Forecast: Dolphins 20, Raiders 10
鈥�&驳迟;&苍产蝉辫;Green Bay Packers (9-7-1) at Minnesota Vikings (9-8), 2:25 p.m.
Vikings -1.5 (46.5 O/U)
The Packers ended last season on a five-game losing streak after standout QB harasser Micah Parsons tore his ACL. He's still out. And workhorse RB Josh Jacobs is on the Commissioner's Exempt List..
Forecast: Vikings 24, Packers 21
鈥�> Washington Commanders (5-12) at Philadelphia t(11-6, 2:25 p.m.
Eagles -5.5 (44.5 O/U)
The Eagles have a highly rated offensive line going against a team that gave up the most yards per game in 2025.
Forecast: Eagles 35, Commanders 24
鈥�> Arizona Cardinals (3-14) at LA Chargers (11-6), 2:25 p.m.
Chargers -9.5 (47.5 O/U)
Rookie coach Mike LaFleur's Cardinals are forecast to be an underdog in each of their 17 games. We'll soon see why.
Forecast: Chargers 34, Cardinals 17
鈥�> Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1) at NY Giants (4-13), 6:20 p.m.
Cowboys -3 (48.5 O/U)
All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith (thumb) will miss the first four games. That could stunt an offense that will be going against a NYG defense loaded with high-octane pass rushers. Plus, Giants star WR Malik Nabers looks like he'll be ready to go.
Forecast: Giants 28, Cowboys 24
Monday
鈥�> Denver Broncos (14-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (6-11), 6:15 p.m.
Chiefs -2.5 (43.5 O/U)
It's about the QBs. Denver's Bo Nix is reported to be fully healthy after fracturing his ankle in the division round last year. But KC's Patrick Mahomes likely won't be 100 percent coming off ACL surgery last winter.
Forecast: Broncos 27, Chiefs 20
