With the 2026 NFL schedules now officially out, we do know where and when teams will play all throughout the regular season. It's a huge marker of any offseason, as the NFL has found a way to also market the schedule release and make it a bit of an event.
The league is also constantly kicking it up a notch with primetime games. It seems like there's a game scheduled for every single day of the week. We're not quite there yet, but it might not be too far away at this point.
To further celebrate the NFL schedule release, let's dive into some way-too-early picks and score predictions for every single game in Week 1.
Early NFL picks and score predictions for every single Week 1 game for 2026
Wednesday, September 9th, 8:20 PM ET
New England Patriots @ Seattle Seahawks
In a rematch of last year's Super Bowl, the Patriots visit the Seahawks, and what we saw in that Super Bowl game was not some one-off result. Seattle is every bit of a juggernaut, but New England seemed to be benefiting from an easy schedule. Seattle gets this game at home and won't skip a beat, beating New England by two scores.
Prediction: Seahawks win 24-14
Thursday, September 10th, 8:35 PM ET
San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams
In a fun NFC West matchup to begin the season, two geniuses in Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay square off. The Rams have the better team and should be able to take care of business, but it always seems like the Shanahan-McVay matchups end up being decided by three points.
Prediction: Rams win 23-20
Sunday, September 13th, 1:00 PM ET
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Cincinnati Bengals
The new-look Bengals defense should be at least average in 2026, and the offense, as we all know, is electric. Cincinnati should take care of business here against a 'good not great' Buccaneers roster.
Prediction: Bengals win 28-20
Sunday, September 13th, 1:00 PM ET
New Orleans Saints @ Detroit Lions
There will be some spoilers in Week 1, as teams are still figuring themselves out - there will be some upsets and some results that we look back on later in the season and wonder how that even happened. The Saints are a frisky team and will shock some people in 2026. They'll get the best of the Lions in a result that could leave us shaking our heads,
Prediction: Saints win 27-23
Sunday, September 13th, 1:00 PM ET
New York Jets @ Tennessee Titans
The Jets and Titans both made some notable changes this offseason, but Tennessee is clearly ahead of New York in their respective rebuilds, as the Titans could have the franchise quarterback in the building in Cam Ward, and the Tennessee coaching staff also appears to be a lot stronger than what the Jets have.
The Titans take care of business and win this one.
Prediction: Titans win 17-14
Sunday, September 13th, 1:00 PM ET
Baltimore Ravens @ Indianapolis Colts
The Ravens are in Indianapolis to face the Colts, a team that got out to a 7-1 start in 2025. It's important to still take note of that, as many of the same players are returning. However, with Daniel Jones' Achilles injury not being 100 percent certain at the moment, there is probably a chance he doesn't suit up for Week 1.
Baltimore hired Jesse Minter as the head coach, and he brings a sharp defensive mind to a team that desperately needed something like that. This should be a game where Baltimore simply takes care of business.
Prediction: Ravens win 27-20
Sunday, September 13th, 1:00 PM ET
Atlanta Falcons @ Pittsburgh Steelers
With Rodgers back in the picture for another season, that does kind of give us a solid baseline for the Steelers for 2026. This isn't going to be a great team, but the Falcons aren't that team, either. The Falcons do boast some exceptional talent on the offensive side of the ball and could gain an advantage over the Steelers in that regard.
Pittsburgh has a lot of average on the roster and could struggle to contain high-end players on either side of the ball. The Falcons win this one.
Prediction: Falcons win 20-17
Sunday, September 13th, 1:00 PM ET
Chicago Bears @ Carolina Panthers
Chicago and Carolina both won their divisions in 2025, but the Bears are the far better team at the moment. Chicago doesn't fall victim to an ugly Week 1 loss and is able to already notch a one-score win.
Prediction: Bears win 24-21
Sunday, September 13th, 1:00 PM ET
Cleveland Browns @ Jacksonville Jaguars
The Cleveland Browns could be a fun team in 2026 if Deshaun Watson wins the starting quarterback job and can at least be competent, as the defense would be boosted a bit by an offense that can at least keep the ball on the field here and there.
This could be one of those games that ends up in a result that not many expect. The Browns defensive line matches up well against the Jacksonville offensive line, and given the uncertainty of Week 1, Cleveland takes this game.
Prediction: Browns win 17-14
Sunday, September 13th, 1:00 PM ET
Buffalo Bills @ Houston Texans
Houston and Buffalo did meet in Houston in 2025, with the Texans winning that low-scoring game by four points. A similar result could happen here. The Texans have the more talented team on paper, and obviously have the home-field advantage.
The Bills also have a new head coach in Joe Brady, so the first-game jitters could get to him in a very tough environment and against a very formidable defense.
Prediction: Texans win 20-17
Sunday, September 13th, 4:25 PM ET
Miami Dolphins @ Las Vegas Raiders
Miami could spoil Las Vegas' home opener in a bit of an upset. It does seem like Kirk Cousins will start for the Raiders for some period of time, but neither team is particularly good on paper. Miami wins a 'ho-hum' game that is kind of just stuffed in the Week 1 schedule.
Prediction: Dolphins win 23-20
Sunday, September 13th, 4:25 PM ET
Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings
In a notable NFC North showdown, the Packers are in Minnesota to face the Vikings, who could have Kyler Murray starting. Even if Murray is the starting quarterback, the Packers are the better team and at least have this high floor. Jordan Love has won precisely nine starts in all three years of his starting tenure with the team.
Prediction: Packers win 24-16
Sunday, September 13th, 4:25 PM ET
Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles
The Commanders added a ton of talent to the roster this offseason, and a healthy Jayden Daniels is a better quarterback than Jalen Hurts. Washington could return to their 2024 selves and be a playoff threat, and they'll kick things off nicely in 2026 with a three-point victory over the Eagles.
Prediction: Commanders win 27-24
Sunday, September 13th, 4:25 PM ET
Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Chargers
The Cardinals could truly be the worst team in the NFL this year, and while the Chargers aren't great, they're more than capable of making this an easy win and a huge blowout. Los Angeles wins and likely has this game over by halftime.
Prediction: Chargers win 28-6
Sunday, September 13th, 8:20 PM ET
Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants
A fun NFC East matchup, both Dallas and New York made some notable changes this offseason. I would prefer Dallas in this matchup, as they have a sure-thing at quarterback and an offense that could again be among the best in the NFL, as it was in 2025.
I am higher on the Giants than some, but it could take some time for New York to get going.
Prediction: Cowboys win 23-21
Monday, September 14th, 8:15 PM ET
Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs
In the final game on the Week 1 slate here in 2026, the Broncos are facing the Chiefs in a massive AFC West showdown, and it's not hard to see why this game got the Monday Night Football slot. I truly question just how game-ready Patrick Mahomes will be, but I'm also not a doctor.
The Chiefs could want to hold Mahomes out of this game since it'd come against the best pass rush in the NFL, and also because the regular season is a marathon, not a sprint. Divisional games are typically always close, so even if Mahomes doesn't suit up for this one, the Broncos could just barely squeeze by with a win.