2026 NFL Week 1 Opens Across 4 Days as SportsLine Model Simulates Games 10,000 Times
Updated
Updated · CBS Sports · Sep 13
2026 NFL Week 1 Opens Across 4 Days as SportsLine Model Simulates Games 10,000 Times
3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Sep 13
Summary
Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season begins with games spread over four days, including a Wednesday Super Bowl rematch, Thursday action in Australia, a full Sunday slate and Monday Night Football.
10,000 simulations from SportsLine’s model anchor a broad betting package that also includes expert against-the-spread picks, teaser plays, survivor selections and exact-score projections for every matchup.
Sunday’s highlighted calls include Pittsburgh over Atlanta, Baltimore over Indianapolis, Houston to upset Buffalo, Jacksonville over Cleveland and Detroit to rout New Orleans.
Late-window and prime-time picks lean toward the Chargers over Arizona, Minnesota over Green Bay, Las Vegas over Miami and Philadelphia over Washington, while Cowboys-Giants and Broncos-Chiefs feature under leans.
The opening week also spotlights major offseason changes—from Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh and Kirk Cousins in Las Vegas to Miami’s $181.6 million dead-cap burden and several teams breaking in new coaches or schemes.