Buffalo at Houston - The Bills begin their 2026 campaign today, still trying to exorcise the demons of their past. The team's legacy not only includes those four straight Super Bowl appearances, which all ended in defeat, but also more recently, with playoff failures to numerous teams which ended promising seasons. The team that has haunted them the most in recent seasons would be the Kansas City Chiefs, but it was the Denver Broncos who best them in last year's playoffs. They also once lost to Joe Burrow and the Bengals. If Buffalo can get past all of those ghosts and get back to the Super Bowl, they cannot take any game for granted, because home field advantage could be huge. It always seems like they lose two or three games per season that leave you scratching your head, so every game could potentially be crucial this year. They have a tough start, on the road against the Texans, with that tough defense. This is the first test for the Bills, and it is a big one. I will give the Bills the benefit of the doubt and predict them to emerge with a win after a tightly contested opening game. My pick: Buffalo
New Orleans at Detroit - Expect the Saints to be an improved team overall this season. Quite possibly, they may win the NFC South, although admittedly, that is a uniquely weak division. However, improved or not, going on the road to face the Lions is a very tough prospect, because Detroit also seems ready to bounce back from disappointment last season. Expect the Lions offense to be roaring and the defense to be improved, and for the home crowd to be rocking and, at the end, happy after this game. My pick: Detroit
Tampa Bay at Cincinnati - This is an interesting season opener. Both teams have made noise in the playoffs in recent seasons. Yet both teams also have known disappointment in other recent seasons. Both also figure that they could contend for the playoffs, and even a division title, right now. The Bucs only missed yet another division title with a near complete collapse late last season. And the Bengals saw their star quarterback Joe Burrow go out. With him, they always seem like an elite team. Without him, it sometimes feels like they are a basket case. This game should reveal some things about which direction both teams may be heading in. Personally, with Burrow back in the lineup, it feels like this should be a Bengals win. My pick: Cincinnati
Baltimore at Indianapolis - Two more teams who seemed to look promising at points last season, only to miss out on the playoffs. For the Ravens, they barely missed out after a failed field goal attempt in the regular season finale. For the Colts, they raced out to an awesome 8-2 start and appeared to rank among the elites, before there was a complete collapse, as they failed to win a single game again all season. Baltimore has a new coach and is trying for a fresh start. They will be tough, but I expect the Colts to come up with the goods in this one. My pick: Indianapolis
Chicago at Carolina - The Panthers won the NFC South last year. That is the good news. The bad news was that they were one of those relatively rare teams to do so with a losing record. Then they got bounced from the postseason immediately. And that is why most people do not take them too seriously. Meanwhile, the Bears won the NFC North and had some people raving. Some expect them to rank among the elites this season. If that is to happen, than they likely need to show it immediately by winning a game that they should be able to take, even on the road. Da Bears are a better overall team than Carolina, and they should be able to show it in this one. My pick: Chicago
Atlanta at Pittsburgh - Some people never learn their lesson. Aaron Rodgers talked big when he became the starting QB for the Jets, claiming that they would surely be in the Super Bowl. Gang Green never came close, and Rodgers himself sometimes is faulted as the major reason why. Yet here he goes again, predicting huge things for the Steelers, claiming that they are a Super Bowl-bound team. Personally, I don't believe that for a minute. But if they are, they need to prove it week in and week out. The Falcons should be an improved team, but I have to expect that the Steelers, whether or not they reach the big game, should have enough to win this one. My pick: Pittsburgh
Cleveland at Jacksonville - The Jaguars put together a mighty impressive season last year. They had a decent defense, plus they had Trevor Lawrence bringing a little bit of explosiveness potential to the offense. Yet despite that, they were knocked out in their very first playoff game against Buffalo. Meanwhile, the Browns had another disappointing year last season. Clearly, they want to bounce back. Maybe the Browns improve this season, but a road game against the Jaguars feels like a very tall order. My pick: Jax
Green Bay at Minnesota - The Packers figured to rank among the elites last season. And while they did reach the playoffs, they hardly looked like a team that met expectations. And in the playoffs, they built a solid lead against the Bears, only to collapse and lose right at the end. Now, doubters are starting to have their say. Meanwhile, the Vikings went from 14-3 in 2024 to a losing season last year and last place in the NFC North. They are unpredictable, and may either be surprisingly good or bad, or anywhere in between. They are a hard team to figure out, frankly. But expect them to beat the Pack in this home opener. My pick: Minnesota
Arizona at LA Chargers - The Cardinals started last season 2-0. Then they went 1-14 the rest of the way. They had one of the worst defenses in the entire league, and their offense just could not keep up with an extremely leaky defense. The Chargers, meanwhile, flirted with being an elite team. Yet they finished second and lost immediately in the postseason. Still, it was a promising start for the new Jim Harbaugh era. Expect them to keep building and improving from there, including what should be a win for them in this home opener. My pick: LA Chargers
Miami at Las Vegas - The Fins recovered a bit from a dismal start to the season last year. Yet, they were never a serious contender or anything. However, the team they are facing on the road today were serious contenders for being the worst team in the entire league last year. That means that this would be a good opportunity for the Dolphins to notch their first win right away. Of course, the Raiders have had time to prepare and may have something to say about it. Still, expect the Fins to do enough to pull it off and get that important first win under their belts. My pick: Miami
Washington at Philadelphia - Both of these teams are trying to bounce back from disappointing seasons last year, where they did not meet expectations. Washington was in the NFC Championship Game the year before, but never recovered from a bad start last season. Meanwhile, the Eagles were defending champions last season, and did manage to get off to a decent start, and even won the NFC East division title. But they got bounced out of the playoffs right away, making that Super Bowl run feel like a distant memory. If Philly hopes to recover, it needs to start with an important divisional win today. A loss would really not send the right message. The Commanders should be better than last year, but a road game against the Eagles is probably a little bit too much to ask of them. My pick: Philly
Sunday Night Football: Dallas at NY Giants - For many years, the NFL seemed to think that this was one of the games which they should should open the season with on a nationally televised game. And it made fans of the G-Men sick, because they just could not beat the 'Boys for years. Well, they got a win - exactly one win - last season. Still, the Cowboys feel like the better of the two teams. As a Giants fan, I would like to believe. But history has told me differently in recent years. And I'm sticking with that My pick: Dallas
Monday Night Football: Denver at Kansas City - This game should begin to provide some answers as to how Patrick Mahomes is and if he will return to his elite form, or if the diminished status he seemed to play with last season is more permanent. I suspect that KC will be tougher overall against the Broncos than they have been in their last three meetings against the Broncos, all of which were won by Denver. That means that this is a big test, but KC has had time to prepare. Not sure that I expect the Chiefs to return to elite level and be back in the Super Bowl. But they should win this one. My pick: Kansas City
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