The Silcoff Selections: NFL Week 1 Predictions – Straight Up & Against the Spread Picks

After a long wait, we are back! The NFL returns this week with not just a full Sunday slate, but games on Wednesday and Thursday as well. Throughout this season, I will be predicting games straight up, picking the winners and the spreads for each game.

Be on the lookout later on throughout the week as well, as I'll be predicting a touchdown scorer in each game. This is going to be something I'm starting this year, and I'll keep track throughout the season to see how we do and if we're profitable. But that will be on here later this week.

Let's get into it. Let's not keep you waiting much longer. Here are my picks for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season!

Wednesday Night Opener: New England Patriots @ Seattle Seahawks I Line: Seahawks -3.5

The 2026 season ends the same way the 2025 season ended, with the Seahawks taking on the Patriots, and I do expect this to be a much more competitive game than the Super Bowl was in February.

I think New England improved its roster, while Seattle, for the most part, is running it back with a few departures.

I will be interested to see how the Seahawks' new offense looks under new OC Brian Fleury, and I think it could be a slow start for that unit in Week 1.

I expect it to be an ugly game, low-scoring, but at home on banner night, the Seahawks defense closes it out to get it done in a close one, likely coming down to the final minutes.

Score Prediction: Seahawks 23, Patriots 17

ATS Pick: Seahawks -3.5

Thursday Australia Game: San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams I Line: Rams -3.5

The Rams will debut their new super team with Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald on the defensive line in Australia against the 49ers.

The Rams actually forced the 49ers into this game, as they picked to take on the Niners when they were given this international game.

The storyline is going to be about how both teams travelled out to this game. The Niners are already in Australia and have been there for a few days, while the Rams are actually leaving, I believe, the day before and getting there either the day of the game or just a day before.

And everyone's going to be glazing the Rams this season (and they already are). Some people are already ready to just give them the Lombardi Trophy.

But Kyle Shanahan has historically had Sean McVay's number, aside from the NFC Championship Game. I think the 49ers get the job done and pull off an early-season upset to set the tone for the rest of the league that they are not just bowing down to the Rams.

Score Prediction: 49ers 23, Rams 20

ATS Pick: 49ers +3.5

Early Sunday Slate

Buffalo Bills @ Houston Texans I Line: Bills -1.5

The NFL gave us a game that might already have AFC playoff implications when the Bills travel to Houston to take on the Texans. Josh Allen has historically struggled against this Texans defense, and I don't think the Bills' defense will do enough to frustrate C.J. Stroud, who is looking to bounce back after an awful season last year. This is a pick I'm actually extremely confident in. I like the Texans as home dogs.

Score Prediction: Texans 23, Bills 16

ATS Pick: Texans +1.5

Atlanta Falcons @ Pittsburgh Steelers I Line: Steelers -3.5

There aren't many teams I like less than the Falcons going into this year. It was just announced this week that Tua Tagovailoa will be the team's starting quarterback, and the fact that it took this long into training camp or the week of the season tells me how little confidence they have in him. There's a scenario where I could see Kevin Stefanski getting Bijan Robinson going, because we know how much he loves to run the ball, but I think the Steelers have improved this offseason, especially on defense. I'm also higher on their offense than most people and just the team in general. I think Mike McCarthy will be a solid enough coach to improve this offense. Aaron Rodgers kicks off his last season in the NFL with a comfortable home win.

Score Prediction: Steelers 24, Falcons 13

ATS Pick: Steelers -3.5

Baltimore Ravens @ Indianapolis Colts I Line: Ravens -3.5

This is actually one of the games I'm most interested in watching because of how hot the Colts started last year, and their season got ruined by Daniel Jones's injuries down the stretch. He should be back for this game. Then there's the Ravens, there are not many teams I'm higher on going into this year. I think Lamar bounces back. I think Derrick Henry shows no signs of age, and I think Jesse Minter will be in contention for Coach of the Year if the Ravens are up to expectations.  It seems like everyone is going to be on the Ravens this week. The hook scares me. I think the Colts play them tough. I think Jonathan Taylor has a big game, but Baltimore gets the win in the end.

Score Prediction: Ravens 27, Colts 20

ATS Pick: Ravens -3.5

Chicago Bears @ Carolina Panthers I Line: Bears -3

As of writing this, it is expected there will be a bit of drizzle on Sunday in Carolina. Obviously, that could change, but it still really doesn't change my opinion on this game. The Bears are the better team. Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson should have an improved second year together on offense, but I really don't trust this Bears defense at all, and I do think that will be the downfall of their season. The Panthers I was fairly high on to at least compete for the NFC South, but injuries have ruined their training camp. I think this is going to be a higher-scoring game. Carolina puts up a fight at home, but Chicago just outguns them and probably pulls away near the end like they usually do. The Bears start 1-0 with a road win.

Score Prediction: Bears 28, Panthers 24

ATS Pick: Bears -3

Cleveland Browns @ Jacksonville Jaguars I Line: Jaguars -8.5

I don't got much to say here. I think the Browns are going to be horrible this year. They're starting Deshaun Watson, who hasn't played a real NFL game since 2024, and he was awful then. I believe the Jags, early on in the season, keep some of the momentum they had to end last year and get a fairly easy win at home. I would not be shocked if we see Shedeur Sanders at some point in this game for the Browns.

Score Prediction: Jaguars 31, Browns 10

ATS Pick: Jaguars -8.5

New Orleans Saints @ Detroit Lions I Line: Lions -6.5

I think the Lions are coming into the season pissed off after last season ended for them, finishing at the bottom of the NFC North, albeit with a winning record. The Saints, I think, could get better throughout the year, but right now they're dealing with some injuries. No Jordan Tyson for a couple months, Alvin Kamara will miss this game as well, and while there's a question about the Lions' offensive line, I don't think the Saints have a defense that will be able to test it. Give me Detroit fairly comfortably at home.

Score Prediction: Lions 30, Saints 20

ATS Pick: Jaguars -8.5

New York Jets @ Tennessee Titans I Line: Titans -1.5

Yeah, so this game exists for some reason. I don't got much to say. I'm not going to be watching this game. Robert Saleh will be trying to get some revenge against his old team, unfortunately, his new Titans team, I just don't think, is as talented as the Jets... Which is saying something. Cam Ward just looked awful in preseason and I might even make the bold bet that he throws the first interception to a Jets player of the Aaron Glenn era, which started last year. I think Geno Smith and Garrett Wilson get something going on offense for the Jets, and New York gets a road victory in Week 1.

Score Prediction: Jets 23, Titans 16

ATS Pick: Jets +1.5

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Cincinnati Bengals I Line: Bengals -3.5

Baker Mayfield got paid, and I think he'll reward the Buccaneers for it. Baker typically starts seasons hot, while Joe Burrow and the Bengals tend to struggle early on. Give me the Buccaneers to go into Cincinnati and pull off the upset win in Week 1.

Score Prediction: Buccaneers 27, Bengals 23

ATS Pick: Buccaneers +3.5

Sunday Afternoon Slate

Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings I Line: Vikings -1.5

I can't lie, I'm falling for the trap, I love this Vikings team, and I think they start off hot in Week 1. Kyler Murray hasn't played football in so long. I think he has a good game. Justin Jefferson gets fed after what he had to deal with last season, and with the Packers, they are just super unhealthy coming into the season or just have question marks around them. There will be no Josh Jacobs for them in this game, which will limit the run game. Micah Parsons isn't going to be there for a while due to his torn ACL from last season, which I don't think will overwhelm this Vikings offensive line. This is Tucker Kraft's first game if he plays after tearing his ACL. I just think there's too many questions around this Packers team. I think the Vikings are pissed off about how last season went and they'll have something to prove. Minnesota wins at home.

Score Prediction: Vikings 26, Packers 18

ATS Pick: Vikings -1.5

Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Chargers I Line: Chargers -9.5

The things Justin Herbert, Mike McDaniel, and this new Chargers offense are going to do to this Cardinals team on Sunday, I don't think should be allowed on television. The Cardinals, I don't think, have a chance in this game. The Chargers are going to come out firing, and they get a fairly, fairly easy win at home to start off the season.

Score Prediction: Chargers 34, Cardinals 13

ATS Pick: Chargers -9.5

Miami Dolphins @ Las Vegas Raiders I Line: Raiders -3.5

This game might have the least talented group of wide receivers I've ever seen show up in an NFL game. Brock Bowers, a tight end, is by far the best player on offense in this game, and Kirk Cousins is going to feed him. The Dolphins, I think, are only going to win one game this year, and spoiler: this wasn't that game. In Klint Kubiak's first game as a head coach, I could see Bowers going for like seven catches, 150 yards, and two touchdowns. Ashton Jeanty, if he plays, I think, is eased into it after an ankle injury a few weeks back in training camp. And I just think the Raiders, while, there won't be many of them this year, get an actual fairly easy win at home to kick off this new era of Raiders football.

Score Prediction: Raiders 23, Dolphins 13

ATS Pick: Raiders -3.5

Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles I Line: Eagles -4.5

If you've read my stuff throughout the offseason, you know I really don't like this Washington Commanders team. And now that Laremy Tunsil is most likely out for the year with a torn triceps, this Washington Commanders offensive line will put Jayden Daniels' health in serious concern this season. This Philadelphia Eagles defense, on any given Sunday, could be the best one in all of football. Not to mention, I think the Eagles offense gets a fairly easy matchup here against this awful Commanders defense. The Eagles defense gets after Jayden Daniels, and the Eagles cruise to a Week 1 win at home.

Score Prediction: Eagles 24, Commanders 10

ATS Pick: Eagles -4.5

Sunday Night Football: Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants I Line: Cowboys -2.5

Again, if you've read my stuff throughout this offseason, you know I absolutely love this Cowboys team, and I think they get this season started off right. There is a way you can make the case for the Giants. This is John Harbaugh's first game as head coach, and maybe the crowd would be fired up. I love Jaxson Dart, I love Cam Skattebo, but it's still uncertain what Malik Nabers will look like if he is indeed playing in this game, but I just think this Cowboys team is going to be unbelievable this season. Dak Prescott is 14-3 against the Giants throughout his career, and while it won't be as bad as it was a few years ago when the Cowboys, on Sunday Night Football, opened the season by going into New York and winning 40-0, there is a scenario where I could see the Cowboys just going into MetLife and absolutely throttling the Giants to open the season. Give me Dallas in primetime to pull off the road win in convincing fashion.

Score Prediction: Cowboys 31, Giants 17

ATS Pick: Cowboys -2.5

Monday Night Football: Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs I Line: Chiefs -2.5

And then, in the Week 1 finale, we see the Denver Broncos, who are coming off making it to the AFC Championship Game and winning the AFC West, travelling to Kansas City to take on Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. The Chiefs are coming off a disappointing season where they went 6-11, and Mahomes returns from a torn ACL that he suffered in December. And while it does feel like a great story for Mahomes and the Chiefs to win on Monday Night Football at Arrowhead to kick off the season and show the rest of the league they're back, I just see this Broncos team as way more talented. I know Bo Nix might have some questions coming off his ankle surgery that he had in January, but I just think this Broncos team is going to dominate the offensive and defensive lines in this game. I think Jaylen Waddle's presence will be felt, and I think Patrick Mahomes is going to be coming in rusty. You don't often see a player come back from a torn ACL as serious an injury as that in what seems like a record amount of time, so I think it's going to be a slow start in Kansas City. I think Denver bottles up Kenneth Walker, and then if he's bottled up, I don't love anyone else on this offense weapon-wise besides Rashee Rice. Give me the Broncos to go into Arrowhead and prove last year wasn't a fluke from the team in Mile High.

Score Prediction: Broncos 21, Chiefs 16

ATS Pick: Broncos +2.5

Straight Up/Moneyline Picks:

• Seahawks

• 49ers

• Texans

• Steelers

• Ravens

• Bears

• Jaguars

• Lions

• Jets

• Buccaneers

• Vikings

• Chargers

• Raiders

• Eagles

• Cowboys

• Broncos

Picks ATS:

• Seahawks -3.5

• 49ers +3.5

• Texans +1.5

• Steelers -3.5

• Ravens -3.5

• Bears -3

• Jaguars -8.5

• Lions -6.5

• Jets +1.5

• Buccaneers +3.5

• Vikings -1.5

• Chargers -9.5

• Raiders -3.5

• Eagles -4.5

• Cowboys -2.5

• Broncos +2.5