The NFL season opens with a pair of standalone primetime games, and the early betting market already has a clear shape to it: Seattle and Los Angeles are both getting the benefit of the doubt.
The Seahawks are laying 3.5 points at FanDuel against the Patriots in Wednesday’s opener, while the Rams are also 3.5-point favorites over the 49ers in Thursday’s game in Melbourne, Australia. At DraftKings, Seattle is listed as a heavily juiced -3 as of writing.
Sunday brings the big board: 13 games, and a lot of tight numbers. Nine of those matchups are listed at 3.5 points or fewer, with several sitting almost exactly on the edge of pick’em territory.
The Bills are -1.5 at the Texans, the Packers are -1.5 at the Vikings, and the Jets are -1.5 at the Titans. That Jets-Titans matchup also carries the week’s lowest total, set at 39.5 points.
Only three games are installed with spreads of a touchdown or more. The Saints are -7 at the Lions, the Browns are -8.5 at the Jaguars, and the Cardinals are -9.5 at the Chargers. According to Evan Abrams at the Action Network, that 10-point number makes the Chargers the first double-digit Week 1 favorite since 2019, which helped push Justin Herbert and Co. into The Athletic’s Week 1 survivor picks.
At the other end of the scoring spectrum, Bengals-Buccaneers has the highest total on the slate at 50.5 points. Joe Burrow is healthy, and Baker Mayfield is coming off another solid campaign, even with injuries to his supporting cast complicating things late.
The numbers are still early, and they’ll move as bettors and sportsbooks get a better read on these teams. For now, though, the board is set for the season’s first full Sunday, starting with Wednesday’s opener and rolling all the way through Monday night.
Week 1 NFL odds
Wednesday
49ers vs. Rams odds
Thursday in Melbourne, Australia
Falcons at Steelers odds
Jets at Titans odds
Saints at Lions odds
Buccaneers at Bengals odds
Ravens at Colts odds
Bills at Texans odds
Bears at Panthers odds
Browns at Jaguars odds
Dolphins at Raiders odds
Commanders at Eagles odds
Packers at Vikings odds
Cardinals at Chargers odds
Cowboys at Giants odds
Sunday Night Football
Broncos at Chiefs
Monday Night Football
In Other News...
DK Metcalf Just Reopened A Seahawks Debate Fans Never Dropped
DK Metcalfs exit from Seattle was never just a roster move, and the way things have played out has only made the old debate louder. He asked the Seahawks for a trade before the 2025 season, landed with the Steelers, and Seattle responded by turning the page with draft-pick compensation and a major contract for Jaxon Smith-Njigba. From the outside, it was the kind of decision that invites instant comparison, especially after the Seahawks went on to win Super Bowl LX while Pittsburghs run ended in the wild-card round.
Metcalf, though, is not treating the result like a reason to revisit his choice. He has said he understands the consequences of asking out and has congratulated his former teammates, even as the Steelers committed to him with a four-year, $132 million extension. For Seattle fans, it keeps the conversation in a familiar place: whether the franchise got the timing right, whether Metcalf got what he wanted, and how much a championship ring changes the hindsight around a trade that was already going to be dissected for years. [Read more 🡒]
Cooper Kupps New Seahawks Partnership Goes Well Beyond Sneakers
Brooks Running has officially stepped into the Seahawks orbit as the teams new Running Partner, and the rollout comes with Cooper Kupp serving as one of three new global ambassadors. The arrangement fits Seattles sports culture neatly enough, but it is aimed at more than branding and sideline visibility. Brooks is tying the partnership to community work across Washington state, with a focus on supporting high school football coaches and athletes through programs such as Coach of the Week and Future Run grants.
The broader push also reaches into girls flag football, where Brooks plans to recognize coaches and players as the sport keeps growing in the region. The company expects to spotlight those efforts at a Seahawks home game, turning what could have been a straightforward endorsement deal into a much wider effort around local football. For Kupp and the Seahawks, it is a partnership built as much on community footing as on what happens on game day. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Could Get A Big Backfield Boost Sooner Than Expected
Zach Charbonnets start to the season remains on hold, but theres at least a little more optimism around his recovery than there was when the Seahawks first braced for a long absence. The running back is on the physically unable to perform list after the knee injury he carried out of last season, which means he will miss the first four games, but coach Mike Macdonald said Charbonnet is progressing well and could be back sooner than the December timeframe that had seemed to be the target.
For Seattle, the possibility matters because Charbonnets return would give the backfield a jolt at a point in the season when teams usually start absorbing wear and tear. Still, nothing is locked in yet. He has to pass a physical before the Seahawks can activate him, and with no firm return date in place, the team is left waiting to see whether the encouraging signs turn into an actual midseason comeback. [Read more 🡒]