Welcome to the 2026 NFL season, and our league overlords have put together quite the opening slate of games for us to enjoy. The Super Bowl rematch on Wednesday night saw the Seattle Seahawks hand the New England Patriots another loss, while we have football in Australia on Thursday night between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams, and then a whopping 13 games on Sunday. Josh Allen has to open up the season against a scary Houston defense, Lamar Jackson and Daniel Jones face off in Indy, we get an NFC North matchup right off the bat between the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, and an AFC West showdown on "Monday Night Football" between Patrick Mahomes and Bo Nix.
So, which teams should you pick in Week 1, and which should you fade? CBS Sports writers Jordan Dajani and Jared Dubin are here to break down the biggest games of the weekend. For clarity, lines for these selections were taken on Sept. 7 over at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Dajani (Rams -3.5): This matchup is much more than just two rival contenders kicking off the season in the land down under. You need to know that this game features two international juggernauts. The 49ers are 3-1 in games outside the United States, having won their last three, while the Rams have also won three straight international games, boasting a +25.0 points-per-game differential in those wins!
Honestly, I'm not expecting fireworks in this star-studded matchup. But I'm leaning towards the favorites. George Kittle is attempting to play after tearing his Achilles tendon about eight months ago, Christian McCaffrey is in the midst of a ramp-up regimen, and Nick Bosa is coming off a torn ACL.
I'm just hoping I don't get caught by the hook … Prediction: Rams 24, 49ers 20 Dubin (Rams -3.5): The Rams are, unsurprisingly, my pick to win the Super Bowl this season. The roster is just that loaded, though, and I think we are going to see that in terrifying fashion right from the first game of the season. The 49ers, as Jordan mentioned, are still working through some injury returns for some of their key players, and that's not exactly an ideal place to be against a team that comes in at full strength. … Prediction: Rams 31, 49ers 21 Dajani (Texans +1.5): I love the Buffalo Bills and believe they will win the AFC East this year.
But I'm also high on Houston and expecting a bounce-back from C.J. The Texans have the best defense in the NFL, but you don't have to tell Josh Allen that. He's 0-4 against the Texans in Houston in his career, including playoffs, and has two total touchdowns over those four starts.
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