NFL releases 2026 schedule; Week 1 odds, international opener set

The National Football League released its full 2026 season schedule on May 14, 2026. The season will kick off on Wednesday, September 9, with a Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, and the defending champion Seahawks opened as 3.5-point home favorites. Sportsbooks posted opening lines for Week 1 and several other marquee games, setting an early betting picture for September.

The International Series begins the next night, Thursday, September 10, in Melbourne, Australia, where the Los Angeles Rams face the San Francisco 49ers with the Rams priced at -2.5. Early markets have also posted totals and point spreads for Week 1 and select matchups later in the fall.

Week 1 pricing points to a competitive opening slate. The Los Angeles Chargers are the only double-digit favorite, laying 11.5 points against the Arizona Cardinals. Nine games carry spreads of a field goal or less, underscoring the parity bookmakers expect early in the season. The highest posted total for the week is 50.5 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ trip to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Several matchups land near pick’em territory. The Buffalo Bills are -1.5 at the Houston Texans, the Green Bay Packers are -1.5 at the Minnesota Vikings, and the Dallas Cowboys are -1.5 at the New York Giants. In prime-time windows, the Denver Broncos visit the Kansas City Chiefs as 2.5-point underdogs, while other narrow lines include the Tennessee Titans -3 against the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers -3 against the Atlanta Falcons.

There are also a handful of stronger Week 1 favorites short of double digits. The Detroit Lions are -7 at home to the New Orleans Saints, and the Jacksonville Jaguars are -7 hosting the Cleveland Browns. The Philadelphia Eagles are -5.5 at home against the Washington Commanders, and on the road the Baltimore Ravens are -3.5 at the Indianapolis Colts. These early numbers, listed by DraftKings Sportsbook, are expected to move with roster news and preseason form.

Week 1 betting picture

Biggest and tightest spreads

The Chargers’ -11.5 line versus the Cardinals stands out as the week’s largest spread, making Los Angeles the lone double-digit favorite. At the other end, nine games sit at three points or fewer, including Bills–Texans (-1.5), Packers–Vikings (-1.5) and Cowboys–Giants (-1.5), highlighting how many openers are priced as coin flips.

Early totals to watch

Totals span a wide range in the opening week. The Buccaneers at Bengals carries the highest mark at 50.5, while one of the lower totals appears on Jets–Titans at 39.5. As with the spreads, totals will be responsive to quarterback confirmations, weather outlooks closer to game week, and preseason usage patterns.

International opener and other early lines

Melbourne matchup headlines global slate

The International Series begins on Thursday, September 10, at Melbourne Cricket Ground, pairing NFC West rivals the Rams and 49ers. The Rams, listed as 2.5-point favorites and an early Super Bowl front-runner in futures markets, meet a San Francisco side that typically travels in strong numbers. The mid-September international date gives both teams a short turnaround after the league’s Wednesday opener.

Beyond Week 1: marquee games priced

Books have also hung lines on several later games. On September 17, the Detroit Lions visit the Buffalo Bills as 3-point underdogs with a total of 52.5 in the first game at the new Highmark Stadium. Other posted numbers include Philadelphia at Dallas (-1.5), Kansas City at Buffalo (-2.5), Green Bay at Chicago (-1.5), Los Angeles at Seattle (-1.5), and Green Bay at Los Angeles (-3.5), offering an early read on headline matchups across the fall calendar.

Prices from DraftKings Sportsbook are subject to change and will evolve through the offseason and preseason as depth charts settle, injuries are reported and travel details firm up ahead of kickoff.