Our long, national nightmare is over and NFL football finally returns with a full slate of Week 1 games, including a Thursday Night opener featuring the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles face off against the Atlanta Falcons in what could easily be an NFC Championship preview.
The week 1 game should see the return of quarterback Carson Wentz, who was on his way to an MVP-caliber season before tearing up his knee late in the season. He was replaced in the Eagles’ Super Bowl run by Nick Foles, who not only hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy at the end of the game, but took home the MVP award as well.
If you want to check out the defending AFC Champs, you’ll have to wait until Sunday when the New England Patriots host the suddenly exciting Houston Texans. It’s a game that should see the return of one of the game’s biggest stars, Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, alongside one of its most exciting young offensive talents, Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson. Oh, and I guess Tom Brady will be playing too.
Every team starts the season out undefeated with an equal shot, at least statistically, to get to Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3 at Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga.
NFL Week 1 Betting Odds:
Thursday Night Football Odds (Sept 6)
Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles
Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. EST
Broadcast: NBC
Opening Line: Eagles (-2.5, O/U 45)
Super Bowl hero Nick Foles will start in place of Carson Wentz for the season opener on Thursday night. The Eagles have struggled with Foles under center during the preseason, but he was terrific in the postseason en route to collecting the Super Bowl MVP award.
The line has shifted in favor of Atlanta since it opened at Philly -4. Defending Super Bowl champions are 11-3 in the Thursday night home opener, though the Patriots did lose their opening game last year to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Sunday, Sept 9, 2018
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns
Steelers -5.5, 46.5
Browns +5.5, 46.5
San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings
49ers +6.5, 45.5
Vikings -6.5, 45.5
Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts
Bengals +3, 47
Colts -3, 47
Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens
Bills +7, 40.5
Ravens -7, 40.5
Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Giants
Jaguars -3, 43.5
Giants +3, 43.5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints
Bucs +9.5, 50
Saints -9.5, 50
Houston Texans at New England Patriots
Texans +6, 50.5
Patriots -6, 50.5
Tennessee Titans at Miami Dolphins
Titans -1.5, 45
Dolphins +1.5, 45
Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers
Chiefs +3.5, 47.5
Chargers -3.5, 47.5
Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos
Seahawks +3, 42.5
Broncos -3, 42.5
Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers
Cowboys +3, 43
Panthers -3, 43
Washington Redskins at Arizona Cardinals
Redskins PK, 44
Cardinals PK, 44
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
Bears +7, 47
Packers -7, 47
Monday Sept. 10 2018
New York Jets at Detroit Lions
Jets +6, 45
Lions -6, 45
Los Angeles Rams at Oakland Raiders
Rams -4.5, 50
Raiders +4.5, 50