This Week in the NFL: Week One Kickoff, Best Bets, Odds, Lines, and More

It’s that time of the year again, folks, Football season is BACK and better than ever! Especially when you're celebrating it with us here at betJACK, where new users can get up to $500 in bonus bets just by signing up, opting in, and placing a wager!

Now, let's get to our games:

Dallas Cowboys (+360) @ Philadelphia Eagles (-480):

Spread: Philadelphia Eagles -8.0 Over/Under: 47.5

Storyline: Micah Parsons-less Cowboys taking on the reigning Super Bowl champion on their home turf. If there were ever a more “prove-it game” to exist for Dak Prescott, this would be it. The Eagles have backed up their already dominant defense this offseason, while the Cowboys have attempted to add some more depth to their defense. You can’t ignore the whole left after shipping Parsons to Green Bay. But regardless, the Eagles are a powerhouse team, and if Barkley can replicate even a FRACTION of the production he had last season, there’s no reason to doubt that Philly is starting this season 1-0.

Kansas City Chiefs (-167) @ Los Angeles Chargers (+135):

Spread: Kansas City Chiefs -3 Over/Under: 46.5

Storyline: One of the many divisional matchups Week One is gifting us. And honestly, there's a lot to be excited about if you’re a Chargers fan. McConkey had a solid rookie campaign, and there’s plenty of argument to be made that he’ll be a top 10 receiver by the end of the year. Combine that with a downhill monster in rookie Omarion Hampton and Harris receiving out of the backfield… This Chargers team has a chance to be sneaky good. The biggest question mark in this game, in my opinion, is the Chiefs' O-line. We saw them get absolutely bullied in the Super Bowl last year, but they’ve made some moves this offseason, and we’ll see if they can hold against an average Chargers defense. 

Arizona Cardinals (-295) @ New Orleans Saints (+230):

Spread: Arizona Cardinals -6.5 Over/Under: 43

Storyline: This one is one of the more interesting games this week. There are a lot of question marks on both teams. The biggest ones are the Saints QB situation and 2nd-year WR Marvin Harrison Jr. for the Cards. Harrison's rookie campaign was underwhelming to say the least after a DOMINANT college career. Whereas the Saints have moved to Spencer Rattler to start the 2025 season. If the Cardinals want success this season, they need to treat Harrison as the clear WR1, as chemistry between him and Murray seemed to be nonexistent during the 2024 campaign. The Saints are in a trickier spot, however; a young QB in a bottom-tier o-line means they can’t put too much pressure on him but still find ways to be competitive. Look on them to lean on veterans like Alvin Kamara and Brandin Cooks, or even Chris Olave, who proved himself to be one of the most consistent receivers on this team while still pressing the envelope to see what Rattler has to offer. 

Carolina Panthers (+160) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (-195):

Spread: Jacksonville Jaguars -3.5 Over/Under: 46.5

Storyline: This is more of a game of intrigue rather than excitement. Byrce Young has looked good in training camp, much improved from the bar he set last year, and I think this Panthers team has a chance to be competitive again. But the glaring hole here is Trevor Lawrence. The Jags have given him everything he could need, and while they have found success, they can’t seem to cross that hump, and with a stacked skill position group (even with letting Evan Engram go this offseason), it's hard to deny that talent is there for this team to go far. They just need their QB to match that level. While I am wishing for his success, even with the 23rd-easiest schedule, it's hard to see this team making it to the postseason. 

Cincinnati Bengals (-240) @ Cleveland Browns (+190):

Spread: Cincinnati Bengals -5.5 Over/Under: 47.5

Storyline: This will be one of the must-watch games this week. A Browns team that seems to have Joe Burrow on the ground every drive versus one of the most explosive offenses in the league. Honestly, this game comes down to two things. The Bengals Offensive Line, and the Browns Defense. We’ve seen Cleveland's defense be absolutely dominant under Jim Schwartz’s leadership, but we’ve also seen them put up some of the worst performances of the year. They’ll need that dominance against a bottom 5 o-line if they want to find success against an offense with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. 

Las Vegas Raiders (+118) @ New England Patriots (-143):

Spread: New England Patriots -2.5 Over/Under: 43.5

Storyline: Now this is going to be a good game. Ashton Genty, the college superstar running back, versus the next Tom Brady in Drake Maye. With Geno Smith under center after a solid campaign in 2024, this Raiders team has the chance to look drastically different than last year, especially with the addition of a running back who's predicted to be a rising star. Granted, the same could be said about the Patriots. Drake Maye was excellent last season and really shined in this revamped Patriots team. Adding downhill bruiser Trevon Henderson to a struggling RB room could make this team absolutely lethal, especially if they lean into more QB-designed runs. I expect this team to be extremely competitive, and don’t be surprised if they are right there at the end of the season, even with the dominant Bills in their division. 

Miami Dolphins (-107) @ Indianapolis Colts (-114):

Spread: Indianapolis Colts -0.5 Over/Under: 46.5

Storyline: Danny Dimes has found a change of scenery after not only being signed but also being named the starting QB over struggling Anthony Richardson. The consensus seems to be that this is going to be the same old same Jones that we’ve seen these past 6 seasons. However, this Colts team is an interesting one, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he found a Sam Darnold-like resurgence with an entirely different offense and crew backing him up. On the other side of the ball is a surprising Dolphins team. This might be the last chance for Mike McDaniel leading this team after disappointing performances since he took over in 2022. They have the talent to be contenders, but if they can’t keep Tua healthy or find consistency, this team won’t be seeing the playoffs anytime soon. 

New York Giants (+220) @ Washington Commanders (-278):

Spread: Washington Commanders -6 Over/Under: 45.5

Storyline: Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers' year 2 is the biggest storyline of this game. Two definitive superstars in the league, both franchise cornerstones of their respective teams. This game has a chance to be extremely interesting, especially with Jaxson Dart looming behind Russel Wilson. Though Abdul Carter has a chance to make a name for himself this week against a dual-threat QB, the Giants' defense has a tough challenge ahead with the return of Terry McLaurin a few weeks ago. This Washington team is no joke as they proved last year, but I wouldn’t sleep on this Giants team either, especially if they can pivot to Dart early. 

Pittsburgh Steelers (-150) @ New York Jets (+123):

Spread: Pittsburgh Steelers -3 Over/Under: 38.0

Storyline: The least interesting game on the Week 1 slate. An aged Aaron Rodgers is facing off against Justin Fields, who has struggled to find his place in the league after a strong college career. There’s not much to really say about either team, as both QBs have been unimpressive in training camp. Maybe DK Metcalf has a career resurgence in the Yellow and Black, and Garett Wilson, along with Sauce Gardner, are always fun to watch play, but overall, neither team really has a bright road ahead of them this season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-130) @ Atlanta Falcons (+106):

Spread: Tampa Bay Buccaneers -2 Over/Under: 47

Storyline: It’s Michael Penix Jr.'s time in Atlanta. A dual-threat QB who has an extremely high ceiling in my opinion, but an equally low floor. The team has made it clear, though, that even with stars on the offensive side of the ball, they are a defense-first team and a team that will feed their young superstar running back. Granted, this Bucs team drafted one of the most promising and consistent WRs in Ohio State product Emeka Egbuka, who has a real opportunity to shine if Chris Godwin does end up sitting out of Week 1. Baker Mayfield can’t be ignored either when talking about stars on the field. A QB who showed so much promise in Cleveland has found even more success with Tampa Bay and looks to replicate and expand an extremely successful 2024 season.

San Francisco 49ers (-137) @ Seattle Seahawks (+112):

Spread: San Francisco 49ers -2.5 Over/Under: 43.5

Storyline: The QBs have been the focus of many of these matchups, and this game is no different. Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold have had Cinderella story careers. Players never expected to be franchise players have turned the page completely after impressive performances. The biggest question mark, though, is whether Darnold can replicate the success he found with the Vikings in Seattle or if he was just a product of a team with arguably the best WR in the league. The 49ers are an equally interesting team. Purdy is still young and has shown he has the talent to be a starter, but the pieces surrounding him are aging veterans, and after just barely missing a Super Bowl appearance in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, their window is closing and closing quickly. 

Tennessee Titans (+340) @ Denver Broncos (-455):

Spread: Denver Broncos -8.5 Over/Under: 42.5

Storyline: Week 1 is a QB definer, especially with all the young QBs that are taking the field to start the season. Cam Ward and Bo Nix highlight this matchup. With Ward being the 1st overall pick in the draft this offseason, and Nix being a star in the making after a historic rookie campaign that ended in the first playoff appearance for the Broncos since 2015. With Sean Payton helming the team once more, it’s hard to argue against them repeating that performance, especially with a Tennessee team that will spend this first week finding their identity with a young and unproven QB. 

Detroit Lions (+112) @ Green Bay Packers (-136):

Spread: Green Bay Packers -2.5 Over/Under: 47

Storyline: A legendary matchup could be on pace to happen barring any unwelcome news. The Packers' surprising acquisition of Micah Parsons and the hopeful return of Aidan Hutchinson, this is a fun game defensively. However, with that being said, I’m not as high on the Packers as many others are. Jordon Love lacked consistency, and their entire team has holes on both sides of the ball. Factor in that the Lions are arguably one of the most explosive offenses in the league, and there is little reason to believe that Green Bay walks away with a win, regardless of the addition of Micah Parsons. 

Houston Texans (+133) @ Los Angeles Rams (-162):

Spread: Los Angeles Rams -3 Over/Under: 43.5

Storyline: Matthew Stafford is in line to play against this young Texans team, who had a disappointing second-year performance from CJ Stroud. But whether he is 100% or not is yet to be seen. If he isn’t, the Texans could have the advantage in this one with a dominant defensive front against this shaky Rams o-line. Offensively, Stroud is looking to have a bounce-back year after a rough sophomore campaign, and Stafford is looking to prove he still has enough in the tank to be competitive. Though if he can’t, then the Rams are in a tough spot with struggling veteran Jimmy Garoppolo and the unproven Stetson Bennett backing him up. 

Baltimore Ravens (-115) @ Buffalo Bills (-106):

Spread: Baltimore Ravens -1 Over/Under: 50.5

Storyline: The 2024 AFC Divisional Game rematch. The Bills managed to stifle a dominant Ravens offense that includes Derrick Henry and barely escaped with the win. The Bills will look to repeat that against a Ravens defense that improved from last season. This game is an important one for both teams, who will more than likely be postseason contenders, and a win this week could go far in the long season. A win also sets the tone for fans as to what to expect from an MVP vs MVP battle. 

Minnesota Vikings (-121) @ Chicago Bears (+100):

Spread: Minnesota Vikings -1.5 Over/Under: 44

Storyline: Caleb Williams Year 2 vs JJ McCarthy's rookie season. The Vikings are in an interesting position, as after some digging into the team's history, this might be the first time a rookie QB has started week 1 in their franchise history. McCarthy and the Vikings have a lot going for them against an uninspiring Bears offense. They were the 5th-ranked defense last year according to Pro Football Focus, and with an offense like Chicago’s, there’s no reason that Minnesota won’t carry that same momentum into Week 1.