NFL Week 1 picks, predictions: Who will open 2024 season with wins? (2024)

The 2024 NFL season opens with a bang with several intriguing NFL Week 1 games.

Among them: The Baltimore Ravens at the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday Night Football, the Green Bay Packers against the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday night, the Houston Texans at the Indianapolis Colts early Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys at the Cleveland Browns later Sunday, the Los Angeles Rams at the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football and the New York Jets at the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.

Which teams will open the season with victories?

Check out our NFL Week 1 picks and NFL Week 1 predictions for the 16 NFL Week 1 games.

All times MST.Click on each game for more NFL Week 1 picks and predictions for that matchup, as well as NFL Week 1 odds for that game.

PLAY TO WIN $5K: USA TODAY's Pro Football Survivor Pool is free to enter. Sign up now!

Thursday Night Football prediction, Sept. 5

Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs, 5:20 p.m., NBC (stream with Peaco*ck)

The Chiefs open the season as the 2025 Super Bowl favorite, but the Ravens aren't far behind in the odds. The environment in Kansas City should be a raucous one. The Chiefs will win a thriller.

Prediction: Chiefs 24, Ravens 23

NFL Week 1 schedule:Television channels, how to watch, stream games

Friday NFL football prediction, Sept. 6

Green Bay Packers vs Philadelphia Eagles, 5:15 p.m., Peaco*ck (stream here)

Who will win the NFL's first game in Brazil? The league couldn't have come up with a much more intriguing matchup, with both of these teams legitimate contenders in the NFC. We're going with an upset here.

Prediction: Packers 27, Eagles 21

NFL Week 1 odds:Point spreads, moneylines, over/unders for betting on games

Sunday early NFL football games predictions, Sept. 8

Pittsburgh Steelers at Atlanta Falcons, 10 a.m., FOX (stream with free trial from FUBO)

Both of these teams have new quarterbacks this season, with Russell Wilson starting the season at QB1 for Pittsburgh and Kirk Cousins under center for Atlanta. There are just more questions about Wilson right now.

Prediction: Falcons 24, Steelers 20

Arizona Cardinals at Buffalo Bills, 10 a.m., CBS (stream with free trial from FUBO)

The Cardinals went into Philadelphia late last season and upset the Eagles, so they are certainly capable of upsetting the Bills in Week 1. But we have questions about Arizona's ability to stop Josh Allen.

Prediction: Bills 27, Cardinals 20

Tennessee Titans at Chicago Bears, 10 a.m., FOX (stream with free trial from FUBO)

Will Caleb Williams' NFL career start out with a victory? The NFL appears to have set up the schedule to give him a good chance. We think the Bears rookie QB will do just enough to make the most of that chance.

Prediction: Bears 20, Titans 13

New England Patriots at Cincinnati Bengals, 10 a.m., CBS (stream with free trial from FUBO)

We could be wrong, but we think it will be a very long year in New England. Cincinnati is the biggest favorite in NFL Week 1. Joe Burrow and company will roll over the Patriots at home.

Prediction: Bengals 27, Patriots 14

Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts, 10 a.m., CBS (stream with free trial from FUBO)

These division foes faced off in Week 18 last season, with the Texans securing a playoff spot with a 23-19 win at Indianapolis. Houston could be really good this season. They'll edge the Colts in Indy again in Week 1.

Prediction: Texans 24, Colts 20

Jacksonville Jaguars at Miami Dolphins, 10 a.m., CBS (stream with free trial from FUBO)

This game has one of the highest point totals on the NFL Week 1 schedule, with a lot of points expected to be put up on the scoreboard. We have to give the edge to Tua Tagovailoa and Miami at home.

Prediction: Dolphins 35, Jaguars 27

Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints, 10 a.m., FOX (stream with free trial from FUBO)

The Panthers went 0-9 on the road in 2023-24. We don't think the skid will end in New Orleans in NFL Week 1. Derek Carr will make enough plays to win this NFC South matchup.

Prediction: Saints 24, Panthers 16

Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants, 10 a.m., FOX (stream with free trial from FUBO)

This is one of the hardest games to pick on the NFL Week 1 schedule, in our opinion, and it just so happens to have the closest point spread, with Minnesota a 1-point favorite on the road. This one could be ugly.

Prediction: Vikings 17, Giants 13

NFL power rankings Week 1:Who can challenge Kansas City Chiefs in 2024-25 season?

NFL Week 1 picks, predictions: Who will open 2024 season with wins? (1)

Sunday late NFL football games predictions, Sept. 8

Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers, 1:05 p.m., CBS (stream with free trial from FUBO)

This AFC West Week 1 game intrigues us. Jim Harbaugh vs Antonio Pierce. Justin Herbert vs Gardner Minshew. We'll go with the home favorite in the first week of the regular season.

Prediction: Chargers 23, Raiders 20

Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks, 1:05 p.m., CBS (stream with free trial from FUBO)

We really don't know what to expect from either of these teams, but we're pretty sure the Seahawks are going to try to put a lot of pressure on rookie QB Bo Nix.

Prediction: Seahawks 24, Broncos 17

Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns, 1:25 p.m., FOX (stream with free trial from FUBO)

Yes, it's a new season and different teams, but the Browns went 8-1 at home last season. The Cowboys were 4-5 on the road. The Dawg Pound will help Cleveland win a close one.

Prediction: Browns 21, Cowboys 20

Washington Commanders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:25 p.m., FOX (stream with free trial from FUBO)

No one quite knows what we will see in Jayden Daniels' first game as a pro. How about an upset over the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay?

Prediction: Commanders 20, Buccaneers 17

Super Bowl odds 2025:Chiefs, 49ers Super Bowl 59 favorites

Sunday Night Football prediction, Sept. 8

Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions, 5:20 p.m., NBC (stream with Peaco*ck)

The Lions edged the Rams in an NFL playoff game last season, 24-23 and we're lucky enough to have a rematch in Week 1. We think we could be in for a similar result, or even the same result.

Prediction: Lions 24, Rams 23

NFL MVP odds 2024-2025:Betting futures have Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen award favorites

Monday Night Football prediction, Sept. 9

New York Jets at San Francisco 49ers, 5:15 p.m., ESPN, ABC (stream with free trial from FUBO)

Jets fans probably just want to see Aaron Rodgers get out of this game unscathed. New York vs San Francisco isn't a bad way to end the first week of the NFL season. In fact, it'll do just fine.

Prediction: 49ers 28, Jets 27

NOTE:NFL games can be streamed locally on FUBO, click here for a free trial

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Reach Jeremy Cluffatjeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com.Follow him on X, formerly Twitter@Jeremy_Cluff.

Support local journalism: Subscribe toazcentral.comtoday.