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The wait is almost over. The 2026 NFL season opens Wednesday, September 9, with the Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots in a rematch of Super Bowl LX — a game the Seahawks won to claim their second championship. It’s only the second time in 75 years the league has opened a season on a Wednesday, and it’s fitting kickoff for a year full of storylines. Before the real games start, here are five predictions worth arguing about.
1. The Seahawks won’t repeat as favorites for long
Opening as 3.5-to-4.5-point favorites over New England feels right for Week 1, but defending a title is brutal in the modern NFL. Expect Seattle to be competitive all year, but don’t be shocked if a fresher, healthier roster overtakes them by December.
2. The Melbourne game steals the spotlight — for the wrong reasons
The Rams and 49ers making history in the NFL’s first-ever game in Australia is a genuinely cool moment for the league’s global ambitions. But early-season international games have a track record of feeling like exhibition football for the traveling teams. Expect a sluggish, mistake-filled affair rather than a classic.
3. John Harbaugh’s Giants debut sets the tone for a surprise season
New York hosting Dallas on Sunday Night Football gives new head coach John Harbaugh his first real test in the building. Harbaugh has built a career on discipline and physical football — traits that could make the Giants uncomfortable for opponents faster than people expect, even in a loaded NFC East.
4. The Chiefs-Broncos MNF opener is closer than the hype suggests
Kansas City hosting Denver on Monday Night Football will get billed as a Chiefs showcase, but Denver has quietly built one of the more complete rosters in the AFC West. This has sneaky upset potential written all over it.
5. At least one Week 1 “trap game” blows up spectacularly
Every season has a game nobody’s talking about that turns into the wildest result of the week. With sixteen games on the opening slate, the odds favor an ugly blowout or a stunning upset from a team fans had already written off before Labor Day.
Which of these predictions do you agree — or violently disagree — with? Sound off in the comments before Week 1 kicks off.