If you were with the How to Bet team for the whole 2021 National Football League campaign, you will know it was record-breaking in so many regards.
Selfishly, for Darly Fein and me, “The Genius” Sean Miller, the season was such a success because we absolutely crushed it betting on the NFL for all but a few weeks right in the middle of the 2021 year (Weeks 9-11 were VERY tough for us). But, we rebounded, and surprised, to end the season on a strong note.
Just like the Los Angeles Rams, who, for the second year in a row (after it had never happened in the previous 54 Super Bowls), lifted the Lombardi Trophy as Super Bowl champions in their home stadium.
The AFC Champion came out of left field, as the Cincinnati Bengals made some people (who had them to win the Conference title before the season began) A LOT of money. They will not be sneaking up on anyone in 2022, though, but there will be some team that will: it always happens.
Now, will a surprise outfit make a run all the way to Super Bowl LVII in Glendale? That seems highly doubtful, but they will just have to look back to early 2022 for their fuel.
Maybe the Denver Broncos, who open the Monday Night Football slate at Seattle, can get back to the top with Russell Wilson under center. Very coincidentally (it is not a coincidence: I side with Whiterose here, there are no coincidences, but we can go into a Mr. Robot and NFL conspiracy theory rabbit hole for days, and it is football time), Wilson will play his first game in the blue and orange for Denver back in Seattle in primetime, in a game with a line that should interest bettors greatly.
That is the final game of the weekend: the Rams open the season and hang their banner against the current Super Bowl LVII betting favorites, the Buffalo Bills. In between those two contests, there are some intriguing games, some that could be playoff previews, and others that look to be awful, for bettors and fans alike, on paper.
But this is still the preseason, and EVERY team comes into the 2022 season with some hope that THEY can be the team, like the Bengals, the Philadelphia Eagles, or the Arizona Cardinals, that exceed expectations and make the playoffs.
Oh, and make you, the fans of How to Bet, some money.
Here is a preview of all 16 games.
NFL Week 1 Odds
If you are wondering how to bet on the start of the NFL season, which is just around the corner, here you will see all the NFL odds for Week 1. Undoubtedly, you will also find the most attractive NFL Odds and NFL Lines Week 1.
Without further adieu, it's time to kick off an all-American favorite and the great fun of NFL betting that comes with it. Here are the NFL Odds & NFL lines for Week 1.
Here are your updated NFL Week 1 odds, all in one place. Check back daily to see updates.
For more NFL-related content, picks & prediction. Make sure to check our NFL Picks page.
NFL Week 1 Lookahead Lines
Thu, Sept. 8
- Bills at Rams (-1); Bills -110, Rams -110; 52
Sunday, Sept 11
- 49ers (-6.5) at Bears; 49ers -275, Bears +220; 42.5
- Jaguars at Commanders (-4); Jaguars +160, Commanders -190; 44.5
- Steelers at Bengals (-6.5); Steelers +200, Bengals -250; 45
- Saints (-3.5) at Falcons; Saints -180, Falcons +155; 42
- Browns (-1) at Panthers; Browns -120, Panthers +100; 42
- Ravens (-4.5) at Jets; Ravens -195, Jets +165; 45
- Eagles (-4) at Lions; Eagles -190, Lions +160; 46.5
- Patriots at Dolphins (-3); Patriots +135, Dolphins -155; 45
- Colts (-7.5) at Texans; Colts -380, Texans +290; 44.5
- Giants at Titans (-6.5); Giants +235, Titans -300; 44
- Packers (-1.5) at Vikings; Packers -120, Vikings +100; 49
- Raiders at Chargers (-4); Raiders +155, Chargers -180; 52
- Chiefs (-3) at Cardinals; Chiefs -150, Cardinals +130; 53
- Buccaneers (-2.5) at Cowboys; Buccaneers -135, Cowboys +115; 51.5
Mon, Sept. 12
- Broncos (-4) at Seahawks; Broncos -190, Seahawks +160; 41
NFL Week 1 Schedule and Previews
Thursday, Sept. 8
Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Rams, 8:20 p.m. EDT (NBC and fubo.TV)
This is truly a fantastic game for an opener, and it will have to go some way towards beating the one from last year. Tampa Bay held off Dallas 31-29, which means that defending Super Bowl champions are 6-1 in their last seven openers on Thursday night. This line is going to be very tight, so you get value either way. The team totals will be worth watching.
You can read more about this game here.
Sunday, Sept. 11
San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m. EDT (FOX and fubo.TV)
San Francisco needed some breaks just to get into the playoffs, but once the 49ers got them, they made the most of their trip. They made a run all the NFC Championship Game, and blew a 17-7 fourth quarter lead as they looked to make their second Super Bowl in three seasons.
Is this going to be a battle of Justin Fields against Trey Lance? This is a game that probably favors the 49ers, but it bears watching to see what happens in preseason with both teams.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Washington Commanders, 1 p.m. EDT (FOX and fubo.TV)
It is the preseason, and you are spending time reading about this game. Really? Really? REALLY?
I would wait to see how the preseason shakes out here for two franchises that were akin to dumpster fires off the field last year, but might have some glimmers of hope headed into 2022.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals, (CBS and fubo.TV)
The Super Bowl losing team usually takes a step back the following year, and it will be interesting to see if the Bengals follow that pattern. They are very talented on offense specifically, and Joe Burrow is quickly becoming the face of the league.
This is going to be a brutal division: all four teams will think they can make the playoffs, although the Steelers have a lot to replace. But this is a rivalry game right out of the gate for both.
New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons, (FOX and fubo.TV)
Unlike the AFC North, the NFC South looks to be down, although some trades have made the division better. Both of these teams are in a rebuild, with a new coach and or new QB.
If Jameis Winston can come back and play the way he was before the injury last season, the Saints have a chance to make the playoffs. Atlanta is rebuilding, and this is a tough spot on opening day.
Cleveland Browns at Carolina Panthers, (CBS and fubo.TV)
Well, well, well, a Whiterose special: Carolina hosts Cleveland, and it should be Baker Mayfield under center for the Panthers in this contest.
Who is going to be the starting quarterback for the Browns in this game? Until we know, you would have to probably stay away from this game. Cleveland could be a VERY DANGEROUS team if they get in the playoffs and Deshaun Watson is under center.
Baltimore Ravens at New York Jets, (CBS and fubo.TV)
The Ravens were headed to one of the high seeds in the AFC last year at 8-3, then the wheels fell off: Lamar Jackson got hurt, half the team got hurt/had COVID, and Baltimore lost six in a row against a brutal slate of games. The Ravens will be back in a big way in 2022.
The Jets have some hope, but it hinges on the QB, and New York has a brutal schedule once again. Two months out, this would be my best bet of Week 1.
Philadelphia Eagles at Detroit Lions, (FOX and fubo.TV)
The Eagles were a surprise to many (not me: I told you on the How to Bet podcast multiple times to take this team’s over), and will not come into the new season with more hype thanks to some shrewd moves by the front office.
This is the type of game a division-winning team should win easily, against a rebuilding Detroit team that is always in the midst of turnover. Maybe Lions’ fans are the ones thinking they can make a surprise run in 2022? If Jared Goff is under center, IT AIN’T HAPPENIN’.
New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins, (CBS and fubo.TV)
Both of these teams finished over .500 in 2021, and both will come into 2022 thinking they can make a playoff run in the AFC.
If I had to rank this game (and I will in another story, so stay tuned), this would probably be near the bottom of Week 1 contests I would bet. This is very tough to call.
Why is everyone so high on this Indianapolis team after the way 2021 ended? Yes, Jonathan Taylor (NJ REPRESENT) is a monster, but there seem to be three teams in the AFC West and AFC North better than the Colts.
I mean, they will win this game, because Houston is awful. The good news for the Texans is, either Davis Mills is going to be good, or you get your pick of CJ Stroud or Bryce Young.
New York Giants at Tennessee Titans, (FOX and fubo.TV)
This is another game that seems to have a line that is off. People are saying the Giants are going to be a dark horse contender in the NFC East? Really?
Tennessee was the top seed in the AFC playoffs last year: yes, the Titans lost, but they did all that without Derrick Henry for two months. This would be my second choice game from Week 1: Henry is going to run roughshod.
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings, (FOX and fubo.TV)
Yes, the Vikings have talent. Yes, they have a new head coach. Yes, the Packers lost Davante Adams. Is Aaron Rodgers not under center for Green Bay? Did I miss something?
You are giving me the Packers at nearly a pick in this game against a team that has been all over the place for years? Am I missing something?
Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers, (CBS and fubo.TV)
Ah, a rematch of the craziest regular season game of 2021 right out of the gate in 2022. First, let me say this: Rich Bisaccia should have been the NFL Coach of the Year. What he did to get the Raiders to the playoffs should go down in history. But now, it is Josh McDaniels, and Vegas added Davante Adams to the fold.
Now, the same can’t be said of the Los Angeles coach, who was very underwhelming in big spots last year: just ask Daryl Fein about that. There is no way this team should not be in the playoffs, but…
Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals, (CBS and fubo.TV)
Kansas City was stunned in the AFC Championship Game by the Bengals, and now have to find a way to rebuild that confidence without Tyreek Hill catching passes from Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs are going to be good, but do they take a step back?
The same thing can be said about this Arizona team. Is Kliff Kingsbury the guy to lead them? What about Kyler Murray? This is a tough opener for the Cards, but they will take solace knowing the last two Super Bowl champions hosted the game, and it is in Glendale in February.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys, (NBC and fubo.TV)
This is a rematch of the season opener from 2021, won (just barely) by Tom Brady and the Bucs. Since then, Brady lost in the playoffs and retired as the best quarterback to ever play. Oh, AND THEN HE CAME BACK!
Dallas is still trying to figure out the playoffs, and no team has repeated as NFC East champions since the Eagles from 2001-2004.
You can read more about this game here.
Monday, Sept. 12
Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks, (ESPN/ESPN2/ABC and fubo.TV)
They saved the best for last, as the Super Bowl LVII future champions, Denver Broncos, kick off their campaign on Monday Night Football. Russell Wilson is heading back to Seattle to take on the Seahawks after a decade under center.
Who is going to be playing QB for the Seahawks? That might be the question that is worth watching in preseason.
You can read more about this game here.
NFL Betting Lines Week by Week Index
Check out our NFL Betting Lines provided by proven experts. See their success rates and what lies ahead in the future.
