NFL 2016 Week 1 Point Spreads and Betting Odds

NFL teams will begin reporting to training camps in a few weeks, and the 2016 regular season kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 8, in Denver as the champion Broncos start their title defense in a Super Bowl rematch against Carolina.

Here’s a quick look at each game for Week 1 along with Sports Interaction NFL game odds. These numbers will certainly change some by the time the games roll around with injuries, etc.

NFL Week 1 Betting Odds

Carolina Panthers at Denver Broncos Odds: (+2.5, 43)

As usual, the defending Super Bowl champions host the NFL Kickoff Game. And they almost always win this game, going 10-2. The Giants and Ravens are the only two defending champions to lose in the following season’s Kickoff Game. The Broncos begin life without future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. He retired following the 24-10 Super Bowl win over the Panthers. Presumably Mark Sanchez will be the starter under centre in Week 1. All of Carolina’s key players are essentially back, led by reigning NFL MVP Cam Newton, other than Pro Bowl cornerback Josh Norman. He signed with Washington.

Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens Odds: (-2.5, 43):

No team had worse luck than the Ravens in 2015. They were considered a Super Bowl contender entering the year but were absolutely devastated by season-ending injuries, including to QB Joe Flacco. They also found new and inventive ways, nearly every week it seemed, to lose close games. This is a make-or-break season for Bills coach Rex Ryan as he reportedly has been told he will be fired if the Bills don’t end the longest playoff drought in the NFL.

Chicago Bears at Houston Texans Odds: (-6, 44)

Barring an injury, this will be the QB debut of Brock Osweiler for the Texans. He was supposed to be Manning’s replacement in Denver, but Osweiler surprised many by spurning the Broncos in free agency for Houston (and more money). The team also brought in very good running back Lamar Miller (Dolphins) this offseason. No team has ever played  in the Super Bowl when it was in its home stadium. Could Houston be the first this year?

Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets Odds: (+1, 41.5)

Who will the Jets’ QB be in Week 1? They are still at a contract stalemate with 2015 starter Ryan Fitzpatrick. It would be an upset if he doesn’t re-sign with the team by the time camp starts. The Bengals have made the playoffs in a franchise-record five straight years and should do so again barring major injury.

Cleveland Browns at Philadelphia Eagles Odds: (-6.5, 45)

The Browns are widely considered the least-talented team in the NFL this season. It’s basically an expansion-type roster as the club undergoes yet another total rebuild. This should be the Browns debut of QB Robert Griffin III — whom the Eagles know well from his Redskins days — and head coach Hue Jackson. Also the Eagles debut of head coach Doug Pederson.

Green Bay Packers at Jacksonville Jaguars Odds: (+4, 47)

Many experts peg the Jaguars as a team on the rise with a terrific offense. They addressed defense with some big signings in free agency and their two top picks in the draft, landing arguably the two biggest defensive playmakers on the board in Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey and UCLA linebacker Myles Jack. That defense will be tested by Aaron Rodgers and Co.

Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans Odds: (+3, 42.5)

The Vikings were surprise winners of the NFC North last season, with Adrian Peterson returning from a suspension that cost him all but one game in 2014 by winning another rushing title. The Titans have one of the most promising young QBs in the NFL in Marcus Mariota, but they are a few years from being a contender.

Oakland Raiders at New Orleans Saints Odds: (-1.5, 50.5):

The Raiders, like the Jaguars, are considered a rising power in the AFC with young talent like QB Derek Carr, receiver Amari Cooper and defensive end Khalil Mack, perhaps the best defender in the league not named J.J. Watt. This game looks like a potential shootout in the Big Easy.

San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs Odds: (-6.5, 43)

Matchup of AFC West rivals and this could be the final season in San Diego for the Chargers if the team doesn’t get approval for a new stadium in the city. If not, the Chargers are likely to move to Los Angeles. No team closed last regular season hotter than the Chiefs, who won their final 10 games. They went to Houston in the wild-card round and dominated the Texans but lost in New England in the divisional round. Kansas City was 2-0 versus San Diego last year, holding the Chargers to 3 points in each game.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons Odds: (-3, 47.5)

The Buccaneers surprisingly fired  head coach Lovie Smith this offseason. They did so because the team was so pleased how QB Jameis Winston performed as a rookie under offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter that the Bucs hired Koetter as head coach. Tampa Bay was 2-0 versus Atlanta last season, each game close.

Miami Dolphins at Seattle Seahawks Odds: (-8, 44)

The Seahawks are the +400 NFC favorites on NFL odds even though they lost to Carolina in the divisional round of last year’s playoffs. Seattle begins life without running back Marshawn Lynch, who retired. Miami  also lost its top running back, Lamar Miller, to Houston in free agency. This is the head coaching debut of the Dolphins’ Adam Gase, formerly the Bears’ offensive coordinator.

Detroit Lions at Indianapolis Colts Odds: (-5, 49)

The Colts’ season went into the tank last year when Andrew Luck went down injured. He was limited to only seven games. By the time Luck takes the field here, he’s likely to be the NFL’s highest-paid player as the team is  working on a huge new extension for the former No. 1 overall pick. The Lions begin the post-Calvin Johnson era. The future Hall of Fame receiver retired this offseason in a minor surprise.

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys Odds: (-3.5, 49)

The Cowboys are favored to win the NFC East even though they were 4-12 last season. But that was mostly because star quarterback Tony Romo was limited to a career-low four games after breaking his collarbone twice. Dallas was 3-1 in those games. The Cowboys and Giants split two games in 2015, each winning at home.

New England Patriots at Arizona Cardinals Odds: (TBA)

This line is off the board as oddsmakers await QB Tom Brady’s appeal of his four-game Deflategate suspension — the Cardinals will be favoured regardless but it’s likely to be by more than a touchdown if Brady sits. He won an appeal of the suspension before last season, but then the NFL won its appeal this offseason. Most believe the suspension will stand this time and thus Jimmy Garoppolo would start at QB. It would be his first significant NFL action.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Washington Odds: (-3, 50.5)

This is the first of two Monday night games. Both the Steelers and Redskins were playoff teams in 2015. Pittsburgh should get back there with perhaps the NFL’s best offense. I rather doubt Washington wins nine games again.

Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco Odds: (+2, 46)

This is the second Monday game and first game for the Rams back as L.A.’s team and likely the NFL debut of QB Jared Goff. The Rams traded a fortune in draft picks to get the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft from Tennessee to select Goff out of Cal. It’s also the 49ers’ head coaching debut of Chip Kelly, who was fired by the Eagles late last season.  These teams split two meetings in 2015, each winning at home.