The NFL is back. (Did it ever leave?)
After yet another eventful (so-called) offseason − typically full of player movement, notable non-player movement, quarterback battles and even a scandal − the action finally returns to the field, the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots instantly reprising their Super Bowl 60 matchup by kicking off the season Wednesday, Sept. 9 at Lumen Field. Yet that game even feels like something of appetizer ahead of Thursday's game − or is it Friday? can two things be true? − between the San Francisco 49ers and super-team Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, the league's first regular-season foray into the Australian market.
Sunday's 13-game slate seems tame by comparison, though Dallas Cowboys fans will doubtless be
excited to watch the nightcap against the New York Giants as "America's Team" embarks on a campaign that has outsized expectations even by its standards. The Monday night capstone will feature the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs and return to action of quarterbacks Bo Nix and Patrick Mahomes after injuries cut their 2025 seasons short.
And back to prognosticate all the action? USA TODAY Sports' panel of NFL experts, recently added betting guru Adam Kaufman joining the panel and our coverage this year.
To the forecast:
(Odds provided by BetMGM)
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL Week 1 picks straight up and against spread: Patriots or Seahawks in opener?
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