Not sure why we’re playing the season. The Los Angeles Rams have already been crowned champs, thanks to the addition of Myles Garrett and the return of Aaron Donald.Never mind that their quarterback’s back could go at any second. Or that a team in their division actually won the Super Bowl last year and has a lot of great, young players. Yeah, the Seattle Seahawks get no respect.But if the Rams don’t march through the league … and the Seahawks don’t repeat … then it actually does seem wide open. The Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos (I have Jaylen Waddle on every fantasy team), Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens and even the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers could make a case. I am afraid, though, that the Houston Texans’ defense will be muttering about the offense again all season.A lot of teams at the bottom might be tanking for Arch Manning, and there is no real new blood at quarterback this season. It’s the first time since 2022 that there won’t be a rookie quarterback starting in Week 1. (Fernando Mendoza is the 14th quarterback to go No. 1 since 2007, and all but Baker Mayfield and Jared Goff started the opener that season.)Then again, when you have Kirk Cousins …Last season’s record: 142-137-8 against the spread, 48-47 on best betsAll odds are from DraftKings and are locked when the pick was made. All times are ET.Can the Seahawks fend off the Rams in the NFC West?Andrew DestinNew England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks (-3) | 8:20 p.m. Wednesday, NBCThe rematch that we assume the Patriots have been waiting for. And this time, they won’t have Kenneth Walker III to worry about. We should be tempted by the Patriots adding A.J. Brown and having a healthier offensive line this time … but we’re not. (Did you know the departed Stefon Diggs had better numbers than Brown — across the board, but especially in EPA/target: 0.68 to 0.25 — last year?)Seattle has a much better defense than New England, and we also think Sam Darnold can improve in his second season with the Seahawks, new play caller and all.The pick: Seahawks San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams (-3.5) (Melbourne, Australia) | 8:35 p.m. Thursday, NetflixMuch of the talk about this game has centered on the teams’ opposite travel plans, with the 49ers arriving in Australia six days before the Rams. But this game might come down to the Rams having Garrett and new cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson.The 49ers have a major hole at left guard, and on the other side of the trenches, their pass rush seems suspect. New defensive coordinator Raheem Morris loves to play zone, but that is playing right into Matthew Stafford’s hands if there is no pressure. Stafford ranked among the top four QBs in yards per attempt, explosive pass rate and EPA per dropback against zone from a clean pocket last season.The pick: RamsIs the Rams' travel plan a good idea?Matt Barrows and Vic TafurAtlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.5) | 1 p.m. Sunday, FoxThis is the safest Survivor Pool pick of the week other than the Jaguars. The Falcons have already taken a lot of hits on defense, and their quarterback stinks. Meanwhile, this is the freshest old man Aaron Rodgers will be all season, and the home crowd will be a factor in native son Mike McCarthy’s debut.The pick: Steelers New York Jets at Tennessee Titans (-1.5) | 1 p.m. Sunday, CBSThe Robert Saleh Bowl. The two teams to employ him as head coach square off, with the first team to score 20 points the likely winner. If you’re positive Cam Ward is a lot better than Geno Smith, this is an easy pick. I am not. Give me Breece Hall with a big game.The pick: JetsBuffalo Bills (-1.5) at Houston Texans | 1 p.m. Sunday, CBSRemember how badly the Texans terrorized Josh Allen last season? What about in 2024, when he went 9 of 30 in Houston? I am sure he remembers.It will be interesting to see how much of an impact new receiver DJ Moore has. I am skeptical because he had a habit of disappearing at his first two stops, but he does resemble Pac-Man at times. Moore ranks fourth in the NFL in yards after the catch (3,205) since being drafted in 2018, and the Bills had the seventh-most YAC last season (2,052). The Texans allowed the sixth-fewest YAC (1,587).The pick: Texans New Orleans Saints at Detroit Lions (-7) | 1 p.m. Sunday, FoxThe Saints are getting a lot of love this season (including from me), but there are levels to this. The Lions have some question marks on defense, but they have a lot of talent and take care of business at home, with Jameson Williams taking another leap as a playmaker.The pick: Lions Baltimore Ravens (-3.5) at Indianapolis Colts | 1 p.m. Sunday, CBSDid I mention the Ravens are my Super Bowl pick? No? Probably because I am not that crazy about it. But … the three NFC West teams will beat each other up, and I am not buying the Bills or Chiefs this season. Heck, might as well throw in another MVP for Lamar Jackson. The Ravens will lead the league in yards per carry (5.3 in 2025) again, and their improved pass rush will make life easier as well.The pick: RavensIs anything short of an AFC Championship appearance a failure for Ravens?Robert Mays and Derrik KlassenCleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars (-8.5) | 1 p.m. Sunday, CBSObviously, the Browns are starting Deshaun Watson only because the first two games are on the road. If by some miracle he shows any resemblance to his 2020 (!) form, then they can figure out what to do with all the booing home fans. The thing is, the Browns do have a lot of young talent on the roster. It just won’t matter for a couple of weeks. Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars roll (they were 8-0 as favorites last season, winning by an average margin of 14.6 points).The pick: Jaguars Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals (-3.5) | 1 p.m. Sunday, FoxMy mom says most of the mean comments from my season total predictions came from Bengals fans, just because I am not sold on this new, improved defense (or the head coach). Well … another reason I like the under on 10.5 wins is that they always start the season slow. Since 2020, Joe Burrow has been sacked a league-worst 10 percent of the time in openers and has lost four times, a league-high.The Buccaneers started 6-2 last season and 3-1 in 2024 and 2023. Give me Todd Bowles with a freshly paid Baker Mayfield fired up to show he doesn’t need Mike Evans.The pick: Buccaneers Chicago Bears (-3) at Carolina Panthers | 1 p.m. Sunday, FoxWe’re all for Week 1 shenanigans, and we’re calling for some immediate regression here, as the Bears won six games last season where they trailed with two minutes or less remaining. The Panthers added pass rusher Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd, and the Bears are a little gimpy at receiver coming out of the gate. Home dog, please.The pick: Panthers Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles (-5.5) | 4:25 p.m. Sunday, FoxThis one makes no sense to me. Only 5.5 points? The Commanders have no one to block for Jayden Daniels, and their defense isn’t good, either. Meanwhile, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is skipping around because they finally got rid of Brown and have a competent play caller. Philadelphia wins its sixth straight season opener.The pick: Eagles Miami Dolphins at Las Vegas Raiders (-3.5) | 4:25 p.m. Sunday, FoxGo ahead: Name a Dolphins receiver. That’s what happens when you have $182 million in dead cap space. The Kirk Cousins Era starts with an easy win.The pick: Raiders Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Chargers (-9.5) | 4:25 p.m. Sunday, CBSIf you recall, I am big on the Cardinals over 3.5 wins this season. This is not one of them. The Chargers make a statement in this one, with new play caller Mike McDaniel letting Justin Herbert throw deep and getting Omarion Hampton 25 touches. A big reason is the return of offensive tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt. The Chargers allowed a 33 percent pressure rate with them in 2024. That jumped to 43 percent without them over the past two seasons.The pick: Chargers Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings (-1.5) | 4:25 p.m. Sunday, CBSThis spread has been the biggest mover of the week, as the Packers opened as favorites, but people have no faith in MarShawn Lloyd. (The Packers might not have much, either.)However, Jordan Love’s explosive pass rate (21 percent) when Jayden Reed and Christian Watson were both on the field last season would have led the NFL. And it’s a revenge game for fired Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon, the Packers’ new defensive coordinator, as he gets to go against one of his former quarterbacks, Kyler Murray.The pick: PackersCan the Packers claim their first NFC North title since 2021?Matt SchneidmanDallas Cowboys (-3) at New York Giants | 8:20 p.m. Sunday, NBCThe Cowboys overhauled their defense after giving up a league-worst 6.1 yards per play last season. And their offense is loaded, especially with George Pickens in another contract year. I plan to back the Giants’ defense — and professional coaching staff — often this season, but not in Week 1.The pick: Cowboys Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs (-2.5) | 8:15 p.m. Monday, ABC/ESPNThis one is another head-scratcher. Patrick Mahomes is coming off left knee surgery, his left tackle is injured and the Broncos led the NFL with 68 sacks last season, the fifth-most ever. Denver also has a very good run defense, which will delay Walker’s coming-out party as a fantasy football star by a week.The pick: Broncos Best bets: Steelers, Ravens, Panthers, Jaguars and BroncosUpset special (spread of at least 3 points): Buccaneers +170— TruMedia research courtesy of Jason Starrett.