The 2026 NFL schedule release is here! We know who all 32 teams will be facing throughout all 18 weeks. Now we can start circling the games we think we’ll have an edge on. You can already start placing some bets on games. Let’s take a look at one NFL game to bet on each week based on the schedule release!
2026 NFL Schedule Release – One Game To Bet Each Week
Week 1 – Dallas Cowboys (-2.5) vs. New York Giants
The first game I’m looking at for the NFL schedule release is the Cowboys on the road to take on the Giants. I’m circling this as the one NFL game to bet in Week 1. However, there are plenty of other juicy options. I fought the urge to be a homer and take the Bears -2.5.
Your gut would say to take the Giants as home dogs on their opening weekend. However, I’m not buying it quite yet. Yes, they landed a legendary coach in Harbaugh to help steer the ship. However, let’s not forget that Malik Nabers is still rehabbing. He may not be back by Week 1. It’s going to be close. Skattebo may also not be the exact same.
To top that off, I think the Harbaugh system could take a few weeks before it takes off. On top of that, the Cowboys’ defense should be improved, and they have a lot of weapons. I’ve already placed my money on the Cowboys at -2.5.
Week 2 – Indianapolis Colts @ Kansas City Chiefs
I’m going to go ahead and bet on this game now. There’s a very specific reason this one jumps out to me as the one NFL game to bet for Week 2 after the schedule release. First of all, a lot of these early lines feel disrespectful to the Colts. It’s almost like the books forgot how solid the Colts were prior to Daniel Jones’ injury.
Of course, the Chiefs are the Chiefs. They’ve been solid for a while now. Let’s not forget, though, Patrick Mahomes is facing an uphill battle to recover from his injury by early in the season. Therefore, I don’t think he’s starting here. A Mahomes-less Chiefs team is one you can’t trust. Colts +5.5 is a good line to jump on because it’ll be closer to a pick by the time the game is here.
Week 3 – Carolina Panthers (-1.5) @ Cleveland Browns
As I’m looking at the NFL schedule release for 2026, why do I keep circling road teams? Obviously, there’s something wrong with my picker. Or, I just know when there’s a good opportunity on the board.
My next one game to bet in the NFL for Week 3 is the Carolina Panthers -1.5 on the road against the Cleveland Browns. I actually think the Panthers are going to be better than people think this year. I also think the Browns won’t be very good. They’ll be at least three-point favorites by closing lines.
Week 4 – Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints (-2.5)
Finally, I’ll take a home game on this NFL 2026 Schedule release. The Falcons hit the road to New Orleans, which really isn’t that far of a travel for them in the grand scheme of things. However, the Saints should be better than last year, and they have always been able to hang around in games when at home.
The Falcons have Michael Penix and Tua Tagovailoa. What’s the old saying? If you have two quarterbacks, you have none? Saints roll on this one.
Week 5 – Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers (-3)
The road warriors continue on my list of games to bet in response to the NFL 2026 Schedule release. We saw some epic showdowns between these two teams last year. The Bears ended up winning two of the three times these teams met. Twice, from incredible comebacks.
Now in Week 5, the Bears hit the road to take on Green Bay. This rivalry is epic. It’s important to note that Ben Johnson has been really good at coaching a team in Lambeau. As offensive coordinator of the Lions, they won every game in Lambeau. That trend continues, Bears get the upset.
Week 6 – Houston Texans (-1.5) @ Jacksonville Jaguars
By the time the NFL Schedule release hit for 2026, we already knew most of the overseas games. This is one of them as the Houston Texans take on the London Jags as 1.5-point favorites.
I expect Liam Coen to have his team playing well for a second straight year. I know they aren’t the home team, but the Jaguars are called the London Jags for a reason. Give me the Jaguars to win this one.
Week 7 – Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles (-3)
As I’m giving out one game to bet in response to the 2026 NFL schedule release, one would think I wouldn’t fade the two SGPN bosses’ teams. One would also think I wouldn’t fade them to their most hated team, the Dallas Cowboys.
However, I just can’t help myself. If you see no more articles from me, you’ll know why. Dak Prescott is 10-5 against the Eagles when healthy. His health has been the main issue. I am banking on him staying healthy and the Cowboys winning this game on the road. Moneyline. Book it.
Week 8 – Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions (-3.5)
This game is just about taking the better team. I honestly don’t think the Vikings will be all that good this year. I do think the Lions will be able to slightly improve from their disappointing season last year. Give me the Lions to win at home by over a touchdown.
Week 9 – Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks (-13.5)
The next game to bet on in the NFL Schedule that was released today is the Arizona Cardinals on the road to the Seahawks. They travel to Seattle once a year. It’s a decent flight, but they’re used to it.
This line has a lot of recency bias in it from the Super Bowl. Seattle lost a lot of pieces, though. Do I expect them to be a better team than the Cardinals? Absolutely. Do I expect them to be a 13.5-point better team than the Cardinals? Absolutely not. Give me the Cardinals +13.5.
Week 10 – Washington Commanders @ New York Giants (-1.5)
I know I faded the Giants earlier in the schedule. However, here I think they’ll be just fine. By Week 10, everybody will be healthy, and the team will be running smoothly under Harbaugh.
Any kinks in the system that need ironing out in the early weeks will be long gone, and they’ll be a fluid machine at this time. Washington, on the other hand, I just don’t trust. The later they get in the season, the more likely they are to have an injury sideline, Jayden Daniels.
Give me the Giants in an easy victory. I like them to cover up to at least -3.
Week 11 – New Orleans Saints @ Chicago Bears (-6.5)
This is an easy one for me to pick, but maybe it’s a homer pick. The Chicago Bears as 6.5-point home favorites against an inferior New Orleans Saints team feels like a smash spot.
These two faced off on October 19th last year in Chicago, and the Bears won by 12. I expect a similar result.
Week 12 – Week 14
Here are some quick hits on Week 12 to Week 14.
Thanksgiving falls during Week 12, and we have three games on Thanksgiving, plus a game on Thanksgiving Eve. As if that’s a thing. Regardless, we’re taking Josh Allen and the Bills (-2.5) to beat the Chiefs. Allen does well against them in the regular season. It’s the playoffs that the Bills have struggled with.
For Week 13, I’m taking the battle of the birds and the Eagles -8.5, to crush the Cardinals. The game is in Arizona. However, this Cardinals team feels like a mess. Nick Siriani has historically done a good job beating the bad teams.
In Week 14, I’m going to take the Panthers (-2.5) again as they take on New Orleans in Carolina. This is a division game, and those will be important at this point in the season. Remember, three teams finished with 8-9 records in the NFC South last year. Panthers rise ahead here and run away with the division.
Week 15 – Week 18
For Week 15, I’m taking the Chargers -2.5 on Thursday night to beat the 49ers. I don’t have as much faith in the 49ers as I did in the past. The Chargers have been fairly solid, despite having a terrible offensive line. It should be a little better this year, and the Chargers are ready to roll.
For my one Week 16 NFL game to bet after the schedule release, I’m taking the Rams on Christmas Day. They’ll hit the road to Seattle as 1.5-point dogs. However, I don’t think Seattle will be as good as they were last year.
Looking to Week 17, I’m going to go with the Pittsburgh Steelers as +1.5-point road dogs. I don’t care who’s quarterbacking them. I think they can outlast the Tennessee Titans.
Finally, in Week 18 of the NFL schedule, I’m going back to the well with my one game to beat. I’m taking my Chicago Bears as +1.5-point dogs on the road in Minnesota. Maybe the Bears have a great season this year and are resting starters by this point. However, something tells me win this one, and they’re in the playoffs. Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams won’t lose in that scenario.
