NFL Preseason Week 1 Picks, Predictions, Spreads and Odds

•   Get the most recent odds for NFL Preseason Week 1 Games in 2022
•   Our top predictions and picks for the season’s first week of games
•   View stats from past seasons to help give you an edge over the sportsbooks

Buckle up your football seatbelts because NFL action is finally upon us, with Week 1 of the league’s preseason play happening starting on Thursday, August 10, and wrapping up on Sunday, a pro football weekend for fans and gamblers who have missed their favorite game.

Bettors beware, though, because the oddsmakers understand that only a few of the starters should play in these games that ‘don’t count’ against the team’s official record, the perfect place to try out the rookies and undrafted free agents who are all trying to make their teams.

Here we’ll go over all sixteen matchups and do our best to pick a winner for each, a fun way to warm up your gambling muscles before the actual NFL regular season action begins on Thursday, September 8, just four weeks of preseason ball away.

Good luck – win big!

NFL Preseason Week 1 Games 2022 Odds

Odds as of 11 Aug, 2022 at FanDuel Sportsbook.

How to watch: Thursday, 7:00 PM ET, NFL NET

The New York Giants got themselves a new head coach, Brian Daboll, who will hopefully do for their offense what he was able to do for the Buffalo Bills as their OC for three seasons, something that QB Daniel Jones is most likely looking forward to after a 4-13 2021 season.

Rumor has it New England Patriots QB Mac Jones spent the offseason in the weight room, and now with rookie first round LG Cole Strange on the front line he should have enough time to connect with his talented targets, WRs DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, and Jakobi Meyers.

The oddsmakers are giving the Patriots points while playing at home, so take their second string players to beat the Giants backups in this preseason matchup.

Pick:

Patriots +3   (-110)

Tennessee Titans vs Baltimore Ravens (-3.5)

How to watch: Thursday, 7:30 PM ET, TBD

After the Titans posted a 12-5 season, won the AFC South, and got their star RB Derrick Henry back in time for the postseason, they came up short and now HC Mike Vrabel and QB Ryan Tannehill will have rookie first round WR Treylon Burks to target, maybe even in this game.

Now the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive line will have rookie C Tyler Linderbaum as its anchor, the first-round draft pick out of Iowa now in charge of helping to keep QB Lamar Jackson safe as he attempts to have the kind of season under center that’s worth some extra contractual millions.

The Ravens got used to playing without Jackson under center last season, so expect them to be able to do it again in preseason, though the Titans with points is tempting.

Pick:

Ravens -3.5   (-110)

Atlanta Falcons (-1) vs Detroit Lions

How to watch: Friday, 6:00 PM ET, NFL NET

Chances are the Atlanta Falcons will play their starting QB for at least a few series since Marcus Mariota is most likely still getting comfortable with OC Dave Ragone’s playbook, an offense that will now include first round rookie WR Drake London from USC for HC Arthur Smith’s 2nd year.

Anyone who’s been watching the Detroit Lions on HBO’s hit NFL preseason documentary Hard Knocks knows how pumped up every player on this franchise is right now, and that has much to do with the energy of former player HC Dan Campbell who has his men willing and able to win.

This one is a tossup so take the home team and the points, with the Lions expected to take advantage of the Detroit crowd.

Pick:

Lions +1   (-110)

Cleveland Browns (-1.5) vs Jacksonville Jaguars

How to watch: Friday, 7:00 PM ET, TBD

As is stands, the Cleveland Browns HC Kevin Stefanski will be starting controversial QB Deshaun Watson under center on Friday, a move that is certain to draw some boos from the crowd, though with their solid defense and RB duo and TEs, they will be dangerous regardless.

After one of the oddest NFL seasons on record led by a HC who was in over his head, now the Jacksonville Jaguars are led by a veteran HC, Doug Pederson, who should be able to give their star QB Trevor Lawrence the type of developmental attention he needs in his second season.

Tough to bet on the Jaguars first string so their second string is out of the question, the Browns traveling but look like the better roster up and down.

Pick:

Browns -1.5   (-110)

Arizona Cardinals vs Cincinnati Bengals (-2)

How to watch: Friday, 7:30 PM ET, TBD

After a shaky preseason that included a contractual insult to QB Kyler Murray, expect these fiery Arizona Cardinals to prove they are well prepared enough to take on such a powerful Bengals offense, so expect Cards multiple rookie CBs to most likely get some valuable game time here.

The Cincinnati Bengals might have made it to the Super Bowl last season, but that loss hurt them and made them even hungrier for the Lombardi Trophy, and young HC Zac Taylor and his talented QB Joe Burrow should be able to make another run at it with lots of rookie depth now.

The home team typically seems to have the advantage in these preseason games, so take the Bengals and hope that the Cardinals stick to their bench players.

Pick:

Bengals -2   (-110)

New York Jets vs Philadelphia Eagles (-1)

How to watch: Friday, 7:30 PM ET, TBD

This will be New York Jets HC Robert Saleh’s second season with the franchise, and this offseason the front office gave him some first-round talent to work with, so expect to see WR Garrett Wilson, DE Jermaine Johnson, and CB Sauce Gardner out there for plenty of series.

This will also be Philly Eagles HC Nick Sirianni’s second season in charge of this NFL team, and former Colts OC is most likely exited to develop QB Jalen Hurts under center, a young scrambler who has some high-level targets to throw to, including AJ Green and DeVonta Smith.

This one is predicted to be close so take the hometown and expect the Eagles to put up a fight in front of their fans while the Jet struggle to figure out where to put all those new pieces.

Pick:

Eagles -1  (-110)

Green Bay Packers vs San Francisco 49ers (-2.5)

How to watch: Friday, 8:30 PM ET, NFL NET

This will be the season that the Green Bay Packers and QB Aaron Rodgers get to find out if they can win without star WR Davante Adams, but in this game none of the playmakers are likely to see the field, but maybe 1st round draft pick LB Quay Walker will get some playing time.

Chances are the San Francisco 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan will want to see his young starting QB Trey Lance for at least a few series in this game, plus that would give rookie first-round draft pick RG Spencer Burford a change to step on a pro gridiron before the real games get started.

Take the home team here and hope that QB Lance can get them ahead early on since the Packers will most likely be testing their depth in this one.

Pick:

San Fran -2.5   (-110)

Kansas City Chiefs vs Chicago Bears (-3.5)

How to watch: Saturday, 1:00 PM ET, NFL NET

This season, Kansas City Chiefs fans get to find out what their team is like without the Cheetah – speedy WR Tyreek Hill, who’s now with Miami – KC a team with a guru HC, Andy Reid, a talented QB, Patrick Mahomes, and a rookie DE, George Karlaftis, who should play in this one.

It will be the Chicago Bears’ new HC Matt Eberflus’s job to develop the team’s young QB Justin Fields, who might just get some playing time in this one to test out his arm and to see how rookie LR Braxton Jones handles the blindside pressure in front of a hometown crowd.

Take the Chiefs and the points because even their second-string players have a decent chance of taking down these potentially shaky Bears.

Pick:

Chiefs +3.5   (-110)

Carolina Panthers vs Washington Commanders (-1.5)

How to watch: Saturday, 1:00 PM ET, TBD

Not only will Carolina Panthers fans be glued to this game, but so will the Cleveland Browns as a healthy and ticked-off QB Baker Mayfield makes his debut for his new franchise after a tough offseason where his future was up in the air, and now he has RB Christian McCaffrey to help.

The Washington Commanders will be QB Carson Wentz’s third NFL team, and though he is capable of great things, he struggles to stay healthy the entire season, and now veteran HC Ron Rivera gets to figure out how to keep him safe enough to target rookie WR Jahan Dotson.

Take the Panthers here and figure that QB Mayfield will use this brief opportunity to send a message to the league that, healthy, he’s a winner.

Pick:

Panthers +1.5  (-110)

Indianapolis Colts (-1) vs Buffalo Bills

How to watch: Saturday, 4:00 PM ET, NFL NET

It seems like the Indy Colts are always one decent QB away from becoming a powerhouse, and now that job goes to a veteran under center, Matt Ryan, a surefire field general who has his work cut out for him with a young receiver corps to target including touted rookie Alec Pierce.

The Josh Allen led Buffalo Bills are the buzz of the AFC and now that WR Stefon Diggs has settled in and TE Dawson Knox has proven he can catch the football, expect them to dominate as their defense continues to shine starring DT Ed Oliver and now hyped rookie CB Kalir Elam.

The Bills have a better chance of winning this one since they are at home and their roster has depth while the Colts are still figuring out how their upgraded offense works.

Pick:

Bills +1   (-110)

Seattle Seahawks vs Pittsburgh Steelers (-3)

How to watch: Saturday, 7:00 PM ET, NFL NET

It will be fun to see what Seattle Seahawks veteran HC Pete Carroll will do with QB Geno Smith under center instead of Russell Wilson, a new offense that still stars deep threat WR DK Metcalf, and now rookie first-round pick LT Charles Cross will be protecting Smith’s blindside.

Veteran QB Mitchell Trubisky should start as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ team leader this season as he attempts to fill the shoes of retired Big Ben, and this season he has rookie WR George Pickens to throw footballs at along with the impressive Chase Claypool and TE Pat Freiermuth.

The Steelers at home are always a good bet, even if it’s their second and third-string players on the field, but expect the Seahawks to put up a fight as they try to get their new offense settled in.

Pick:

Steelers -3   (-110)

Miami Dolphins (-1.5) vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

How to watch: Saturday, 7:30 PM ET, TBD

The Miami Dolphins’ front office brought in a new HC, Mike McDaniel, who was the 49ers OC last season so he is the perfect man to develop young QB Tua Tagovailoa, who could be great under center, especially now that the team has the Cheetah, Tyreek Hill, running with them.

The starting roster for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will most likely get this night off as their rookie addons get a chance to show off what they can bring to the team, including LG Luke Goedeke, RB Rachaad White, CB Zyon McCollum, and Georgia punter Jake Camarda.

Take the Dolphins since they will most likely play the more starters in the first half but the Bucs’ new HC Todd Bowles’ defense is strong even with their ‘scrubs’ on the field.

Pick:

Dolphins -1.5   (-110)

New Orleans Saints (-1.5) vs Houston Texans

How to watch: Saturday, 8:00 PM ET, TBD

If the New Orleans Saints new HC Dennis Allen is smart – and all indications are that he is – he will rest starting QB Jameis Winston who is prone to injury and let veteran backup Andy Dalton throw the ball to 1st round rookie WR Chris Olave, the OSU star that should get some targets.

The Houston Texans may have dodged a PR bullet by trading away troubled QB Deshaun Watson to the Cleveland Browns this offseason, but now new HC Lovie Smith must start Davis Mills under center, a young gun who will now be protected by rookie LG Kenyon Green.

This one might be a tossup so take the home team and the points and count on the Texans to start some first-teamers as their rebuild continues.

Pick:

Texans +1.5   (-110)

Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos (-3)

How to watch: Saturday, 9:00 PM ET, NFL NET

This could be a big night for Dallas Cowboys backup QB Cooper Rush who will most likely get the start here, with two rookie targets to take the field with in WR Jalen Tolbert and TE Jake Ferguson, and rookie DE Sam Williams should get to rush the Broncos QB a few times.

Now the Denver Broncos are Walmart’s team, and HC Nathaniel Hackett will get to coach veteran QB Russell Wilson for a change, and the defense will get rookie playmaker LB Nik Bonitto on the field, plus rookie DE Eyloma Uwazurike should get some playing time, as well.

Who knows how much the starters will play this night, if any, so take the points and the Cowboys and expect their depth to shine.

Pick:

Cowboys +3   (-110)

Los Angeles Rams vs Los Angeles Chargers (-3.5)

How to watch: Saturday, 10:00 PM ET, TBD

This Saturday night matchup in Los Angeles features the Champion Rams taking on the Chargers, and backup QB John Wolford should get the start as rookies LT AJ Arcuri and RG Logan Bruss get some playing time as HC Sean McVay ramps up for a rare Lombardi repeat.

Last season, the LA Chargers did not make the playoffs despite having a talented roster and an exceptional QB in Justin Herbert, though on this preseason night expects to see BU Chase Daniel as they try out rookies RG Zion Johnson, LG Jamaree Salyer, and RB Isaiah Spiller.

With two home teams playing, take the points and the Rams and expect their deep roster to take care of the Chargers in front of a late-night Los Angeles crowd.

Pick:

Rams +3.5   (-110)

Minnesota Vikings vs Las Vegas Raiders (-3.5)

How to watch: Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, NFL NET

The only preseason Week 1 matchup on the schedule is this one between the Minnesota Vikings and the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Vikes will have plenty of young talent to showcase including rookies FS Lewis Cine, CB Andrew Booth Jr., and RG Ed Ingram, all who should play.

What Las Vegas Raiders fans would most like to see in this game probably won’t happen, which is to witness the reunion of QB Derek Carr and his old Fresno State teammate Davante Adams, both now ready to take on the NFL together under new HC Josh McDaniels, an offensive guru.

The Vikings are getting too many points not to take them in such an early matchup, but the hometown Raiders should still put on a show.

Pick:

Vikings +3.5   (-110)