Every week of the NFL season, Yardbarker will take a look at the prime-time video games on Thursday, Sunday, and Monday nights and predict the results of every. Listed below are our predictions for Week 1.
Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald, who final performed in 2023, will not journey to Melbourne for L.A.’s worldwide recreation in opposition to San Francisco. The Rams, nevertheless, ought to nonetheless win the NFC West divisional matchup with out the longer term Corridor of Famer.
The 49ers’ terrible damage luck is already carrying over into the season opener. Second-year defensive deal with Alfred Collins suffered a season-ending patellar tendon damage in Monday’s observe. Tight finish George Kittle (Achilles) and defensive finish Nick Bosa (ACL), in the meantime, are anticipated to return in Week 1, however the workforce is limiting their workloads at observe. Restricted observe could not give Bosa and Kittle sufficient time to knock off rust, decreasing their effectiveness.
Security Quentin Lake just lately joked that different groups might imagine the Rams are soccer’s Los Angeles Dodgers after including defensive finish Myles Garrett to a stacked roster that already included quarterback Matthew Stafford and large receiver Puka Nacua. The Dodgers, after all, have received two straight World Sequence titles. The Rams could convey L.A. its subsequent championship and may get off to a quick begin in opposition to the Niners.
Prediction: Rams, 30-21
Cowboys Eleventh-year quarterback Dak Prescott has dominated the Giants all through his profession, going 14-3 in opposition to the NFC East rival and tossing 31 landing passes and 9 interceptions. Offensive line points, nevertheless, could sluggish the QB in Week 1.
The Cowboys positioned left guard Tyler Smith on injured reserve on Monday after he suffered a left thumb damage that required surgical procedure. Third-year offensive lineman T.J. Bass will substitute him and can battle to dam a Giants entrance, headlined by linebacker Brian Burns. The 2025 second-team All-Professional ought to excel underneath new head coach John Harbaugh after rating second within the league in sacks final season (16.5)
Whereas Burns and Co. will help the Giants maintain it shut, New York’s offense, led by second-year QB Jaxson Dart, could not have sufficient firepower to outpace Dallas (27.5 factors per recreation in 2025, No. 5 in NFL). In a shocking transfer, the Giants launched WR Darius Slayton (538 receiving yards in 2025, No. 2 on workforce) on Monday. With Slayton gone, Dart will incessantly be focusing on WRs Darnell Mooney, Malachi Fields (rookie) and Malik Nabers. Nabers is predicted to return from an ACL tear in his proper knee in Week 1.
Prediction: Cowboys, 24-17
Head coach Sean Payton stated final week the Broncos are making ready for the “finest” of QB Patrick Mahomes, who’s on monitor to start out Week 1 after tearing the ACL/LCL in his left knee in December 2025. However is Denver making ready for the very best model of Kansas Metropolis?
The Chiefs — who missed the playoffs for the primary time since 2014 final season — signed operating again Kenneth Walker III in free company after he received Tremendous Bowl LX MVP with the Seattle Seahawks. That was the workforce’s most notable offensive change after rating twentieth within the league in scoring (21.3 PPG) in 2025.
Denver, in the meantime, acquired former Miami Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle (910 receiving yards in 2025, No. 25 in NFL) and handed play-calling duties to new offensive coordinator Davis Webb. These adjustments ought to profit third-year QB Bo Nix, who’s getting back from a fractured proper ankle and aiming to guide the Broncos again to the AFC Championship Recreation.
Prediction: Broncos, 28-21
