Early NFL Week 1 lines put Cowboys, Bears among road favourites
DraftKings’ early 2026 lines include a 49ers-Rams international game at Melbourne Cricket Ground, while several opening-week roles remain unsettled.
Early betting lines for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season have been released, with Dallas and Chicago listed as 2.5-point road favourites against the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers respectively.
The lines, reported by CBS Sports and attributed to DraftKings, also make the Los Angeles Chargers 10.5-point favourites against Arizona, Philadelphia 5.5-point favourites against Washington and Kansas City three-point favourites against Denver.
The opening slate is scheduled to begin in Seattle with a rematch between the Seahawks and New England Patriots before the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams meet at Melbourne Cricket Ground. CBS Sports describes the Melbourne fixture as the second game of the season and an international matchup.
Several factors could still affect the market before the games are played. The report highlights uncertainty over Christian Gonzalez’s availability, Atlanta’s starting quarterback and the roles of players including Emeka Egbuka and Malik Nabers. Patrick Mahomes is also expected to return for Kansas City after a season-ending knee injury.
The lines remain early positions rather than final assessments. CBS Sports also compares the matchups with teams’ 2025 against-the-spread records and home or away performances, but those figures do not establish the outcome of the 2026 fixtures.
