September 8, 2026

NFL Predictions for Week 1

Team Ratings for Week 1

The basic method is described on my Department home page.
Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Seahawks 12.03 12.03 -0.00
Patriots 8.11 8.11 -0.00
Rams 6.16 6.16 0.00
Texans 5.51 5.51 -0.00
Lions 5.20 5.20 0.00
Bills 4.81 4.81 0.00
Jaguars 4.17 4.17 0.00
Broncos 4.07 4.07 -0.00
Vikings 2.79 2.79 0.00
Ravens 2.53 2.53 0.00
Packers 1.72 1.72 0.00
Bears 1.18 1.18 0.00
Chargers 1.16 1.16 0.00
Eagles 0.73 0.73 -0.00
49ers 0.63 0.63 0.00
Bengals 0.39 0.39 -0.00
Steelers -0.43 -0.43 -0.00
Colts -0.74 -0.74 -0.00
Chiefs -1.34 -1.34 0.00
Falcons -1.39 -1.39 -0.00
Giants -2.38 -2.38 0.00
Browns -2.50 -2.50 -0.00
Saints -3.38 -3.38 -0.00
Cowboys -3.42 -3.42 0.00
Buccaneers -3.95 -3.95 0.00
Dolphins -3.99 -3.99 -0.00
Commanders -4.65 -4.65 0.00
Panthers -4.66 -4.66 -0.00
Raiders -5.72 -5.72 -0.00
Cardinals -7.49 -7.49 0.00
Titans -8.81 -8.81 0.00
Jets -9.84 -9.84 0.00

 

Predictions for Week 1

Here are the predictions for Week 1. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Seahawks vs. Patriots Sept 10 Seahawks 3.90
2 Rams vs. 49ers Sept 11 Rams 5.50
3 Panthers vs. Bears Sept 14 Bears -5.80
4 Bengals vs. Buccaneers Sept 14 Bengals 4.30
5 Lions vs. Saints Sept 14 Lions 8.60
6 Texans vs. Bills Sept 14 Texans 0.70
7 Colts vs. Ravens Sept 14 Ravens -3.30
8 Jaguars vs. Browns Sept 14 Jaguars 6.70
9 Steelers vs. Falcons Sept 14 Steelers 1.00
10 Titans vs. Jets Sept 14 Titans 1.00
11 Raiders vs. Dolphins Sept 14 Dolphins -1.70
12 Chargers vs. Cardinals Sept 14 Chargers 8.70
13 Vikings vs. Packers Sept 14 Vikings 1.10
14 Eagles vs. Commanders Sept 14 Eagles 5.40
15 Giants vs. Cowboys Sept 14 Giants 1.00
16 Chiefs vs. Broncos Sept 15 Broncos -5.40

 

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David Scott obtained a BA and PhD from the Australian National University and then commenced his university teaching career at La Trobe University in 1972. He has taught at La Trobe University, the University of Sheffield, Bond University and Colorado State University, joining the University of Auckland, based at Tamaki Campus, in mid-1995. He has been Head of Department at La Trobe University, Acting Dean and Associate Dean (Academic) at Bond University, and Associate Director of the Centre for Quality Management and Data Analysis at Bond University with responsibility for Short Courses. He was Head of the Department of Statistics in 2000, and is a past President of the New Zealand Statistical Assocation. See all posts by David Scott »

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