NFL Unveils 2026 Week 1 Odds With Seahawks -3.5 in Super Bowl Rematch

Q: Will the Chargers make history as the first double-digit Week 1 favorite since 2019, or will late money back the Cardinals?

The Chargers are more likely than not to become that double-digit Week 1 favorite. The key evidence is that some market tracking already shows Los Angeles at -10, not just -9.5, while public betting data cited in the additional reporting has the Chargers drawing about 80% of the spread money against Arizona. That is the kind of early support that typically pushes a favorite upward rather than back down, especially when the broader Week 1 board is tight and bettors are looking for one of the few perceived mismatch spots. Arizona also brings uncertainty that works against a Cardinals buyback. Rookie running back Jeremiyah Love has dealt with an ankle issue in the preseason, even if coach Mike LaFleur has sounded optimistic about him playing. The Cardinals are still viewed as a rebuilding team, and the available reporting points to a roster with more volatility than the Chargers. That makes it harder to expect a major late wave of respected money on Arizona unless injury news turns strongly in the Cardinals’ favor. There is still a realistic chance the number settles back to 9.5 if professional bettors decide +10 is worth grabbing, because double digits are a psychologically and mathematically important NFL spread. But based on the current direction of the market, the stronger expectation is that the Chargers at least touch double digits and likely make the Week 1 history noted in the opening odds.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Sep 9

Seattle opens the 2026 season as a 3.5-point home favorite over New England in Wednesday night’s Super Bowl rematch after beating the Patriots 29-13 for last season’s title.
Week 1 looks unusually tight: 12 games carry spreads of 3.5 points or less, while the Rams are also 3.5-point favorites over the 49ers in Thursday’s Melbourne opener.
Los Angeles Chargers hold the week’s biggest line at -9.5 against Arizona, and Buccaneers-Bengals carries the highest projected total at 51.5 points.
Kansas City closes the opening slate Monday night as a 2.5-point favorite over Denver, with Patrick Mahomes set to return from a torn ACL.