Why these 5 NFL favorites could easily drop their 2026 season openers
cbssports.com • • sports
Key Points:
- The NFL Week 1 slate features several potential upsets, with five favorites identified as vulnerable despite their favored status.
- The San Francisco 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams in Australia, with the 49ers arriving early to acclimate and returning key injured players, making the game more competitive than expected.
- The Houston Texans, with a strong defense and recent success against Josh Allen's Buffalo Bills, are a live underdog pick due to Buffalo's poor run defense.
- The Carolina Panthers, bolstered by offseason defensive additions, are poised to upset the Chicago Bears at home, especially given Bears QB Caleb Williams' accuracy issues under pressure.
- The New York Jets, improved offensively with Geno Smith and strengthened defensively, could exploit Tennessee Titans' QB Cam Ward's shaky preseason performance for an upset.
- The Denver Broncos, known for a dominant pass rush, are underrated against the Kansas City Chiefs, whose star QB Patrick Mahomes may struggle behind a potentially weakened offensive line in his comeback game.
