This weekend sees the return of the NFL and we have picked out a five-fold for punters to consider, as 32 teams start their bid to reach Super Bowl LVIII.
The defending champions Kansas City Chiefs start their title defence by hosting the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football.
There are no fewer than 15 other match ups across the NFL opening weekend and five form the focus of our accumulator.
- Baltimore Ravens to beat Houston Texans
- San Francisco 49ers to beat Pittsburgh Steelers
- Minnesota Vikings to beat Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Chicago Bears to beat Green Bay Packers
- Buffalo Bills to beat New York Jets
Houston Texans @ Baltimore Ravens
The Houston Texans finished with one of the worst records in the NFL last season, 3-13-1, and it looks like a big ask for them to get anything from the clash with the Baltimore Ravens in their season opener.
The Texans will be starting rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud in this game, after taking him with the second pick in the draft.
The Ravens’ secondary is one of its strengths and could cause plenty of issues for the young gunslinger Stroud, who looks likely to get a rude introduction to the NFL.
Baltimore went 10-7 last season but look like they are ready for a big season with QB Lamar Jackson pulling the strings and should be able to record a comfortable success in the opening game.
Purdy impressed last season
San Francisco 49ers @ Pittsburgh Steelers
The San Francisco 49ers finished last season with a record of 13-4 before losing out to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game and they look set for another big season under Kyle Shanahan’s tutelage.
They start their campaign on the road to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who missed out on the playoffs after going 9-8 in a competitive AFC North division.
The Steelers are relying on a big effort from second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett and he may come up short in this curtain raiser.
Brock Purdy impressed after taking over as 49ers quarterback last year, during a QB injury crisis, with a record of seven wins and one loss from eight games.
San Francisco, who have three of their last five meetings with Pittsburgh, look the better all-around team and are fancied to win this one.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings topped the NFC North with a 13-4 record last season, before falling to the New York Giants in the wildcard round of the playoffs.
Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins will be looking to have another strong year, in what many feel could be his last in the NFL.
Despite reshaping their team in the off-season, Minnesota will still benefit from Cousins’ experience leadership and are fancied to win on the opening weekend.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are putting their faith in Baker Mayfield and the quarterback, who was once seen as the Cleveland Browns’ potential saviour, has not shown enough to suggest that he can lead the Bucs to success.
Tampa Bay topped a weak NFC South last season despite finishing with a losing record and were immediately beaten 31-14 by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the playoffs.
If, as expected, this becomes a battle of the quarterbacks, Minnesota look like the only winners.
Cousins hoping for another big season
Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears
Aaron Rodgers’ high-profile departure from the Green Bay Packers was one of the stories of the NFL season and the pressure is on new quarterback Jordan Love to fill the superstar’s boots.
The Packers finished 8-9 last season, way clear of the Chicago Bears who were 3-14 in the NFC North, but the two teams have gone in different directions over the post-season.
The Bears saw what dynamic quarterback Justin Fields can offer last season and have added star receiver DJ Moore in the off-season, as well as revamping their offensive line.
They have a young core to their roster and Fields was a standout in that last year, rushing for 1,143 yards and throwing for 2,242. The 24-year-old is a genuine two-way threat and looks likely to cause plenty of problems for this Packers’ defence.
This rivalry is one of the oldest in the NFL and while the Packers have dominated it in recent years, the winds of change could be about to blow through Green Bay, with the Bears fancied to secure their first win over the Pack since 2018.
Rodgers will feature for the Jets
Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets
The New York Jets flirted with contention last season after years in the doldrums, but a six-game losing streak to end the year put paid to that and they finished bottom of the AFC East with a 7-10 record.
Quarterback has long been a problem area for the Jets and they went all in this summer, securing NFL royalty in the shape of Aaron Rodgers.
The former Green Bay Packers star immediately changes his new side’s chances of reaching the playoffs and they have an exciting young team to back it up.
Sauce Gardner is developing into one of the best cornerbacks in the league and he will be crucial to the Jets hopes on defence.
However, the New Yorkers could hardly have asked for a harder first game with their new quarterback, as the Buffalo Bills visit MetLife Stadium.
The Bills have been the dominant force in the AFC East in recent years, setting up a rivalry with the Kansas City Chiefs, as the two teams have battled it out for AFC supremacy.
The Bills are yet to win the Super Bowl and were shocked by the Cincinnati Bengals in the divisional round last season, but are still considered one of the best teams in the league.
Quarterback Josh Allen continues to impress and the Bills look ready to contend this time around, while the Jets may take more time to fulfil their potential.
