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NFL Preseason Week 1 Results for 2026 produced one of the strongest underdog slates bettors will see all season. Underdogs finished 12-4 against the spread across the 16 games played from August 13 through August 15, while nine underdogs won outright and another finished in a tie.
Low scoring was the other defining result. Unders went 12-4, including a perfect 6-0 record during Thursday’s opening slate. The 16 games averaged only 33.9 combined points against an average listed total of approximately 38.3.
Chicago delivered the most decisive underdog result by beating Cleveland 34-10 as a three-point dog. Pittsburgh, Arizona, Tampa Bay, Washington, the Los Angeles Rams, Jacksonville, Baltimore and Dallas also won outright after entering their games as underdogs. This updated recap contains every final score, spread result, totals outcome and the most useful betting lessons from the completed slate.
Quick NFL Preseason Week 1 Betting Recap
- Underdogs against the spread: 12-4.
- Underdogs straight up: 9-6-1.
- Totals results: Unders finished 12-4.
- Average combined score: 33.9 points.
- Largest winning margin: Chicago defeated Cleveland by 24 points.
- Lowest-scoring game: Minnesota 13, New York Giants 10.
- Highest-scoring games: Chicago-Cleveland and Jacksonville-New Orleans each produced 44 points.
2026 NFL Preseason Week 1 Results
The complete 2026 NFL Preseason Week 1 schedule included 16 games over three days. The official scores and game replays remain available through the NFL Preseason Week 1 schedule.
Thursday, August 13 Results
| Final Score | Spread Result | Total Result |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals 16, Detroit Lions 14 | Detroit +7 Covered | Under 37.5 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers 28, Green Bay Packers 9 | Pittsburgh +2.5 Covered | Under 40.5 |
| Indianapolis Colts 13, New England Patriots 13 | New England +3 Covered | Under 37.5 |
| Los Angeles Chargers 27, Houston Texans 7 | Los Angeles -1.5 Covered | Under 36.5 |
| Arizona Cardinals 27, Las Vegas Raiders 14 | Arizona +2.5 Covered | Under 42.5 |
| Tennessee Titans 19, San Francisco 49ers 13 | San Francisco +6.5 Covered | Under 40.5 |
Thursday established both of the week’s dominant market patterns. Underdogs covered five of the six games, while all six final scores remained under the listed total. The Chargers were the only favorite to cover during the opening night.
Friday, August 14 Results
| Final Score | Spread Result | Total Result |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos 27, Atlanta Falcons 7 | Denver -3.5 Covered | Under 40.5 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24, New York Jets 16 | Tampa Bay +5.5 Covered | Over 35.5 |
| Washington Commanders 20, Miami Dolphins 7 | Washington +3.5 Covered | Under 35.5 |
Denver was the only Friday favorite to cover. Tampa Bay and Washington both won outright as underdogs, with the Commanders holding Miami to seven points. Buccaneers-Jets produced the first over of the week after the opening six games all finished under.
Saturday, August 15 Results
| Final Score | Spread Result | Total Result |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills 29, Carolina Panthers 14 | Buffalo -2.5 Covered | Over 38.5 |
| Chicago Bears 34, Cleveland Browns 10 | Chicago +3 Covered | Over 40.5 |
| Minnesota Vikings 13, New York Giants 10 | Minnesota -2.5 Covered | Under 42.5 |
| Los Angeles Rams 20, Kansas City Chiefs 12 | Los Angeles +2.5 Covered | Under 35.5 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars 24, New Orleans Saints 20 | Jacksonville +2.5 Covered | Over 35.5 |
| Baltimore Ravens 24, Philadelphia Eagles 7 | Baltimore +3.5 Covered | Under 36.5 |
| Dallas Cowboys 17, Seattle Seahawks 7 | Dallas +3 Covered | Under 37.5 |
Saturday produced five underdog covers in seven games. Chicago, the Rams, Jacksonville, Baltimore and Dallas all won outright as underdogs. Buffalo and Minnesota were the only Saturday favorites to cover, with the Vikings clearing their -2.5 spread by only half a point.
NFL Preseason Week 1 Betting Trends
The clearest Week 1 betting lesson was that the market repeatedly overvalued favorites. Regular-season roster strength did not translate cleanly to exhibition games controlled by reserve quarterbacks, experimental lineups and constantly changing substitutions.
| Betting Trend | Week 1 Record | Main Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Underdogs ATS | 12-4 | Depth uncertainty favored teams receiving points |
| Underdogs Straight Up | 9-6-1 | Moneyline dogs produced several outright wins |
| Unders | 12-4 | Reserve offenses struggled to sustain scoring |
| Favorites of -3.5 or Higher ATS | 1-5 | Large preseason spreads carried additional risk |
Underdogs Finished 12-4 Against the Spread
Only four favorites covered during the entire week: the Chargers, Broncos, Vikings and Bills. Every other favorite either failed to cover or, in nine cases, lost the game outright.
The results reinforce why preseason spreads should not be based primarily on regular-season power ratings. Teams with superior starting lineups may have little advantage after the first quarter when backups, rookies and roster-bubble players control the remaining possessions.
The result was especially poor for larger favorites. Teams laying at least 3.5 points finished 1-5 against the spread, with Denver providing the only cover. Cincinnati, Tennessee, the Jets, Miami and Philadelphia all failed to cover elevated numbers.
Unders Finished 12-4
The average Week 1 game produced 33.9 points, approximately 4.4 points below the average listed total of 38.3. Ten of the 16 games finished with 34 combined points or fewer.
All six Thursday games went under. Friday produced two unders in three games, while Saturday was more balanced with four unders and three overs.
The four overs came in Tampa Bay-New York Jets, Cleveland-Chicago, Carolina-Buffalo and Jacksonville-New Orleans. Two of those games finished with 44 points, which was the highest combined score of the week.
The 12-4 under result is meaningful, but it should not become an automatic wager in later preseason weeks. Sportsbooks can lower totals, while teams may give experienced quarterbacks longer appearances as the regular season approaches.
Biggest Betting Results and Upsets
Chicago Bears 34, Cleveland Browns 10
Chicago produced the largest margin of the week while closing as a three-point underdog. The Bears did not merely stay within the spread. They won by 24 points and pushed the game over 40.5 with most of the scoring coming from the underdog side.
This was the strongest example of why preseason favorites can be vulnerable. Cleveland’s favored status did not protect bettors once roster depth, quarterback rotation and game-specific preparation became more important than the teams’ projected regular-season strength.
Pittsburgh Steelers 28, Green Bay Packers 9
Pittsburgh entered as a 2.5-point underdog and won by 19. The Steelers controlled the second half, covered comfortably and still stayed below a total of 40.5.
The result rewarded bettors who separated Green Bay’s stronger regular-season expectations from the specific preseason matchup. Pittsburgh’s reserve offense generated enough separation without requiring the game to become a high-scoring shootout.
Baltimore Ravens 24, Philadelphia Eagles 7
Baltimore closed as a 3.5-point underdog and won by 17. Philadelphia’s regular-season roster reputation was already reflected in the line, but it had limited relevance once the starters left the field.
The Ravens also held Philadelphia to seven points, sending the total under 36.5. Baltimore therefore rewarded both moneyline and spread bettors while producing another result for the week’s dominant under trend.
Minnesota Vikings 13, New York Giants 10
Minnesota’s three-point victory produced the week’s lowest combined score at 23 points. The Vikings covered -2.5 by half a point, making this one of the clearest examples of why line shopping matters.
A bettor holding Minnesota -2.5 won. A -3 ticket pushed, while anyone laying -3.5 lost despite selecting the correct winner. Preseason markets can move quickly after quarterback and playing-time reports, so obtaining the best available number remains essential.
Tennessee Titans 19, San Francisco 49ers 13
Tennessee won the game but failed to cover the 6.5-point spread. The result showed how a correct moneyline opinion can still produce a losing spread wager when a preseason favorite becomes too expensive.
The closing number had increased after reports about expected starter usage. Tennessee’s early personnel advantage helped the Titans win, but it did not provide enough separation to cover an inflated spread once the reserve units took over.
What Bettors Can Learn From NFL Preseason Week 1
The Week 1 results provide useful lessons, but they should guide the handicapping process rather than become blind systems for every remaining exhibition game.
- Quarterback rotation matters more than the regular-season depth chart. Bettors need to know which quarterbacks will play, the expected order and how many possessions each may receive.
- Starter announcements can create overreactions. A team using regular starters for two or three drives does not automatically deserve a large full-game spread.
- Underdog moneylines deserve consideration. Nine underdogs won outright during Week 1, showing that taking the points was not the only profitable way to oppose inflated favorites.
- Every half-point matters. Minnesota’s three-point win and Tennessee’s six-point win produced different betting outcomes depending on the number a bettor secured.
- Low totals are not automatically too low. The market posted several totals in the mid-to-high 30s, yet reserve offenses still struggled to finish drives.
- One week does not create a permanent trend. Later preseason games can feature different quarterback plans, shorter rotations and totals adjusted downward after early under results.
The safest approach is to begin with confirmed playing-time information and then compare it with the current NFL odds. Betting a stale number after the market has already reacted can remove the original edge.
The ScoresAndStats Expert Betting Guide provides additional explanations of point spreads, moneylines, totals, implied probability and price shopping.
What Comes After NFL Preseason Week 1?
NFL Preseason Week 1 is now a completed results page rather than an active prediction market. Bettors evaluating later games should use the results as information about quarterback depth, coaching approach and reserve-unit performance rather than treating the final scores as direct evidence of regular-season quality.
A team that looked dominant against third-string competition may still have major regular-season weaknesses. A team that lost an exhibition game may have accomplished its main objective by protecting starters, evaluating rookies and testing unfamiliar personnel combinations.
Current matchups, availability reports and updated analysis are available through the latest NFL previews and NFL picks and predictions.
NFL Preseason Week 1 Results FAQs
When was 2026 NFL Preseason Week 1 played?
The 2026 NFL Preseason Week 1 schedule was played from Thursday, August 13 through Saturday, August 15. The slate contained 16 games involving all 32 NFL teams.
How did underdogs perform in NFL Preseason Week 1?
Underdogs finished 12-4 against the spread and 9-6-1 straight up. Nine underdogs won outright, six lost and New England tied Indianapolis 13-13.
How did NFL Preseason Week 1 totals perform?
Unders finished 12-4. The games averaged 33.9 combined points against an average listed total of approximately 38.3.
What was the biggest NFL Preseason Week 1 upset?
Chicago produced the most decisive underdog result. The Bears closed as three-point underdogs and defeated Cleveland 34-10, winning outright by 24 points.
Do NFL preseason results count toward the regular season?
No. Preseason wins, losses, ties and statistics do not count toward the regular-season standings. The games are primarily used to prepare starters, evaluate younger players and determine final roster spots.
