Football is back, and life is good. With the new season, upsets, breakouts, and newfound storylines will emerge. Entering 2025, most of last year’s favorites remain the same. With that holding, the statement of any given Sunday remains prevalent. Here are three potential upset games to keep an eye on in week one.
Bengals @ Browns (CIN -5.5)
The Cincinnati Bengals have become somewhat famous for their slow starts. Last season, the team only managed to win one of its first five games. They lost in week one to the New England Patriots, who went on to become one of the worst teams in the NFL. The year before, the team did something similar by starting the season 1-3, losing their first game to another one of the worst teams in the league that year, the Cleveland Browns.
Considering the wildly low expectations for the Browns this year, the current spread of -5.5 appears to have already baked in this trend. Everyone recognizes the Bengals as the better of the two teams, but their inability to start seasons in the right way has been consistent since the arrival of Joe Burrow.
Dolphins @ Colts (MIA -1.5)
Entering his fourth year as head coach for the Miami Dolphins, Mike McDaniel starts the year in one of the hottest seats in the league. Despite playoff births in two of his first three seasons, the sky seems to be falling in Miami. Offseason drama surrounding superstar receiver Tyreek Hill, paired with lingering questions regarding quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s health, has culminated in what feels like a mess. Having yet to win a playoff game under McDaniel, fans are starting to wonder if his offensive outlook is the future of the franchise.
The Indianapolis Colts are often regarded as a below-average team in the minds of most football fans. Despite having a mediocre roster and whiffing on many of their early-round picks in recent years, the team quietly remains steady. Winning nine games in three of the last four seasons, the management in Indianapolis has found unique ways to weather the storm and win games. While the team hasn’t managed to win a playoff game since 2018, they remain a sneaky opponent who can easily go underappreciated.
Lions @ Packers (GB -1.5)
Serving as one of the most exciting games in week one, the Green Bay Packers find themselves slightly favored over last year’s divisional winners. The recent arrival of Micah Parsons from Dallas has the expectations of fans and analysts through the roof. While much of the excitement is warranted, the disrespect to last year’s NFC one-seed is getting out of control.
There has been much change in Detroit this offseason. From roster to coaching staff, this team will look different from what they have in years past. With so much change, it can be easy to forget that most of the key weapons remain. The offense will be loaded with just as much star power as last year, and the Detroit Lions’ defense will get back all of the players they lost throughout the course of the season in 2024. This is a true coin toss game in week one; there is no reason not to take the points with a team that lost two games last year.
End Of My NFL Upset Rant
The dawn of a new NFL season is upon us. As much as we think we know which teams are good and which are not, we have no idea. Week one is a bettor’s best chance to take Vegas head-on. Keep an eye on these matchups if you’re looking to bet on an underdog.
*For more NFL content, click here.
*The statistics used in this article are provided by ESPN.
The post NFL Week 1 Upset Watch appeared first on Stadium Rant.