The commencement of the National Football League season for 2026 heralds a momentous occasion, as we eagerly anticipate the inaugural games that promise to enthrall fans across the nation. Our discourse today is centered upon the pivotal matchups, specifically the highly anticipated Super Bowl rematch between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, alongside the contest featuring the San Francisco 49ers against the Los Angeles Rams. With great enthusiasm, we present our predictions for these encounters, as well as others that comprise this week’s schedule. Joining us for insightful analysis is Ed Cleese, who will elucidate on the intricacies of each game, while we meticulously examine the point spreads and potential outcomes. As we embark on this journey through the season, we invite listeners to engage with us as we traverse the landscape of football history and contemporary match predictions.
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The commencement of the 2026 NFL season heralds an exciting return to the gridiron, as the anticipation surrounding the opening matchups builds. The dialogue between the hosts provides an insightful exploration of the season’s first games, including a highly anticipated rematch between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. Each host articulates their predictions with a clarity that reflects their understanding of team dynamics, the implications of player performances, and the intricate details of each matchup. The hosts delve into the analysis of point spreads and the statistical underpinnings that may influence the outcomes of these games, emphasizing the importance of historical context and recent form. As they navigate through various matchups, such as the 49ers against the Rams and the Bengals facing the Buccaneers, they showcase their expertise and contrasting viewpoints, which enrich the conversation and provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the factors at play. This season prediction show serves not only as a guide for fans eager to engage with the upcoming games but also as a platform for the hosts to demonstrate their analytical prowess and passion for the sport of football.
Transcript
The long wait is over.
Speaker A:The off season is done.
Speaker A:al Football league season for:Speaker A:And who is going to win this super bowl matchup?
Speaker A:The Patriots or the Seahawks?
Speaker A:Tomorrow we have the 49ers and the Rams, a great NFC Western matchup.
Speaker A:Who will be the winner?
Speaker A:We have our predictions for these and all the games this week coming up with Ed Cleese in just a moment.
Speaker B:This is the Pigskin Daily History Dispatch, a podcast that covers the anniversaries of American football events throughout history on a day to day basis.
Speaker B:Your host, Darrin Hayes is podcasting from America's North Shore to bring you the memories of the gridiron one day at a time.
Speaker B:So as we come out of the tunnel of the Sports History Network, let's take the field and go no huddle through the portal of positive gridiron history with pigskindispatch.com.
Speaker C:This podcast is part of the Sports History Network, your headquarters for the yesteryear of your favorite sport.
Speaker C:You can learn more at sports sports history network.com hello my football friends.
Speaker A:This is Darren Hayes of Pigskind dispatch.com welcome once again to the Pig Pen, your portal deposit of football history.
Speaker A:And welcome to the:Speaker A:We're right on the doorstep.
Speaker A:The games are starting in just hours and we are here to help you get through this season.
Speaker A:Ed Cleese and myself will be joining you each week and we're going to start off tonight by having a prediction show.
Speaker A:We're going to go against the point spread.
Speaker A:Ed, what details do you have on this?
Speaker A:And welcome back to the Pig Pen.
Speaker C:Well, I can't wait to get started.
Speaker C:It's a little twist on our picks for this year.
Speaker C:We're going to go a little bit faster.
Speaker C:We're going to pick all the games every week.
Speaker C:I am here to help them.
Speaker C:I don't know, I would suggest that they listen to me and not you.
Speaker C:We will track our picks again this year, both against the spread and just straight up.
Speaker C:So when we start this podcast each week we can just kind of give a quick rundown of who's in front and who.
Speaker C:You should or should not probably be listening.
Speaker C:Two between the two of us.
Speaker C:But it's going to be really simple, Darren.
Speaker C:We're going to do 60 seconds per pick.
Speaker C:I go, you go.
Speaker C:A couple words, a couple sentences, who we like, and move right on.
Speaker A:All right, well, since we don't have a last week to know who did better, we'll just go last season and the person on your screen right now talking won that last year and got a nice consolation prize from the other guy that you're not seeing talking right now.
Speaker C:That, that, that.
Speaker C:That is very true, Aaron.
Speaker C:All right.
Speaker A:Come back.
Speaker A:All right, well, good luck.
Speaker A:Good luck this season and why don't we.
Speaker A:We'll get it going here.
Speaker C:All right.
Speaker C:You ready?
Speaker A:Yeah, I'm ready.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker C:We're going to start the season in Wednesday night football.
Speaker C:The Patriots at the Seahawks.
Speaker C:Seahawks favored by three and a half.
Speaker C:This super bowl rematch is going to be a Super bowl replay.
Speaker C:The Seattle defense is going to dominate it.
Speaker C:It'll be lower scoring.
Speaker C:The Seahawks win and cover.
Speaker A:Yeah, I looked at this in three and a half points.
Speaker A:I mean, what.
Speaker A:Who are they kidding?
Speaker A:What does Vegas know that we don't know?
Speaker A:I think that's crazy.
Speaker A:I think the Seahawks will more than cover these points.
Speaker A:I agree with you.
Speaker C:All right.
Speaker C:The next night, the 49ers at the Rams.
Speaker C:Now, when I say at the Rams, at the Rams In Australia, the Rams are favored by three and a half.
Speaker C:The Rams will live up to expectations this year.
Speaker C:They are going to win the division.
Speaker C:But look no further than last season to know that Kyle Shanahan always has something up his sleeve for the Rams on night one.
Speaker C:They are not only going to cover, they're going to outright win against the Rams.
Speaker A:Whoa.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Well, here's our first disagreement because I'm going to take the Rams in this one.
Speaker A:I think agree with you.
Speaker A:They are living up to the hype.
Speaker A:I think, you know, you get now you do officially have Aaron Donald coming in.
Speaker A:He's going to be probably running some spot duty.
Speaker A:He's going to be rested.
Speaker A:You have Miles Garrett.
Speaker A:The defense is going and you know that offense is always humming.
Speaker A:I like the Rams to give up the points, you know, to win this outright by more than three and a half.
Speaker C:All right, going to Cincinnati, where the Bengals are three and a half point favorites against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Speaker C:This is an entertaining matchup.
Speaker C:I think it's going to be a fun game to watch.
Speaker C:Baker Mayfield is angry and he will be game.
Speaker C:But the revamped Bengals defense will prove to be good enough on Sunday.
Speaker C:Joe Burrow will roll and the Bengals will win and cover.
Speaker A:I am 100% with you on this.
Speaker A:I don't think the Buccaneers offense has enough firepower to stay with the Bengals.
Speaker A:Even if both defenses are even, I still think the Bengals can get past the Buccaneers a little bit more than the Bucks can get past the Bengals defense.
Speaker A:I like the Bengals to cover.
Speaker C:All right.
Speaker C:Heading to Motown where the Lions are seven point favorites against the Saints.
Speaker C:Could this be a possible rematch in January?
Speaker C:Yes.
Speaker C:I think the Saints are a prime for a big run this year in the NFC South.
Speaker C:The Lions will outgun them on Sunday, but the Saints, Saints are going to keep it close.
Speaker C:Lions win.
Speaker C:Saints cover.
Speaker A:All right.
Speaker A:I, I disagree with you here.
Speaker A:I think it's going to be all Lions and I think it's going to be.
Speaker A:They're going to roll the Saints.
Speaker A:I think the Saints, you know, losing Tyson, the young wide receiver who they had high hopes on, I think that's going to make a difference and I think the Lions are a very good team and I think they might be a Super bowl contender this year.
Speaker A:Lions win it big.
Speaker C:From Motown to Music City, where the Titans are three point favorites against the Jets.
Speaker C:The Titans are going to begin their run to a surprisingly competitive season this Sunday by beating the hapless Jets.
Speaker C:But it will not be easy.
Speaker C:It will come down to a final drive, a final field goal.
Speaker C:Titans win, jets cover.
Speaker C:And if you watch this game on purpose, seek counseling, watch it on purpose.
Speaker A:Okay, you got me off my game here a little bit on that.
Speaker A:Well, I slightly disagree with you.
Speaker A:I think yes, the Titans are going to win this game, but I think they're going to win by more than three because I don't think the jets are going to be able to stop them.
Speaker A:Even though I think Geno might have a big night in his return to New York City because he does have big nights in his opening weeks.
Speaker C:Got it.
Speaker C:The Ravens are three and a half point favorites on the road at the Colts.
Speaker C:It seems like a lot of people think the wrong team might even be favored here.
Speaker C:Darren Vegas does not make mistakes.
Speaker C:The Ravens are going to be a playoff team this year.
Speaker C:They're going to get started with a workman like win in Indy where they will win and cover.
Speaker A:I am 100% in agreement with you on this.
Speaker A:I think the Ravens will cover this game.
Speaker A:I, I don't think it's a mistake.
Speaker A:They're.
Speaker A:They're favorites.
Speaker A:They probably should even be maybe a four or five point favorite in this game because I think that's what they're going to win by.
Speaker C:Got it.
Speaker C:So that is the going to.
Speaker C:I see the twinkle in your eye already because now we're going to talk about the Falcons at the Steelers where Pittsburgh is a three point favorite.
Speaker C:The twinkle in your eye will turn to a sparkle by mid afternoon Sunday because the Falcons are going to be 10 terrible this year and the Pittsburgh defense is going to manhandle them.
Speaker C:Rogers won't need to do much.
Speaker C:The Steelers are going to win this game.
Speaker C:They're going to win it easily and they're going to cover.
Speaker A:I right on board with you there.
Speaker A:I don't care which quarterback that the Falcons start.
Speaker A:I think they're in trouble.
Speaker A:I think maybe they both might play because they may have to pull one at halftime or something, you know, to try to get a spark in a team.
Speaker A:But there will be no spark.
Speaker A:I think it's going to be Steelers going to win by maybe double digits in this game.
Speaker C:If you listen to our history podcast of Week one you would know this is the first time the Bears and the Panthers have ever played in Week one.
Speaker C:The road team, the Bears are favored by two and a half.
Speaker C:I think it's one of the tougher games on the board to surprise teams from the NFC last year.
Speaker C:I think expectations for both should be a little bit tempered.
Speaker C:This is going to be kind of one of those head scratching week one games.
Speaker C:Doesn't make a lot of sense.
Speaker C:The Panthers are going to pull the mild upset which a lot of people think will be a major upset.
Speaker A:You know I was leaning that way until I learned that both starting tackles for the Panthers are out for the beginning of the season.
Speaker A:So they're going to have a little bit of trouble, you know, blocking and keep scoring some points.
Speaker A:I think the Bears, their offense is good enough to win this thing and cover the two and a half.
Speaker C:Got it.
Speaker C:One of my locks of the week is happening in Jacksonville where the Jaguars are seven and a half point favorites over the Browns.
Speaker C:ng to take a big step back in:Speaker C:I don't quite have the guts to pick the Browns to upset them outright because I'm sure they will ultimately do something to break their fans hearts.
Speaker C:But it will be at the very end of this game.
Speaker C:Jags win Browns cover.
Speaker A:Oh, this is one I thought maybe I'd get over on you.
Speaker A:But I think we're in agreement on this one too because I think yeah, Jags are going to win this game but they will not be more than seven and a half.
Speaker A:I think the Browns will get with the points and we'll take the Browns on this.
Speaker C:Maybe the best matchup of the week is happening in Houston where the road team, the Bills 1 1/2 point favorites over the Texans great matchup.
Speaker C:It's kind of like the Bills offense against the Texans defense.
Speaker C:I ultimately think that Buffalo wins the AFC east this year, but will come up and maybe even the afc.
Speaker C:This might be an AFC Championship game rematch.
Speaker C:They're going to come up a little bit short.
Speaker C:In Week one though, the Texans pulled the upset, went outright.
Speaker A:Okay, well here's, here's where we can disagree on.
Speaker A:I went back and I look a little bit at the history the last 10 seasons.
Speaker A:The Bills are 6 and 3 in week one, the Texans two six and one and even though it's in Texas and the Texans have a great, great defense, I think Josh Allen and company are good enough to beat it and win by more than one and a half.
Speaker C:Got it.
Speaker C:Maybe the worst matchup of the week.
Speaker C:That could even be worse than jets and the Titans.
Speaker C:The Raiders in Vegas are three and a half point favorites hosting the Dolphins.
Speaker C:You better be a card carrying member of Raider Nation or one of the last remaining like 17 Dolphins fans if you are watching this one.
Speaker C:Vegas has no business though being favored by three and a half over anyone.
Speaker C:Both these teams are going to be really bad.
Speaker C:Malik Willis is a little more feisty than you think.
Speaker C:A chain is going to have a good game.
Speaker C:Miami covers this game by winning it.
Speaker A:Wow.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Well, big.
Speaker A:Another big disagreement.
Speaker A:I think maybe since I don't think Mendoza is going to be playing in this game or at least it's not scheduled to be playing.
Speaker A:I don't know why anybody would want to watch this game, but maybe it's like you said earlier by accident, but I think the Raiders are going to win big in this game.
Speaker A:I think they are going to surprise some people here and this is a one week where they'll win big.
Speaker C:Okay, we've got a NFC north matchup with the Vikings one and a half point favorites at home against the Packers.
Speaker C:This is another game where the masses seem to think that the wrong team is favored and another game where the masses will be wrong because the Vikings are going to ride their stout D and Kyler will prove to at least be passable this year and competent at quarterback.
Speaker C:The Vikings win and cover.
Speaker A:Oh boy, another one.
Speaker A:I thought maybe I'd get over on you, but I think this is a divisional game.
Speaker A:I don't know that that one and a half points is enough for the Packers.
Speaker A:I think the Vikings are going to lose the game, but maybe it'd be like a 1 point game, 23, 24 type of game.
Speaker C:Got it.
Speaker C:Hope springs eternal in week one.
Speaker C:I Try not to be a blind homer, but I'm going to go down that road.
Speaker C:When the Commanders face the Eagles in Philly when with the Eagles as four and a half point favorites, it seems the world is down on the Commanders right now due to a little bit of a shaky preseason and the results from last year.
Speaker C:e, be going to bounce back in:Speaker C:The whispers about the Eagles offense are going to become screams by the end of this week as Washington pulls the upset in a very low scoring game.
Speaker A:I think it will be a low scoring game, but I think I'm going to lean towards the other side.
Speaker A:I think Philadelphia is going to win this game outright and they're going to win by more than four and a half.
Speaker A:The Commanders are always tough in Week one and they seem to pull some upsets off, but I think the line play on both sides for the Eagles is just too much for them in this game.
Speaker C:Okay, in Los Angeles, the Chargers are the biggest favorite of the week.
Speaker C:They are 10 and a half point favorites hosting the Cardinals.
Speaker C:History tells us to beware in the NFL of the double digit favorite, but no need to beware this week because this may very well be the best team in the AFC versus the worst team in the nfc.
Speaker C:The Chargers are going to manhandle the Cardinals on Sunday.
Speaker C:They're going to win that game by 17 or more.
Speaker A:Yeah, I'm right on board with you.
Speaker A:I, I looked at that point spread and I'm like wow, that's, you know, that sounds crazy to be a week one game like that.
Speaker A:But you sit there and you think about who the Cardinals are, then you sit there and think about who the Chargers are.
Speaker A:Yeah, it probably is and you're probably right.
Speaker A:A two touchdown game.
Speaker C:Again.
Speaker C:If you listen to our podcast, you'll know that this is the Most common Week 1 matchup of all of them and that is the Cowboys.
Speaker C:They're traveling to New York to play the Giants on Sunday Night Football.
Speaker C:The Cowboys are two and a half point favorites.
Speaker C:Can't quite figure out why this game is only a two and a half point spread and that definitely has me a little bit nervous.
Speaker C:Dallas has superior talent and I'm still very much on the fence with Jackson Dart.
Speaker C:The history here is also outrageous with Dallas owning a 9 to 1 edge over the Giants in their Week 1 matchups.
Speaker C:There have been some serious blowouts mixed in as well.
Speaker C:This one won't be to that level, but Dallas will manage to win and cover.
Speaker A:I'm right on board with you.
Speaker A:I think you're absolutely right.
Speaker A:I don't think the Cowboys will have much trouble at all with the Giants even though it is in New York and I'm not sure what why they have the point spread the way it is.
Speaker C:That close ending on Monday night in Kansas City where the Chiefs are three point favorites over the Broncos.
Speaker C:It's going to be a resounding return for Patrick Mahomes and will be a little bit of a signal of things to come for both teams this year as the Chiefs are going to finish ahead of the Broncos in the AFC West.
Speaker C:Chiefs take care of business and win by more than a touchdown, which means, of course, they will cover.
Speaker A:All right, well, here's another disagreement because I think it'll be a close game the whole way through.
Speaker A:I'm not sure who's going to win because it's I think it's a toss up, but I think it'll be less than three points and I will take the Broncos in this with the points.
Speaker C:That's it, Darren.
Speaker C:I think we made it.
Speaker A:I think we did well.
Speaker A:Let's see how we do this weekend.
Speaker A:We'll have some results next week for you and tell a little bit about the history of these games that we just talked about.
Speaker A:And in a separate episode we will talk about the predictions for week two.
Speaker A:So stay tuned.
Speaker A:Join us.
Speaker A:We'll talk to Ed twice next week, just like we will all season.
Speaker A:Ed, thanks for joining us today.
Speaker C:Thanks Darren.
Speaker C:Enjoy Week one.
Speaker A:That's all the football history we have today, folks.
Speaker A:Join us back tomorrow for more of your football history.
Speaker A:We invite you to check out our website pigskindispatch.com not only to see the daily football history, but to experience positive football with our many articles on the good, good people of the game as well as our own football comic strip cleat marks comics.
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Speaker A:Special thanks to the talents of Mike and Gene Monroe as well as Jason Neff for letting us use their music during our podcast.
Speaker C:This podcast is part of the Sports History Network, your headquarters with yesterday as your favorite sport.
Speaker C:You can learn more@sportshistorynetwork.com.
