HOW TO WATCH WEEK 1 OF THE NFL SEASON

The moment sports fans have been eagerly waiting for nearly 8 months now is finally upon us! The preseason positional battles are decided, the media and betting predictions are almost set, and the anticipation is nearly over. The NFL is about to kick off another regular season, with the first game set to happen this Thursday night and a full slate of games to follow this weekend. It’s been a challenging year for everyone, and the impending start of football season feels like a collective sigh of relief for folks across North America and the world.

This coming season will be noteworthy for several reasons. It marks the first 17-game regular season in NFL history, meaning fans will have one more weekend every season to watch their favorite teams – and lay a few bets. Look for player statistic benchmarks like 5,000 passing yards and possibly even 2,000 receiving yards to be reached more frequently in the future with one more game added to the schedule. 2021 will also feature a welcome return to home field advantage. Due to the Coronavirus, only 1.2 million fans saw NFL games live in stadiums last season, a huge drop from over 16 million the year before. Savvy bettors know that empty (or mostly empty) stadiums meant that last year, home teams were under .500 for the first time in league history. Fans returning to the stadiums in full numbers should reverse that trend going forward.

The Week One slate features a few inter-conference games that will interest fans and bettors alike, including Seattle vs. Indianapolis (+2.5 at FanDuel) and Tennessee vs. Arizona (+2.5 at DraftKings). There are a few heavy-hitting conference tilts featuring teams that hope to be in the postseason, including Pittsburgh at Buffalo (-6.5 on FanDuel) and Cleveland at Kansas City (-6.5 at BetMGM).  There is also one juicy classic division rivalry game this week with the Miami Dolphins visiting Foxboro to take on the new-look Patriots (-3 on DraftKings).

As well as the major networks listed below, streaming services such as DAZN will have access to every regular season and playoff game when you subscribe to their packages. Check your local listings and cable providers for information about which teams you can see in your area (that is, if you’re not going out to tailgate and see the games live!). All times below are EST.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13