[Editor’s Note: This week’s submission was written earlier this week, but didn’t reach the ClashDaily desk in time to publish it before the first two games were already wrapped up. But you can still watch the gears turn as he thought his way through the matchups.]
Here we go with another season of hard tackles, broken bones and dreams, dramatic physical skirmishes and charged-up lunatics taking sides. And I’m just talking about our politics – NO, WAIT! Football! Football!! As a matter of fact, thank God it’s football season, so we can take our minds off that other rubbish for a few wonderful hours and enjoy ourselves again. Hurry up and kick the ball already! Here we go 2026.
Patriots at Seahawks – If you want a dramatic opener, take the Super Bowl matchup and rerun it, right Roger? Speaking of His Annoyingness Goodell, he secured four more years of being an overpaid empty blazer by selling that claque of inflated egos (owners) on his ability to print money from television, while the fans get stiffed with pay-per-view and other streaming ripoffs. Sorry, back to the game. The Seahawks stonewalled New England in the championship game last year, so what will be different this time? In the Pats’ favor, it looks like both starting safeties for the Squawks will be out, leaving practice squad fill-ins at two important slots. Not great. They also lost their primary rock-toter to free agency, so we’ll see what that remodeled ground game looks like. For the Flying Elvises, RB Henderson is likely out and most importantly, so is C Ben Brown. I don’t like the fact that either a 1st or 2nd-year sub is going to be filling in against the nastiest defensive line since the Steel Curtain at the most crucial linemen’s position. I like Seattle to pick up where they left off, polishing their Lombardi Trophy with Patriot jerseys in this one. Hawks soar when the Muskets don’t roar.
49ers at Rams – This game is already stuffed with acrimony. Strong division rivals, chippy innovative young head coaches, and a damn long plane ride to friggin’ Australia are all aspects of this battle. I’ll keep it simple, though. Defense wins football games, and the Rams have two of the all-time great quarterback eaters across the line from Brock Purdy or Mac Jones. Aaron Donald has returned like Michael Myers to haunt the sleep of frightened young QBs leaguewide again, while the Rams added Myles Garrett to complete the Nightmare On Elm Street. Hollywood loves a good horror flick, and this game has all the makings for Shanahan having to play Kurtis Rourke (who?) after hammer meets anvil with Jones and Purdy in the middle. Scrams served powdered quarterback to their Aussie hosts in the Thunder from Down Under.
Bears at Panthers – Two young slingers are going to go at it as these rapidly rebuilding franchises make strides towards greater legitimacy. Both defenses are ranked, with an edge to Da Bears. Brice isn’t as Young as he leaves behind rookie QB mistakes, and he has nice targets in McMillan and Legette, who can Leg-it for nice Yards After Catch. Caleb Williams appears to finally be the guy for Chicago, after a string of disappointments under center. I’ll take the Windy Bruins to maul the Black Cats in good Charlotte.
Buccaneers at Bengals – When a team chooses to carry FOUR quarterbacks instead of opening a slot for another position, you know they worry about the health of their starter. Cincy is a good team, but they could sure use a spare lineman or d-back where that fourth QB is slotted, imo. Joe Burrow is great, and fragile. I get it. But four QBs is a statement not to be ignored by other teams. Says something about that O-line, where they probably should have used that 4th qb slot. Anyway, what will Tampa be this year? The quixotic Pirates of the Panhandle just signed Mayfield to big booty after feigning indifference to him for the last 6 months. Will this be another Desean Watson debacle, or grist in Baker’s motivation mill? Cincy is the better team on paper, but they are also notorious for losing games they should win. Flip of the gold doubloon on this one. Pirates get marooned in Ohio.
Saints at Lions – Okay, obvious joke here. And Christians vs Lions here should turn out the way it did historically. Problem is these Lions are…indecisive? They should have run away with their division last year, instead inexplicably finishing last and out of the playoffs. I love Dan Campbell, but if he can’t get this talented team to win games, he’s just another guy. It’s GO time or go back to being the stuffed Lions in the basement where they have been for decades, as their window is closing rapidly. Legendary talents like Megatron and Barry Sanders were wasted on this feckless franchise, shamefully. N’Awlins is a fun team with real offensive punch, but haven’t really put it all together yet. I’m not convinced that Rattler won’t get rattled, and deliver strikes to Detroit’s ball hawks. You have to admit this game has some of the best names, as we’ll find out if Kool-Aid McKinstry can quench the thirst of Detroit’s receivers and just how highly-polished Mahogany really is. Consumed Christians are the Mane attraction at this coliseum on Sunday.
Bills at Texans – First game means nothing, unless you are trying to make a statement about the kind of season you hope to have. Houston needs to get to the next level, young, hungry and talented. Buffalo needs to get to the Super Bowl, always a bridesmaid. The Bills carry a #4 overall ranking by the NFL staff, so expectations are still pretty high. I felt McDermott was holding them back, and now it’s on them to go the distance. Losing the opener is the wrong statement. If they get good pressure on CJ Stroud, he will make mistakes they can exploit. Cook gives them a reliable ground game and ball control, which should make the difference in this Western-themed matchup. Bills round up a win in Houston.
Ravens at Colts – A healthy Baltimore is a force of nature. This team is stocked with solid talent on both sides of the ball. Indy managed the Choke of the Century by blowing an 8-2 record in 2025 and finishing 8-9, like watching Mr. Magoo at the Indy 500. Steichen needs to ensure that this never happens again, but just how good are these Colts? Not good enough to beat the Ravens is my take. New Baltimore thumps Old Baltimore.
Browns at Jaguars – Finally an easy one. Cleveland is the dumpster fire that never goes out. Garrett is gone, Watson is the most expensive bust in NFL history and they cannot afford to dump his useless butt, and their prospects for this year are….brown. I loved Draft Day, a really fun, inciteful movie. That was the best Cleveland has EVER looked, and it wasn’t even real! Jacksonville is a legit deep playoff threat, and at home. Orange is the new black-and-blue. Jags bag and tag the sags from Lake Erie.
Falcons at Steelers – Prediction time: Aaron Rodgers retires DURING the season, after getting banged up at some point. Not how I want to see him go out, but he’s going out this year. He has cheated Father Time too long, or at least had a dysfunctional relationship with him, like with the rest of his family. Pittsburgh is one of those teams you can never drive a stake into, because they just keep surprising. But when they go to their backup QB after Game 5, it’s going to mean the end of 2026. The Falcons aren’t ready for prime time although getting there, but road wins in Pittsburgh are hard to come by. Black n Gold hold the fold against Arthur Blank’s rebuilding raptors.
Jets at Titans – Welcome to the Stinker of the Week. I had two tickets to this game and left them on the front seat of my car. Somebody broke into my car….and left two more! I’m going J-E-T-S because Geno Smith & Breece Hall. That’s it. I’d rather mow the lawn.
Cardinals at Chargers – This should be called Saint Louis at San Diego, battle of the displaced franchises. Jacoby Brissett leads the Red birds under center, and I like his spirit and try-hard (he earns his starts) but still feel he’s a (good) placeholder. I just can’t shake it. The Cards have been reshuffled after Murray’s departure, and don’t hold a winning hand yet. The Bolts finished 11-6 last year and in the playoffs, and will probably fare about as well this year. No reason to think Arizona is going to come into LA and rip a win from Justin Herbert. Cards fold due to weak hand in LaLa Land.
Dolphins at Raiders – I was wrong about the Jets/Titans; this one stinks just as bad. The Raiders are a spectacle like Mark Davis’ haircut – you can’t not stare. Miami is no better, looking like the aftermath of a fire sale, with a roster of singed merchandise and a shiny new head coach who will soon be dented and scratched like Aunt Mildred’s 1965 Rambler Ambassador. This game has flies on it. I’ll take Vegas, because Kirk Cousins was once a respectable player and because somehow the Raiders managed to hold onto Maxx Crosby. I am fascinated however to see how a player named Storm Duck is going to do for the Fish. He sounds like something a Miami hurricane deposited onto South Beach. Poker Chips beat Fish n Chips.
Packers at Vikings – I’m all in on the Bay. They are ascendant & focused, while Team Purple looks to be searching (again) for their identity. They won’t find it before Green Bay has established an insurmountable division lead, imo. Pack smacks the Purple back.
Commanders at Eagles – I like what’s happening in DC, but Philly is still one of the top 4-5 teams in the league. Perhaps a spirited game, but Washington won’t be in Command at the end. Eagles land and take Command.
Cowboys at Giants – The poor Jints are back at the bottom in rankings. Such a storied franchise on extended hard times, it’s a shame. Maybe the Mara’s can stop fighting each other long enough to put a quality team on the field. At least they got a proven coach in Harbaugh. 26th overall ranking should motivate Big Blue this season. If Jaxson can throw some Darts, that will help. Dallas has upgraded after some costly departures, and unless the earth’s axis shifts unexpectedly Sunday night, this will be their opening win. Lone Stars become stars, on Broadway.
Broncos at Chiefs – BaBaBumPum…It’s Monday Night Football! And a good game the entire nation will be watching. The Broncs are as good as it gets in the AFC, and although the Chiefs have been vanquished of late from the final rounds of the playoffs, they ARE the Chiefs, resilient, talented, and coached by the evil genius of Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo, and at home in that NOISY stadium. I can’t hear you – my ears are ringing! I like the Chiefs in this match, not because Denver can’t beat them, but because they are home, hot to get back into the conversation, and Patrick Mahomes. Upset warning is flashing. Chiefs ride the Broncos hard and put them away wet.
Enjoy the games!
-Pigskin Pundit
Nathan Clark is a conservative commentator who resides with his wife in New Hampshire. He is passionate about preserving the vision of our nation’s Founders and advancing those tried and true principles deep into America’s future. His interests range broadly from fly-fishing, cooking and shooting to pro sports, gardening, live music and fine-scale modeling.
