The NFL season may not start until September but April is a big month on the league’s calendar with the schedule release and NFL Draft. On Wednesday, the league released the 2019 schedule for all 32 teams with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears kicking things off on Thursday, Sept. 5. We break down the 2019 NFL schedules by looking at the 10 best games, projected betting lines and bye weeks (and posted betting lines where).
The Westgate LV SuperBook and a few other sportsbooks have already released lines for Week 1. Both the Jets and Browns are favored by more than a field goal in the opening week. What a time to be alive.
10 Best Games and Projected Betting Lines
Packers at Bears (Week 1)
Betting Line: Bears -3.5 (FanDuel)
There was already a line for this game after it was announced the Bears and Packers will kickoff the season on Thursday night last month. The Super Bowl Champion typically opens the year on Thursday night but the NFL decided to go with its oldest rivalry to celebrate the league’s 100th season. New Packers head coach Matt LaFleur will make his debut against last season’s NFC North Champions. The Bears are early 3.5-point favorites at home over Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Rodgers is 16-5 SU versus Chicago in his career.
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New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams (Week 2)
Projected Line: Rams -3
Do you think Saints fans have this one circled? New Orleans won’t have to wait long to get revenge for last year’s NFC Championship Game missed pass interference call that kept the Rams alive. The two teams meet again in Week 2 and you can bet plenty of Saints fans will be making the pilgrimage to Los Angeles for this one.
Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs (Week 5)
Projected Line: Chiefs -5
Not many people are talking about the Colts being in the same class with the Chiefs and Patriots but that could change by Week 5. Indianapolis made big strides last year under Frank Reich and should be even better in 2019. Andrew Luck and and an improving defense makes the Colts a dangerous dog in Kansas City, in a rematch of the Divisional Round game dominated by KC.
Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots (Week 8)
Projected Line: Patriots -7.5
There’s a lot of buzz surrounding the Browns this year. We’ll find out if the Cleveland hype machine is warranted when they face the kings of the AFC on the road. It’s the type of game made for Baker Mayfield. Now all he has to do is outduel Tom Brady in Foxboro. Good luck.
Green Bay Packers at Kansas City Chiefs (Week 8)
Projected Line: Chiefs -7
The total for this game will likely be just under 100. Aaron Rodgers vs. Patrick Mahomes. If that doesn’t get you excited, you have no soul. Which team’s revamped defense will be able to step up and make a few spots? Or one stop.
New England Patriots at Philadelphia Eagles (Week 11)
Projected Line: Eagles -2
A rematch of the Super Bowl LI thriller where Nick Foles and the Eagles upset the Patriots. Foles is gone and now it’s Carson Wentz’s team once again. The Eagles will be coming off their bye week for this one after a tilt with Da Bears. If Wentz’s ailing back isn’t right, it’ll be on third-year man Nate Sudfeld to save the birds.
Dallas Cowboys at New England Patriots (Week 12)
Projected Line: Patriots -5
Let’s call this the “Ratings Bowl.” Two of the most popular and hated teams in the NFL meet in what is sure to produce playoff-like ratings for FOX. The last time these two teams met in Foxboro, Jason Garrett played it Garrett-like late in the game with a 5-point lead and punted the ball back to Tom Brady. It didn’t end well for him and the ‘Boys. This game will likely be the most-watched regular season game of 2019.
Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots (Week 14)
Projected Line: Patriots -3
A rematch of last season’s classic AFC Championship Game that the Patriots won on the road in overtime. Kansas City will get another crack at them on Dec. 8 at a time when both should be positioning for playoffs seeding.
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- Name Your Own Bets
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- Bet $20, Get $100
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Los Angeles Rams at Dallas Cowboys (Week 15)
Projected Line: Cowboys -1.5
Another playoff rematch and Dallas fans are hoping this game goes much differently. Last season the Rams beat up the Cowboys and took their lunch money in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, rushing for 273 yards and 5.7 yards per carry. The Cowboys got completely embarrassed. They’ll look to turn the tables this year at home.
Kansas City Chiefs at Chicago Bears (Week 16)
Projected Line: Pick’em
Perhaps the most intriguing matchup of the season is when Mahomes and the high-flying Chiefs offense travels to Chicago to take on the Bears and Khalil Mack. Chicago is expected to again have one of the NFL’s top defenses and as the Rams found out last year, it’s not easy rolling up points on Chicago at home late in the season. Can the Bears’ do the same thing this year and shutdown the Chiefs? It will be a can’t-miss chess match.
Bye Weeks
Week 1: None
Week 2: None
Week 3: None
Week 4: Jets, 49ers
Week 5: Lions, Dolphins
Week 6: Bills, Bears, Colts, Patriots
Week 7: Panthers, Browns, Steelers, Buccaneers
Week 8: Ravens, Cowboys
Week 9: Falcons, Bengals, Rams, Saints
Week 10: Broncos, Texans, Jaguars, Patriots, Eagles, Redskins
Week 11: Packers, Giants, Seahawks, Titans