Did you really think the NFL season was going to start and I wasn’t going to bring this back? Are you new here?

Welcome back to Walsh’s Winners…

IT. IS. FINALLY. HERE.

After months of pretending preseason football matters, arguing about quarterback rankings that nobody will remember by October, and telling ourselves this is definitely the year our favorite team wins it all…

REAL FOOTBALL IS BACK.

And Week 1 isn’t exactly easing us into the season.

We’ve got a Super Bowl rematch to kick things off, an NFL game being played in Australia, the Eagles opening against Washington, Cowboys-Giants in primetime, and Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs waiting for us on Monday night.

So, without further ado, it’s time for the first edition of Walsh’s Winners.

As always: these are my picks to WIN the game straight-up.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

New England Patriots @ Seattle Seahawks

8:20 PM ET — NBC / Peacock

We are starting the NFL season with a Super Bowl rematch.

The Seahawks are coming off a championship and get to open their title defense at home against the Patriots — the exact team they just beat for the Lombardi Trophy.

Seattle returns a defense that was one of the best in football, while New England gets an immediate opportunity to prove that last season’s Super Bowl disaster is officially behind them.

Walsh’s Winner: New England Patriots

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

San Francisco 49ers @ Los Angeles Rams

8:35 PM ET — Netflix

The NFL is going DOWN UNDER.

San Francisco and Los Angeles head to Melbourne, Australia, for what should be one of the more entertaining games of the entire opening weekend.

Brock Purdy vs. Matthew Stafford.

Christian McCaffrey vs. Kyren Williams.

Puka Nacua and Davante Adams on one side.

Nick Bosa and Fred Warner on the other.

And yes, you get to watch football from Australia at 8:35 PM on a Thursday night. I’m in.

Walsh’s Winner: Los Angeles Rams

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

1:00 PM ET — THE EARLY SLATE

Chicago Bears @ Carolina Panthers

FOX

Caleb Williams vs. Bryce Young.

Two former No. 1 overall picks looking to prove they’re the guy who can lead their franchise back to relevance.

Walsh’s Winner: Daaaa Bears

Baltimore Ravens @ Indianapolis Colts

CBS

Baltimore enters the season with Super Bowl aspirations. Indianapolis gets the pleasure of trying to ruin them immediately.

Good luck with that.

Walsh’s Winner: Baltimore Ravens

Atlanta Falcons @ Pittsburgh Steelers

FOX

Pittsburgh football. At home. Week 1.

That place is going to be absolutely miserable for Atlanta. Tua might only have one brain cell left and that’s not going to be enough to get the job done.

Walsh’s Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers

Cleveland Browns @ Jacksonville Jaguars

CBS

One of those games where you look at the schedule and say:

“I have absolutely no idea what is going to happen here.”

And somehow I’ll still have a strong opinion about it. I think the Jags are the much better team but Cleveland still has a solid defense. We’ll probably see Shedur Sanders by halftime which could make this game even more interesting.

Walsh’s Winner: Jacksonville Jaguars

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Cincinnati Bengals

FOX

Joe Burrow. Ja’Marr Chase. Tee Higgins.

Against a Tampa Bay team that will be looking to prove last season was an aberration.

This one has shootout written all over it.

Walsh’s Winner: Cincinnati Bengals

New York Jets @ Tennessee Titans

CBS

Two teams desperately looking to convince everyone that this year will be different.

We’ve heard that before. Bottom line, I trust Cam Ward more than I trust the Jets.

Walsh’s Winner: Tennessee Titans

New Orleans Saints @ Detroit Lions

FOX

Detroit is coming off a disappointing season and needs to get back on track quickly.

Opening the season at home against New Orleans seems like a pretty good place to start.

Walsh’s Winner: Detroit Lions

Buffalo Bills @ Houston Texans

CBS

Now THIS is a football game.

Two AFC contenders.

Two teams with legitimate Super Bowl expectations.

And two quarterbacks who have spent the last few years trying to prove they’re among the best in football.

This might be the best 1:00 game on the entire Week 1 schedule.

Walsh’s Winner: Nobody Circles The Wagons Like The Buffalo Bills

4:25 PM ET — THE AFTERNOON SLATE

Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Chargers

CBS

Justin Herbert gets the first opportunity to make some noise in 2026.

And if the Chargers are serious about making a run this season, this is a game they need to handle. Not even Madison Beer could distract Herbert enough to lose to the Cardinals.

Walsh’s Winner: Los Angeles Chargers

Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings

CBS

NFC North football.

Packers.

Vikings.

And probably at least one moment where everyone involved makes you question why you watch football.

Can’t wait.

Walsh’s Winner: Green Bay Packers

Miami Dolphins @ Las Vegas Raiders

FOX

Two teams that could either be surprisingly fun or completely implode.

Honestly?

I’m here for either outcome. I’m not a big Mendoza believer but he’s gotta be better than whatever the Dolphins are rolling out.

Walsh’s Winner: DAAAAAAA Raiders

Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles

FOX

I’m obviously watching this one.

Philadelphia opens the season at home against Washington, and the Eagles have their sights set on another NFC East title.

Washington has enough talent to make this interesting, but if the Eagles are who we think they are, this should be a statement game.

Jalen Hurts needs to go be Jalen Hurts. The diva is gone and it’s time to focus on bringing another Super Bowl back to Philly.

No excuses.

No “it’s only Week 1.” No “We have a new OC.”

Take care of business.

Walsh’s Winner: Go Birds Dickhead

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants

8:20 PM ET — NBC / Peacock

Because apparently the NFL decided we needed Cowboys-Giants in primetime.

Nonetheless,

Dak Prescott vs. Jaxson Dart.

CeeDee Lamb vs. OBJ…Wait what year is it?

John Harbaugh coaching his first home game with New York.

There’s plenty to watch here.

Plus, it’s Cowboys-Giants.

Something stupid is almost guaranteed to happen. Can wait for “dem boys” to have their season get off to a bad start once again.

Walsh’s Winner: New York Giants

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs

8:15 PM ET — ESPN / ABC

And then we get the main event.

Denver knocked Kansas City off the top of the AFC West last season.

Now the Chiefs get them at Arrowhead to open the year.

Patrick Mahomes’ health is obviously the biggest storyline surrounding Kansas City, while Denver comes in with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations of its own.

Monday night.

Arrowhead.

Chiefs.

Broncos.

Let’s. Fucking. Go.

Walsh’s Winner: Kansas City Chiefs

FINAL THOUGHT

Football is back.

Which means I’m once again going to convince myself that every prediction I make is the smartest thing anyone has ever said about football.

Some will hit.

Some will look absolutely idiotic by Sunday night.

And I’m going to pretend I never made the bad ones.

Welcome back to Walsh’s Winners.

Let’s make some money.

RECORD: 0-0