NFL fans have been waiting months to see their teams in action again. Yet, with Week 1 of the preseason NFL schedule upon us, the wait is finally over.
With 16 games on the schedule from Thursday to Sunday, we felt it was the perfect time to dive into one bold prediction for each matchup in Week 1.
Anthony Richardson Scores Two TD Against Ravens
Anthony Richardson is fighting with fellow former first-round pick Daniel Jones to become the Indianapolis Colts’ starting quarterback again. He’ll get the first crack with the starting nod against Baltimore. Who knows, if Richardson can impress by scoring two touchdowns against the Ravens, he could get an early leg up in his bid to start.
Shemar Stewart Gets 1.5 Sacks vs Eagles
The Cincinnati Bengals had a hard time getting first-round rookie Shemar Stewart under contract. Now that he’s signed, Stewart is ready to put all that pointless drama behind him. A big performance, like getting over a sack against the Eagles would certainly put him on the right track.
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Jalen Milroe Rushes for TD Against Raiders
The Seattle Seahawks have overhauled their quarterback depth chart this offseason, and rookie third-round selection Jalen Milroe offers tantalizing dual-threat potential. Seahawks fans will get a long look at the hotshot rookie, and if he can rush for a touchdown, he’ll draw a lot of oohs and ahhs from the crowd.
Hendon Hooker Bounces Back with 2 TD vs Falcons
Dan Campbell admitted that Hendon Hooker and the Detroit Lions could have played better in the Hall of Fame Game. Now is Hooker’s chance to bounce back. While the Atlanta Falcons have their own young QB prospect fans want to see, this will be Hooker’s time to shine with a two-touchdown day.
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Shedeur Sanders Passes for 2 TD vs Panthers
Getting the starting nod for his official NFL preseason debut, Shedeur Sanders has a huge opportunity ahead of him. He’s been putting in the work, not only on the practice field, but also in the playbook and in the film room. While he’s sitting in fourth place on the depth chart today, passing for two touchdowns against the Carolina Panthers would be an excellent start to his career.
Related: Cleveland Browns Depth Chart Reveals Shedeur Sanders’ Place on Team
TreVeyon Henderson Racks Up 75+ Yards vs Commanders
The New England Patriots were thrilled to add TreVeyon Henderson to a backfield that already featured Rhamondre Stevenson. With Henderson being the young rookie, he’ll get a full workload in his exhibition debut. If he can run wild against the Commanders, he just might start stealing more of Henderson’s touches early on.
Jaxson Dart Impresses with 3 TD vs Bills
We want to see Jaxson Dart pop off, just for the drama it would bring. The New York Giants have already announced Russell Wilson as their starting quarterback, but fans will inevitably want to see what the first-round rookie is capable of. Having a three-touchdown debut would certainly make things interesting, especially if the Giants struggle early on in the season.
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J.J. McCarthy Rips First-Drive TD vs Texans
J.J. McCarthy hasn’t played an NFL down since last preseason’s debut when he impressed against the Las Vegas Raiders. Forced to sit and stew for a full year, McCarthy will be eager to prove that the Vikings made the right decision by not bringing Sam Darnold or Daniel Jones back into the fold. If he has a two-touchdown day, the hype train will start rolling and it will be hard to stop.
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Stetson Bennett Scores 2 TD vs Cowboys
The Los Angeles Rams selected Stetson Bennett in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, hoping he could develop into the franchise quarterback of the future. Bennett’s now 27 and he hasn’t played an NFL snap. It’s time to either make an impact or for the Rams to find a new developmental option. A big day when everyone is watching against the Dallas Cowboys would surely leave a lasting impact.
Travis Hunter Scores TD, Records Pass Deflection vs Steelers
After months of talk, we’ll finally get a chance to see Travis Hunter do something extremely rare by playing both sides of the ball in an NFL game. While his play time will be limited in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ preseason opener, Hunter will have a chance to touch the ball and may even get targeted on defense too. If so, we expect Hunter to make the most of his opportunities and make an impact offensively and defensively.
Related: Aaron Rodgers’ Practice Performance Raising Red Flags for Pittsburgh Steelers
Cam Ward Gets 50 Rush Yards vs Buccaneers
Cam Ward became the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft thanks in part to his mobility. While Tennessee Titans fans want to see what he can do with his arm and how well Ward can operate the offense, the real thrill will be seeing what he’s capable of doing with his legs. Don’t be shocked if Ward breaks loose for a 50-yard rushing performance against Tampa Bay.
Related: 1 Bold NFL Training Camp Prediction for AFC Teams
Matthew Golden Scores 60-Yard TD vs Jets
The Green Bay Packers loved what they saw in Matthew Golden’s performance at Texas and throughout the pre-draft process where he established a reputation for being one of, if not the fastest receiver in the draft class. We wouldn’t be surprised if the Packers try to establish that connection early on and allow Golden to run free for a super long touchdown.
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Trey Benson Goes Off for 80 Yards vs Chiefs
The Arizona Cardinals selected Trey Benson in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, hoping he would form a dangerous 1-2 punch with James Conner. After recovering from injury and seeing just 63 carries, it’s time to see what Benson is capable of. Having a big day against the reigning AFC representatives in the Super Bowl would certainly be a great start.
R.J. Harvey Rushes for 2 TD vs 49ers
J.K. Dobbins may be the in-house leader to be the Denver Broncos’ starting running back, but the Denver Broncos selected R.J. Harvey in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft for a reason. If Harvey wants to steal that starting gig, he can do so with a strong preseason performance and it all starts against San Francisco.
Caleb Williams Leads Two Scoring Drives vs Dolphins
Caleb Williams had some hiccups in his first season as a pro. Now he’s headed into another new season with a first-time head coach. While we’d like to think Ben Johnson can make everything easier for the second-year QB, the early perception in camp is that Williams has struggled. Thus, Williams can create his own narrative by marching the Bears out to back-to-back scoring drives before handing the keys over to Tyson Bagent.
Tyler Shough Throws 1 TD, 1 INT vs Chargers
The New Orleans Saints have a full-blown quarterback competition on their hands between Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler, and Jake Haener. Shough, is the highest-drafted prospect out of the group and the only one hand-picked by first-year head coach Kellen Moore. While he’s the presumed starter, we expect him to deliver a mixed performance that delivers zero immediate answers/solutions for the Saints.
Related: 1 Bold NFL Training Camp Prediction for NFC Teams
