NFL Week 1 Line Move Plays

The NFL season will kick off on Thursday, September 7, 2023. Every sports fan in the country is excited to see Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs open their season against the upstart Detroit Lions. Kansas City won its second Super Bowl title in four seasons back in February, and the Chiefs are one of the favorites by the football futures odds again this season. However, Kansas City might not have star tight end Travis Kelce or defensive standout Chris Jones available, so we have seen a major shift in the NFL betting line for this game.

NFL Week 1 Betting Odds at Caesars Sportsbook

Detroit +4.5
Kansas City -4.5
Total 53.5

There has been a lot of hype surrounding Detroit over the offseason. The Lions closed out the 2022 campaign with wins in eight of their last 10 games, and the thought is they will take the next step this season. This was a top five offense in terms of points and yards last year, but the Lions also ranked in the bottom five in defense in both points and yards.

Detroit’s offense should be among the best in the league once more. The Lions have a superb offensive line, and they added two more skill position players with their first two picks in this year’s draft to make this side of the ball even better. However, the defense is not good. A lot will be asked of Aidan Hutchinson as there just isn’t a lot of talent anywhere else on this side of the ball.

Of course, the number has fallen in this game due to the news regarding Travis Kelce and Chris Jones. Kelce hyperextended his knee and is listed as questionable, while Jones has been a holdout as he is asking for a new contract. The options for Patrick Mahomes without Kelce don’t look great, but Mahomes is an incredibly talented quarterback that can make it work with anyone on the perimeter. He has a couple speedsters on the edge, and that should allow Kansas City to keep its Week 1 streak alive. The Chiefs have won seven straight Week 1 games, and they have scored at least 33 points in each of those tilts.

Plays: Kansas City -4.5, Over 53.5

Green Bay +1
Chicago -1
Total 42

The NFC North is one of the great unknowns this season. Detroit is the favorite to win the division by the NFL futures odds, but no one is seen as that much of a longshot considering the talent in the division. Everyone expects Minnesota to take a step back after going 13-4 in 2022 thanks to an absurd 11-0 record in one-score games, yet the Vikings might still be the class of the division.

Green Bay and Chicago both have quarterback problems. Green Bay will be starting Jordan Love for the first time since trading away Aaron Rodgers, while Chicago will see if it can run a more typical offense with Justin Fields under center. Those questions with the signal callers on both offenses have led to the total falling from 45 to 42, but the number should probably be in the 40s.

Play: Under 42

Buffalo -2.5
NY Jets +2.5
Total 46.5

The most hyped team every offseason is typically the Hard Knocks team, and that’s the case again in 2023. Many pundits and fans jumped on the New York Jets bandwagon after the team traded for Aaron Rodgers, and that number increased after the HBO camera crews showed up. However, the line has moved from the NY Jets +1 to +2.5 over the last few weeks.

Buffalo is the class of the AFC East now. The Bills have to be seen as the team to beat considering how it has performed against every other team over the last few years, and they have less questions than any other squad.

Meanwhile, there are plenty of questions surrounding the Jets and Rodgers. The future Hall of Fame quarterback will turn 40 on December 2, and he will be the oldest quarterback in the league at that point. Breece Hall is coming off a major injury too, so the Bills are the play.

Play: Buffalo -2.5