We finally made it to Week 1, and we have a full regular season in front of us to watch unfold. Of course, as we begin the new season, there's an onslaught of predictions that flood in about what folks think will happen between now and when we kick off Super Bowl LXI from SoFi Stadium in February. That ranges from who we think will win their respective division, MVP, the Super Bowl, and everything in between.
Below, we're going to highlight a handful of potential storylines and/or individual results that may sound far-fetched right now as we stand in front of Week 1, but we wouldn't be shocked if they happen over the course of the slate. While David Montgomery has been in the league for quite a bit, he's the shiny new toy in the Texans offense after the franchise struck a trade with the Lions to acquire the runner this offseason. Houston has been desperate for any sort of presence on the ground, especially after a 2025 campaign where they got next to nothing out of the backfield.
Despite those lackluster numbers, the Texans still ran the football 475 times in 2025, which ranked in the top half of the league. They want to run the ball and now have a back (and a revamped offensive line) capable of doing just that. Now that we've established Houston's eagerness to run the football, let's look at the matchup, which is tasty for Montgomery.
The Bills were horrendous against the run in 2025, ranking at or near the bottom of the league in key metrics. While Buffalo did add the likes of Bradley Chubb and T.J. Parker this offseason, those additions are more geared toward pressuring the quarterback than they are at stopping the run.
Even the return of defensive tackle Ed Oliver (limited to three games last season) is more a boost to the pass rush, so it stands to wonder if the Bills have actually addressed this glaring hole on defense. Meanwhile, Josh Allen doesn't have the strongest history against the Texans, and if the Bills offense is stagnant, it'd behoove Houston to lean even more on Montgomery to churn the clock, especially if he's excelling on the ground against an advantageous matchup. Gambling angle to note: David Montgomery is +670 to rush for 100-plus yards in Week 1.
The Lions are expected to bounce back in a big way in 2026 after missing the playoffs last year, but the secondary still has some questions entering Week 1. Safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph are beginning the year on the PUP list, and former first-round corner Terrion Arnold was released this offseason due to off-the-field issues. That leaves a cornerback room consisting of veterans Rock Ya-Sin and D.J.
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