NFL Angles
Upset Win in Opening Game

Regular Season results for teams winning opening game as an underdog where the final margin was more than 14 points from the betting line (Expansion teams excluded due to comparisons with previous year)
Regular Season SU Records
Winning Record 18
.500 Record 4
Losing Record 18
Change from Previous Year
More Wins 24
Same Wins 3
Fewer Wins 13
1990
TeamOpening Opponent and LineFinal Score 1990 SU Record1989 SU Record
Green Bay Packers Los Angeles Rams -3½ Packers 36-24 6-10 10-6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Detroit Lions -6½ Buccaneers 38-21 6-10 5-11

1991
TeamOpening Opponent and LineFinal Score 1991 SU Record1990 SU Record
New England Patriots Indianapolis Colts -9 Patriots 16-7 6-10 1-15
Phoenix Cardinals Los Angeles Rams -7 Cardinals 24-14 4-12 5-11

1992
TeamOpening Opponent and LineFinal Score 1992 SU Record1991 SU Record
Cincinnati Bengals Seattle Seahawks -4 Bengals 21-3 5-11 3-13
Dallas Cowboys Washington Redskins -2 Cowboys 23-10 13-3 11-5
Indianapolis Colts Cleveland Browns -6 Colts 14-3 9-7 1-15
Pittsburgh Steelers Houston Oilers -12½ Steelers 29-24 11-5 7-9

1993
TeamOpening Opponent and LineFinal Score 1993 SU Record1992 SU Record
Los Angeles Raiders Minnesota Vikings -3 Raiders 24-7 10-6 7-9

1994
TeamOpening Opponent and LineFinal Score 1994 SU Record1993 SU Record
Indianapolis Colts Houston Oilers -3 Colts 45-21 8-8 4-12
New York Jets Buffalo Bills -7 Jets 23-3 6-10 8-8
Seattle Seahawks Washington Redskins -1½ Seahawks 28-7 6-10 6-10

1995
TeamOpening Opponent and LineFinal Score 1995 SU Record1994 SU Record
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Philadelphia Eagles -7 Buccaneers 21-6 7-9 6-10
Washington Redskins Arizona Cardinals -3 Redskins 27-7 6-10 3-13

1996
TeamOpening Opponent and LineFinal Score 1996 SU Record1995 SU Record
Carolina Panthers Atlanta Falcons -3 Panthers 29-6 12-4 7-9
Chicago Bears Dallas Cowboys -2½ Bears 22-6 7-9 9-7
Jacksonville Jaguars Pittsburgh Steelers -4½ Jaguars 24-9 9-7 4-12

1997
TeamOpening Opponent and LineFinal Score 1997 SU Record1996 SU Record
New York Jets Seattle Seahawks -6½ Jets 41-3 9-7 1-15
Minnesota Vikings Buffalo Bills -2½ Vikings 34-13 9-7 9-7
New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles -3 Giants 31-17 10-5-1 6-10
Washington Redskins Carolina Panthers -3½ Redskins 24-10 8-7-1 9-7

1999
TeamOpening Opponent and LineFinal Score 1999 SU Record1998 SU Record
Detroit Lions Seattle Seahawks -9½ Lions 28-20 8-8 5-11
Indianapolis Colts Buffalo Bills -3 Colts 31-14 13-3 3-13
Miami Dolphins Denver Broncos -6 Dolphins 38-21 9-7 10-6
San Diego Chargers Cincinnati Bengals -1 Chargers 34-7 8-8 5-11

2000
TeamOpening Opponent and LineFinal Score 2000 SU Record1999 SU Record
Philadelphia Eagles Dallas Cowboys -6 Eagles 41-14 11-5 5-11

2001
TeamOpening Opponent and LineFinal Score 2001 SU Record2000 SU Record
Carolina Panthers Minnesota Vikings -10 Panthers 24-13 1-15 7-9
Miami Dolphins Tennessee Titans -6½ Dolphins 31-23 11-5 11-5

2002
TeamOpening Opponent and LineFinal Score 2002 SU Record2001 SU Record
New England Patriots Pittsburgh Steelers -2½ Patriots 30-14 9-7 11-5
San Diego Chargers Cincinnati Bengals -3 Chargers 34-6 8-8 5-11

2003
TeamOpening Opponent and LineFinal Score 2003 SU Record2002 SU Record
Atlanta Falcons Dallas Cowboys -2 Falcons 27-13 5-11 9-6-1
Houston Texans Miami Dolphins -14 Texans 21-20 5-11 4-12
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Philadelphia Eagles -3 Buccaneers 17-0 7-9 12-4

2004
TeamOpening Opponent and LineFinal Score 2004 SU Record2003 SU Record
Cleveland Browns Baltimore Ravens -3½ Browns 20-3 4-12 5-11

2005
TeamOpening Opponent and LineFinal Score 2005 SU Record2004 SU Record
Miami Dolphins Denver Broncos -4½ Dolphins 34-10 9-7 4-12
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Minnesota Vikings -6 Buccaneers 24-13 11-5 5-11

2006
TeamOpening Opponent and LineFinal Score 2006 SU Record2005 SU Record
Atlanta Falcons Carolina Panthers -4½ Falcons 20-6 7-9 8-8
Baltimore Ravens Tampa Bay Buccaneers -3 Ravens 27-0 13-3 6-10

2007
TeamOpening Opponent and LineFinal Score 2007 SU Record2006 SU Record
Carolina Panthers St Louis Rams -1 Panthers 27-13 7-9 8-8
Detroit Lions Oakland Raiders -2½ Lions 36-21 7-9 3-13

2008
TeamOpening Opponent and LineFinal Score 2008 SU Record2007 SU Record
Atlanta Falcons Detroit Lions -3 Falcons 34-21 TBD 4-12
Chicago Bears Indianapolis Colts -10 Bears 29-13 TBD 7-9

Return to NFL Angles page