Ehalt’s Week 1 NFL Bets: Bengals Favored Over Browns, Cardinals Over Saints

New York Post sports gambling editor and producer Matt Ehalt opened his NFL Week 1 picks by backing the Cincinnati Bengals to beat the Cleveland Browns and the Arizona Cardinals to defeat the New Orleans Saints, listing the Bengals at -5.5 and the Cardinals at -6.5 in his preseason guide.

Ehalt cited Cincinnati’s change in preseason routine — playing starters more to try to avoid slow starts — and the presence of quarterback Joe Burrow among early MVP conversations as reasons to favor the Bengals. He also noted emerging running back Chase Brown as a factor in Cincinnati’s offensive outlook. The pick comes despite last season’s shock opening 24-3 loss by the Bengals in Cleveland; Ehalt expressed confidence that a repeat is unlikely and said he was not concerned about a Joe Flacco-led Browns offense matching Cincinnati’s scoring potential.

On the other side of the ledger, Ehalt recommended taking the Cardinals over the Saints, in part because of doubts about New Orleans quarterback Spencer Rattler. Ehalt pointed to Rattler’s 0-6 mark in starts last season, with those losses averaging a margin of more than 20 points. The Saints have installed an offensive-minded coach in Kellen Moore, but Ehalt indicated skepticism that Rattler can lead a consistently serviceable attack. He described the Cardinals as a solid unit under a defensive-minded coach and suggested the matchup could be a springboard for Marvin Harrison Jr. in his second NFL season.

Ehalt, who returned for a second season of the New York Post’s NFL Bettor’s Guide, finished the 2024 cycle with a published record of 16-27-1. He has a long history of making spread picks and specializes in NFL wagers, according to his profile in the Post.

The Bengals’ preparation adjustment follows a string of early-season struggles; Cincinnati began the previous three seasons with 0-2 starts. Playing starters in the preseason this year was an attempt to jumpstart the regular season, a strategy Ehalt highlighted when projecting a stronger opening performance from Burrow and company.

Ehalt’s Cardinals pick leaned on personnel and matchup concerns for New Orleans, along with the potential for a faster offensive rhythm at the Caesars Superdome surface. He also referenced broader franchise storylines in New Orleans, suggesting the organization could pursue high-profile quarterback options in the future, including efforts to entice native son Arch Manning back into the fold.

Ehalt’s Week 1 selections and reasoning are presented as part of the Post’s betting coverage, which also includes resources on how to bet on the NFL and lists of recommended betting sites. The picks will face immediate tests: Cincinnati opens against a Browns squad still led by veteran quarterback Flacco, and Arizona travels to New Orleans for a divisional matchup that will scrutinize the Saints’ offseason quarterback decisions.

Ehalt’s picks reflect early-week lines and assessment of offseason developments; bettors and observers typically expect odds and injury reports to shift up to game time. NFL Week 1 matchups begin a regular season where teams and players will be evaluated on how offseason changes translate to performance under game conditions.

Game-day adjustments, health and in-season coaching decisions will all be factors that could alter the outlook Ehalt presented. For now, his early-season stance favors Cincinnati’s high-powered offense and Arizona’s matchup advantages against a Saints roster undergoing quarterback scrutiny.