2025 NFL playoff predictions: Picks for 8 division winners, 6 wild cards

UNANIMOUS PICK

The Bills, who locked up the AFC East on Dec. 1 last season, are the only unanimous selection this year by our analysts, who predict a sixth consecutive division title for Josh Allen and Co. The Pats and Jets, both of whom introduced new head coaches this offseason, did appear on several ballots (seven and four, respectively), but neither finished higher than the AFC’s sixth seed. The Dolphins, meanwhile, were one of four teams that did not receive a playoff vote.

(26 votes: Abdoo, Andrade, Baca, Band, Battista, Bergman, Bhanpuri, Blair, Carr, Cersosimo, Chadiha, Edholm, Filice, Florio, Gordon, Holzman-Escareno, Koplowitz-Fleming, Kownack, Okada, Parr, Patra, Reuter, Rosenthal, Ross, Shook, Zierlein.)

2) Cincinnati Bengals (+290) | 3 votes: Gonzales, Jones-Drew, Rank.

One of four teams to appear on all 29 ballots (Bills, Chiefs, Eagles), the Ravens are again considered the overwhelming favorites in the North. But they might not be going to the dance alone. The Bengals, who garnered some support as division champs, were voted into the top wild-card slot, appearing on 76 percent of all ballots. The Steelers and Browns, both led by seasoned Super Bowl-winning QBs, were not viewed as optimistically, however. The majority of voters picked Pittsburgh to miss the playoffs for the seventh time during Mike Tomlin’s lengthy tenure, while the Browns are expected to come up short for the fourth time in Kevin Stefanski’s six seasons at the helm.

(23 votes: Abdoo, Andrade, Baca, Band, Battista, Bergman, Bhanpuri, Blair, Carr, Cersosimo, Chadiha, Edholm, Filice, Holzman-Escareno, Koplowitz-Fleming, Okada, Parr, Patra, Rank, Rosenthal, Ross, Shook, Zierlein.)

2) Jacksonville Jaguars (+280) | 5 votes: Florio, Gonzales, Gordon, Jones-Drew, Kownack.

3) Tennessee Titans (+650) | 1 vote: Reuter.

No division has undergone more year-over-year change at the coach and QB1 positions than the AFC South, with Liam Coen taking over the Jaguars and the Titans and Colts both set to feature new Week 1 starters under center. The Texans' carryover at those two integral spots is one reason their reign over the division is predicted to continue for a third straight season. It’s worth noting, though, our analysts are slightly less bullish on that outcome this August than they were a year ago, with Houston finishing first on 79.3% of ballots vs. 92.6% in 2024. The Jags have chipped away at the Texans’ vote total, receiving five first-place votes and appearing on seven total ballots. If both teams were to punch their postseason ticket this year, it would be a big boost for the division overall, as the AFC South is currently tied with the NFC South for the longest stretch without at least two playoff reps in the same season (2020).

(20 votes: Abdoo, Baca, Band, Battista, Bhanpuri, Carr, Cersosimo, Chadiha, Florio, Gonzales, Gordon, Holzman-Escareno, Jones-Drew, Koplowitz-Fleming, Kownack, Parr, Reuter, Rosenthal, Ross, Shook.)

2) Denver Broncos (+250) | 8 votes: Andrade, Bergman, Blair, Edholm, Filice, Okada, Patra, Rank.

3) Los Angeles Chargers (+350) | 1 vote: Zierlein.

The Chiefs’ hold on the division (and the conference) appears to be as tenuous as it’s been in years. The Broncos and Chargers received some division consideration from our analysts, but both were ultimately determined by voters to secure two of the AFC's three wild-card slots. Although enthusiasm for the Raiders might not be as high, they still appeared on a handful of ballots. In fact, the West was the only division in the AFC in which all four teams received at least one playoff vote. Kansas City will face some real challenges in its quest for a 10th consecutive division crown.

(28 votes: Abdoo, Andrade, Baca, Band, Battista, Bergman, Bhanpuri, Blair, Carr, Cersosimo, Chadiha, Edholm, Filice, Gonzales, Gordon, Holzman-Escareno, Jones-Drew, Koplowitz-Fleming, Kownack, Okada, Parr, Patra, Rank, Reuter, Rosenthal, Ross, Shook, Zierlein.)

2) Washington Commanders (+200) | 1 vote: Florio.

The NFC East’s decades-long streak without a repeat winner is officially on notice. The reigning division and league champs are forecasted to retain at least one of those crowns this season, garnering 93% of the first-place votes in their group -- and our analysts expect their dominance once again to extend beyond just the East, with the Eagles being the lone NFC team to appear on all 29 ballots. That said, don’t sleep on the Commanders, who ranked third in wild-card confidence one year after a 12-win campaign earned them the conference’s No. 6 seed.

(14 votes: Abdoo, Andrade, Baca, Band, Battista, Bhanpuri, Blair, Carr, Edholm, Holzman-Escareno, Okada, Patra, Reuter, Ross.)

2) Detroit Lions (+190) | 13 votes: Bergman, Chadiha, Filice, Florio, Gonzales, Gordon, Jones-Drew, Koplowitz-Fleming, Kownack, Parr, Rosenthal, Shook, Zierlein.

T-3) Chicago Bears (+600) | 1 vote: Rank.

T-3) Minnesota Vikings (+350) | 1 vote: Cersosimo.

Bears, Lions and Vikings fans weren’t the only ones muttering expletives under their breaths Thursday night, as several of our analysts were forced to rip up their ballots to account for the trade of the summer. The late-breaking Micah Parsons news not only delayed the publishing of these predictions but upended the NFC totals, with several voters either switching their division selection from Detroit to Green Bay or promoting the Packers from the playoff bubble into a firm wild-card slot. Although Matt LaFleur’s club might be the darling of the moment, expectations remain sky high for the division as a whole: The North was the lone group to have all four of its teams represented on at least nine ballots. (No other NFC division had more than two teams.)

(22 votes: Abdoo, Andrade, Baca, Band, Battista, Bergman, Bhanpuri, Blair, Cersosimo, Chadiha, Edholm, Filice, Florio, Gordon, Holzman-Escareno, Parr, Patra, Reuter, Rosenthal, Ross, Shook, Zierlein.)

2) Atlanta Falcons (+230) | 6 votes: Carr, Gonzales, Jones-Drew, Koplowitz-Fleming, Kownack, Okada.

3) Carolina Panthers (+450) | 1 vote: Rank.

In a role reversal from last August, the Bucs enter the 2025 season as the clear favorites in the NFC South, with the Falcons viewed as the No. 2. Tampa has claimed the division four years running and took multiple steps this offseason to keep the good vibes going. Meanwhile, neither the Falcons nor the Panthers have reached the playoffs since 2017, and neither has captured the South since their respective Super Bowl-losing efforts in the mid-2010s.

(15 votes: Baca, Bergman, Bhanpuri, Blair, Chadiha, Filice, Florio, Gonzales, Holzman-Escareno, Jones-Drew, Okada, Parr, Rosenthal, Shook, Zierlein.)

2) San Francisco 49ers (+155) | 10 votes: Band, Battista, Carr, Cersosimo, Edholm, Gordon, Kownack, Patra, Reuter, Ross.

3) Seattle Seahawks (+500) | 3 votes: Andrade, Koplowitz-Fleming, Rank. 

4) Arizona Cardinals (+425) | 1 vote: Abdoo. 

Predicted to be one of the most competitive divisions this season, the NFC West was one of just two (joining the NFC North) in which all four teams received at least one first-place vote. Although our analysts ultimately sided with the Rams over the Niners, San Francisco appeared on 17 of 29 ballots, which ranks sixth-most among NFC teams. Look out for whichever team emerges from the West, though, as the division is currently tied (with the AFC West) for the longest active streak of consecutive seasons with at least one team winning a playoff game (7).