2025 NFL Playoff Predictions: Our Picks for Division Winners and Wild Cards

As the 2025 NFL season approaches, the race to the postseason feels as wide open as it’s been in years. Star quarterbacks returning from injuries, rising young rosters, and veteran squads pushing for one more run all set the stage for what should be a fascinating playoff picture.

With the offseason moves largely settled and training camps around the corner, it’s time to lay out our projections for who will win each division and which teams will snag those coveted wild card spots.

AFC Division Winners

AFC East: Buffalo Bills
The Bills still have Josh Allen at the peak of his powers, and despite losing some veteran pieces, their offense looks balanced. Their defense has been reshaped but retains enough experience to stay atop the division.

AFC North: Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens proved last year that they can dominate the toughest division in football. Their balanced roster and stingy defense make them favorites again.

AFC South: Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud’s rise has transformed Houston into one of the most exciting teams in the league. With a young roster brimming with talent and a coaching staff that maximizes their strengths, the Texans are built for another leap.

AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs
Until proven otherwise, this division runs through Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs’ ability to reinvent themselves offensively while leaning on a tough defense keeps them firmly in control.

NFC Division Winners

NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia remain the class of the East. Their offensive line sets the tone, the run game controls tempo, and their blend of athletic skill players and a disruptive defense gives them an edge in divisional matchups. Expect them to grind out close wins and own the short trips on the schedule.

NFC North: Green Bay Packers
Green Bay have built a balanced roster and a quarterback situation that projects stability and growth. With a rejuvenated supporting cast on both sides of the ball and a coaching staff focused on situational football, the Packers look set to take the division and finish the regular season as one of the most disciplined teams in the conference.

NFC South: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay’s veteran core and a series of smart, low-risk additions in the offseason put them in position to win the South. Their defensive identity and ability to win the turnover battle in close games make them favorites inside a division that lacks a dominant challenger.

NFC West: Los Angeles Rams
The Rams’ combination of front-seven toughness and big-play potential on offense gives them the clearest path to the West. If they stay healthy and the quarterback play holds steady, Los Angeles has the depth and experience to outlast the rest of the division.

Wild Card Picks

AFC Wild Card Teams

Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati’s offense remains an elite engine when healthy. They have the playmakers to win shootouts and the coaching to steady the ship in close games. That puts them squarely into the wild card mix in the AFC.

Denver Broncos
Denver showed signs of life and have a roster constructed to grind out divisional wins. With an opportunistic defense and a running game that controls clock and field position, the Broncos are a sensible wild card pick whose style translates well to the postseason.

Los Angeles Chargers
Talent and explosive upside make the Chargers a dangerous wild card. When their offense clicks and the pass rush shows up, they can beat any team in the league. Expect them to be one of the most volatile but highest ceiling wild card entrants.

NFC Wild Card Teams

Detroit Lions
Detroit enter the postseason battle with a complete roster and a balanced attack that can win in multiple ways. They match up well against both mobile quarterbacks and ball-control teams, which gives them a practical route to a wild card spot.

Green Bay Packers
Listed here as well to reflect scenarios where divisional tiebreakers or split results send them into the wild card path. If Green Bay do not win the division outright, they are our first wild card choice because of their roster depth and late-season resilience.

Washington Commanders
Washington’s offseason adjustments and an improving defense set them up to sneak into the postseason. They are built to win close games and extract value from opponent mistakes, the perfect recipe for a wild card berth.

Betting Notes and Suggested Plays

These projections are also market actions. Here are practical ways to play these picks on bet105.

• Division futures and early value: Lock in division futures for teams with projected momentum. Philadelphia as NFC East favorites look sensible for conservative money. If you prefer value, backing Green Bay early—whether as division winner or as a wild card candidate—can pay off if the market overreacts to early results.

• Wild card and playoff futures: Cincinnati, Denver, and the Chargers are all teams with playoff ceilings. Consider smaller, diversified stakes across the three rather than concentrating your capital on one long shot. Use same-season parlays sparingly: a Bengals Chargers double has upside because both can win shootouts.

• Matchups and game props to target early: Target game props that exploit strengths highlighted above: Bengals over team totals, Broncos under opponent totals in grind-out games, Chargers anytime scorer for explosive receivers. For NFC markets, first-half lines favor teams that start fast like Philadelphia and Detroit.

• Live betting and in-game strategy: Many of these teams are prone to in-game momentum swings. bet105’s live markets are ideal for playing second-half comebacks on disciplined teams and for fading heavy favorites that tend to start slow. Use halftime adjustments and injury reports to find midgame mispricings.

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At bet105, you’ll find competitive lines, deep futures markets, and in-play betting that keeps every drive exciting. If you’re looking to turn your NFL knowledge into winning tickets this season, bet105 is your ultimate destination.