The NFL season is quickly approaching, and the first step to winning Super Bowl LX is to reach the postseason. The current 2025 NFL Playoff Odds show that the defending champion Buffalo Bills are the most likely team to qualify for the AFC postseason at -650, followed by the Baltimore Ravens (-450), Philadelphia Eagles (-400), and Kansas City Chiefs (360). On the other end of the spectrum, the Cleveland Browns at +900 and New York Giants at +850 are the least likely teams to make the playoffs in their respective conferences.
The Denver Broncos (+450), Washington Commanders (+275), and Minnesota Vikings (+240) reached the postseason at the longest odds last season. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers (+350), Cincinnati Bengals (+200), and Dallas Cowboys (+170) had the biggest payouts if you were bold enough to bet them to miss the playoffs. Let’s go division by division to check out the 2025 NFL Playoff Odds for all 32 teams.
Check out all of my 2025 NFL Futures articles during the off-season and my Best Bets for the 2025 season. We finished up +59.83 units for the 2024 season, including +23.93 units on Futures wagers.
2025 NFL PLAYOFF ODDS
I found the longest odds to make and to miss the playoffs to maximize your potential return. I used DraftKings (DK), FanDuel (FD), BetMGM (MGM), Caesars (CZR), ESPN Bet (ESPN), and Bet365 (365) to find the best Playoff odds as of May 19.
AFC EAST
| Team | Longest Odds to Make the Playoffs | Longest Odds to Miss the Playoffs |
| Buffalo Bills | -650 (MGM) | +500 (DK) |
| New England Patriots | +170 (365) | -165 (DK) |
| Miami Dolphins | +172 (FD) | -175 (ESPN) |
| New York Jets | +500 (ESPN) | -600 (CZR) |
The Buffalo Bills are still the class of the AFC East heading into the season, and they have the NFL’s shortest odds (-650, 86.7% implied) to reach the playoffs. The Bills own the second-longest active postseason streak with six straight playoff appearances. The AFC East is one of two divisions with three teams listed at +170 or longer to reach the postseason. The New England Patriots own +170 odds (37%) to end their three-year playoff drought. The Miami Dolphins sit at +172 (36.8%) to return to the postseason after previously reaching the playoffs in 2022-23. The New York Jets own +500 odds (16.7%) to snap the NFL’s longest postseason drought at 14 seasons.
Lean: New England Patriots to make the playoffs (+170, 365)
The Patriots are a long shot to contend for a Super Bowl, but armed with a replenished roster, Mike Vrabel and company could end their three-year playoff drought. It doesn’t hurt that they’ll play against the NFL’s second-easiest schedule based on season win totals. New England easily spent the most money in free agency ($364.7 million), and it addressed its O-line issue by selecting Will Campbell at fourth overall and Jared Wilson at the end of the third round. They added Kyle Williams and TreVeyon Henderson on Day 2 to further bolster the skill group for rising second-year QB Drake Maye.
AFC NORTH
| Team | Longest Odds to Make the Playoffs | Longest Odds to Miss the Playoffs |
| Baltimore Ravens | -450 (CZR) | +390 (DK) |
| Cincinnati Bengals | -160 (365/DK) | +155 (ESPN) |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | +164 (FD) | -170 (CZR) |
| Cleveland Browns | +900 (ESPN) | -1400 (multiple) |
The Baltimore Ravens sit at -450 odds (81.8%) to reach the postseason for the seventh time in eight years with Lamar Jackson. The Cincinnati Bengals are expected to return to the playoffs at -160 (61.5%) after missing the last two seasons at -250 odds or shorter. The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to reach the postseason at +164 (37.9%), which would be Mike Tomlin’s 13th playoff appearance in 19 seasons. The Cleveland Browns have reached the postseason twice in Kevin Stefanski’s first five seasons, but they own the NFL’s longest odds to make the playoffs at +900 (10%).
Lean: Pittsburgh Steelers to make the playoffs (+164, FanDuel)
The Steelers have been a good bet to make the playoffs under Mike Tomlin. They’ve reached the postseason in two-thirds of his 18 seasons as head coach, including at +125 odds or longer in three of the last four years. The Steelers appear to be the likely landing spot for Aaron Rodgers if he decides to play in 2025, who should be an upgrade over Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. I’d expect Pittsburgh’s odds to shorten if Rodgers announces his intention to play for the Steelers, so now might be the time to place this bet if you like Pittsburgh to reach the postseason for the third straight year.
AFC SOUTH
| Team | Longest Odds to Make the Playoffs | Longest Odds to Miss the Playoffs |
| Houston Texans | -135 (DK) | +135 (ESPN) |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | +170 (ESPN) | -190 (DK) |
| Indianapolis Colts | +200 (DK) | -190 (CZR) |
| Tennessee Titans | +440 (FD) | -500 (DK) |
The Houston Texans own -135 odds (57.5%) to make the playoffs for a third straight season, which would set the franchise’s longest streak for playoff appearances. The Jacksonville Jaguars are searching to end their two-year playoff drought at +170 (37.0%) in Liam Coen’s first season. The Indianapolis Colts sit at +200 (33.3) to end a four-year playoff drought, which is the AFC’s second-longest run of postseason futility. The Tennessee Titans have +440 odds (18.5) to return to the postseason for the first time since 2021.
Lean: Houston Texans to make the playoffs (-135, DraftKings)
I already wagered on the Texans to win the AFC South at +140 odds. I won’t be double-dipping on them to also reach the postseason at -135, but it’s still my favorite bet on the board for this division. Houston struggled in the second half of last season, but they turned it on in the postseason with a resounding victory over the Chargers before easily outgaining the Chiefs in a Divisional Round loss. The Texans should be the class of this division for the third straight year.
AFC WEST
| Team | Longest Odds to Make the Playoffs | Longest Odds to Miss the Playoffs |
| Kansas City Chiefs | -360 (CZR) | +340 (ESPN) |
| Los Angeles Chargers | -112 (FD) | +115 (ESPN) |
| Denver Broncos | -105 (MGM) | +105 (CZR) |
| Las Vegas Raiders | +370 (DK) | -330 (CZR) |
The Kansas City Chiefs own the AFC’s third-shortest odds to reach the postseason at -360 (78.3%), which would extend the NFL’s longest active playoff streak to 11 seasons. The Los Angeles Chargers sit at -112 (52.8%) to reach the postseason in back-to-back seasons under Jim Harbaugh, which would be his fifth playoff appearance in six NFL seasons as a head coach. The Denver Broncos are -105 (51.2%) to qualify for the playoffs in consecutive seasons after previously missing the postseason in eight straight campaigns from 2016-23. The Las Vegas Raiders haven’t won the AFC West since 2002, and they’ve reached the postseason just twice in the last 23 years. Their playoff futility is expected to extend this season at +370 (21.3%).
Lean: Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs (-112, FanDuel)
Jim Harbaugh has produced 11+ wins and a postseason appearance in four of five seasons as an NFL head coach. His teams have never finished with a losing record, which is a sign that his teams typically overachieve. The Chargers have to navigate a difficult AFC West, but they’re well equipped to battle it out for a playoff spot with the Chiefs and Broncos.
NFC EAST
| Team | Longest Odds to Make the Playoffs | Longest Odds to Miss the Playoffs |
| Philadelphia Eagles | -400 (DK) | +350 (365) |
| Washington Commanders | -130 (FD) | +130 (DK/ESPN) |
| Dallas Cowboys | +210 (DK/365) | -220 (FD) |
| New York Giants | +850 (365) | -1100 (DK) |
The Philadelphia Eagles own the NFC’s shortest odds (-400, 80%) to reach the postseason, and they’ll try to extend the NFC’s second-longest playoff streak to five seasons. The Washington Commanders finished with a winning record for the first time since 2016, and they’ll try to make back-to-back playoff appearances at -130 (56.5%). The Dallas Cowboys are +210 (32.3%) to return to the postseason after missing for the first time since 2020. The New York Giants own the NFC’s longest odds to qualify for the postseason at +850 (10.5%), which would snap their two-year playoff drought.
Lean: Washington Commanders to miss the playoffs (+130, DraftKings)
The Commanders have a ton of momentum heading into the second season of the Jayden Daniels era after reaching the NFC Championship Game in his first year at quarterback. The NFL has taken notice by giving them five primetime games in 2025 after having two primetime games last year. Washington could face regression after finishing 9-1 in games decided by six or fewer points (postseason included). The Cowboys, with Dak Prescott back in the lineup, and the Giants should both be improved at the bottom of the division to make a return to the postseason much more difficult.
NFC NORTH
| Team | Longest Odds to Make the Playoffs | Longest Odds to Miss the Playoffs |
| Detroit Lions | -230 (DK/CZR) | +210 (ESPN) |
| Green Bay Packers | -106 (FD) | +110 (DK) |
| Minnesota Vikings | +152 (FD) | -150 (DK/ESPN) |
| Chicago Bears | +164 (FD) | -190 (CZR/ESPN) |
The NFC North is the only division in the NFC to feature four teams shorter than +170 to reach the postseason. The Detroit Lions are looking for three straight postseason appearances at -230 odds (69.7%), which would be the first time the franchise has done it since 1993-95. The Green Bay Packers are also in search of their third consecutive playoff berth with Jordan Love at quarterback at -106 (51.5%). The Minnesota Vikings sit at +152 (39.7%) to return to the postseason with a new quarterback for the second straight year. The Chicago Bears own +164 odds (37.9%) to end the NFC’s third-longest playoff drought at four seasons.
Lean: Detroit Lions to miss the playoffs (+210, ESPNBet)
The NFC North is the most wide-open division race from top to bottom after being the NFL’s best division last season, with three of the four teams winning 11+ games. The Lions easily bested their previous high for wins in a season with 15 victories last season, but they’ll be tested in 2025 after Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn departed for head coaching jobs. Detroit will have to do it against the second-toughest schedule based on win totals. The Lions were the first NFC team to clinch a playoff spot last season in Week 14, but I think they’ll be battling for a postseason berth late into the season this year. I like grabbing the long-shot odds on the Lions to miss the postseason.
NFC SOUTH
| Team | Longest Odds to Make the Playoffs | Longest Odds to Miss the Playoffs |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | -150 (CZR/MGM) | +145 (DK) |
| Atlanta Falcons | +155 (ESPN/DK) | -168 (FD) |
| Carolina Panthers | +290 (ESPN) | -300 (CZR) |
| New Orleans Saints | +650 (FD) | -600 (MGM) |
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the NFC’s longest active playoff streak at five seasons, and they have -150 odds (60%) to extend their postseason run. The Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers are tied for the longest playoff droughts at seven seasons. The Falcons have better odds (+155, 39.2%) than the Panthers (+290, 25.6%) to end their run of futility, but sportsbooks think it could be at least another year before either team qualifies for the postseason. The New Orleans Saints are unlikely to end their four-year playoff drought at +650 odds (13.3%). They previously made the postseason in four straight seasons with Drew Brees and Sean Payton from 2017-20.
Lean: Tampa Bay Buccaneers to miss the playoffs (-150, CZR)
If you’re looking for a plus-money prop, I’d take a shot on the Carolina Panthers to make the postseason at +290. With that said, I think the best bet on the board is Tampa Bay Buccaneers at -150. The Buccaneers have established themselves as the class of this division, and I wagered on them at +150 odds to extend their streak to five straight NFC South titles. Tampa Bay lost Liam Coen to Jacksonville, but it returns the key weapons from an offense that finished top 4 in PPG (29.5) and YPG (399.5). Michael Penix and Bryce Young will need to take significant steps forward for the Falcons and/or the Panthers to challenge for playoff spots.
NFC WEST
| Team | Longest Odds to Make the Playoffs | Longest Odds to Miss the Playoffs |
| San Francisco 49ers | -176 (FD) | +165 (DK) |
| Los Angeles Rams | -160 (DK) | +150 (MGM) |
| Arizona Cardinals | +150 (MGM) | -160 (DK) |
| Seattle Seahawks | +186 (FD) | -185 (DK) |
The San Francisco 49ers own the best odds (-176, 63.8%) to reach the postseason out of the NFC West, thanks to the NFL’s easiest strength of schedule based on win totals. The Los Angeles Rams sit at -160 (61.5%) to reach the playoffs for the seventh time in Sean McVay’s nine seasons. The Arizona Cardinals have reached the postseason once in the last nine years, and they sit at +150 (40%) to break their postseason cold spell. The Seattle Seahawks are +186 (35%) to qualify for the postseason in Mike Macdonald’s second season after the franchise did 10 times in Pete Carroll’s 14 seasons.
Lean: Arizona Cardinals to make the playoffs (+150, BetMGM)
The Cardinals haven’t had much success reaching the postseason with just one playoff appearance since they reached the Conference Championship with Carson Palmer and Bruce Arians in 2015. Arizona’s defense jumped from 31st in PPG and 25th in YPG in 2023 to 15th and 21st in 2024, respectively, in Jonathan Gannon’s second season as head coach. The Cardinals added defenders like Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson, Walter Nolen, Will Johnson, and Jordan Burch to potentially elevate this defense into a playoff-caliber unit.
