Before the 2022 season, I correctly predicted that the Philadelphia Eagles would advance to the Super Bowl and play the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs entered the 2022 season at 10/1 to win the Super Bowl, and the Eagles were far down the list of contenders.
Going into the 2024 season, I incorrectly predicted that the Buffalo Bills would advance to the Super Bowl. But I did correctly pick the Eagles to again win the NFC and play in the Super Bowl.
Heading into the 2025 season, I like several of the favorites, but I see some value in other teams that are listed with higher odds to make the Super Bowl. This piece will break down the top ten Super Bowl contenders for 2025.
As always, do with this information what you will…
My 2025 Super Bowl Matchup: Baltimore Ravens vs. Los Angeles Rams
Starting with the Ravens, it’s difficult to find flaws in this roster. This is a team that has steadily built one of the deepest and most talented rosters in all of football, and they also happen to have a two-time MVP at quarterback who is playing some of the best football of his career. While Baltimore has played in
The AFC North will be no cake walk, but it appears to be more top-heavy than it has been in years past. Baltimore, however, has played especially well against their divisional opponents as of late, going a combined 11-1 in the previous two seasons against AFC North opponents. This season, the Cincinnati Bengals (more on them later) look to be improved in several areas and the Ravens will have to play the Bengals twice in a span of three weeks (weeks 13 & 15). This is notable because the Bengals have a tendency to start slow and get hot at the end of the season.
But for Baltimore, the Ravens benefit from playing several of their toughest games before their week 7 bye (at Bills, vs Detroit, at Chiefs, vs Texans, vs Rams). Last season, the team won five straight games following their week 14 bye. Worth noting is that this season, the Ravens also have to go on the road for three consecutive away games (weeks 9, 10, 11) before having a three-game home stretch.
Part of what makes Baltimore so tough to beat, and a team that travels well, is the fact that they rely so heavily on their run game. Last season, Derrick Henry ran for 130 or more yards in eight games. Henry’s presence put less pressure on Lamar Jackson, and that led to career highs for Jackson in categories like yards and touchdowns thrown for, and Jackson also threw the fewest interceptions (4) of his career since becoming a full-time starter. That balance on offense has helped the Ravens become one of the hardest teams to defend, and Baltimore added several receivers through free agency and the draft who could help them become even more versatile on offense.
Defensively, Baltimore upgraded at positions like cornerback, safety, and edge rusher. This Ravens defense is littered with stars, but it is also supported by above-average starters like Nate Wiggins, Nnamdi Madubuike, and Kyle Van Noy. Part of what makes Baltimore a perennial contender is the depth they have built on defense through the draft, and the organization tends to fare pretty well when it comes to free agent signings. This is important because injuries are a part of the game, and Baltimore’s depth on defense helps separate them from other contenders.
The Ravens will be relying on a few new faces on the offensive line, but the organization has drafted well (and heavily) here in recent years. One key player on offense will be Rashod Bateman, who broke out last season and was mostly healthy for the first time in his career. Bateman brings an explosive element to the offense and gives Jackson a legitimate deep threat who can also be a weapon in the red zone.
Despite winning double-digit games in five out of the last six seasons behind Jackson, the Ravens have only advanced past the AFC Divisional round in the playoffs once. In their last three playoff losses, Baltimore has committed 8 turnovers. Behind Jackson, this Ravens team can beat any team on any day. It comes down to not turning the ball over in crucial moments, as they did in their 2023 and 2024 playoff losses. This team has been knocking on the doorstep for several years, and it feels like the time has come for them to break through and make a Super Bowl appearance.
FANDUEL Odds to win Super Bowl: +650
Bet MGM Odds to win Super Bowl: +700 (Opening odds: +700)
The Rams are a lot more volatile of a pick than the Ravens, especially considering the health of their aging quarterback and the youth of their defense. But they’re also primed to make one last push for a Super Bowl run with Matthew Stafford and made an impact splash by signing Davante Adams. They also have a coach in Sean McVay, who has been to two Super Bowls in the last seven seasons and won one with Stafford.
In eight seasons under McVay, the Rams have won double-digit games in all but two of those years. McVay and Rams General Manager Les Snead have also essentially flipped this roster and won at a high level, despite playing in one of the NFL’s toughest conferences. Especially after the retirement of Aaron Donald, this Rams defense has done more with less under McVay.
Last season, the Rams rode their young front seven to a playoff win against the Vikings and came within one possession of beating the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles. Like the Ravens, Los Angeles coughed up a crucial turnover in last season’s playoff loss, and that became the difference in their game against the Eagles. The defense is built around second-year players Jared Verse and Braden Fisk, while Kobie Turner is becoming one of the better up-and-coming interior defenders in the league and Byron Young is a rising star. Young, Turner, Fisk and Verse each recorded double-digit tackles for losses and quarterback hits in 2024 and saved their best for last in the post season (8 combined sacks in two playoff games).
While the strength of the defense lies in the front line, there are questions at linebacker, and Los Angeles needs more consistent play from their cornerbacks. The safety tandem of Kam Curl and Kamren Kichens is solid, but the Rams defense would benefit immensely from Ahkello Witherspoon playing like he did down the stretch in 2024.
Even with the questions about Stafford’s health at age 37, the 2024 season showed encouraging signs for the Rams. After their week 6 bye, Los Angeles went 9-3 in the regular season with two of those losses being one-score games. In 2024, the Rams defense was also the fifth-best in the NFL at preventing teams from scoring touchdowns in the red zone. One thing to note is that last season, the Rams went 2-3 during the regular season against playoff teams.
The Rams got gashed on the ground by the Eagles twice last season, and if they wind up playing a run-heavy team in the playoffs in 2025, they could be in trouble. But with the potency of the offense and the promise shown by the pass rush in 2024, the Rams arguably have one of the highest ceilings of any team in the NFC. A return to the Super Bowl feels very much in play for Los Angeles in 2025.
FANDUEL Odds to win Super Bowl: +2000
Bet MGM Odds to win Super Bowl: +2200 (Opening odds: +2000)
BEST OF THE REST IN THE AFC:
Buffalo Bills
Buffalo retooled their secondary after struggling to defend the pass in 2024 (24th in passing TDs and yards allowed). The team drafted Maxwell Hairston in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but the rookie will miss at least the first four weeks of the season due to injury. The Bills also bolstered their front seven in the draft but will need big contributions out of rookies TJ Sanders and Landon Jackson if the newly acquired Joey Bosa misses time due to injury.
Last season, the Bills relied heavily on their ability to force turnovers (5th most interceptions generated) and play smart football. Josh Allen won MVP in 2024 after putting up monster numbers, but also turned the ball over the fewest times of his career. A balanced attack on offense, with Allen leading the way, should take stress off the defense and allow the Bills to again control games instead of leaning on their defense to do the heavy lifting.
The schedule sets up somewhat favorably for Buffalo, with both the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets poised for potential down years. New England, however, gave Buffalo all they could handle last season, and the Patriots will be much improved after a poor 2024 season. The Bills host the Eagles, Bengals, and Buccaneers, and have to travel to Houston to play a surging Texans team, but they have the fire power on offense to keep those games well within reach.
As it has in the past, the Bills’ Super Bowl path appears like it will go through Kansas City, Baltimore, or Cincinnati.
FANDUEL Odds to win Super Bowl: +750
Bet MGM Odds to win Super Bowl: +750 (Opening odds: +700)
Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City, the class of the AFC, has appeared in seven straight AFC Championship games and has won three Super Bowls with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. From the coaching stability and infrastructure to the spectacular play by Mahomes and the defense, the Chiefs have been able to remain at the top, despite other powerhouses in the AFC emerging.
It feels like a matter of when, and not if, one of those powerhouses supplants Kansas City in the Super Bowl, given the star power in Baltimore, Buffalo, Cincinnati, and Houston. The AFC boasts a wealth of exciting talent, and eventually one of those teams will break through. But what the Chiefs have going for them, and why they make this list, is that they know how to win in clutch moments and have proven that, time and time again.
In several of their recent conference title and Super Bowl wins, Kansas City has come up with the play they needed to, when they needed to. This was evident against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV when Kansas City came back from down 10 points in the fourth quarter to win. It was evident in their win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII when Kanas City drove down the field in the final five minutes to kick a game-winning field goal. It was evident in their win over San Francisco in Super Bowl LVIII when Kansas City finished regulation with a game-tying drive before winning in overtime. The point is: the Chiefs know how to win, and in close games they have been exceptional with Mahomes and Reid.
Few things have changed from last season to this, and there is plenty of reason to think that Mahomes’ chemistry with his young receivers will only continue to develop with more time and reps. Defensively, the Chiefs still have one of the best coordinators in the game in Steve Spagnuolo and two of the best at their respective positions in tackle Chris Jones and cornerback Trent McDuffie.
Only once the recipe changes will it be time to not consider the Chiefs as legitimate Super Bowl contenders. This season, Kansas City is again set up for a deep playoff run.
FANDUEL Odds to win Super Bowl: +850
Bet MGM Odds to win Super Bowl: +800 (Opening odds: +750)
One Not So Long Shot in AFC: Cincinnati Bengals
The only other team to represent the AFC in a Super Bowl in the previous six seasons, other than the Chiefs, is the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals rode some magic in their 2021 Super Bowl run and were incredibly close to pulling off an upset over the Los Angeles Rams in that game.
Like the rest of the powerhouses in the AFC, Cincinnati has done all that it can to tinker and retool its roster with the hopes of catching the Chiefs. Several iterations of an offensive line have been implemented, while the defense remains a work in progress. But the constants, like in Kansas City, are what earns Cincinnati a spot on this list.
Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Chase Brown, and Mike Gesicki give Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow one of the best and most dynamic groups of playmakers in the league. Burrow is coming off one of his best seasons of his NFL career, and put up some remarkable stats in 2024 despite the team missing the playoffs. The offensive line, moreover, should be improved after struggling in 2024.
Defensively, Cincinnati needs to improve in several areas, and last season was too dependent on forcing turnovers to keep them in games. Al Golden comes over from Notre Dame, but has familiarity with several players on the Bengals defense; his scheme should be less complicated than Lou Anarumo’s, and hopefully for Cincinnati, raise the floor on what the unit can be.
Slow starts have largely stood in Cincinnati’s way of regularly making the playoffs, and Burrow needs to be better in the early part of the season if the Bengals expect to contend in what is becoming a stacked conference. But with the potency of the offense, the defense only needs to improve to average for this team to make a step forward in 2025.
FANDUEL Odds to win Super Bowl: +2000
Bet MGM Odds to win Super Bowl: +2000 (Opening odds: +2000)
BEST OF THE REST IN THE NFC:
Philadelphia Eagles
Like Kansas City, the Philadelphia Eagles have become the class of the NFC over the past few years. Their two Super Bowl appearances (and one win) under Jalen Hurts and Nick Sirianni have been the highlight, but the Eagles appear built to last. Their roster remains one of the deepest and most promising in the NFL.
From Hurts and Saquon Barkley’s ability to grind out games on the ground to the explosiveness at receiver that AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith provide, the Eagles offense has many ways to beat teams. Kellen Moore helped the offense coax out another top-ten performance on offense, and while he is gone, Kevin Patullo has plenty of familiarity with Hurts and his quarterback’s strengths. Patullo has been with the team since 2021 as a passing coordinator, and in that time, Hurts has taken big steps as a passer.
Defensively, Philadelphia has perhaps the best young duo of cornerbacks as well as a stacked front line. Both position groups lost players to free agency, but the quality of depth that recent draft classes have brought gives reason to think that there will not be a significant drop-off in Philadelphia. In fact, this defense appears poised for an even better season, given the continuity with Vic Fangio and emergence of players like Cooper DeJean and Jalen Carter late last season.
One main reason why the Eagles lose the edge to the Rams on this list is their schedule. Philadelphia will not play back-to-back home games all season in 2025. Their division, moreover, has improved and will be firmly up for grabs. We’ve seen the Eagles slump after a Super Bowl appearance, and although Hurts and Barkley give the offense a high floor, there’s reason to think that things will not be as easy for Philadelphia in 2025 as they were last season.
All it takes, however, is getting an invitation to the party. The Eagles are as equipped as any team to make the playoffs, they just need to get through their tough schedule first.
FANDUEL Odds to win Super Bowl +750
Bet MGM Odds to win Super Bowl: +650 (Opening odds: +700)
Detroit Lions
Had it not been for a rash of injuries to the defense in 2024, the Detroit Lions could have very well found themselves playing for a Super Bowl last season. The offense was dynamite last season, and the Lions had two of the best coordinators in the game.
While many of last year’s important pieces remain on offense and defense, the Lions had to replace Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn this offseason. This has been a challenge for teams like Philadelphia in the past, and could portend a regression for Detroit in 2025. On the other hand, the offense possesses one of the league’s most explosive players in Jahmyr Gibbs and still features one of the league’s best offensive lines. Jared Goff has shown improvements, but has thrown 12 interceptions in back-to-back seasons, giving reason to think that without Johnson, he could also be in for a regression.
Defensively, the Lions are counting on Aidan Hutchinson to again do the heavy-lifting for their pass rush. Before getting hurt last season, Hutchinson was on pace to record career highs in sacks and should again be a menace on the edge. For as good as Hutchinson is, Detroit desperately needs another pass rusher to emerge. If that happens, the Lions’ defense can help lift them from being a dangerous team in the regular season to becoming a real Super Bowl contender.
The schedule is not as favorable for Detroit as it was last season, and, like the Eagles, they’re in a division that improved in several areas this offseason. Even still, the roster has enough star talent to put Detroit in the category of Super Bowl contenders and the Lions should yet again be playing deep in the playoffs in 2025.
A Not So Long Shot in NFC: Green Bay Packers
Green Bay stole the last spot on this list after their massive trade for Micah Parsons. Moves like that move the needle for teams, and also for sports books. Before the Packers traded Dallas for Parsons, they were far down the list of teams expected to make a Super Bowl run. After the trade, Green Bay’s odds for a Super Bowl title were nearly cut in half.
Parsons is a good place to start, given that this Packers defense struggled to generate pressure on the quarterback in 2024. Rashan Gary had a down year, and Lukas Van Ness did not take the step that the team hoped he would in year two. With Parsons in the fold, both players should raise their play. Although there are questions at cornerback, the secondary took a step forward last year and recorded the third-most interceptions in the league. Overall, the defense finished top-10 in several categories in 2024.
Jordan Love needs to play like he did in the second half of the 2023 season, as he struggled in 2024. Green Bay’s offensive line is again a strength, and Josh Jacobs showed in 2024 that he can carry a heavy workload. The Packers’ receivers recorded far too many drops last season, but there’s still promise in the young players, especially with Mathew Golden in the fold.
Had it not been for the Parsons trade, the Packers would be a fringe playoff team. Now that they have one of the best defensive players in the league, and are not far removed from a breakout season in 2023, there’s reason to think Green Bay can get back to the NFC title game.
FANDUEL Odds to win Super Bowl: +1300
Bet MGM Odds to win Super Bowl: +1200 (Opened at +2000)
One Long Shot in the AFC: Denver Broncos
It is not uncommon for a second-year quarterback to lead his team to the Super Bowl behind a stellar defense (Brock Purdy did it in 2023, Russel Wilson did it in 2013). Bo Nix has a chance to build off an impressive rookie season in Denver, and has arguably more to work with than he did in 2024. The Broncos defense is poised to be improved after finishing as a top-three scoring defense, and could also improve on their league-best 63 sacks in 2024.
Nix should have a better run game with RJ Harvey, and the receiver room also got better with the addition of Pat Bryant. Denver did benefit from playing an array of backup quarterbacks in 2024, but there’s a lot to like about the pieces in place on both sides of the ball and the fact that they’ve been able to give the Chiefs everything they can handle.
A Super Bowl run is a long shot for Denver, but they’re as well-equipped as any team in the AFC to win on any given Sunday.
FANDUEL Odds to win Super Bowl: +2700
Bet MGM Odds to win Super Bowl: +2500 (Opened at +3000)
One Long Shot in the NFC: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Even though the offense has to replace Liam Coen, the Buccaneers have shown tremendous growth with Baker Mayfield at quarterback. They still have one of the better offensive lines in the league, and continue to replenish the wide receiver room to support Mayfield. There might not be a better running back room in the league, and under Coen the group took a massive step in 2024. Collectively, the Bucs finished as the league’s third-best scoring offense in the league.
A few of the pieces on defense are part of why Tampa Bay has made this list. Haason Reddick is coming off a down (and strange) 2024 season, but he has shown in the past that he can put up double-digit sacks with ease. Calijah Kancey has a chance to break out in year three, while Antoine Winfield Jr. has become one of the premier safeties in the league.
The offense can carry this team, but with the way that the defense is coming together, Tampa Bay has a real chance to make some noise and advance in the 2025 playoffs.
FANDUEL Odds to win Super Bowl: +2700
Bet MGM Odds to win Super Bowl: +3000 (Opening odds: +4000)
MY 2025 SUPER BOWL PREDICTION:
Baltimore Ravens OVER Los Angeles Rams
The Cool Ticket 
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