The NFL playoffs for the 2025 season are a ways away, but let's try to predict all 14 playoff teams.
It's not likely that we see the same 14 playoff teams from 2024 in 2025 - the NFL is filled with a ton of parity, so there are going to be some new faces in the postseason when the year ends. The biggest factor in whether a team makes the playoffs or not is obviously the quarterback position.
Teams like the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens are going to make the playoffs most every season due to their QB situation, but other teams like the New Orleans Saints might be quite a ways away due to their QB situation.
Let's try to predict all 14 playoff teams for 2025.
Predicting every single playoff team for the 2025 NFL Season
AFC Playoff Teams
1. Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills have an in-route to another AFC East title and the no. 1 overall seed in the AFC. Their schedule is actually on the easier side and they might just have the best roster in the conference.
2. Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are regular season experts, but they seem to fall apart when the playoffs roll around. They are going to again win the AFC North and do have a shot to earn that top seed in the AFC. Expect them to land a top-3 seed in the conference when the postseason begins.
3. Denver Broncos
How about the Denver Broncos winning the AFC West for the first time since the 2015 NFL Season? They absolutely have a better roster than the Kansas City Chiefs and could overwhelm opponents with their elite defense and top-2 offensive line.
4. Houston Texans
By default, the Houston Texans could earn the fourth seed in the AFC playoffs and win the AFC South for the third season in a row. Expect this team to again be very good in 2025.
5. Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs won all of their one-score games in the 2024 NFL Season, and I just don't see how that happens again. KC could will win 11 or 12 games and actually lose the AFC West. Will they regress to a Wild Card seed in 2025?
6. Cincinnati Bengals
As long as the Cincinnati Bengals do not field a bottom-5 defense, they should make the postseason. Let's bank on that happening in 2025 and them getting back into the playoffs for the first time since 2022.
7. Los Angeles Chargers
Did the Los Angeles Chargers do enough to take a step forward in 2025? While they may have added some nice talent, it doesn't seem like Justin Herbert is truly good enough to take this team on a deep playoff run. A Wild Card seed might be their true ceiling.
NFC Playoff Teams
1. Washington Commanders
How about the Washington Commanders earning the top seed in the NFC? They won 12 games in the 2024 NFL Season and were just one game shy of the Super Bowl. Can they grab another win or two in 2025 and also win the NFC East? This team is trending in the right direction and could turn into a contender in 2025.
2. Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams finished the year with a strong 9-3 record and did get better in the offseason. LA is poised to have another great season and could earn a top seed in the NFC playoffs. They won the NFC West with a 10-7 record in 2024.
3. Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions won 15 games in the 2024 NFL Season but did lose both Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson to head coaching jobs, so it's not likely they're again able to just lose two times. Still in the driver's seat to win the NFC North, the Lions might still be in a position for a top seed in the conference.
4. Atlanta Falcons
I am buying into the Atlanta Falcons for the 2025 NFL Season. The roster is quite good and Michael Penix Jr does have a great shot to take a huge leap in year two. While the Buccaneers have owned this division, things could be a lot different this year. Buy into the Falcons - trust me.
5. Philadelphia Eagles
A Super Bowl regression is on the horizon for the Philadelphia Eagles - they again have a new offensive coordinator, lost Josh Sweat and Milton Williams in free agency, and are surely also not going to get 2,000-yard production from Saquon Barkley in 2025. Barkley is also set to play in his age-28 season, so a regression could be coming.
The Eagles are still going to be a good team and will still make the postseason, but expect them to not be quite as dominant in 2025.
6. Green Bay Packers
Are the Packers going to take that next step into contention? That may have to wait until the 2026 NFL Season, as I am not sure they added enough this offseason to win the NFC North, and Jordan Love's performance took a slight hit in 2024.
Expect Green Bay to again settle into a Wild Card seed in 2025.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With Liam Coen gone, Mike Evans another year older, and Chris Godwin coming off of a dislocated ankle, the Buccaneers offense could regress in 2025 and ultimately knock them out of the top spot in the NFC South. While they should still make the postseason due to a strong foundational players on either side of the ball, them winning the division doesn't feel likely.