Two or three teams from each conference that missed the playoffs last season typically will qualify for the playoffs this upcoming season. Last season, the Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders were surprise teams at the bottom of the preseason win totals list who punched their ticket to the playoffs via the Wild Card.
The Cincinnati Bengals and San Francisco 49ers are the most popular teams that missed out on last year’s postseason, but fans and oddsmakers expect them to return to the playoffs.
So, who else has a chance? Based on win totals and playoff prop bets, AFC teams like the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins are getting a lot of support for a postseason push. In the NFC, there’s also a lot of potential postseason hype with the Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, and Seattle Seahawks.
Bengals: Burrow Bounce Back
Last Season Record: 9-8
Win Total: 9.5 O/U
AFC Playoff Odds: -140 Yes, +120 No
Joe Burrow nursed injuries entering Week 1 during the last two seasons. With a healthy and focused Burrow, the Bengals are on a mission to return to the playoffs. The Bengals bubbled the AFC Wild Card last season despite a 9-8 record when they were edged out by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Head coach Zac Taylor is one of several coaches on the hot seat. If the Bengals miss the playoffs in consecutive seasons, his tenure in Cincinnati will end only a few seasons after leading them to a trip to the Super Bowl.
The Bengals are a popular pick at BetMGM to win more than 10 games, and they’re -140 odds to qualify for the postseason.
Patriots: Mike Vrabel Returns
Last Season Record: 4-13
Win Total: 8.5 O/U
AFC Playoff Odds: +145 Yes, -170 No
Mike Vrabel won three Super Bowls as a starting linebacker with the Patriots in the early 2000s, and he returns to Foxboro as their coaching savior. The first post-Bill Belichick season was dreadful under Jerod Mayo, who struggled with a 4-13 record in his one-and-done season as head coach.
Vrabel will attempt to reestablish the “Patriot Way,” emphasizing a strong defense and rushing attack despite an awful offensive line. If quarterback Drake Maye takes a big leap forward in his second season, then a trip to the playoffs is well within reach.
Dolphins: Can Tua Stay Healthy?
Last Season Record: 8-9
Win Total: 8.5 O/U
AFC Playoff Odds: +190 Yes, -225 No
The Dolphins know their fate is tied to the health of Tua Tagovailoa. They can return to the postseason if Tua avoids any injuries, especially concussions, and he plays a full season. Otherwise, it could be another long and frustrating season in South Beach. Mike McDaniel posted a 20-14 record in his first two years with the Dolphins, but they lost in the AFC Wild Card round both times. Last year marked his first losing season as a head coach with an 8-9 clip. There are already rumblings that McDaniel could lose his job if the Dolphins fail to make the playoffs, so expect him to draw up a new batch of innovative and explosive plays.
49ers: Easiest Schedule
Last Season Record: 6-11
Win Total: 10.5 O/U
NFC Playoff Odds: -185 Yes, +155 No
The 49ers are the favorites to win the NFC West thanks to the easiest schedule this season. They only won six games last season because the offense was decimated with injuries, including MVP-candidate Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk. So long as McCaffrey remains healthy, the 49ers will be Super Bowl contenders.
Their top wide receiver last season, rookie Ricky Pearsall, missed six games after being shot during a robbery attempt in downtown San Francisco. He’s expected to begin the season at WR1 after they traded Deebo Samuel, and Aiyuk is still recovering from a torn ACL and MCL.
Cardinals: Finally, Kyler Murray Time?
Last Season Record: 8-9
Win Total: 8.5 O/U
NFC Playoff Odds: +130 Yes, -150 No
The Cardinals have a potential path to the NFC Wild Card if they’re the second-best team in their division behind the heavily favorite 49ers. The Los Angeles Rams are concerned about quarterback Matthew Stafford’s back problems. Backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo is capable, but he also has durability issues if Stafford is out for any significant amount of time. With the Rams on shaky ground, second place in the division is wide open, which provides an opportunity for the Cardinals.
Quarterback Kyler Murray told reporters that he’s feeling great and that his knee is in the best condition since before he blew out his ACL at the end of the 2022 season. Marvin Harrison, Jr., the fourth pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, had an erratic rookie campaign last season. After scoring four touchdowns in his first four games, Harrison tallied only four more scores over the next 13 games. Many standout wide receivers make a big leap in production in their second season, so all eyes are on Harrison this year.
Falcons: Sophomore Penix
Last Season Record: 8-9
Win Total: 7.5 O/U
NFC Playoff Odds: +155 Yes, -185 No
Michael Penix went 1-2 in three starts at the end of his rookie year last season. The Falcons tapped Penix as the starter this year with veteran Kirk Cousins as the backup. The Falcons have been building their offense through the draft the last several seasons with multiple first-round picks, including Penix, Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts.
Zac Robinson thrived in his first season as the offensive coordinator under head coach Raheem Morris. The Falcons finished last season with a Top 5 passing attack and a Top 10 rushing offense. The Falcons will have to outgun teams if they expect to make the playoffs because their defense is not very good.
The Falcons are getting a lot of attention because the NFC South is one of the weakest divisions in the NFL. The Tampa Bay Bucs are the favorite to win another divisional title, but this could be the year that adding a third new offensive coordinator in three seasons catches up to them and causes issues for Baker Mayfield. If the Bucs don’t win the NFC South, the Falcons are the team most likely to dethrone them.
Bears: Ben Johnson Makeover
Last Season Record: 5-12
Win Total: 8.5 O/U
NFC Playoff Odds: +170 Yes, -220 No
Ben Johnson, regarded as the top offensive coordinator in the NFL the last few seasons, turned down multiple head coaching offers for a chance to win a Super Bowl with the Detroit Lions last season. After a disappointing playoff exit, Johnson finally accepted a head coaching job with the Chicago Bears.
Fans are excited about the best offensive guru in the NFL mentoring a young gunslinger in Caleb Williams, along with the receiving tandem of DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. The Bears also drastically improved their offensive line.
The NFC North sent three teams to the playoffs last year when the Lions won the division and the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings secured NFC Wild Card spots. You can make a strong argument that all three squads are not as good as last season, but the Bears still face an uphill battle. Their defense is their biggest question mark and will determine if they can transform a 5-12 team into a winning squad that makes the playoffs.
Seahawks: Sam Darnold Reprise
Last Season Record: 10-7
Win Total: 8.5 O/U
NFC Playoff Odds: +165 Yes, -195 No
If you believe two teams from the NFC West will advance to the playoffs, and the 49ers are the obvious pick, then it comes down to a close three-horse race with the Seahawks, Cardinals, and Rams.
Sam Darnold inked a three-year deal with the Seahawks, but can he replicate last year’s magic with the Vikings when he led them to 14 victories? The Seahawks felt Darnold was a better option under center than Geno Smith, who is currently with the Las Vegas Raiders. Yet, they traded DK Metcalf and released Tyler Lockett in hopes that Jaxon Smith-Njigba emerges as their next superstar wideout and Cooper Kupp still has plenty of gas left in the tank.
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
