2025/26 NFL Season Predictions
The opening weekend of the 2025/26 NFL campaign began with some eye-catching results. The evergreen Aaron Rodgers helped his Steelers side to a vengeful win over the Jets. The Bills edged out the Ravens in a stunning 41-40 comeback win. And the Commanders opened up their campaign with a comfortable 21-6 triumph over the Giants.
Those were the headlines – but how is the season shaping up over time? Can the Eagles go back-to-back? Which teams will top their division? How will the rookies fare?
Whatever happens, we should be in for a pad-beating, cleat-stamping, head-tapping time over the coming six months.
Below, we give our NFL season predictions.
Super Bowl Winner – Detroit Lions @ 16.00
We’re not going to allow the first set of fixtures to cloud our NFL predictions judgement here.
Last season, we were spot on with our selection of the Eagles to come out on top. This year, we think the Lions are a good bet at attractive odds.
True, they lost their first game 27-13 against the Packers. But we have to look at the bigger picture.
Last year, they were beset by injuries. Defensive powerhouses Aidan Hutchinson and Alex Anzalone were out for large chunks of the campaign. They are back and ready to fire.
The return of two key defensive figures should supplement an offense that was in razor-sharp form just two seasons ago. No other team scored more points than the Lions, when they averaged 33.1 points per game.
Last year, that juggernaut slowed to a more pedestrian 13 points per game but, with a fully fit and firing unit, we could be about to see them return to their explosive best.
They will have to bounce back from their opening day defeat to the Packers but if coach Dan Campbell has proven anything it’s his ability to manage a dressing room through the turbulent bumps and bruises of an NFL season.
Winner of AFC North – Pittsburgh Steelers @ 7.00
Love him or hate him, Aaron Rodgers is one heck of a quarterback.
So much of this prediction rests on his ability to stay fit and healthy. If he can last the campaign, we reckon the Steelers have the team to come out on top in the AFC North.
He’s a four-time MVP for a reason and still maintains the skill and swagger that persuaded the Steelers to invest more than $13 million in a one-year contract.
They have a nasty defense that has been performing way below their best of late and are capable of squint-worthy plays.
At 7.00, there is enough value there.
Winner of AFC East – Buffalo Bills @ 1.06
The Bills are favourites to win the Super Bowl, so it’s no surprise to see them short in the odds to come out on top of the AFC East.
They are the surest NFL division prediction bet.
They’ve been knocking on the door of destiny for a long time but this season feels like a genuine shot for reigning MVP Josh Allen and his team to show what they can do on the biggest stage.
They have also won the past five AFC East titles and there’s no suggesting they can be stopped this time round.
Maybe there is better value to be found elsewhere but there’s no point looking a gift horse in the mouth either.
Winner of AFC South – Jacksonville Jaguars @ 3.10
The less said about last season the better for the Jaguars – and plenty of problems do remain for new coach Liam Coen and his side.
However, the opening day 26-10 win over the Carolina Panthers was impressive and, in Travis Hunter, they drafted one of the more interesting NFL prospects.
A lot of the team’s fortunes may rest on the shoulders of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the number one draft pick in 2021.
It’s yet to really happen for him in Florida and the world is waiting for him to pop off. With improved depth in the wide receiver positions, this could be his year.
He’s one of our NFL predictions picks to be in the running for the Comeback Player of the Year.
Winner of AFC West – Kansas City Chiefs @ 3.50
Wounds are still being licked by the first team in history to reach five Super Bowls in six seasons.
They are in a tough division, with the Chargers and the Broncos also vying for top position, but in Patrick Mahomes they have a genuine superstar.
He’s gained a reputation for shepherding his team through the tightest of games. Indeed, last year, the Chiefs were 10-0 in one-score games. Mahomes and his team-mates know what it means to be clutch.
An elite will to win goes very far in the league. The Chiefs have proven they have what it takes to keep churning out success.
Winner of NFC North – Green Bay Packers @ 1.50
This one is relatively straightforward. The Packers are a very good outfit.
While all eyes will be on the match-up with the Steelers and Aaron Rodgers in Week 8, we think they could put themselves in a position of Super Bowl favouritism before the playoffs. They’re that impressive.
They have shown that age is just a number. Despite having the youngest roster in the NFL over the past two seasons, they have made the playoffs in each. And they are only improving with experience.
Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins have been among the most consistent in their respective positions of late and could form the spine for what is an exciting and durable side.
The former was named to the All-Rookie Team by the Pro Football Writers and registered 87 tackles in his first season with the Packers. He’s one to watch.
Winner of NFC East – Philadelphia Eagles @ 1.45
The 2025 Super Bowl champions are back in business. They are one of the favourites to retain their title, and with good reason.
Saquon Barkley remains the most elite running back in the sport and the Eagles have one of the most consistent offenses of recent years.
Much of that is down to the mercurial talents of Jalen Hurts.
The Super Bowl MVP averaged eight yards per passing attempt in the 2024 regular season, the seventh-highest in the entire league.
He is consistent, willing, and able to lead the Eagles to NFC East glory.
Winner of NFC South – Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ 1.48
Head coach Todd Bowles is aiming to manage his side to a fifth straight NFC South divisional title and a sixth-straight playoff berth.
They are hot favourites to achieve their goals.
Much of that is because of their veteran offense and a revamped defense combo.
They need left tackle Tristan Wirfs and wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr back to full fitness as quickly as possible, but quarterback Baker Mayfield will have enough tools at his disposal to deal with their absences.
Keep an eye out for wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, who could be set for a breakout season.
He enjoyed a historic debut, with two touchdown catches in the Bucs’ 23-20 win over the Falcons.
Indeed, he is just the second player in NFL history to catch a game-winning touchdown pass in the final minute of regulation or overtime in his first career game.
Winner of NFC West – Los Angeles Rams @ 2.60
There is plenty of hype around this iteration of the LA Rams… and a lot of it is justified.
They were one of the only teams to come close to knocking the Eagles off their perch en route to Super Bowl 59 (losing 22-28 in the NFC Divisional Playoffs) and, in 37-year-old Matthew Stafford, they have a wily and experienced quarterback who will likely establish his name in the upper echelons of NFL history.
Indeed, during the Rams’ opening day weekend over the Houston Texans, he became just the 10th quarterback in NFL history to pass for 60,000 yards.
With Stafford working alongside the exciting Davante Adams – a $44 million man picked up after leaving the Jets in the summer – and the ebullient Puka Nacua, it could prove difficult to stop them.
Team to watch – Indianapolis Colts
This is a tough team to break down.
They were extremely eye-catching in their 33-8 demolition of the Miami Dolphins on the opening day of the campaign.
They became the first team since 1978 to score on every possession of a game. Daniel Jones had a debut to remember, passing for 272 yards, completing 22 of 29 passes, and scoring two one-yard TD plunges.
While it’s easy to get carried away after one good performance, there were some raised eyebrows about their prospects coming into the campaign.
Their moves in the off-season garnered good attention for addressing a perceived defensive weakness.
They picked up the likes of Charvarius Ward and Cam Bynum that will help shore up what was a flimsy line at best last season (they finished 29th in the overall yards allowed last season).
Any improvement will surely see an uptick in results.
On offense, they need the real Anthony Richardson to step up. The 2023 fourth-round draft pick is now in active competition with Jones for the starting berth.
Depth in that position could be key if they are to mount a sustained tilt at glory.
They are 67.00 to win this year’s Super Bowl. Those odds are quite stark.
Could they be worth an outside bet on a playoff run?
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change