Before every NFL season begins, all 32 teams have hope of reaching the playoffs and winning a Super Bowl.
However, as we know, only 14 teams, seven from each conference, will qualify for the postseason, leaving the others to ponder their NFL Draft positioning by the time December rolls around.
As always, in the NFL, there will be some surprises. Who could have foreseen the Giants and Seahawks making the playoffs last season? And who will come out of nowhere this coming campaign?
Figuring that out isn’t always easy, but let’s try to make some sense of things as we look at each team’s odds of making the NFL playoffs.
Odds to Make NFL Playoffs
NFL betting odds used for these best bets are current as of Wednesday, May 24, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Arizona Cardinals (+1100)
- Atlanta Falcons (+125)
- Baltimore Ravens (-150)
- Buffalo Bills (-240)
- Carolina Panthers (+220)
- Chicago Bears (+160)
- Cincinnati Bengals (-285)
- Cleveland Browns (-105)
- Dallas Cowboys (-190)
- Denver Broncos (+200)
- Detroit Lions (-165)
- Green Bay Packers (+200)
- Houston Texans (+475)
- Indianapolis Colts (+370)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (-195)
- Kansas City Chiefs (-450)
- Los Angeles Chargers (+100)
- Los Angeles Rams (+250)
- Las Vegas Raiders (+340)
- Miami Dolphins (-110)
- Minnesota Vikings (+100)
- New England Patriots (+225)
- New Orleans Saints (-195)
- New York Giants (+145)
- New York Jets (-150)
- Philadelphia Eagles (-425)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (+130)
- Seattle Seahawks (-110)
- San Francisco 49ers (-425)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+370)
- Tennessee Titans (+300)
- Washington Commanders (+300)
Best Bets to Make NFL Playoffs
Seattle Seahawks (-110)
After surprisingly reaching the postseason in 2022, the Seahawks knew they had to address concerns on defense this offseason. They have done that.
Seattle brought back Bobby Wagner to man the middle, beefed up the front four with Dre’Mont Jones and Jarran Reed, and added help in the secondary with Julian Love and 2023 first-rounder Devon Witherspoon.
- See where the Seahawks stand in the latest Super Bowl 58 odds.
The offense, led by Geno Smith, has shown plenty of promise. Smith demonstrated impressive consistency in his decision-making and accuracy, leading to an uptick in the Seahawks’ offensive production. Moreover, his consistency and leadership were critical factors in numerous crucial victories.
With Smith at the helm, a talented trio of receivers in DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and an improving defense, the Seahawks are poised for another playoff push in 2023.
At even money, this is a great bet.
Los Angeles Chargers (+100)
The Chargers come into this season with a sense of unfinished business. Their embarrassing playoff loss to the Jaguars last January undoubtedly still stings, and they’re eager to avenge it and silence their critics.
The defeat also fueled some offseason changes, including the firing of OC Joe Lombardi, who has been replaced by Kellen Moore. That should be a massive benefit to star quarterback Justin Herbert, one of the favorites in the preseason NFL MVP odds.
Herbert has many weapons to work with, including do-it-all running back Austin Ekeler, veteran wideouts Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, and 2023 first-round receiver Quentin Johnston.
The more pressing concern has been on defense, which has been dreadful at stopping the run and suffered many key injuries last season. As long as Joey Bosa and J.C. Jackson are healthy, this unit should be much improved.
As long as the Chargers overcome the mental hurdle of seemingly always coming up short, this roster has more than enough talent to be a playoff team.
Sleeper Picks to Make NFL Playoffs
Chicago Bears (+160)
After finishing last season with the worst record in football, the Bears face an uphill battle to get back into postseason contention.
However, the beauty of the NFL lies in its unpredictability and the opportunity for redemption that a new season brings.
The Bears have retooled their roster significantly during the offseason, addressing areas of concern on both sides of the ball. Promising franchise quarterback Justin Fields finally has a No. 1 wideout in DJ Moore, and the defense plugged a significant hole in the middle by signing Tremaine Edmunds in free agency.
While there is still plenty of work to be done, the potential is there for a worst-to-first turnaround that we often see in various NFL divisions.
At +160, I like Chicago’s chances of making some noise in the NFC North and becoming a symbolic story of resilience and turnaround in the NFL, much like the Lions of last season.
Denver Broncos (+200)
The Broncos have long odds to reach the postseason but could be a dark horse in the hotly-contest AFC race thanks to the appointment of Sean Payton as their new head coach.
Payton, a Super Bowl-winning coach in New Orleans, is renowned for his offensive insight and ability to get the most out of quarterbacks. He faces a significant challenge in revitalizing the play of Russell Wilson, who, despite a potential Hall-of-Fame career, struggled mightily last season.
However, if there’s anyone capable of reigniting Wilson’s elite form, it’s Payton. His history of maximizing quarterback performance, notably that of Drew Brees at the end of his career, and implementing high-octane offensive schemes offers a promising prospect for Wilson’s resurgence.
In combination with Denver’s defensive capabilities, a reinvigorated Wilson could help the team into playoff contention. And at +200 odds, I feel comfortable betting on a bounce-back season for the Broncos.