As the pendulum swings, the favorites for the Super Bowl get clearer each time a team leaves the playoff race. Ahead of us is one of the most fascinating periods of the NFL season, when stakes get as high as possible. The race to reach the playoffs and remain relevant deep into January is on for some teams, while others already have their eyes set on the NFL draft. Either way, there are plenty of reasons left to play good football, and as we get close to Week 17, these are the 2024/25 Super Bowl favorites.
Kansas City Chiefs +450
As long as Patrick Mahomes plays, the Chiefs will be SB favorites. After all, they deserve to be. With a 14-1 record, they sit at the top of the AFC West. A few more wins, and they are clinching home advantage throughout the playoffs, and we all know just how much advantage they hold over their opponents at Arrowhead. While still the top franchise in the NFL, many still doubt the Chiefs due to their +78 differential. Their division rivals, the Denver Broncos, are racing toward the playoffs with a 9-6 score and have the point differential set at +82. While that might paint a picture, we still wouldn't look past Kansas City Chiefs as SB favorites. The Chiefs have won close games throughout the season, led by experienced Andy Reid and the game's top QB in Mahomes. Some pundits believe they could show all their weaknesses come January, even before in duels against Steelers and Broncos. Yet, before it happens, we see them as capable of going all the way.
Detroit Lions +450
The Lions are going through a renaissance the NFL has never seen. They are winning games left and right despite a slew of injuries, and Dan Campbell is the head of a team with the most potent offense in recent NFL memory. With a few tough matches still left to play, they're another team aiming for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Interestingly, the Lions and Chiefs recently lost matches against the Buffalo Bills. NFC is out there for grabs, and with two more wins, the Lions will top the conference. The same as the Chiefs, their odds are set at +450, and while historically, the Lions have had more than a couple of bad decades, this might be their year, and you should cover them as many sportsbet NFL outlets see them as favorites.
Buffalo Bills +500
Last week, the Bills showed us they know how to win ugly games after coming on top against the New England Patriots 24-21 just a few days ago. At one point, the Bills were 14-0 down and climbed up against the divisional rivals. Their recent form is not up to standard, yet they are the team that won games against both the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs this year and have all the tools to win the Super Bowl. With this close recent divisional win, Buffalo boys have shown us that they have the nerves for January tests. Josh Allen is right up there with Mahomes, Burrow, and the rest of the top NFL quarterbacks regarding quality, but he still lacks the coveted Super Bowl appearance. While a riskier bet than the Lions and Chiefs, you wouldn't be crazy to bet on the Bills to win. After three consecutive SB losses in the '90s, one could argue that destiny is on their side, too.
Philadelphia Eagles +650
The Eagles lost a close match against their divisional rivals, Washington Commanders, after allowing a 22-point comeback in the fourth quarter. Before this tough defeat, they were on a 10-win streak, showing clear signs of being a Super Bowl favorite. Their latest visit to the capital and a 36-33 defeat to the Commanders showed they still have weaknesses. Yet, their most significant strength is the system that obviously works. They were stripped of the services of their starting QB Jalen Hurts, who was replaced by Kenny Pickett, and the Eagles remained competitive throughout the game. One should rightly assume they would easily win with Hurts on the field.
Baltimore Ravens +700
Lamar Jackson is quietly having one of the best MVP seasons in recent memory, even topping his previous two award-winning seasons. Interestingly, no one is talking about it. As far as Ravens and Jackson are concerned, they do not have to. Another win against divisional rivals Steelers was hard-fought 34-17in a fashionable way, destroying the Steelers defense while holding their own against one of the better offenses in the league. Ravens are 10-5 at the moment, with AFC North up for grabs. Winning the division will aid in their aspirations to go far in January, as they are one of the teams always aiming for the top in the years since they drafted Lamar Jackson. Former, and maybe future MVP, only needs an SB win to cement his legendary status in the NFL.