The first seven weeks of the NFL season have resulted in a few surprises and some expected outcomes. If the season ended today, the playoffs would look a bit different than what oddsmakers projected back in August.
Today, we compare the current standings with the odds for betting on the NFL Playoffs and see how closely they align.
Current NFL Playoff Standings
The Kansas City Chiefs entered the season as the top-ranked team in the NFL futures, so it’s no surprise that they are 6-0 and in sole possession of the number one seed in the AFC at this juncture.
The Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills, and Baltimore Ravens were also projected to win their respective divisions during the preseason.
The oddball in the AFC is the Denver Broncos, who are 4-3. They are a distant second to KC in the West, and based on their remaining schedule, we do not expect them to make the playoffs.
The Minnesota Vikings lost their first game of 2024-25 to the Detroit Lions in Week 7, thus relinquishing the top seed in the NFC to them.
The Washington Commanders are the second seed in the NFC, but their rookie quarterback, Jayden Daniels, injured his ribs on Sunday. He is currently week-to-week and hopeful to start against the Chicago Bears in Week 8.
The elephant missing from the room in the NFC is the San Francisco 49ers. They’re under .500 after last week’s loss to the Chiefs, and injuries are beginning to mount. The schedule doesn’t get any easier either, so SF had better start winning soon, or they’ll lose pace with the pack.
The Seattle Seahawks will hold the 49ers’ spot until they get their act together.
NFL Futures Bracket
When forecasting the NFL Playoff picture based on the betting odds, we get the above bracket after Week 7. The top seeds are mostly the same, with some of the rankings shifted around.
The odds imply that the 49ers will rebound from their early-season doldrums and make a run for Super Bowl 59. The Philadelphia Eagles are also predicted to tighten up and win most of their remaining games.
The Cincinnati Bengals are favored to earn a wild-card playoff berth. While they are 3-4, they’re only a game back from Denver.
Gone from the above bracket are current hopefuls like the Bears, Seahawks, Broncos, and Indianapolis Colts. Not seen in either bracket are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but at 4-3, they’re a legitimate playoff contender in the NFC.
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