NFL 2025 Playoffs: Analysis and Super Bowl LX Favorites

The 2025 NFL playoffs season is set! After an exciting season finale, where the Steelers defeated the Ravens, we already know the teams that will seek glory. The Broncos and Seahawks, as leaders of the AFC and NFC respectively, will enjoy the advantage of the first round. The other 12 teams will face off in the wild card weekend, starting on Saturday and culminating on January 12th. The action will be broadcast on ESPN and ABC on Monday night. What teams are arriving in their best form for a deep playoff run? Which ones seem to be struggling to survive? And, which players could be the key to leading their teams to Super Bowl LX? The Super Bowl LX will be played on February 8th at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The Alofoke Deportes teams have analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of each team, and Seth Walder, a data analyst, has highlighted a key statistic for each club. In addition, Ben Solak provides his “Heat Check” (rating from 1 to 10) for each team. We will also evaluate the chances of each team to win the championship, using the Football Power Index (FPI) and DraftKings Sportsbook bets.

NFC

• Seahawks
• Bears vs. Packers
• Eagles vs. 49ers
• Panthers vs. Rams

AFC

• Broncos
• Patriots vs. Chargers
• Jaguars vs. Bills
• Steelers vs. Texans

Teams Analysis

NFC

1. Seattle Seahawks

Super Bowl Winning Odds: +350FPI Probability of Reaching the Super Bowl: 33.9%

Reasons for Hope:

• Their defense is championship caliber. Mike Macdonald’s unit is among those that allow the fewest points in the NFL this season.
• The Seahawks lead the league in yards allowed per carry.

Reasons for concern:

They suffer too many turnovers.Key statistic: The Seahawks’ run defense allowed fewer than 30 first downs than expected this season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.“Heat Check” Rating: 9. Securing the top spot by defeating a divisional rival on the road is a big win. The NFC playoff field is wide open, and Seattle is a strong contender.Outlook for the first game: The Seahawks will host the team with the lowest seed in the divisional round, either January 17 or 18. They could face the Panthers, Rams, 49ers, or Packers.

2. Chicago Bears

Super Bowl Winning Odds: 22-1FPI Probability of Reaching the Super Bowl: 7.7%Wild Card Round: The Bears will host the Packers on Saturday.

Reasons for Hope:

• The attack led by Caleb Williams has proven capable of competing with anyone.
• They are experts in comebacks, with the most wins after trailing in the last two minutes of the last quarter.

Reasons for concern:

• The defense has given up a lot of yards recently.
• They rely heavily on ball recoveries, but the defense can be overwhelmed when it doesn’t force turnovers.

Key statistic: The Bears lead the league in pass block win rate. This has benefited Williams and allowed them to have the longest average time to throw in the NFL.“Heat Check” Rating: 7. Chicago is healthier on defense than for much of the season, and their spectacular late-game wins keep hope alive.Outlook for the first game: Chicago and Green Bay split their regular season meetings, with the Bears’ overtime victory in Week 16.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

Super Bowl Win Odds: +950FPI Probability of Reaching the Super Bowl: 14.2%Wild Card Round: The Eagles will host the 49ers on Sunday.

Reasons for Hope:

• A dominant defense. Vic Fangio’s team is reminiscent of the championship season.
• They rank at the top in defense, despite facing elite quarterbacks.

Reasons for concern:

• Inconsistent offense.
• The offensive line has regressed and the play calling has been erratic.

Key statistic: The Eagles rank second in EPA allowed per pass play, despite being 21st in pass win rate. This is a testament to how good their secondary has been.“Heat Check” Rating: 4. The last time we saw Hurts and the starters, the offense couldn’t complete a pass in the second half in an almost disastrous loss against the Bills. The defense is good, but is it good enough to withstand these offensive valleys in January?Outlook for the first game: The Eagles and 49ers haven’t faced each other since Week 13 of the 2023 season, a San Francisco victory that helped send the teams in opposite directions that season.

From left to right: Cooper DeJean, Josh Allen, Ben Johnson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Nik Bonitto.

4. Carolina Panthers

Super Bowl Winning Odds: 150-1FPI Probability of Reaching the Super Bowl: 2.0%Wild Card Round: The Panthers will host the Rams on Saturday.

Reasons for Hope:

• Bryce Young. He has proven to be able to keep the Panthers in the games.

Reasons for concern:

• General inconsistency.

Key statistic: The Panthers have a pass rate over expected of -8%, the second lowest in the NFL.“Heat Check” Rating: 3. The Panthers will play the “nobody believes in us” card and face the Rams, whom they have already defeated.Outlook for the first match: Carolina defeated the Rams in Week 13 and is 1-0 against them in the playoffs, after defeating the St. Louis Rams in double overtime in the 2003 NFC divisional round.

5. Los Angeles Rams

Super Bowl Win Odds: +425FPI Probability of Reaching the Super Bowl: 23.2%Wild Card Round: The Rams will play against the Panthers on Saturday.

Reasons for Hope:

• Matthew Stafford has played at an MVP level for most of the season.
• The Rams’ offense has been more consistent, with at least 30 points in 10 games.

Reasons for concern:

• Special equipment.

Key statistic: The Rams are in the top three in pass play percentage, designed plays, motion at the snap, and max protection.“Heat Check” Rating: 5. The Rams went 2-3 in their last five important games, and the defense showed more weaknesses in December. There is reasonable concern in Los Angeles.Outlook for the first game: The Rams are looking for their first playoff win on the road since they beat the Buccaneers in the 2021 NFC divisional round.

6. San Francisco 49ers

Super Bowl Winning Odds: 28-1FPI Probability of reaching the Super Bowl: 8.8%Wild Card Round: The 49ers will play against the Eagles on Sunday.

Reasons for Hope:

• Offensive in excellent shape.

Reasons for concern:

• Defense with difficulties.

Key statistic: Purdy has a QBR of 73.6, which would place him in second place if he had played enough to qualify. He has had a high rate of turnovers, but he doesn’t get sacked and has incredible accuracy.“Heat Check” Rating: 6. The 49ers should feel good about their ability to score points. The vibes should still be generally good, even after the loss.Outlook for the first game: San Francisco has split two previous playoff matchups with the Eagles, the most recent a 31-7 loss in the NFC Championship for the 2022 season.

7. Green Bay Packers

Super Bowl Winning Odds: 22-1FPI Probability of Reaching the Super Bowl: 10.1%Wild Card Round: The Packers will play against the Bears on Saturday.

Reasons for Hope:

• Elite quarterback play.

Reasons for concern:

• They seem to find unique ways to lose games.

Key statistic: The Packers rank second in EPA per pass play. The Packers’ pass offense efficiency has almost gone unnoticed.“Heat Check” Rating: 2. The Packers lost their last three regular season games, they won’t have Parsons for their playoff run, and the fanbase is more concerned about Love’s contract than Willis’s backup quality. Bad vibes.Outlook for the first game: The Packers split the season with the Bears. These teams haven’t faced each other in the playoffs since the Packers beat the Bears in the NFC Championship at Soldier Field in the 2010 season.

AFC

1. Denver Broncos

Super Bowl Win Odds: +650FPI Probability of Reaching the Super Bowl: 30.6%

Reasons for Hope:

• Playoff-worthy defense.

Reasons for concern:

• Sometimes low-key offensive.

Key statistic: The Broncos ranked in the top eight in all four win rate metrics: pass block win rate, run block win rate, pass rush win rate, and run stop win rate.“Heat Check” Rating: 9. Denver has won 13 of its last 14 games, is relatively healthy, and gets the advantage of playing at home against a generally weaker AFC playoff field. The Broncos are poised to make a run.Outlook for the first game: The Broncos will play against the lowest remaining seed in the AFC (Steelers, Texans, Bills, or Chargers) in the divisional round.

2. New England Patriots

Super Bowl Win Odds: +950FPI Probability of Reaching the Super Bowl: 15.0%Wild Card Round: The Patriots will host the Chargers…