2025 Super Bowl Predictions: Top NFL Playoff Contenders for AFC, NFC Championship

The final week of the NFL season is here, and it’s becoming clear who the 2025 Super Bowl contenders and pretenders are this year as we get set for the NFL Playoffs.

Below we give you our 2025 Super Bowl predictions before the 2025 NFL Playoffs, including our favorite to win each conference and have the best shot at making the Super Bowl. We’ll also wrap it all up with our favorite to win the 2025 Super Bowl.

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2025 Super Bowl: Start Time, Channel, & Halftime Show

Below, we’ll go through everything you need to know about the 2025 Super Bowl so you can be ready for the big game.

What Time Does the Super Bowl Start?

The 2025 Super Bowl will kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 9, 2025. That’s 5:30 p.m. CT, 4:30 p.m. MT, and 3:30 p.m. PT.

What Channel is the 2025 Super Bowl on?

The 2025 Super Bowl will be broadcast on FOX and streaming on the FOX Sports App, including the pre-game festivities, the Halftime show, and the post-game show.

Who is Singing the National Anthem at the 2025 Super Bowl?

Jon Batiste will sing the National Anthem prior to the 2025 Super Bowl. Batiste is a New Orleans native and a Grammy and Oscar winner.

Who is Performing at the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show?

Rapper Kendrick Lamar will headline the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show. The Super Bowl Halftime Show will be televised on FOX and streaming the FOX Sports app.

Top AFC Contenders 2025 Super Bowl

The Kansas City Chiefs, although didn’t look dominant early on, have solidified themselves as the front-runner in the AFC. Teams like the Bills and Ravens, with MVP contenders at QB,, have a chance to knock them off the top though.

Let’s take a look at the AFC contenders for the 2025 Super Bowl.

Kansas City Chiefs (15-1, 1st in AFC)

Kansas City was doubted at the beginning of the year, struggling in practically every game, but managing to pull out one-possession wins. Winning their last six games since their only loss to the Buffalo Bills has put these doubts to rest. They have the #1 seed in the AFC locked up heading into Week 18.

The Chiefs always seem to get going right before the Playoffs; with Isaiah Pacheco and Hollywood Brown healthy again, and Mahomes being an all-time great, they will always be contenders to win it all. The addition of speedy WR Xavier Worth, and his ability to contribute in the run game, has added a new element to this offense that adds huge upside.

Since the Chiefs have secured the #1 seed in the AFC, they won’t play their starters in their Week 18 game against the Broncos. With home-field advantage in Arrowhead Stadium locked up and three weeks to rest before their first game in the AFC Divisional Round, Mahomes’ ankle injury isn’t a huge concern for me. 

Fully healthy, this team can fire on all cylinders, but you have to think almost a month off could force them to be rusty going into their first Playoff game. If they want to make the Super Bowl, TE Travis Kelce will need to be dominant. He has found some stability as of late, but hasn’t quite reached his full potential. 

Until a team beats them when it counts, however, they will remain the favorites in a lot of America’s eyes.

Buffalo Bills (13-3, 2nd in AFC)

Buffalo came into the season with low expectations. The subtraction of WR Stefon Diggs left many people questioning whether or not QB Josh Allen could lead a very lackluster wide receiver room to the playoffs. Those questions didn’t last long however. 

Not only are they making the Playoffs as the #2 seed and the only team to beat the Chiefs, but Allen has been the front runner for the MVP for weeks now.

The Bills are a well-rounded team as well. Allen can will the offense through a game with his arm and his legs, but their defense is also ranked 11th in points allowed, keeping them in many games. 

While their win against Detroit might have been more on Lions’ head coach Dan Campbell, the ability for the Bills to outscore the most dominant offense in the NFL is impressive. 

Due to Allen’s play, you could expect them to beat anyone in the AFC. Home-field advantage up until potentially the AFC Championship should help Buffalo go far in the playoffs. If they face the Ravens in the Divisional Round, then we could see the game of the year this playoffs between two of the top QBs in the league.

Baltimore Ravens (11-5, 3rd in AFC)

The Ravens have looked as dominant as ever down the stretch, winning their last three games in convincing fashion and scoring an average of 33 points in that span, while the defense has started to look competent. Their Christmas win over Houston in dominant fashion put them back in the Super Bowl conversation.

The main concern with this team all year was the defense as the secondary struggled heavily all season. These concerns have been put to rest over recent weeks however. A huge reason for that is the Ravens moving star defensive back Kyle Hamilton to full-time safety after Week 10, which has suddenly made them the top defense by dropback success rate (39.8%) in the league, after ranking 26th in the same metric over the first eight weeks.

Over the last three weeks, the Baltimore defense is second in points allowed. If able to keep pressure on opposing quarterbacks and the secondary holds up on the back end, this team could win the AFC Conference Championship. 

QB Lamar Jackson is having an MVP-caliber season; combining that with Derrick Henry, who has found opportunities to rest throughout the season — the Ravens can outscore anyone. 

There’s multiple ways this team can beat you, and ultimately the only way you can stop this team is in a shootout and getting a few key stops against Lamar — just enough to secure a win. Any game featuring the Ravens will be a good one; as hot as they are currently, they are my favorite to win the AFC.

Other AFC Contenders for the 2025 Super Bowl

While one of the three teams above are likely to the AFC, here are a few other AFC contenders.

• #5 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) — The Steelers fell flat against the Chiefs on Christmas, but they’re a well-balanced team that tends to hang around in games.
• #6 Los Angeles Chargers (10-6) — It’s hard to count out QB Justin Herbert and a very well-coached Chargers team. The AFC is stacked, so Chargers are a long shot, but they’re in the conversation with a Playoff spot locked up.

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Top NFC Contenders for 2025 Super Bowl

The NFC this year has been as deep as it has ever been in recent years. Practically every team in the playoff has a chance to win it all. Lets take a closer look at the few teams that have the best chance out of all of them.

Detroit Lions (14-2, 1st in NFC)

The Lions’ offense is the most explosive out of all the teams in the NFC this year. Second in yards per game and first in overall points, the Lions can score on whoever they want it feels like. While in some very close nail-biting games, Detroit always seems to find a way to pull through in the last couple of possessions. 

With nine games being within one score, my concern for them is if the defense will be able to maintain some of the explosiveness they will see in the playoffs, especially as they are missing some key pieces due to injury. 

The Lions have encountered the most injuries out of any team this year, and it could hurt them when they’re facing some of the top offenses in the NFL. However, they’re likely to get back LB Alex Anzalone in time for the Playoffs, which will be key, and DE Aidan Hutchinson says he is aiming to play in the Super Bowl. 

The Lions have a chance to get two weeks rest and make their Super Bowl run easier with a win over their division rival this week, the Minnesota Vikings. The winner of that game will win the #1 seed in the NFC.

If they’re able to win the #1 seed, get home-field advantage, and get a bit healthier on defense, they would become my personal favorite to win it all.

Philadelphia Eagles (13-3, 2nd in NFC)

Looking dominant even without QB Jalen Hurts this week, the Philadelphia Eagles continue to look like the most complete team in the NFL. Between QB Kenny Pickett with broken ribs and Tanner McKee, the Eagles had no trouble dominating the Dallas Cowboys in every aspect of the game.

The #3 scoring defense overall and the best in the NFC is the reason the Eagles should be heavily-favored amongst most teams in the NFC. Their offense is filled with weapons that can compete with practically every other team. 

Between a dual-threat quarterback in Jalen Hurts, two star wide receivers, and RB Saquon Barkley — who has a chance to break Eric Dickerson’s regular-season rushing record, this could be the most well-rounded team in the playoffs.

This year’s NFC is elite, however, so Hurts will have to avoid turnovers against teams like the Lions. If able to do so, the Eagles can beat anyone.

Minnesota Vikings (14-2, 5th in NFC)

The Vikings are up there with the most dominant teams in the NFL, but their Playoff fate hinges on their Week 18 matchup with the Lions, where they would win the #1 seed in the NFC — a huge advantage as they have one of the best home-field advantages in the NFL. 

Ranking 10th in points and 4th in points allowed this year, Minnesota is right next to Philadelphia in terms of dominating on both sides of the ball. 

I personally like the Vikings to win next week because they have yet to encounter major injuries like the Lions have. If able to secure the bye week along with home field throughout the whole playoffs, they could be the favorites to win the Super Bowl. 

QB Sam Darnold will have to continue to play at the level he has and just manage the game. Early on, he looked like an MVP candidate; he has managed to control the game and allow stars like WR Justin Jefferson and RB Aaron Jones to take over in many games this year. 

I look for the Vikings to make the NFC Championship and provide a tough matchup for whoever travels to Minnesota with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.

Washington Commanders (11-5, 6th in AFC)

There's only one name that comes to mind when talking about the Commanders, and it’s rookie QB Jayden Daniels. The Rookie of the Year favorite has been having one of the best rookie seasons we've seen from a quarterback in recent years. 

Dynamic play from Daniels has realistically been the only thing keeping the Commanders in the playoffs this year. WR Terry McLaurin has been on and off this season — in last week's game against the Falcons he only had one reception. In many games, Daniels has had to rely on WRs Olamide Zaccheus and TEs Zach Ertz (in his age 34 season) and John Bates. 

If the Commanders plan to upset any team in the playoffs, it will most likely be in a shootout, as Washington is 4th in yards per game and 5th in points. Although the Washington defense sits around the average, Daniels will be the determining factor in how far the Commanders go this year. 

I personally don't see them making it out of the NFC, but I could see them surprising a few teams and making the NFC Championship. 

If they are able to have performances like the one against the Eagles a few weeks ago in a surprise upset, some teams could be in trouble.

Other NFC Contenders for the 2025 Super Bowl

• #3 Los Angeles Rams (10-6) — The Rams aren’t on the same level as many other teams in the NFC, sitting at just 10-6 in one of the weakest divisions in football. However, their offense with QB Matthew Stafford can go toe-to-toe with some of the best in the NFL.
• #7 Green Bay Packers (11-5) — The Packers and coach Matt LaFleur seem content to run the ball and control the clock, which puts them on their heels when trailing in games. You have to wonder if that changes once they reach the Playoffs, allowing QB Jordan Love to flash as he did down the stretch last season.

2025 Super Bowl Prediction: Eagles defeat Ravens

Both conferences will be tough to come out of, especially the NFC. The Ravens and Eagles will be carried by their MVP-caliber players, balanced rushing and passing attacks, and ultimately make it to the big game. The Eagles have the most dominant team when it comes to both sides of the ball and the Ravens have the best Quarterback-Running Back duo in the league. 

On offense, both of these teams have the weapons to put up points in a shootout so the Eagles’ defense is what I see being the difference in this year’s Super Bowl. The Ravens’ secondary isn't at the level of dominance that the Eagles are at, so I’ll take the Eagles to win a close game against the reigning MVP Lamar Jackson.

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