2025 NFL midseason predictions: Playoff races, MVP, Tremendous Bowl

Thursday evening's Raiders-Broncos sport kicked off Week 10, which implies we're formally previous the halfway level of the 2025 NFL season. After 9 full weeks, the Colts, Patriots and Broncos have been surprisingly tied for one of the best file within the AFC, although Denver's win Thursday put it forward. In the meantime, the Buccaneers, Eagles and Seahawks lead the NFC. However loads can occur over the following two months.

So, we requested 15 of our NFL analysts for his or her greatest second-half prediction. Which groups will win their divisions and go far within the playoffs? Which could make the Tremendous Bowl? Who's making a robust case for one of many league's annual awards? May we see a file get damaged? And the way may this all impression the 2026 NFL draft order?

Let's predict the second half of the season, beginning with some divisional race calls.

Leap to:
AFC | NFC | Award winners
Report-breakers | NFL draft

How will the AFC races play out?

The Denver Broncos will win the AFC West

Led by their fierce protection, the Broncos will finish the Chiefs' stranglehold on the AFC West. Kansas Metropolis has received 9 consecutive division championships — together with seven straight since Patrick Mahomes turned the group's beginning quarterback. The Patriots maintain the NFL file for essentially the most consecutive division titles, successful 11 straight AFC East championships from 2009 to 2019. — Jason Reid, senior Andscape author

The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs will win the AFC West

They're 2½ video games behind the Broncos, however they nonetheless play them twice. It was a poor efficiency by Mahomes in Sunday's loss to the Payments (he accomplished solely 15 of 34 passes), however the Chiefs will enhance as soon as offensive sort out Josh Simmons returns and vast receiver Rashee Rice will get much more comfy within the offense. Though Denver is enjoying properly on protection, its offense is struggling. The Chargers are within the combine for the AFC West title, however they've too many key accidents to beat down the stretch. — Mike Tannenbaum, NFL analyst

The Baltimore Ravens will win the AFC North

Regardless of a 1-5 begin, the Ravens discover themselves in an inexpensive spot to jet again to the highest of a division that may virtually assuredly come all the way down to them or the Steelers. Pittsburgh's protection made a press release in its Week 9 victory over Indianapolis, however I am not totally bought that it may well stick with it weekly going ahead. Baltimore's margin for error is extraordinarily slim, however with two video games in opposition to Pittsburgh and 4 matchups in opposition to groups which are at the moment at or beneath .500, I am anticipating a surge. — Discipline Yates, NFL analyst

The Buffalo Payments will lose the AFC East

Buffalo is the odds-on favourite to win the division at -165 (ESPN BET), whereas New England sits at +135 — regardless of the Patriots really main within the standings. That is telling you the market is anticipating regression in Buffalo's favor. However the Payments received 13 video games final season with historic turnover luck and elite harm fortune. Each are already normalizing. Plus, Buffalo nonetheless has 5 video games left in opposition to groups coming off extra relaxation. The Payments even have powerful street stints developing at Houston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and New England. They are often nice and nonetheless fall in need of nice expectations. — Pamela Maldonado, NFL betting analyst

What in regards to the NFC?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will attain the Tremendous Bowl

That is the quietest 6-2 group ever. The Bucs have been riddled with accidents on a stage not far faraway from the 49ers, but they fly underneath the radar. Quarterback Baker Mayfield was enjoying like a number one MVP candidate as not too long ago as three weeks in the past, regardless of not having a wholesome offensive line and receiver corps all season. He has been with out beginning operating again Bucky Irving for a month (foot sprain, shoulder subluxation), too. The Bucs are fifth in defensive effectivity and fifth in defensive EPA, and so they're within the high half of the league within the offensive variations of these classes.

This group shouldn't have any bother successful a fifth straight AFC South title. And after the Bucs get more healthy, they will be as formidable as anybody. — Dan Graziano, nationwide NFL reporter

The Los Angeles Rams will attain the Tremendous Bowl

Quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Rams have flown considerably underneath the radar within the first half of the season, however at 6-2, they're primed to make a run down the stretch. Stafford not solely has notable chemistry with vast receiver Puka Nacua, however he has additionally established a reference to Davante Adams that seems unstoppable. Stafford and Adams have linked on 5 touchdowns up to now two video games alone. — Lindsey Thiry, nationwide NFL reporter

Who will win awards?

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford will win MVP

With 4 landing passes in opposition to the Saints, Stafford joined Tom Brady (2007, 2015), Patrick Mahomes (2020) and Aaron Rodgers (2020) as the one QBs with at the very least 20 landing passes and not more than two interceptions of their group's first eight video games, per ESPN Analysis. Brady and Rodgers received the MVP in 2007 and 2020, respectively. — Dan Orlovsky, NFL analyst

I agree with Orlovsky right here. It is superb that Stafford has by no means completed higher than eighth within the MVP voting. He has inside-the-industry road cred however perhaps lacks the general public esteem of his counterparts. But, that is shaping as much as be an simple season for the 17-year professional. He's on tempo for 4,500-plus yards, main a Rams offense that is too multifaceted to trigger a prolonged lull in his play. Los Angeles can win with the run or the go. The NFC race is vast open. This looks like his time. — Jeremy Fowler, nationwide NFL reporter

Seahawks vast receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba will win Offensive Participant of the 12 months

Smith-Njigba leads the NFL with 118.5 receiving yards per sport, and the quantity stays constant in Klint Kubiak's offense (10.0 targets per sport). A savvy route runner who performs a lot sooner than his timed pace, Smith-Njigba can uncover in any respect three ranges of the sphere. And he is doing that at a particularly excessive fee. Sure, he'll possible want a bump in landing manufacturing (4 this season) to remain within the OPOY dialogue with Colts operating again Jonathan Taylor (14 touchdowns), however he'll preserve the excessive receiving numbers to make a push over the second half of the season. — Matt Bowen, NFL analyst

Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett will win Defensive Participant of the 12 months

Garrett has an distinctive monitor file, together with eight consecutive seasons with double-digit sacks. However he has by no means led the league in sacks over a single season. In truth, when he received Defensive Participant of the 12 months in 2023, he tied for seventh. So, he does not must be the sack chief to win his second DPOY award — however he's properly on his means with 10.0 already this season.

It is much more spectacular that he is producing at this stage on one of many worst groups within the league, because it's tougher to get sacks when enjoying from behind. And the superior metrics are simply nearly as good as all the time: Garrett ranks fourth in go rush win fee and eighth in run cease win fee amongst edge rushers. — Seth Walder, NFL analyst

Colts' Shane Steichen will win Coach of the 12 months

The Giants couldn't do away with quarterback Daniel Jones quick sufficient, but Steichen (+160 odds for the award) hitched his wagon to Jones over Anthony Richardson Sr. The Colts have the No. 1 scoring offense (32.2 factors per sport), and Jones has a 70% completion proportion as a front-runner for Comeback Participant of the 12 months. I predict the Colts win their division, end with at the very least 12 wins and host at the very least one playoff sport. With the acquisition of cornerback Sauce Gardner, it isn't too wild to suppose Indy can win the AFC championship (+475 odds) and the Tremendous Bowl (+1100). I am right here for it! #IndianaJones. — Anita Marks, sports activities betting and fantasy soccer analyst

Patriots' Mike Vrabel will win Coach of the 12 months

In his first season as head coach of the group that made him a family title as a participant, Vrabel has the Patriots competing for an AFC East title regardless of nonetheless creating a younger roster that is led by second-year quarterback Drake Maye. As the highest group in its division with a 7-2 file, New England was comfy sufficient to commerce defensive finish Keion White and security Kyle Dugger on the deadline for draft compensation. Turning across the Patriots in a rush will get Vrabel a well-deserved postseason award. — Matt Miller, NFL draft analyst

Which data might be damaged?

Christian McCaffrey will break Marshall Faulk's single-season file for receiving yards by a operating again

Faulk had 1,048 receiving yards for the “Best Present on Turf” Rams in 1999. McCaffrey at the moment has 626 receiving yards, which prorates to 1,182 yards for a full 17-game season. With all of the accidents in San Francisco, McCaffrey has by some means grow to be an excellent larger a part of that offense. He's averaging a career-best 10.3 yards per reception, and although that may most likely drop, the quantity most likely will not.

The 49ers might be preventing for playoff place till the ultimate week, so I do not anticipate McCaffrey to take every week off. He's recording 69.6 receiving yards per sport, and averaging 55.0 the remainder of the way in which passes the file with room to spare. — Aaron Schatz, NFL analyst

Jaguars kicker Cam Little's 68-yard area objective file will not stick for lengthy

Any individual — and it might be Little, since he already did it within the preseason — will make a 70-yarder and break his file from final Sunday. The change to the kickoff (touchback on the 35-yard line, enhance in kickoff returns) and the truth that kickers are enhancing at hitting distance imply that offenses have a shorter area than ever earlier than.

And this season, the brand new “Ok-ball” guidelines have kickers feeling extra assured as a result of they'll apply with the footballs they are going to use in video games and have extra time to interrupt them in. Bengals kicker Evan McPherson informed me that he looks like he can get near 10 extra yards on kicks as a result of the balls are extra “jumpy.” Kickers are about to grow to be much more necessary. — Kalyn Kahler, senior NFL reporter

What might occur within the 2026 NFL draft?

The Atlanta Falcons' first-round decide will grow to be one other top-eight choice … for the Rams

The Falcons had a four-year streak of drafting within the high eight picks from 2021 to 2024 — and so they're near restarting that development. Atlanta has misplaced three straight and faces the Colts and Panthers in its subsequent two video games. The Colts are clearly a tricky beat, and the Panthers received their previous two in opposition to the Falcons. If the Falcons fall to 3-7, I am undecided their brass can pull the group out of a tailspin, particularly with a younger offense that lacks veteran presence. Atlanta nonetheless has two video games in opposition to the Saints and a matchup with the Jets, so ending up with a top-eight decide would actually be a catastrophe.

After all, the decide will not really be the Falcons' to make use of, as they gave it to the Rams within the commerce up for edge rusher James Pearce Jr. final April. — Ben Solak, NFL analyst