With the 2026 NFL season closing in, the playoff board is starting to take shape, and the betting market has already drawn a sharp line between the teams expected to be in the hunt and the ones facing a steep climb.
In the NFC, the Los Angeles Rams sit alone at the top of the odds board to reach the postseason at -460, which carries an implied probability of 82.14%. That placement comes after a busy offseason that saw the Rams add both Trent McDuffie and Myles Garrett. There is also a chance Aaron Donald returns from retirement for another season.
Behind the Rams, the Seahawks, Lions, Eagles, Packers, and 49ers are the next teams listed to make the NFC playoffs. At the bottom end of the race, the Bears and Cowboys are tied at -105 for the final playoff spot.
The Cardinals are in the toughest position of any NFC team. They are described as having little to no chance of making the playoffs this year. The Giants are next to last on the board, though even they carry an implied probability of 28.17% to get in.
The AFC picture is headed by the Baltimore Ravens, who are listed at -390 to make the playoffs, an implied probability of 79.59%. That comes despite the fact that they did not make the playoffs last season and moved on from head coach John Harbaugh.
After Baltimore, the Bills, Patriots, Chiefs, Bengals, Texans, and Chargers fill out the top seven in the AFC odds. The Broncos, at -140, and the Jaguars, at +105, are the first teams outside the projected field. That would turn some heads after a 2025 season in which the Broncos earned the No. 1 seed and the Jaguars finished 13-4.
The Steelers, at +140, and Colts, at +170, are still in the mix as well. Farther down the list, the Titans (+340), Browns (+570), Raiders (+600), Jets (+690), and Dolphins (+1400) are all given slim odds to mount a playoff push.
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
In Other News...
Ravens Preseason Finale Raised One Roster Debate Fans Cant Ignore
The Ravens preseason finale against Washington gave Baltimore a little something to chew on as camp winds down, with a few fringe players doing their best to force the coaching staffs hand. Adam Randall made the most of his chances on the ground, Joe Fagnano showed up with a passing performance that stood out, and the offense under coordinator Declan Doyle looked far more organized than it had earlier in the summer.
Not every evaluation went the same way, though, and that is where the real roster tension comes in. Tyler Loop had a rough outing as the kicking battle keeps hanging around, while wide receiver Elijah Sarratt did not do enough to separate himself in a crowded group. With the roster decisions now looming, the game left Baltimore with a clearer picture in some spots and at least one debate fans will keep watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Suddenly Have A Kicking Problem They Can't Ignore
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Still, the biggest concern coming out of August has nothing to do with the offense or the depth chart. Tyler Loops struggles on both field goals and kickoffs have created a problem Baltimore cant simply brush aside, and with the regular season approaching, the team may need to look outside the building for a more experienced answer at kicker. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Blowout Could Not Silence One Week 1 Concern
The Ravens 41-3 preseason win over Washington gave Jesse Minter a clean first impression, and the head coach leaned into the bigger picture afterward, stressing identity and standards more than the scoreboard. Baltimore looked sharp in all three phases, but even a lopsided victory can still leave a coaching staff with a few items to sort through before the games start counting.
One of those reminders came from Tyler Loop, who missed two field goals and turned a comfortable night into a small but noticeable question mark. Loop said he remained confident, and the Ravens have bigger roster business ahead as they move toward final cuts and start shaping the 53-man group, but kicking is the kind of detail that tends to linger when the margins get tighter. [Read more 🡒]