o1-Pro 2025 NFL Playoffs Predictions (Pre-Playoffs)
o1-Pro synthesizes all data and gives its best-reasoned guess as to how the playoffs will end up (including Super Bowl & winner)
It is very difficult to accurately predict the NFL Playoffs - even round-by-round. Why? Because all of the teams are objectively good… they were in the top 50% of teams and as the playoffs progress, the competition gets more intense.
I’m sure some people have lucked out and predicted the playoffs perfectly… but odds of doing this are extremely low (still much better than winning the lottery or getting a perfect March Madness bracket for CBB).
If you are doing “round-by-round” predictions its much easier… you get the first round correct, then you can update your picks the next round. That is not what we are doing here with this pre-playoff prediction for 2025.
Related: NFL Wild Card Predictions 2025 o1-Pro Edition
Odds of a Perfect Bracket for NFL Playoffs in 2025 (Pre-Playoffs Predictions)
Under the current 14-team format (7 per conference) with one bye in each conference, the NFL postseason has a total of 13 games.
Wild Card Round: 3 games in each conference = 6 total
Divisional Round: 2 games in each conference = 4 total
Conference Championships: 1 game in each conference = 2 total
Super Bowl: 1 game
6 (WC) + 4 (Div) + 2 (Conf) + 1 (SB) = 13 games total
If we assume each game is effectively a 50/50 coin flip (i.e., you have an equal chance of getting each pick right or wrong), then:
The probability of correctly predicting every winner in all 13 games in a 50/50 scenario is: ~0.0122%.
In other words, 1 in 8192 is the “pure coin flip” estimate for perfectly picking every winner through the entire NFL postseason under the modern 7-teams-per-conference playoff format.
Obviously the games aren’t all 50/50… some in the earlier rounds are likely 60/40 or 70/30 or even 80/20… I wouldn’t go much beyond 80/20.
Pure coin flips (no favorites): ~0.012% (1 in 8,192).
Heavily favored “better” team every game (70–75% each): up to ~1–2.4%.
Realistic average scenario (60–65% each): roughly 0.1% to 0.4% (1 in 250 to 1 in 1,000).
Most actual NFL postseasons will land somewhere in that fraction-of-a-percent range for a truly perfect bracket—once you account for upsets, injuries, and how often “underdogs” still manage to win.
So, if you want a logical reference range for the odds of picking every playoff winner correctly before it starts:
Somewhere between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 100 on the high (optimistic) end,
and about 1 in 8,000 if it were all coin flips on the low end.
In short, roughly 0.1%–1% is a practical window for “perfect playoff bracket” odds in most years, depending on how lopsided or tight each matchup truly is.
NFL Playoffs 2025 Predictions (Round-By-Round) - o1-Pro Edition
A.) 2025 NFL WILD CARD ROUND
(5) Los Angeles Chargers at (4) Houston Texans
Score: Chargers 23, Texans 20
Odds: Chargers 55% | Texans 45%
Confidence: 6.5/10
Key Rationale:
Chargers: Justin Herbert (3,870 yards, 23 TD, only 3 INT) plus receivers Ladd McConkey (1,149 yds) and Quentin Johnston (711 yds, 8 TD) can move the ball.
Texans: C.J. Stroud (3,727 yds, 20 TD) with Joe Mixon (1,016 rush yds, 11 TD) is strong.
Slight edge to the Chargers’ pass rush (Joey Bosa, Tuli Tuipulotu) vs. a Texans O-line that’s had to shuffle.
(6) Pittsburgh Steelers at (3) Baltimore Ravens
Score: Ravens 24, Steelers 17
Odds: Ravens 60% | Steelers 40%
Confidence: 7.5/10
Key Rationale:
Ravens: Lamar Jackson (4,172 pass yds, 41 TD; 915 rush yds) plus RB Derrick Henry (1,921 yds, 16 TD) forms an elite offense.
Steelers: Russell Wilson (2,482 pass yds, 16 TD in 11 games), Najee Harris (1,043 rush yds). They’ll fight but Baltimore’s top-tier run + Jackson’s RPO is tough to stop.
(7) Denver Broncos at (2) Buffalo Bills
Score: Bills 28, Broncos 17
Odds: Bills 70% | Broncos 30%
Confidence: 8/10
Key Rationale:
Bills: Josh Allen (3,731 pass yds, 28 pass TD, 12 rush TD) + RB James Cook (1,009 yds, 16 total TD) + a solid secondary.
Broncos: Bo Nix (3,775 pass yds, 29 TD), Courtland Sutton (1,081 yds, 8 TD) can keep it interesting, but the Bills are more balanced and Allen has more big-play potential.
(7) Green Bay Packers at (2) Philadelphia Eagles
Score: Eagles 27, Packers 20
Odds: Eagles 65% | Packers 35%
Confidence: 7.5/10
Key Rationale:
Eagles: Jalen Hurts (2,903 pass yds, 18 TD, only 5 INT) + huge ground game from Saquon Barkley (2,005 yds, 13 TD). A.J. Brown (1,079 yds, 7 TD) is a difference-maker.
Packers: Jordan Love (3,389 yds, 25 TD) and RB Josh Jacobs (1,329 yds, 15 total TD) are formidable, but Watson’s injury (torn ACL) limits the passing attack.
(6) Washington Commanders at (3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Score: Commanders 23, Buccaneers 21
Odds: Washington 52% | Tampa 48%
Confidence: 5.5/10
Key Rationale:
Commanders: Jayden Daniels (3,568 pass yds, 25 TD, 891 rush yds) plus Terry McLaurin (1,096 yds, 13 TD) give them a dynamic offense.
Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield (4,500 pass yds, 41 TD), RB Bucky Irving (1,122 yds), WR Mike Evans (1,004 yds, 11 TD). This is almost a toss-up, but Jayden Daniels’ legs + Commanders’ pass rush might seal it late.
(5) Minnesota Vikings at (4) Los Angeles Rams
Score: Vikings 27, Rams 24
Odds: Vikings 55% | Rams 45%
Confidence: 6.5/10
Key Rationale:
Vikings: Sam Darnold (4,319 yds, 35 TD), WR Justin Jefferson (1,533 yds, 10 TD), plus RB Aaron Jones (1,138 yds). Explosive pass game.
Rams: Matthew Stafford (3,762 yds, 20 TD), RB Kyren Williams (1,299 yds, 14 TD). Slightly behind on big passing plays if it becomes a shootout. Vikings by a field goal.
2025 NFL DIVISIONAL ROUND
AFC Divisional
(1) Kansas City Chiefs vs. (5) Los Angeles Chargers
Score: Chiefs 30, Chargers 24
Odds: Chiefs 60% | Chargers 40%
Confidence: 7/10
Key Points: Patrick Mahomes (3,928 pass yds, 26 pass TD) and a balanced KC offense (Kareem Hunt, Isiah Pacheco) at home in January. Chargers keep pace but KC’s experience in big playoff moments tips the scales.
(2) Buffalo Bills vs. (3) Baltimore Ravens
Score: Bills 27, Ravens 24 (overtime)
Odds: Bills 55% | Ravens 45%
Confidence: 6.5/10
Key Points: Allen’s passing + the Bills defense vs. Lamar/Henry’s run threat. Turnovers likely decide it. Slight home-edge to Buffalo in wintry conditions.
NFC Divisional
(1) Detroit Lions vs. (6) Washington Commanders
Score: Lions 31, Commanders 24
Odds: Lions 65% | Commanders 35%
Confidence: 7.5/10
Key Points: Jared Goff (4,629 yds, 37 TD, 12 INT) + RB Jahmyr Gibbs (1,412 yds, 16 TD) + Amon-Ra St. Brown (1,263 yds) is an elite offense. Washington tries to keep pace with Jayden Daniels but ultimately the Lions’ offense is more consistent.
(2) Philadelphia Eagles vs. (3) Minnesota Vikings
Score: Eagles 33, Vikings 30
Odds: Eagles 60% | Vikings 40%
Confidence: 7/10
Key Points: Very close. The Vikings passing game can shred defenses, but the Eagles have Hurts + Barkley. A last-minute drive + home crowd advantage for Philly edges out Minnesota.
2025 NFL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
AFC Championship: (1) Chiefs vs. (2) Bills
Score: Chiefs 30, Bills 27
Odds: KC 55% | BUF 45%
Confidence: 7/10
Key Points: Another classic Mahomes vs. Allen duel. Each QB is a threat with both arm and legs. Chiefs’ receiving depth (Travis Kelce, Xavier Worthy, Rashee Rice) plus Arrowhead’s aura gives them a slight advantage.
NFC Championship: (1) Lions vs. (2) Eagles
Score: Lions 34, Eagles 31
Odds: DET 54% | PHI 46%
Confidence: 6/10
Key Points: High-scoring. Goff + Gibbs + ARSB vs. Hurts + Barkley + A.J. Brown. Detroit’s pass protection has been excellent, and they’ve been nearly unstoppable at home (15-2 record overall). They squeak by in a shootout.
2025 SUPER BOWL (LIX)
Matchup: (1) Kansas City Chiefs vs. (1) Detroit Lions
Score Prediction: Chiefs 34, Lions 31
Odds: Chiefs 52% | Lions 48%
Confidence: 5.5/10
Key Points:
The Lions bring an explosive, balanced offense. Detroit’s O-line + Goff + Gibbs can absolutely put up points.
The Chiefs, though, have the big-game experience with Mahomes. Travis Kelce’s mismatch in the middle, plus the pass rush (Chris Jones, George Karlaftis) might create that one key turnover.
A close, entertaining game, decided late by Mahomes magic.
