The NFL season is just around the corner and as training camps continue, fans are already making their predictions for the 2025 campaign.
Just six months ago, it was the Philadelphia Eagles who ruled the roost after beating the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana.
However, after an offseason dominated by trades, cuts and extensions, there is plenty to be optimistic about for the teams who didn’t make it to the NFL’s showpiece event.
In fact, stats experts Opta have already challenged their supercomputer to predict the outcome of the new season and it’s provided some interesting results.
Namely, the supercomputer believes there will be a new champion in February and boldly predicts that the Buffalo Bills will get their hands on the Lombardi Trophy.
With NFL MVP Josh Allen entering his prime and a defense that’s among the league’s elite, the Bills boast the highest Super Bowl-winning odds at 13.4 per cent.
The Philadelphia Eagles will be hoping to retain their Super Bowl crown in the upcoming season
Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs fell short of clinching the Lombardi Trophy last time
However, it’s the Buffalo Bills who have emerged as favorites to win next year’s Super Bowl
Buffalo have also been given a 23.4 per cent chance of reaching the Super Bowl and are predicted to pick up approximately 11 wins and 6 losses in the season.
They’re overwhelming favorites to win the AFC East (71.1 per cent) and make another deep playoff run. Whether they can end their historic drought is another question.
Should the Bills fall below expectations, however, then the supercomputer has backed the Kansas City Chiefs to reclaim their Super Bowl crown.
Travis Kelce and Co. have been given a 9.6 per cent likelihood of winning the Super Bowl – and a 17.2 per cent chance of making it to the showpiece event.
However, cracks showed in last year’s disastrous loss to the Eagles and it could signal that the rest of the league may finally be catching up to Andy Reid’s side.
Following on from the Chiefs are the reigning champions, the Philadelphia Eagles.
Despite an offseason which has seen them tie Saquon Barkley down to a two-year, $41.2million extension, the supercomputer has the Eagles third in the rankings.
The Birds do still have a chance of retaining their title, however, and have been projected a 10-win season along with a 8.7 per cent chance of Super Bowl glory.
Opta has suggested that the Chiefs have a 9.6 per cent chance of winning the Super Bowl
Meanwhile, Saquon Barkley and the Eagles have just an 8.7 per cent chance to retain their title
Nick Sirianni’s side also have respectable 73 per cent playoff chance and a 16.4 per cent chance of reaching the Super Bowl, which is only a fraction less than the Chiefs.
Meanwhile, the likes of the Jaguars, Packers, Ravens and Buccaneers all follow on from the aforementioned trio.
In order, the supercomputer has given them an 8.1 per cent, 7.4 per cent, 5.7 per cent and 5.2 per cent likelihood of stunning the competition and winning the Super Bowl.
The Jaguars are without a doubt the surprise pick by the supercomputer, having missed out on the post-season in consecutive campaigns now.
However, after a promising offseason which saw them trade up in the NFL Draft and select Travis Hunter as the second overall pick, there is much to be excited about.
The Heisman Trophy winner got his hands on that coveted award due to his breathtaking versatility as both a wide receiver and a cornerback in the college ranks.
Jaguars head coach Liam Coen has suggested Hunter will be a two-way player for his team in the coming season, revealing last month that he was practicing on both sides of the ball. It could spell a major change in the Jaguars’ fortunes next year.
Meanwhile, at the end of the table, the Saints, Raiders, Titans and Patriots fill out the bottom four – with a combined 0.6 per cent chance of lifting the Lombardi Trophy.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have an outside shout of winning the Super Bowl, according to Opta
Astonishingly, the Saints have been entirely ruled out the running and have a 0.0 per cent chance of winning the Super Bowl, according’s to Opta’s data.
Opta explained that the supercomputer will calculate projections by assessing each team’s quarterback and the EVE (efficiency vs expected) performance in relation to yards added in passing situation.
The model then looks at every matchup of the regular season and provides a predicted win percentage across the games.
If these projections hold, expect a dramatic, high-stakes NFL season. But if history has taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected.
