2025 NFL midseason predictions: Playoff races, MVP, Super Bowl - ESPN

Thursday night's Raiders-Broncos game kicked off Week 10, which means we're officially past the midway point of the 2025 NFL season. After nine full weeks, the Colts, Patriots and Broncos were surprisingly tied for the best record in the AFC, though Denver's win Thursday put it ahead. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers, Eagles and Seahawks lead the NFC. But a lot can happen over the next two months.

So, we asked 15 of our NFL analysts for their best second-half prediction. Which teams will win their divisions and go far in the playoffs? Which might make the Super Bowl? Who's making a strong case for one of the league's annual awards? Could we see a record get broken? And how might this all impact the 2026 NFL draft order?

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

Jump to:
AFC | NFC | Award winners
Record-breakers | NFL draft

The Denver Broncos will win the AFC West

Led by their fierce defense, the Broncos will end the Chiefs' stranglehold on the AFC West. Kansas City has won nine consecutive division championships — including seven straight since Patrick Mahomes became the team's starting quarterback. The Patriots hold the NFL record for the most consecutive division titles, winning 11 straight AFC East championships from 2009 to 2019. — Jason Reid, senior Andscape writer

The Kansas City Chiefs will win the AFC West

They're 2½ games behind the Broncos, but they still play them twice. It was a poor performance by Mahomes in Sunday's loss to the Bills (he completed only 15 of 34 passes), but the Chiefs will improve once offensive tackle Josh Simmons returns and wide receiver Rashee Rice gets even more comfortable in the offense. Although Denver is playing well on defense, its offense