November has arrived, which means it’s time for the NFL’s best players to shine.
The greats and the goods are separated by November, December, and now the first two weeks of January. While some fan groups are already anticipating the 2025 NFL Draft, the league as a whole is focused on a few high-profile games that will take place before the year ends.
We also do. Here is how we anticipate the rest of the regular season will go. We have seen enough to develop views about who is good and which teams are riding a soft schedule and some hot personnel to the top.
Here are five hot picks that you can wager on at the best PA sportsbooks before the NFL regular season ends.
5. The Steelers will win the AFC North
The Steelers are quietly sitting atop the division, but the Baltimore Ravens, led by reigning MVP Lamar Jackson, who is the favorite to win the award again through ten weeks, may dominate headlines.
Even though last season was undoubtedly Mike Tomlin’s best coaching job, this team is his best in a long time, primarily because of the Steelers’ outstanding quarterback play. Due to the effective play of both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh is now ranked 12th in the NFL in terms of quarterback rating, after finishing 21st and 30th in the previous two seasons, respectively.
While Wilson was recovering from a calf injury, Fields kept the Steelers alive. However, the veteran, who was cut by both Seattle and Denver, is now cooking like he did when he was a rookie player in the league. Although Wilson has a poor completion rate (58.8%), he has not thrown the ball away and provides the Steelers with a potent deep passing game—something they haven’t had since roughly ten years ago, when Ben Roethlisberger was at the height of his abilities.
When facing the run-heavy Ravens, whom they will play twice, the Steelers defense is still fantastic, especially against the run, as they rank fourth against the run. With four Baltimore games in addition to games against the Chiefs and Eagles, Pittsburgh’s remaining schedule is challenging, but the Ravens’ schedule is also unimpressive.
DraftKings SportsbookThe Ravens are the overwhelming -200 favorite to win the division, but given the Steelers aren’t going anywhere, choose Pittsburgh at +150 if you want to strive for a fun future.
4. The Broncos will make the playoffs
Denver is this year’s version of the team that makes it to the playoffs with an easy schedule and a strong defense every year. With a 5-5 record after 10 games, the Broncos have recovered from a 0–2 start and are securely positioned as the seventh seed in the AFC, one game ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Denver has already defeated every team it should have, and Bo Nix has the second-shortest odds to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, after Jayden Daniels, thanks to his effectiveness. Additionally, since there are only six AFC teams above.500 and the Colts, who are a half-game behind Denver, have lost three straight games, the teams surrounding the Broncos have not demonstrated much desire in qualifying for the playoffs.
The Broncos are a +194 underdog to make it to the postseason, but they have an extremely easy schedule the rest of the way, save for a game against the NFC South-leading Falcons. With games against the Raiders, Browns, Bengals, and Colts, as well as a Week 18 matchup with the Chiefs, who are unlikely to have anything to play for, Tankathon ranks the remaining games on the schedule as the 13th easiest.
3. The Cowboys will finish last in the NFC East
Given that they are in the same division as the unfortunate New York Giants, this will require some effort. However, everything is set up for Dallas to lose. Dallas has no run game to speak of, quarterback Dak Prescott is sidelined for the season, and the team has already begun publicly separating from coach Mike McCarthy.
The Cowboys are now in 13th place in the NFC due to injuries to players like Prescott, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Micah Parsons, but they are on track to fall considerably worse because of their schedule and their satisfaction with ignoring McCarthy. In addition to two games versus the Commanders, the Cowboys still have games against the Texans, Eagles, Buccaneers, and Bengals.
Dallas had a 16-game home winning streak going into the season, but they have lost four of their home games, have been outscored 153-59, and have only held the lead for two minutes and six seconds at Jerry World. Prescott started three of the four home games, which is what transpired.
No opponent or fan group will give up the chance to put the Cowboys in their place, particularly the Giants, who haven’t triumphed in Dallas since 2016 and haven’t defeated them since the 2020 season finale.
The Boys will be locked into the NFC East basement if they lose to the Giants because they won’t win again this season.
2. The Eagles will enter the playoffs the favorites to win the NFC
It is difficult to recall a time when Philadelphia was 2-2 and on the verge of being uncomfortable for coach Nick Sirianni, particularly following his altercation with a fan during the Eagles’ poor four-point victory over the Browns at home.
Since then, the Eagles have been dominating, winning five in a row and rising to the top of the NFC East rankings. The Eagles are thriving, especially their much-maligned defense, which ranks second in yards-against (274.1) and fifth in points-against per game (17.9), while rivals like the Cowboys and 49ers have quarrelled.
The Eagles are behind the top-ranked Detroit Lions (+185) and tied with the 49ers at the second-shortest odds to win the NFC (+550), according to BetMGM Sportsbook. With one fewer game to play to go to the Super Bowl, the team with the best odds will be the one that receives the top seed.
With two games versus the Commanders and one each against the Rams, Ravens, and Steelers, Philadelphia’s remaining schedule is quite difficult. But, since winning six or seven of their next eight games would result in 13 or 14 victories and force the NFL to pay attention, that is the Eagles’ opportunity to set themselves apart.
Only 21 months ago, Sirianni led the Eagles to the Super Bowl as their coach. Additionally, with Saquon Barkley, a possible offensive player of the year, they are probably even more formidable than they were in 2022, when they won the NFC.
Given their Sunday night victory in Houston, the Lions appear to be a formidable opponent. However, given that they wasted their chance to make it to the Super Bowl last season, it is difficult to believe that they would complete the task and make it this season.
Given that the Eagles should start the postseason as the favorites to represent the conference in New Orleans on February 9, it makes sense to place an NFC championship wager, especially at these odds.
1. The Chiefs will NOT go undefeated
Although it might not seem like much to risk, Kansas City has won 15 straight games and has the 14th-hardest schedule remaining.
An unquestionably difficult challenge, a victory over the Bills on Sunday would put the Chiefs at 10-0. However, they could go 17-0 and become the first team since the 2007 New England Patriots to end a regular season without a loss if they defeat Buffalo.
Since Kansas City has won seven of its games by a single touchdown and defeated the Buccaneers in overtime in Week 9, it is commendable that they have been figuring out ways to win games. Given that KC has won the AFC four of the last five seasons and has won consecutive Super Bowls, that is a skill that will be useful in the playoffs.
However, the Chiefs’ schedule is difficult the rest of the way as well because they have games against the Chargers and Texans, as well as two road games against the Chiefs in Pittsburgh and Denver.
Since the pressure will only increase, expecting a team to win close games is hardly a surefire way to have an unbeaten season. If you recall the 2007 Patriots, who won nine of their first ten games by a margin of three or more before the pressure of winning all games set in and they started to edge out opponents.
By attempting to become the first club in the Super Bowl era to win three consecutive titles, Kansas City is already breaking new ground. However, when you add the pressure of winning every game, particularly given how the Chiefs have been scheming their way to wins, a loss appears likely and might even be advantageous to them.