NFL Half-Time Report: Colts top our power rankings going into Week Nine

NFL Super Bowl odds analysis 

The 2025 NFL regular season will reach the halfway stage with this weekend's Week Nine games and the Super Bowl betting picture has quite a different look from the pre-season odds.

The ante-post market had a big four of the Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, who were clear of the field at 17-2 or shorter, with the rest of the field available at 12-1 or better.

However, after eight weeks of action in which all 32 teams have accrued at least one win and at least one loss, the overall picture is now more competitive with seven teams in a leading group at 11-1 or shorter.

Pre-season favourites the Ravens are not even in that prominent bunch after an injury-ravaged 2-6 start but bookmakers are not willing to write them off just yet and they are best of the rest in the betting at 20-1 with quarterback Lamar Jackson expected to return to the line-up in Thursday night's game against the Miami Dolphins.

The rest of the original power four - the Eagles, Bills and Chiefs - have all lost at least two games, but the Chiefs, who have been beaten three times, are now the market leaders at 9-2 after looking back to their best while winning their last three games.

The season's real surprise package has been the Indianapolis Colts, who were 125-1 outsiders but are now in the top six in the betting at 11-1. Shane Steichen's side have won seven of their first eight games and their only loss came against a top team in the Rams, when they conceded two touchdowns in the final four minutes.

The Colts have done enough to figure right at the top of our mid-season NFL power rankings, in which we will highlight the teams with the potential to improve their current positions and those who may be flattered by their current status.

NFL Special

4/5

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

Bet £10 Get £50 In Free Bets

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

• Request custom bets on Twitter with #WhatOddsPaddy

CLAIM OFFER

18+ T&Cs apply

New Customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on any NFL market at odds of min 1/2 (1.5) and get £50 in free bet builders & multiples. Free bet rewards valid for 90 days. Only deposits via Debit Cards & Apple Pay will qualify for this offer. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly.

NFL power rankings

1 Indianapolis Colts

Record: 7-1 Super Bowl odds: 11-1

Little was expected of the Colts with cast-off quarterback Daniel Jones at the helm this season, but Indiana Jones has led the team on an extraordinary adventure. Running back Jonathan Taylor is a live candidate for the league MVP award after scoring three touchdowns in a game for the fourth time this season against the Titans on Sunday. The Colts have not faced the toughest schedule but it doesn't get particularly harder the rest of the way and they should be set for a high playoff seeding.

2 Kansas City Chiefs

Record: 5-3 Super Bowl odds: 9-2

The Chiefs, AFC champions in five of the last six seasons, had a poor start, reaching 0-2 and 2-3, but they have their offensive weapons back to full health now and have looked like their old selves in winning their last three games.

3 Detroit Lions

Record: 5-2 Super Bowl odds: 13-2

The Lions are a fantastic team to watch and only the Packers and Chiefs have lowered their colours this season. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs and wide receiver Amon-Ra St Brown are a premium pair but defensive injuries have made life tough for Dan Campbell's team at times.

4 Los Angeles Rams

Record: 5-2 Super Bowl odds: 11-1

The Rams got the news they wanted most when it was announced star wide receiver Puka Nacua is expected back from injury this week after missing only one game with an ankle injury. That game was a dominant 35-7 win over the Jaguars at Wembley, and given the Rams might easily have won the two games they lost this year against the Eagles and the 49ers, they should remain a force to be reckoned with. 

5 Buffalo Bills

Record: 5-2 Super Bowl odds: 8-1

The Bills began the year in a blaze of glory and were Super Bowl favourites after winning their first four games, but questions were asked after back-to-back losses to the Patriots and Falcons. Their match against the Chiefs this week is a great chance to assess their long-term potential.

6 Seattle Seahawks

Record: 5-2 Super Bowl odds: 25-1

The Seahawks may be going under the radar of many punters, but they shouldn't be overlooked. Mike Macdonald has done a fine job with the NFC West side, who have won five of their last six games and have not been beaten by more than four points yet.

7 Philadelphia Eagles

Record: 6-2 Super Bowl odds: 10-1

The defending Super Bowl champions matched the Bills by losing twice in a row after a 4-0 start. This week's bye has come at a good time as running back Saquon Barkley tweaked a groin muscle in the win over the Giants and they will return with key tests against NFC rivals the Packers and Lions.

8 Green Bay Packers

Record: 5-1-1 Super Bowl odds: 15-2

The Packers have lost only once but that defeat came against the struggling Browns and several of their wins have not been as convincing as they might have been. Getting wide receiver Christian Watson back from a long-term injury is a welcome boost for the second half of the season.

9 Denver Broncos

Record: 6-2 Super Bowl odds: 20-1

The Broncos deserve a top-ten spot after winning five in a row and their defence is particularly impressive. Their two AFC West meetings with the Chiefs could decide their playoff destiny.

10 Baltimore Ravens

Record: 2-5 Super Bowl odds: 20-1

The Ravens are the most out-of-position team in the rankings given their lowly 2-5 record. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is set to return and a host of other early injuries are now over too so they can still make a real run at the AFC North title and be a danger if they make the playoffs.

11 New England Patriots

Record: 6-2 Super Bowl odds: 30-1

The Patriots are enjoying a revival under head coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye has really impressed in his second season with 15 touchdown passes and only three interceptions. They have won five in a row and their schedule is not daunting.

12 Los Angeles Chargers

Record: 5-3 Super Bowl odds: 28-1

The Chargers impressed against the Vikings last time out and their next four games offer a chance to go on a winning run but the Chiefs and Broncos provide some tough opposition in their division.

13 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Record: 6-2 Super Bowl odds: 25-1

The Buccaneers may be higher than this in other assessments but there is a flimsiness to their record. They have found a real talent in rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and should cruise to the NFC South title, but they have been found out when facing better teams and losing to the Eagles and Lions.

14 San Francisco 49ers

Record: 5-3 Super Bowl odds: 30-1

The 49ers have defied difficulties to reach 5-3 but they continue to be bothered by injury issues. They should remain on the fringes of playoff contention but their current odds look about right.

15 Dallas Cowboys

Record: 3-4-1 Super Bowl odds: 150-1

The Cowboys are this season's great entertainers, capable of either scoring or conceding 40 points each time they enter the field. It's not a recipe for success and they have not posted back-to-back wins yet this season.

16 Pittsburgh Steelers

Record: 4-3 Super Bowl odds: 75-1

The Steelers looked on course to win the AFC North by default a couple of weeks ago as rivals the Bengals, Ravens and Browns are all in dire straits. But back-to-back defeats and the Ravens' potential revival could still see them missing the playoffs.

Recommended Offer

4/5

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

£50 In Free BuildABets When You Place A £10 NFL BuildABet

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

• Freeze a winning score and win a leg of your acca early with AccaFreeze

CLAIM OFFER

18+ T&Cs apply

New customers only. NFL BuildABet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 5 x £10 Bet tokens. Free Bet stakes not included in returns. Free Bets for NFL BuildABets only. Free Bets are non withdrawable. Free Bets expire after 30 days. Eligibility restrictions and further T&Cs apply.

17 Chicago Bears

Record: 4-3 Super Bowl odds: 125-1

The Bears are in much better hands with new head coach Ben Johnson, and had won four in a row before last week's loss to the Ravens. They can stay in contention for a wild-card spot but may be more of a team to store away for next season.

18 Minnesota Vikings

Record: 3-4 Super Bowl odds: 250-1

The Vikings made an impressive start but ongoing quarterback issues have stalled their season. They are now last in their division and could stay there with a really tough set of fixtures coming up.

19 Jacksonville Jaguars

Record: 4-3 Super Bowl odds: 66-1

The Jaguars let themselves down on their annual Wembley visit and questions are being asked of quarterback Trevor Lawrence. A relatively soft schedule gives them a chance to continue to paper over the cracks, though.

20 Washington Commanders

Record: 3-5 Super Bowl odds: 80-1

The Commanders have lost four of their last five and need to show more if QB Jayden Daniels is able to return this week.

21 Atlanta Falcons

Record: 3-4 Super Bowl odds: 150-1

The Falcons are one of the most inconsistent teams in the league and have had baffling defeats to the Panthers and Dolphins despite being good enough to beat the Bills.

22 Houston Texans

Record: 3-4 Super Bowl odds: 66-1

The Texans posted their best result of the season when beating the 49ers last week but a playoff place is unlikely after a 0-3 start.

23 Cincinnati Bengals

Record: 3-5 Super Bowl odds: 300-1

The Bengals' season was effectively over when QB Joe Burrow was injured and while veteran replacement Joe Flacco will provide some entertainment looking for star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase with most of his pass attempts, the dreadful Cincinnati defence should stop them getting back into contention.

24 Arizona Cardinals

Record: 2-5 Super Bowl odds: 500-1

The Cardinals are tricky to assess as they have lost five in a row but haven't lost a game by more than four points all season. They are rarely dull to watch but unlikely to turn things around in a tough division.

25 Carolina Panthers

Record: 4-4 Super Bowl odds: 500-1

The Panthers are an up-and-down team who have picked up wins against struggling sides but haven't broken through to the next level yet.

26 New York Giants

Record: 2-6 Super Bowl odds: 1,000-1

The Giants have hope for the future after a promising start by rookie QB Jaxson Dart, but running back Cam Skattebo's ankle injury is a major setback.

27 Cleveland Browns

Record: 2-6 Super Bowl odds: 1,000-1

The Browns' search for a long-term solution at quarterback goes on and some excellent defensive efforts are being wasted by their ongoing struggles when they have the ball. An excellent rookie class offers some hope for the future but head coach Kevin Stefanski is in danger of being fired.

28 Miami Dolphins 

Record: 2-6 Super Bowl odds: 1,000-1

The Dolphins looked like they had hit a new low when they lost 31-6 to the Browns in Week Seven, so their wide-margin win over the Falcons last week was a pick-me-up for beleaguered head coach Mike McDaniel.

29 New York Jets

Record: 1-7 Super Bowl odds: 1,000-1

The Jets were the last winless team in the NFL, but got their first victory by beating the Bengals 39-38 on Sunday. A potential high draft pick offers a chance to improve their QB situation.

30 Las Vegas Raiders

Record: 2-5 Super Bowl odds: 1,000-1

The Raiders have beaten only the lowly Titans since their Week One success over the Patriots and they appear to be getting worse rather than better.

31 New Orleans Saints

Record: 1-7 Super Bowl odds: 1,000-1

The Saints are switching quarterbacks from Spencer Rattler to rookie Tyler Shough this week, but they have not even been competitive in most games this season.

32 Tennessee Titans

Record: 1-7 Super Bowl odds: 1,000-1

The Titans had the first pick in this year's draft and quarterback Cam Ward, taken with that selection, is not getting much support from a team lacking talent in many areas. With head coach Brian Callahan already fired, it could be a long year.

Read more from Racing Post Sport's NFL experts:

Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins: predictions, betting tips and odds 

NFL Bet Builder tips: Don't miss our 10-1 tip for Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins 

Click for free bets and betting offers from the Racing Post

Commercial notice: This article contains affiliate links. Offers are handpicked and come from operators our experts have first-hand experience of. Opening an account via one of these links will earn revenue for the Racing Post, which will be used to continue producing our award-winning coverage of horseracing and sports betting.