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The 2025 NFL season is still months away, but sportsbooks have already set expectations for which teams will run the league. Based on early win total projections, three familiar tough contenders, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens, are ready to dominate the regular season.
According to ESPN Bet, the Bills, Chiefs, and Ravens have each been assigned a league-high win total of 11.5. While projections can shift based on offseason moves, these numbers reinforce the continued success of these franchises. The Philadelphia Eagles also share that 11.5-win mark, but Buffalo has drawn extra attention thanks to its history of outperforming expectations.
Buffalo, Kansas City, And Baltimore Set The Pace
Patrick Mahomes (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)
The Bills have been a model of consistency, winning at least 11 games in each of the last five seasons. Since head coach Sean McDermott took over in 2017, Buffalo has exceeded its projected win total every year, an unmatched streak. ESPN’s senior NFL writer Mike Clay projects the Bills to notch 11.7 wins, trailing only the Detroit Lions (11.9). Quarterback Josh Allen remains the centerpiece, having led Buffalo to double-digit wins every season as a full-time starter since 2019.
Kansas City, led by Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid, remains the gold standard in the AFC. The Chiefs have reached six consecutive AFC Championship Games, and with their offensive firepower, another deep playoff run seems inevitable. Despite offseason roster tweaks, oddsmakers trust Mahomes to keep Kansas City among the elite.
Baltimore rounds out the trio of projected top teams. Lamar Jackson, fresh off another strong campaign, has led the Ravens to consistent success, with the team ranking among the AFC’s best in recent years. Their defense, combined with Jackson’s dual-threat ability, makes Baltimore a formidable contender once again.
While the season is unpredictable, these teams have built a reputation for regular-season dominance. The challenge, however, will be translating that success into a Super Bowl appearance, something Buffalo has yet to achieve under Allen and something the Ravens haven’t done since 2012. With high expectations set, the pressure is on for these three franchises to deliver.
