NFL Pressure Meter for Top Playoff Contenders to Win Super Bowl LX
In the NFL, teams under tremendous pressure to win a Super Bowl will either wither under heavy expectations or become champions.
Every year, a team overcomes hardships to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Outside of the organization, media outlets add another layer of pressure in the form of expectations.
Though most coaches and players publicly say they block the outside noise, they hear it and sometimes use the chatter as motivation.
Which teams face the most pressure to win Super Bowl LX?
We profiled the top 10 Super Bowl contenders based on DraftKings' title odds and used a meter that ranges from one (lowest) to 10 (highest) to assess the pressure on each team to win it all this year.
The pressure meter is based on a head coach's job status, recent disappointing playoff losses and the urgency a team should have before its Super Bowl window closes.
Philadelphia Eagles
1 of 10
Super Bowl odds: +650
The Philadelphia Eagles can still taste the champagne from their Super Bowl LIX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. However, they have set their sights on becoming the third team since 2004 to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in back-to-back years and the 10th team to do it in the Super Bowl era.
"We know the recipe," Saquon Barkley said during an interview with NFL Network's The Insiders. "We know what it takes. We can't skip any steps to get to where we want to get to."
Last year, head coach Nick Sirianni's temperament came into question because of fiery exchanges with fans and players. Following a Super Bowl win, the team signed him to a multiyear extension. So, his seat is cooler than the other side of the pillow.
The Eagles are trying to accomplish a rare feat among Super Bowl winners. While they face the pressure of success, coaches and executives aren't heading into the season on the hot seat or facing public scrutiny for years of playoff letdowns.
Since 2017, Philadelphia has made three Super Bowl appearances, winning two of them. The organization has a high standard. This year, the pressure on the club to win another title comes from the desire to replicate the success of a Super Bowl-winning campaign.
Super Bowl pressure meter: 8
Baltimore Ravens
2 of 10
Super Bowl odds: +650
Aside from the reigning champions, the Baltimore Ravens are one of the few teams that should have a Super Bowl-or-bust mentality.
Since Lamar Jackson took over as Baltimore's starting quarterback in 2018, the Ravens have made the playoffs in six out of seven years. Yet, they haven't won an AFC Championship Game with him under center.
Over the last seven years, Jackson has earned two league MVP awards, the Ravens have won three AFC North titles and head coach John Harbaugh has signed three extensions, but the Ravens don't have much to show for those accolades and rewards.
Instead, the Ravens have bowed out of the playoffs with one-possession losses in three consecutive years. Last season, Baltimore suffered a heart-wrenching AFC Divisional Round defeat to the Buffalo Bills after All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews dropped a wide-open pass for a two-point conversion to tie the game.
Though football is a team game, critics have noted Jackson's postseason struggles. In eight postseason contests, he's thrown for 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions with a 61 percent completion rate.
Like previous years, this year, the Ravens have a stacked roster led by Jackson, running back Derrick Henry, and a stout defense. They've added accomplished veterans Jaire Alexander and DeAndre Hopkins, along with arguably the top safety in the draft, Malaki Starks.
If the Ravens fall short of a Super Bowl appearance, one has to wonder what the team must do to get over the playoff hump. That said, Harbaugh and his coaching staff have strong job security, and Baltimore has begun negotiations with Jackson's camp on an extension.
Super Bowl pressure meter: 9
Buffalo Bills
3 of 10
Super Bowl odds: +650
With Josh Allen under center, the Buffalo Bills have become one of the AFC's elite teams. The team has won five consecutive AFC East titles, winning at least 11 games in each of those years, and Allen earned his first league MVP award last season.
However, the Bills have one major obstacle in a quest to win their first Super Bowl: the Kansas City Chiefs.
Oddly enough, Buffalo has defeated Kansas City in four consecutive regular-season meetings, but the Chiefs have knocked the Bills out of the playoffs in four of the last five years.
The Bills know they have the personnel to unseat the AFC champions, but they need to figure out how to beat them in January.
Buffalo's deep playoff run would seem somewhat incomplete if it doesn't conquer Kansas City along the way, but if the team wins the Super Bowl, it would be a relief for a franchise that's made it to the title game multiple times only to fall short in all those matchups.
Head coach Sean McDermott signed an extension in 2023. Unlike Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, who signed a new deal this year, he may be under immense pressure to take this team to the next level, or else his job security could come into question with two years left on his contract following the 2025 campaign.
Super Bowl pressure meter: 10
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Kansas City Chiefs
4 of 10
Super Bowl odds: +800
Teams never get tired of winning championships, and after a title game loss, perennial playoff contenders have an appetite to avenge that defeat.
The Kansas City Chiefs have played in five Super Bowls in the last six years, winning three. Pundits have discussed them as the league's dynasty team for good reason.
Last year, the Chiefs were trying to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls, which would have set them apart from the New England Patriots' dynastic run that started in 2001 and lasted nearly two decades.
However, the Chiefs fell short of monumental aspirations in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. They will remember that defeat and how that game could've elevated the franchise to a legendary status, which is motivation for the upcoming season.
In Kansas City, executives and coaches are safe in their job positions. At 29, Patrick Mahomes still has a long career ahead of him if he wants to play into his late 30s. Last year, head coach Andy Reid signed an extension that runs through the 2029 season.
In 2025, Kansas City likely feels more motivation than pressure, but this is a proud franchise that has been used to winning Lombardi Trophies. The Chiefs want to add another chapter to their dynasty.
Super Bowl pressure meter: 8
Detroit Lions
5 of 10
Super Bowl odds: +1000
The Detroit Lions have upped their win total yearly under head coach Dan Campbell. They started as a 3-13-1 squad in 2021 and became a powerhouse over the last two years, winning back-to-back NFC North titles.
In 2023, the Lions advanced to the NFC Championship Game and lost to the San Francisco 49ers. At that time, Detroit embraced the underdog role as a surprise contender, but the Lions must shift their expectations entering the 2025 term.
Despite its 15-2 record last year, the most single-season wins in franchise history, Detroit had a disappointing NFC Divisional Round exit. The Lions lost to the upstart Washington Commanders at home.
The Lions can't be satisfied with a playoff spot. After a record-breaking year, they should expect to make a deep postseason run.
In March of 2024, Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes signed extensions that run through the 2027 season. So, they don't have to worry about job security after years of improvement in the standings, but the team will feel the pressure to bounce back from a one-and-done playoff appearance.
Super Bowl pressure meter: 7
Washington Commanders
6 of 10
Super Bowl odds: +1800
The Washington Commanders were the biggest surprise of the 2024 season when you consider their appearance in the NFC Championship Game. They made a leap from 4-13 to 12-5 with a new coaching staff and quarterback Jayden Daniels in his rookie year.
Of course, after a deep playoff run, a team should have expectations to advance further in the following season. In Washington's case, the next step is a Super Bowl appearance.
However, it's uncommon for second-year quarterbacks to win Super Bowls. Kurt Warner (1999 season), Tom Brady (2001 season), Ben Roethlisberger (2005 season) and Russell Wilson (2013 season) accomplished that feat.
Daniels has shown that he's a dynamic signal-caller with his arm and mobility. The 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year could build on a phenomenal campaign, but teams will adjust, and the Commanders will play a tougher schedule after a second-place finish in the NFC East.
The Commanders are ahead of schedule in their rebuild. With a second-year signal-caller and a coaching staff that optimized the talent on a rebuilt roster, Washington isn't under much pressure to win Super Bowl LX, though the club should enter the 2025 season with the mindset it can win it all.
Super Bowl pressure meter: 2
Cincinnati Bengals
7 of 10
Super Bowl odds: +2000
The Cincinnati Bengals should focus on a trip back to the postseason before they think about a Super Bowl victory. After an appearance in Super Bowl LVI and an AFC Championship Game loss in the 2022 campaign, Cincinnati has missed the playoffs in consecutive years with a 9-8 record.
In 2023, quarterback Joe Burrow missed seven games because of a wrist injury, but the Bengals defense let him down last season, ranking 25th in points and yards allowed.
The Bengals hired Al Golden, their former linebackers coach, to replace defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Nonetheless, to field a stronger defense in the upcoming campaign, they must sort out contractual issues with edge-rushers Trey Hendrickson and rookie first-rounder Shemar Stewart.
Offensively, the Bengals can be one of the league's best teams for the foreseeable future with Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Chase Brown leading the unit.
However, Zac Taylor, though he's an offensive-minded head coach, should be under immense pressure to get this team back in the mix as contenders. With the organization under a microscope, Cincinnati needs a strong season, or Taylor could lose his job.
Super Bowl pressure meter: 6
Green Bay Packers
8 of 10
Super Bowl odds: +2000
Since the early 1990s, the Green Bay Packers have mostly been a playoff team and Super Bowl contender. The organization has done an exceptional job with quarterback talent, transitioning from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love.
Despite three decades of quality quarterback play, Green Bay has played in three Super Bowls since 1996, winning two of them.
Because of early playoff exits over the last two years, the Packers aren't seen as a strong Super Bowl contender.
However, Green Bay signed Love to a four-year, $220 million extension last offseason. The Packers have won 67 percent of their regular-season games in six years under head coach Matt LaFleur. Yet the team seems like it's a tier below the NFL's elite clubs.
Green Bay has a winning head coach, its franchise quarterback, an offense loaded with playmakers and a defense that ranked within the top six in scoring and total yards last year. If the Packers don't make a playoff run in 2025, they will be one of the league's biggest underachievers.
Super Bowl pressure meter: 7
San Francisco 49ers
9 of 10
Super Bowl odds: +2000
When is Kyle Shanahan going to lead the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl victory? It's a fair question after San Francisco lost in two title games to the Kansas City Chiefs on his watch.
Though Shanahan deserves praise for his offensive play-calling prowess, the 49ers have as many winning seasons as losing years through his eight terms with the team.
In fairness, the 49ers dealt with quarterback turnover and Jimmy Garoppolo's injuries in a few of those down years, but this team's Super Bowl window could close within the next couple of years.
At 29, running back Christian McCaffrey is coming off an injury-riddled season, and left tackle Trent Williams, who turns 37 in July, also missed several games last year.
As two of the 49ers' top offensive players age with injuries, San Francisco's offense may undergo significant changes in the near future. Quarterback Brock Purdy must prove he can shoulder the offensive load. Shanahan has hinted that the team wants to preserve McCaffrey.
With a veteran-laden team and a couple of recent Super Bowl losses, Shanahan and the 49ers must find a breakthrough. If San Francisco has another subpar year, its head coach may be labeled one of the league's most overrated in terms of how far he's led his team with top-tier talent.
Super Bowl pressure meter: 9
Los Angeles Rams
10 of 10
Super Bowl odds: +2200
On the one hand, head coach Sean McVay's recent Super Bowl victory took pressure off him, so he's in a less dire situation than San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.
However, McVay hasn't signed an extension since 2022 after that title run, and his contract expires following the 2026 season. General manager Les Snead is on the same timeline.
Also, the Rams have a veteran-led offense with a short shelf life. Matthew Stafford agreed to restructure his contract, which expires after the 2026 campaign. Los Angeles signed Davante Adams, 32, to a two-year deal this offseason.
At the end of the 2026 season, the Rams could be at a crossroads with McVay, Snead and Stafford. This team's nucleus has an uncertain short-term future, which generates pressure to win now.
Super Bowl pressure meter: 8
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
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