2026 NFL Futures: To Advance Further Bets

Baltimore Ravens VS. Buffalo Bills

The NFL futures board for the Bills and Ravens is a coin flip. They each sit at +120, while a tie sits at +550. That last number looks pretty juicy until you study the playoff odds. Markets are giving Buffalo about a 76% chance to make the playoffs while Baltimore sits around 73%. These two teams are pretty even for winning the AFC Championship as well. However, in order to hit the tie, both clubs need to stall in the same round.

I’m taking the Bills here. Josh Allen still drives January football. Last season, Buffalo went 12-5. They added DJ Moore to a passing game that was already humming. Joe Brady now runs the staff after his promotion from offensive coordinator. The Bills aren’t re-creating an identity. They’re just perfecting it. They need Allen healthy in January, of course. He’s played every season, though, since 2019. That stability matters a lot.

The Ravens own the higher win total at 11.5. Lamar Jackson is still a beast. However, they’re entering a completely new phase after parting ways with John Harbaugh and bringing in Jesse Minter. This new staff has no basis to gauge for playoff samples. Plus, the AFC North still includes some tough teams in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.

The +120 treats these two teams as identical. They aren’t. Lamar’s health is less stable than Allen’s. I’m taking Buffalo to advance further for my NFL Futures bets because I trust the proven commodities over the hope that a new coaching staff can help Baltimore.

Dallas Cowboys VS. Pittsburgh Steelers

This is an intriguing one in the to advance further bets. It pits an AFC team against an NFC team, with the tie-together piece being Steelers’ head coach Mike McCarthy. Currently, the tie is sitting at +145. If you’re betting that, I think you’re betting neither team to make the playoffs. The Cowboys are +165, and the Steelers are +250.

The Cowboys currently sit around a 56% chance to make the playoffs. The Steelers are less than 50% with plus money at +140. Win totals land at 9.5 for the Cowboys and 8.5 for the Steelers. In other words, the current win total market slightly favors the Cowboys.

I do’nt hat et he tie. However, I’m taking the Cowboys at +165. Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens can light up a scoreboard. Their defense was a major problem last year. However, they made a bunch of changes that they hope will improve. Do I think they’re primed for a Super Bowl run? Absolutely not. However, I do think they have a good shot at potentially winning this division.

The Steelers brought Aaron Rodgers back at age 42. He’ll turn 43 before the end of the season. It’s also the first year in a long time that we won’t see Mike Tomlin coaching the Steelers. Instead, it’s Mike McCarthy. Nobody is questioning Rodgers’ past talents. However, he just doesn’t quite play with the same flair as he used to. The AFC is filled with powerhouses, and I am not sure the Steelers can weather the storm.