AFC Playoff Odds: Will Chiefs, Bengals Return to NFL Playoffs in 2026 as Schedule Leaks Begin?
The NFL Schedule is slowly leaking out ahead of the 2026 official release on Thursday night, May 14. Will the Chiefs or Bengals make it back after poor seasons? Let's check the latest NFL Playoffs odds as the opponents emerge.
Peter Alexis - May 14, 2026, 2:55 PM EDT
4 Minute ReadWho Will Make NFL Playoffs in AFC Amid Schedule Release?
The NFL schedule release arrives Thursday, May 14, at 8 p.m. ET, but the usual leak cycle has already started shaping the betting conversation. The league has confirmed several spotlight games, including Chiefs vs. Broncos on Monday Night Football in Week 1, while leaked matchups have started to fill out key travel spots and primetime windows.
This AFC playoff market is not focused on the obvious top Super Bowl tier. It is the deeper bubble group, where schedule difficulty, division strength, quarterback stability, and early-season travel spots can swing playoff odds before a snap is played.
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2026 NFL Playoffs Odds
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NFL Playoffs Odds Breakdown
New England Patriots (-210) Click here to get the best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook
The Patriots are priced like the safest team in this section, and the schedule leaks have already given them a major spotlight. New England is reportedly opening the season in Seattle in a rare Wednesday night opener, then has a Week 7 Thursday night road game against Chicago and an international matchup against Detroit in Germany later in the season. That is a lot of visibility for a team the market clearly expects to be in the AFC playoff mix.
Kansas City Chiefs (-188) Click here to get the best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook
Kansas City remains priced as a strong playoff favorite, even in a loaded AFC. The Chiefs already have one confirmed spotlight game, with a Week 1 Monday Night Football matchup against the Broncos, and they are also expected to face Buffalo on Thanksgiving night. The schedule looks difficult, but Kansas City’s baseline under Patrick Mahomes keeps it firmly above the bubble line.
Los Angeles Chargers (-168) Click here to get the best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook
The Chargers are being treated as more than a coin flip, but not quite a lock. That feels right in an AFC West where Kansas City and Denver are both priced to be playoff factors. Los Angeles has enough quarterback stability and roster talent to justify the -168, but its final schedule draw will matter because the division already looks like one of the toughest playoff races in the conference.
Houston Texans (-158) Click here to get the best odds at BetMGM Sportsbook
Houston sits in a similar range to the Chargers because the market still sees a strong playoff path in the AFC South. The Texans have the clearest upside in the division if their offense settles in early, but this number is not overwhelming because Jacksonville and Indianapolis are still close enough to apply pressure. At -158, Houston is favored to get in, but the price still reflects a team that cannot afford a slow start.
Denver Broncos (-146) Click here to get the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Denver is priced as a playoff favorite, and the league clearly sees the Broncos as a national-window team after placing them against Kansas City on Monday Night Football in Week 1. The Broncos are also rumored to face the Jets in Week 14, a late-season road game that could carry real AFC playoff stakes. Denver’s number is playable only if the offense takes another step, because the AFC West schedule tax is real.
Cincinnati Bengals (-146) Click here to get the best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook
Cincinnati’s price is built on quarterback ceiling more than certainty. If the Bengals get a healthy season and better defensive consistency, they have the talent to be firmly in the playoff field. The issue is that the AFC North rarely gives anyone a clean path, and the Bengals are priced in the same tier as Denver despite carrying more volatility.
Jacksonville Jaguars (-112) Click here to get the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Jacksonville is basically priced as a slight favorite to make it, which fits the uncertainty around the AFC South. The Jaguars do not need to be dominant to stay in the race, but they do need more consistency after being stuck in the middle tier. At -112, the market is not fully buying a breakout, but it is still giving Jacksonville a narrow edge over Indianapolis.
Indianapolis Colts (+154) Click here to get the best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook
Indianapolis is the first plus-money team in this group, and that makes the Colts interesting. They are not being dismissed, but the market needs proof before moving them into playoff-favorite territory. The division gives them a path if Houston or Jacksonville stumbles, but the Colts likely need improved quarterback play and a stronger close-game profile to cash this number.
Pittsburgh Steelers (+172) Click here to get the best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook
Pittsburgh at +172 is a rare spot where the market is treating the Steelers like a true outsider. That says more about the AFC North and quarterback uncertainty than the franchise’s general floor. The Steelers are usually difficult to bury, but the path is narrow if Baltimore, Cincinnati, and Cleveland are all competitive. This number will move quickly if Pittsburgh lands a favorable early schedule or stabilizes the offense.
Tennessee Titans (+410) Click here to get the best odds at Caesars Sportsbook
Tennessee is the clear longshot of the group, and the schedule leak around the opener does not make the path any easier. The Titans are reportedly opening against the Jets in a matchup filled with Robert Saleh storylines, but the bigger issue is overall roster level. At +410, Tennessee needs a major surprise season, a fast start, and serious AFC South chaos to become a real playoff threat.
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