We’re almost ready to kick off the 2025 NFL regular season. Over sixth months of anticipation is about to end as we see whether or not teams made the right moves in the draft, free agency, and coaching hirings to take a step forward — or if they’ll continue to struggle.
Our NFL writers sat down to give our personal Power Rankings entering Week 1, and we averaged those out to get a complete list. Here’s who we think are the teams worthy of Super Bowl hype, and which fanbases might be in for another long year.
There’s a very real chance that the Saints could wind up being one of the worst, funniest teams in NFL history. The team’s chickens have come home to roost by kicking the salary cap can down the road, and we’re left with an organization severely lacking talent at almost every position. This is compounded by the fact the team hasn’t drafted well. Unless Tyler Shough proves to be a revelation at QB it’s going to be a long season in NoLA.
Still reeling from the Deshaun Watson debacle, quarterbacking feels like the problem once more in Cleveland. This feels so much like a “start Joe Flacco, lose half our games, move to Shedeur in Week 10” type team. It’s not a rebuild, but a retooling – and that is a scenario which hurts when you play in the hyper-competitive AFC North.
There are reasons for optimism if you are a Titans fan. The arrival of Cam Ward offers hope at the quarterback position, Tennessee made a number of key additions, particularly along the offensive line and to the back seven of their defense, and they have one of the easiest schedules in the league, at least by 2024 winning percentage.
Still, it might take a year or two for the promise to turn into results.
Talking to people around the league, and to those who cover the New York Jets in particular, one thing is clear.
This team is going to run the ball, and run it well.
A stout running game and a solid defense (the Jets were third in yards allowed per game a season ago) used to be a winning recipe in the NFL. Can it work in 2025?
Abdul Carter looks like a beast and Jaxson Dart played rather well in his first taste of NFL preseason action.
So hey, the future looks bright-ish!
Hey let’s have some fun with Google’s AI Overviews for a moment.
When researching the expectations for Indianapolis this season, the Google AI Overview produced this sentence: “The quarterback battle between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones is a major factor, and the team’s success hinges on one of them stepping up.”
It did not take long for expectations to skyrocket in Foxborough.
In fact, it took just the opening kickoff of their first preseason game.
Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson took the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, flashing the game-breaking speed Patriots fans are hoping to see from him all season long. Add in a few scoring drivers from New England’s expected starters and a touchdown run from Drake Maye, and you have a little hope in Foxborough.
If the reports out of joint practices with the Detroit Lions this week are any indication, it could be a long season in Miami.
Add in another year dealing with Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, an improved roster in New England, and continued rumors of a Tyreek Hill trade, and the idea of a long season for the Dolphins becomes even stronger.
It is great when a team has a plan during the offseason.
The plan in Jacksonville? Add the most dynamic football player in the draft. New general manager James Gladstone did just that with an aggressive trade in the first round, putting the Jaguars in position to draft Travis Hunter Jr. By every indication, Jacksonville is going to use him as a true two-way player, if his snaps from the Jaguars’ first preseason game are any indication.
If Hunter can help unlock the best version of Trevor Lawrence, while helping lock down opposing passing games, that move will be worth the price Jacksonville paid.
The mission is clear in Chicago for Ben Johnson: Help Caleb Williams become the quarterback that was promised.
Johnson helped turn Jared Goff into an MVP candidate by turning back the clock in those first few seasons in Detroit. If you rewatch the early versions of the Lions offense, you will see route concepts and designs that Goff was running not just during his days with the Rams, but during his days in college with California.
Do not be surprised if Johnson does something similar with Williams. If it works, then the Bears could slide up these rankings quickly.
There’s no question the Panthers are on an upward trajectory, but there are too many questions remaining to be too bullish about Carolina this season. If Bryce Young can pick up where he left off 2025 there’s a very good chance this team could surprise, but as it stands there are simply too many holes on defense. The linebackers need upgrades, and it will take time for the rookie edge rushers to get accustomed to the NFL.
If Carolina can win eight games this season it will be a huge leap forward.
On paper, this is a team that should be ranked higher. But the Dallas Cowboys also seem to be swimming upstream as the 2025 season beckons. They’re locked in a tough division with the Eagles and Commanders, they are already navigating one key injury as Tyler Guyton suffered a knee injury that could sideline him for four-to-six weeks, and then there is the Micah Parsons contract situation.
As the kids say, the vibes are bad.
Later this month we will be putting together a reason for each fanbase to be optimistic, as well as a reason for them to be pessimistic.
When it comes to Seattle, the reasons for optimism abound: Sam Darnold is coming off a stellar season, the defense is improving, and if the offensive line gels, then this could be a very good time.
The reasons for pessimism? What if those two questions on the offensive side of the ball are not answered in positive terms?
This is as high as you make it when you have one of the most electric group of weapons in the NFL, but a horrific defense and bad offensive line. There’s no doubt Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase will light up the box score, but beyond that … who really knows? This could and should be a top tier team in the NFL, but mismanagement has put them in the second tier of the AFC.
The return of Robert Saleh has put the San Francisco 49ers’ defense in a new light. While that unit struggled in recent seasons, early returns are much more positive. Take San Francisco’s first preseason game against the Denver Broncos, as the 49ers backups held the starting Denver offense to a punt on one possession, and forced a safety on another.
If this 49ers defense gels under Saleh, watch out.
The stumbling block when it comes to the Falcons is their identity. A lot of that is due to the fact that Raheem Morris is still shaping the team, and inherited a unit very different from what he wants to achieve on the field. Atlanta should base itself on defense and Bijan Robinson, but there’s pressure to develop a passing game around Drake London and Kyle Pitts. As it stands we have a middling team that needs to show its pass rush can succeed in order to take a step forward.
Is Aaron Rodgers enough to get the Steelers over the hump? No. Still, Pittsburgh will be pretty good. This is the definition of a “push for the playoffs” type team that could either make it to the wild card, or narrowly miss out. Offensively the talent just isn’t there, and the fit of Rodgers and D.K. Metcalf is a little weird with Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator.
One of the most fascinating teams in the NFL, it’s going to be really interesting to see how long it takes Pete Carroll to put his stamp on the Raiders (if it’s possible at all). That said, there’s a lot to like here. Getting Geno Smith at QB was a massive boon that allows the team time to bridge, and they still boast a great defense and the most electric tight end in the NFL in Brock Bowers. It might not happen this year, but the trajectory is headed upwards.
Expectations are higher than ever in Arizona. Combine an offense with multiple weapons, an improving defense with several new faces, and some question marks around the rest of the NFC West, and you have a recipe for success.
However, those expectations come with some questions. Is this the year we see the best version of Kyler Murray? Can this defense deliver the results Jonathan Gannon is hoping for? Can Marvin Harrison Jr. take a big step forward in Year 2?
How those questions get answered will determine if the Cardinals rise, or fall, in the next version of these rankings.
Sean Payton has put his stamp all over this football team and proving he’s more than a beneficiary of having Drew Brees. The Broncos are one of the best organized, most talented defenses in the NFL, and while the praise heaped on Bo Nix’s rookie season might have been a touch premature, he’s still better than people gave him credit for. This should be the year the Broncos take a big step in the playoffs and turn into a legitimate threat.
Houston completely rebuilt the left side of their offensive line after trading Laremy Tunsil to Washington, adding Cam Robinson at left tackle and Laken Tomlinson at left guard. The Texans added a pair of Cyclones in the draft at wide receiver, selecting Jayden Higgins in the second round and Jaylin Noel a round later.
If these additions add up to a big third season from C.J. Stroud, Houston could make a very deep playoff run.
There is a Matthew Stafford hedge to this ranking.
If the Rams quarterback is healthy, then Los Angeles looks like a team that can improve on their season from a year ago, where they reached the Divisional Round after winning the NFC West.
But with worrying reports about the status of his back coming from Rams’ training camp – and the interesting methods he is trying to fix what ails him – there is reason for concern. If the Rams become the Jimmy Garoppolo Show, the NFC West gets a little more interesting.
A season ago, the Minnesota Vikings were one game away from the first-overall seed in the NFC.
However, Minnesota lost that Week 18 game to the Detroit Lions, dropped to the No. 5 seed in the conference, and lost on the road during Wild Card Weekend to the Los Angeles Rams.
While the core of that team is back, a big question remains at quarterback. Sam Darnold is in Seattle with the Seahawks, and can J.J. McCarthy take over and build on the Vikings’ success from a season ago? Kevin O’Connell showed he can get the most out of Darnold, but can he do it with the second-year passer?
Perhaps the most promising sign for Tampa Bay this offseason?
When free agency began wide receiver Chris Godwin was one of the best players available, even as he works his way back from the dislocated left ankle he suffered last season. A team with a lot of money to spend and a need at WR, the New England Patriots, made Godwin a massive offer.
But he chose to stay in Tampa Bay.
The Buccaneers have built a roster that can contend, and the addition of Emeka Egbuka has some believing this offense can be even more explosive for Baker Mayfield this season. Losing Liam Coen to the Jacksonville Jaguars is one question the team needs to answer, but if new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, who was the team’s passing game coordinator a season ago, keeps things rolling this is a team that can win in 2025.
There’s so much to like about the Chargers that they would rank higher if not for the injury to Rashawn Slater. Jim Harbaugh’s return to the NFL coincided perfectly with the league moving back to Harbaugh’s brand of football, and that’s turned Los Angeles into a threat. The 1-2 backfield threats of Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton will be fascinating to see pair with Ladd McConkey and Justin Herbert. The pass rush isn’t ideal here, but there’s a lot to like.
The Packers are sneaky. It’s weird to say that about one of the most visible, popular teams in the NFL — but they’ve been largely overlooked in the NFC North picture. While their rivals have undergone monumental change that makes headlines, Green Bay has chugged along like the little engine that could, slowly improving piece-by-piece. Now they’re ready to challenge for the crown.
Jordan Love is entering his prime and the team has a balanced offense with good receiving weapons and a serious threat at running back in Josh Jacobs. Move to the defense and while the corners might be a little shaky, there’s a lot to like across the unit. I think the Packers could make noise, and if there’s any evidence the Lions take a small step back, they’re ready to fill the void.
The arrival of Jayden Daniels led to a run to the NFC Championship Game and a new era of unbridled optimism for Commanders fans. With the rookie quarterback in place Washington made several additions around him this offseason, including Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil.
They need to sort out the Terry McLaurin situation, but this is a team built to contend for this year, and beyond.
Last year the Detroit Lions were decimated by injuries, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. The Lions lost the equivalent of a starting defense due to injuries, but were still able to clinch the division and the top seed in the conference with their Week 18 win over the Minnesota Vikings.
Those injuries finally caught up to them in the Divisional Round, when Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders came to town and ran them out of the playoffs. But the Lions are healthy again and look primed for another deep run. Brain drain will be a question mark, as Detroit lost both Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson to head coaching gigs, but the roster is still as solid as it gets.
It seems like every year we doubt the Chiefs and every year they show us why they’re elite. There’s just no substitute for brilliant coaching, no matter who is on the roster. When you throw the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Chris Jones into the mix then you get a perennial contender.
We’re destined for another Chiefs season where the team will make the AFC Championship game at the least, because there’s still no other team in football who can match Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo in ability.
Expectations are high in Western New York.
The Buffalo Bills are back after yet another run to the AFC Championship Game. Josh Allen is coming off his first MVP season, the Bills are on “Hard Knocks,” and when the NFL schedule was announced, they were listed as favorites for each of their 17 games.
There is even a Hallmark Christmas movie coming out about the team, the region, and their fans:
But can 2025 deliver a Hollywood ending for the Bills? With Allen and that impressive offensive line, Buffalo certainly has a shot at finally reaching the promised land.
The Ravens are on the rise. There are very few weaknesses for Baltimore other than simply not being quite as good as teams next to them. This feels like the year that Lamar Jackson and Co. can break through and finally take the next step people have been waiting for to separate them from the Bills and Chiefs.
Great drafting, good coaching, and the most exciting player at QB in the league – the only thing that could hurt the Ravens is their receiving corps, where it’s still an imperfect group. DeAndre Hopkins should be a significant shot in the arm that can bolster this unit further and give Jackson a sure-handed receiver outside of TE Mark Andrews.
The Philadelphia Eagles seemed to dodge a potentially-big problem with Landon Dickerson, who is set to undergo a “minor” procedure on his meniscus after injuring his knee at training camp.
Philadelphia’s offensive line is the engine that powers this machine, and with that unit healthy that offense remains a force to be reckoned with. The Eagles have some questions in the secondary, and have lost some key players on the defensive side of the ball, but there is every expectation that the Eagles will be contenders yet again.
