Three-peat denied.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ impressive bid at three consecutive Super Bowl titles culminated in a thrashing at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles, 40-22, exposing the mortality of the de facto dynasty of the 2020s. The Chiefs aren’t going anywhere as long as head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes are in command — a 15-2 regular season record in 2024 and a streak of seven consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances back that assertion up — but the stunning blow makes the 2025 season all the more interesting.
A Chiefs Super Bowl prediction is no longer the safe move. While Kansas City is in the top tier, they have plenty of company. Two AFC challengers and three NFC powerhouses make up the highest rung in the NFL ladder, and each has a compelling case to be this year’s favorite.
The Eagles will look to become the first NFC team to win back-to-back Super Bowls since the Dallas Cowboys in the early 1990s, with reigning Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley and Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts leading the charge and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio primed to build off last year’s impressive defensive improvement. The Chiefs’ two scariest opponents in their own conference, the Ravens and Bills, reloaded with talent in the offseason and will pit MVP-winning quarterbacks in contests versus Mahomes. Both squads are right on the cusp of overtaking the Chiefs, whether in the regular season or postseason, and have the experience, coaching staff and roster depth to endure the rigors of the NFL’s regular season. And finally, the NFC North holds two teams, the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, with elite offensive and defensive talent, deep playoff runs and proven coaching to threaten both of last year’s Super Bowl finalists.
The Chiefs’ division may have caught up to them, as well. The Broncos had Kansas City on the ropes on the Chiefs’ turf last November before a blocked field goal preserved a 16-14 Chiefs victory. Weeks later, Kansas City fended off its other division rivals, the Chargers and Raiders, in last-minute finishes with identical 19-17 scores. Las Vegas revamped its franchise with a Super Bowl-winning head coach in Pete Carroll and a promising quarterback/running back combination in Geno Smith and Ashton Jeanty, while Denver and Los Angeles fortified teams that made the playoffs in 2024 and are well-positioned to replicate that feat this season.
All that to say — a lot is up for grabs in the 2025 NFL season, and I’m excited to dive into all of it. I’ve continued my annual exercise of projecting the outcomes of all 272 regular season games and predicted my own Super Bowl champion (spoiler alert: it’s not the Chiefs). But to break down the NFL landscape before that, I’m exploring all things pro football with a set of top-five lists. Ranging from best and worst teams to top storylines and games to individual accolades to brand-new uniform sets, I’ll share my perspectives on intriguing issues and narratives that will shape this NFL season. Let’s kick this off!
List One: The Best Five Teams
John’s Selections: Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers
The Breakdown: No surprise at the top, with the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles well positioned for a repeat. Turnover on the defensive side of the roster and the loss of offensive coordinator Kellen Moore are the greatest causes for concern, but this team romped through the NFC and the Chiefs last year and returns its best players on both sides of the ball… For now, I’d slot the Ravens ahead of the Chiefs in the AFC pecking order. Mahomes and Reid are the class of the conference, but Baltimore made one of the most underrated moves of the offseason by resigning Pro Bowl tackle Ronnie Stanley and bolstered its defense with the addition of Malachi Starks from Georgia in the draft. Lamar Jackson seems to get better every year — no small feat given that he had won two MVP awards leading up to this season — and the Ravens avoid the meat grinder the Chiefs face in the AFC West. Still, Mahomes and Co. should be dangerous and have turned an uninspiring cast of skill players into a Super Bowl appearance three years in a row… The Lions and Packers round out the top five, knocking the Bills off their perch. While Detroit has to replace both its offensive and defensive coordinators, the defense should be much healthier in 2025 and the offensive trifecta of Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown is a dynamo. The Packers slip into the top-five by nature of their seismic trade for All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons and can take a huge leap if quarterback Jordan Love establishes chemistry with his receiving corps. Love will also benefit from the tutelage of head coach Matt LaFleur, who has plenty of playoff experience but is seeking a breakthrough this postseason.
List Two: The Worst Five Teams
John’s Selections: New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, New York Giants, New York Jets
The Breakdown: Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley talked about his excitement for joining a franchise building from the ground up in a recent feature for The Athletic, and there is no doubt the Saints are in need of such an overhaul. The roster is barren at almost every position, and the Spencer Rattler-Tyler Shough quarterback battle this summer did not inspire confidence. I could still see New Orleans eking out some spoiler wins under new head coach Kellen Moore; Cleveland is just plain miserable. 40-year-old Joe Flacco is starting the year under center, but all eyes are on fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders. Theoretically, this is a similar Browns team that made a run to the playoffs two seasons ago, but they’re much more likely to be last place in the AFC North than legitimate playoff contenders… The Titans and Giants are the two teams that drafted rookie quarterbacks in the first round of the NFL Draft. Immediate playoff trips are remote possibilities. The Giants could be feisty with their fearsome defensive front, but New York faces a difficult division and a need to win ASAP under head coach Brian Daboll. … NYC’s other team, the Jets, committed to a roster revamp this offseason and exchanged Aaron Rodgers for dual-threat quarterback Justin Fields. The Jets could be feisty with Fields and Breece Hall igniting the rushing attack and cornerback Sauce Gardner leading a high-ceiling defense, but the passing attack is a major question mark and would be critical in advancing the Jets up the AFC East standings.
List Three: The Biggest Movers and Shakers
John’s Selections: Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders
The Breakdown: The Vikings are the league’s most obvious regression candidate after stunning everyone with 14 regular season wins last season. The NFC North, already the league’s best division in 2024, got even better with the Bears’ hiring of head coach Ben Johnson and the Packers’ trade for Micah Parsons, and Minnesota is relying on quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who has never made an NFL start, to take the reins of a contender and acclimate quickly to the pro game. The Vikings could still make the playoffs, even if 14 wins is an absolute best-case scenario. … On the flip side, the Cardinals could swoop in and capture the NFC West title for the first time since 2015. Quarterback Kyler Murray brought Arizona to the doorstep of the playoffs last season before a late-season slide, and he may have the best defensive unit he’s had in his time in Arizona backing him up. The division is wide open, too, though a playoff victory is the real goal. … New England is the AFC’s best improvement candidate. The arrival of former Titans coach Mike Vrabel is an encouraging sign — his squads in Tennessee always played elite teams very closely — and both the offensive and defensive units were overhauled to match Vrabel’s approach. Second-year quarterback Drake Maye is an enticing breakout candidate with the potential to lead New England to a wild card spot. … Jacksonville had a similarly disastrous 2024, but a new head coach and the arrival of a top draft pick gives the Jags hope in a very winnable AFC South. Head coach Liam Coen and general manager James Gladstone are brand-new to their respective roles. The duo has made major strides in bringing in exciting, high-character talent in the offseason (read: No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter) and supporting quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and the result is a team that could make a run at unseating the Texans in the division. … The Raiders play in the AFC’s toughest division — one that produced three playoff teams in 2024 — but the franchise improved by leaps and bounds since its last game. Las Vegas acquired quarterback Geno Smith via trade and will pair him with the sixth overall pick in the draft, running back Ashton Jeanty. The Raiders also have its best head coach in over two decades in former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. Even if a playoff berth is not in the cards, Las Vegas is poised to make serious progress in 2025.
List Four: Best New Uniform Combinations
John’s Selections: Miami Dolphins Rivalries Uniform, Buffalo Bills Rivalries Uniform, New England Patriots Rivalries Uniform, Seattle Seahawks Rivalry Uniform, New Orleans Saints Gold Alternate
The Breakdown: Nike’s reveal of the new Rivalries uniforms was a highlight of the summer. Each of the participating eight teams in this year’s class unveiled a new uniform set that will be worn during a divisional rivalry. The majority of the fresh threads are winners, headlined by a dark blue alternate for the Miami Dolphins and an all-white and silver look for the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots’ departure from their typical navy blue and red was welcome, and the faded blue New England is employing is distinctive for a pro sports team and well-suited for Massachusetts winters. … Seattle’s gray and lime green tribute uniform to the “12th Man” fans and their record-breaking decibel levels is just all-out awesome. Pro sports leagues have had a rash of throwback uniforms, and this one does exactly the opposite with a futuristic jersey that is still easy on the eyes and intimidating. … The Saints are not going to be a good football team in 2025, but they are starting out the year in style. New Orleans revealed a gold jersey that will pair with black alternate helmets for head coach Kellen Moore’s debut regular season game. The Saints have one of the more unique color schemes in sports, and they did well to lean into it (and not choose a garish shade of gold).
List Five: First-Time Most Valuable Player Candidates
John’s Selections: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals; Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles; Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders; Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers; Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
The Breakdown: Joe Burrow and Saquon Barkley enjoyed career-best seasons in 2024. What can they do for an encore, and will it be enough to take home MVP honors? That will be a fascinating question. A return to the playoffs and another prolific passing season will put Burrow in contention, but Barkley might need to break the single-season rushing record to run away with the award himself. A trio of young passers should also be in the mix. … Daniels could follow in the footsteps of Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson as quarterbacks who won MVP honors in their sophomore campaigns, and he will be critical in Washington’s efforts to win the NFC East. … The Packers have been much more of a ground-and-pound team with running back Josh Jacobs and a top-flight defense, but Love has flashed MVP traits in his short time as the Packers’ starter and gained a new target in first-rounder Matthew Golden. … Similarly, Justin Herbert operates in a run-heavy offense under offensive coordinator Greg Roman, but a prolific passing season and a surprise AFC West title would put Herbert on the national radar.
List Six: First Time Defensive Player of the Year Candidates
John’s Selections: Micah Parsons, Green Bay Packers; Will Anderson, Houston Texans; Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens; Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles; Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
The Breakdown: Micah Parsons is the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year, and it’s easy to see why. Parsons is not only a four-time All-Pro selection, but he has plenty of motivation after the Dallas Cowboys shipped him out of town for two draft picks and Kenny Clark. The premier pass rusher cashed in on his stellar start to his career with a massive contract with Green Bay; a Defensive Player of the Year award could be his next reward. … Speaking of strong starts to careers, Texans defensive end and 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson could make the jump from perennial Pro Bowler to DPOY candidate. The Texans have the best defense in their division, and it all starts with Anderson up front. The Raiders’ Maxx Crosby has been one of the league’s most valuable defensive players over the past half-decade as an unblockable pass rusher — could this be his year in the spotlight? … Defensive back selections for the DPOY award are rare, but Denver shutdown corner Pat Surtain II accomplished the feat last season. Could Baltimore’s Kyle Hamilton be next? Hamilton has been a revelation since falling to the Ravens in the draft and will be a leader of one of the league’s best defenses. … Recent Super Bowl champion Jalen Carter is my last addition to this top five. Carter established himself as an elite defensive lineman and should only continue to develop in his third year.
List Seven: The Most Intriguing Offseason Additions
John’s Selections: Micah Parsons, Green Bay Packers; Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars; Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders; Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks; Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Breakdown: The Packers are counting on Micah Parsons to elevate them from factoring into the playoff mix to contending for the Super Bowl. A Week 4 contest against the Cowboys in prime time will be an excellent chance for Parsons to show his old team what they lost and get revenge after a roller coaster saga. … Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter brought his unique talents to Duval, and the plan is for the Jaguars to employ him as both a wide receiver and a cornerback (possibly just a situational cornerback). If Hunter can rack up 1,000 receiving yards and a couple of turnovers, he will be a full-blown sensation as a pro. … The runner-up to Hunter in Heisman Trophy voting, former Boise State rusher Ashton Jeanty, also earned a top-10 selection in the draft and will be a must-watch player for the Silver and Black. A monster year from Jeanty could help boost the Raiders up the AFC West totem pole and into the playoffs. … Adding the best quarterback of his generation to a 2024 playoff team might seem like a promising idea, but all bets are off with this year’s Steelers team and quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Pittsburgh will jockey with loaded Baltimore and Cincinnati squads in the AFC North and will need Rodgers to find immediate chemistry with offseason addition DK Metcalf and an unproven supporting cast. Anything short of a playoff win would be a disappointment in the Steel City. … The Seahawks brought in Sam Darnold as a lower-cost, younger alternative to Geno Smith, and it’s sound reasoning to bring in an experienced quarterback fresh off a 14-win campaign. Seattle is coming off a double-digit win season itself, though the Hawks finished on the periphery of the postseason. If Darnold plays like he did last year rather than the disappointing form of his seasons in New York and Carolina, Seattle will not only be justified in moving off Smith to Darnold but will be in the mix for a playoff appearance.
List Eight: The Most Pressing Health Questions
John’s Selections: Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins; Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers; Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams; Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions; Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
The Breakdown: Pro football is a contact sport, and injuries will certainly shape this year’s regular season and playoff bracket. But five players in particular are significant health concerns, given the time they missed either last season or this summer. Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa headlines the list, as his concussion history has not only removed him from games but has put his career in jeopardy. With Tagovailoa in the lineup, the Dolphins are fringe Wild Card contenders; without him, they could finish last in the AFC East. … Speaking of experienced quarterbacks who missed time in 2024, Dak Prescott will be critical to the Cowboys’ chances of making the playoffs. Without a powerful run game on offense and Micah Parsons on defense, Dallas needs MVP-level Prescott to keep up with the rest of the NFC East. … The Rams’ Matthew Stafford got the green light to play in Week 1 against the Texans, but at age 37, Stafford’s health is a significant worry for Los Angeles. The drop-off from Stafford to backup Jimmy Garoppolo is steep and could determine the NFC West winner if Stafford misses time. … Christian McCaffrey’s injury-plagued 2024 season was emblematic of the 49ers’ colossal disaster of a season. With the Madden cover curse and his injuries behind him, McCaffrey has the potential to return the Niners to Super Bowl contender status, but as fantasy football experts are well aware, he has missed more than 10 games in four of the past six seasons. … Aidan Hutchinson, the lone defensive player in this top five, was sorely missed in the Lions’ failed attempt to reach their first Super Bowl. After suffering a season-ending leg injury last October and losing his defensive coordinator, Aaron Glenn, to the New York Jets, Hutchinson will look to re-establish himself and the Lions’ defense as elite and Super Bowl-caliber.
List Nine: The Five Best Division Races
John’s Selections: NFC North, AFC West, NFC West, NFC East, AFC North
The Breakdown: I don’t feel confident picking the winner of any of the first three divisions on the list. The NFC North and AFC West each sent three of their teams to the playoffs, and the respective fourth-place teams made significant improvements in the coaching staff and roster. The Lions and Chiefs are favorites, but the Packers, Vikings, Broncos and Chargers all have playoff experience and are loaded with talent. The NFC West might have the closest gap from its first place team to its last, and any order of the division would seem rational at this point. … The NFC East hasn’t had a repeat winner since the mid-2000s, but the Eagles are primed to end that streak. The Commanders, fresh off their run to the NFC Championship Game, did not stand pat in the offseason and will be the primary challenger. Dallas and New York would make a playoff contender if you combined the Cowboys’ offense and the Giants’ defense. Since that isn’t possible, it’s more of a two-horse race. … The AFC North packs in three playoff contenders in the Ravens, Steelers and Bengals and two of the sport’s most dynamic players in Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow. The Ravens are clear favorites and the most complete team in the North, but this division always plays close, gritty football.
List Ten: The Five Most Dangerous “Dark Horse” Super Bowl Teams
John’s Selections: Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals
The Breakdown: I counted any team that has not made their respective conference’s championship game across the past three seasons as eligible to be a dark horse Super Bowl contender. … The two Los Angeles teams lead off the list. Both have Hall of Fame-level coaches in Sean McVay and Jim Harbaugh, as well as capable quarterbacks and significant defensive talent. If either squad won their division and earned home field at SoFi Stadium in the playoffs, I’m taking them seriously as being in the Super Bowl mix. … The Denver Broncos kept improving this offseason through free agency and the draft. Bo Nix’s development and returns from the skill position groups on offense will be keys to overcoming the Chiefs and establishing themselves in the AFC’s top tier. … If J.J. McCarthy has a debut season at the level of Jayden Daniels, C.J. Stroud or even Bo Nix, Minnesota is heading to the playoffs. That is a major question mark, but the Vikings believed in McCarthy so strongly that they used a top-10 pick on him and did not bring back Sam Darnold. The defense, led by defensive coordinator Brian Flores, is the team’s greatest strength. … The Bengals’ defense can’t be worse than last year, right? Defensive end Trey Hendrickson is back in likely his last year in Cincy after a lengthy contract dispute, and Cincinnati revamped the unit with a new coaching staff. The Bengals lost a ton of close games and ended the regular season strong, and the AFC was happy to see them sitting out the postseason. If the defense can just be league average and the offensive weapons can stay healthy, watch out.
2025 Record Predictions (Playoff Teams in Bold)
| AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West |
| Bills (14-3) | Ravens (12-5) | Texans (9-8) | Chiefs (13-4) |
| Patriots (10-7) | Bengals (10-7) | Jaguars (9-8) | Chargers (10-7) |
| Dolphins (6-11) | Steelers (7-10) | Titans (5-12) | Broncos (9-8) |
| Jets (6-11) | Browns (2-15) | Colts (4-13) | Raiders (8-9) |
| NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West |
| Eagles (11-6) | Lions (12-5) | Falcons (9-8) | Cardinals (10-7) |
| Cowboys (10-7) | Packers (11-6) | Bucs (9-8) | Rams (10-7) |
| Commanders (8-9) | Vikings (9-8) | Panthers (7-10) | 49ers (9-8) |
| Giants (4-13) | Bears (8-9) | Saints (3-14) | Seahawks (8-9) |
Playoff Predictions
Wild Card Round
2 Kansas City Chiefs over 7 New England Patriots
3 Baltimore Ravens over 6 Los Angeles Chargers
5 Cincinnati Bengals over 4 Houston Texans
2 Philadelphia Eagles over 7 Los Angeles Rams
3 Arizona Cardinals over 6 Dallas Cowboys
5 Green Bay Packers over 4 Atlanta Falcons
Divisional Round
3 Baltimore Ravens over 2 Kansas City Chiefs
5 Cincinnati Bengals over 1 Buffalo Bills
2 Philadelphia Eagles over 3 Arizona Cardinals
1 Detroit Lions over 5 Green Bay Packers
Conference Championships
3 Baltimore Ravens over 5 Cincinnati Bengals
2 Philadelphia Eagles over 1 Detroit Lions
Super Bowl LX
Baltimore Ravens 29, Philadelphia Eagles 24
Riker's Block 