The NFL is back. The new season kicks off on 4 September, with all 32 franchises hoping this could finally be their year.
The Philadelphia Eagles lifted the Lombardi Trophy in February, ending the Kansas City Chiefs’ dream of a historic three-peat. But who can mount a serious challenge this time? Here’s a full look at every team’s prospects heading into the 2025 campaign.
(2024 regular-season record in brackets)
Super Bowl Champions – Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)
Is this the start of a new dynasty? After their last Super Bowl victory in 2018, the Eagles stumbled to a 9-7 record. This time, though, the team looks far stronger and more settled. Nearly all of their stars are back, including quarterback Jalen Hurts, his two elite receivers, and generational running back Saquon Barkley.
Defensively, there’s been some turnover after their domination of the Chiefs in New Orleans, but with Jalen Carter emerging as a beast up front and Vic Fangio orchestrating things, the Eagles still boast one of the league’s toughest units.
Star Man: Saquon Barkley
Hurts is a franchise QB, but Barkley is the game-changer. Beyond his 2,000 rushing yards last season, his ability to break off scores from anywhere on the field was the difference in tight moments. Expect him to be the key to another title run.
Lost in Super Bowl – Kansas City Chiefs
Can the empire strike back? History isn’t kind: in the last 32 years, only one team has returned to the Super Bowl immediately after losing it. The nature of their defeat to Philadelphia raised real concerns, particularly around pass protection.
First-round pick Josh Simmons has the crucial job of keeping Patrick Mahomes upright — if he succeeds, Kansas City’s hopes of defying the odds rise significantly.
Star Man: Patrick Mahomes
Still the generational talent of his era, Mahomes needs to silence doubts after a bruising Super Bowl performance. His numbers have dipped slightly, but don’t expect him to stay quiet for long. He’ll be on a mission.
Lost in Divisional Round – Detroit Lions
The Lions put up the fourth-highest points tally in NFL history (564) and became just the ninth team to win 15 games in a regular season. Despite being the NFC’s top seed, another crushing home playoff loss — this time to Washington — keeps the heartbreak going.
Coach Dan Campbell now faces the test of keeping his team focused despite losing both offensive and defensive coordinators over the summer.
Star Man: Aidan Hutchinson
Detroit’s offense has stars like Jahmyr Gibbs (1,929 yards, 20 TDs), but Hutchinson’s broken leg
derailed their defense last year. If he’s back to full strength, this team could be a very different beast.
Lost in Wildcard Round – Minnesota Vikings
Quarterback Sam Darnold revived his career here last season, but now it’s JJ McCarthy’s turn. The rookie missed his entire debut year with a knee injury, but all the tools are in place for him to thrive under head coach Kevin O’Connell, a known quarterback whisperer.
Repeating a 14-win season in the competitive NFC North will be difficult, but the talent is undeniable.
Star Man: Justin Jefferson
Arguably the best receiver in football, Jefferson can catch anything — covered or not. His presence will be McCarthy’s biggest lifeline.
Lost in AFC Championship – Buffalo Bills
The question remains: how do the Bills get past the Chiefs? Four playoff eliminations in the past five years at Kansas City’s hands fuel the frustration.
Still, Josh Allen remains the reigning MVP and one of the league’s most electrifying quarterbacks. With Buffalo consistently among the elite, expectations are sky high once again.
Star Man: Josh Allen
After leading the NFL’s top-scoring offense, Allen will again shoulder a massive load. The front office invested heavily in defense during the draft and free agency, but Allen’s play remains the Bills’ best hope for a breakthrough.
Lost in Divisional Round – Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens epitomize regular-season dominance followed by postseason disappointment. Lamar Jackson, now a two-time MVP, is 70-24 in the regular season but just 3-5 in the playoffs.
It’s not for lack of effort — last year he delivered one of the best passing campaigns in history. With Derrick Henry still alongside him in the backfield, Baltimore will again be hard to stop.
Star Man: Lamar Jackson
The best running quarterback ever also threw 41 TD passes last season with only four interceptions, recording the fourth-best passer rating in NFL history (119.6). His Super Bowl moment feels inevitable — but when?
Lost in NFC Championship – Washington Commanders
From four wins in 2023 to 12 in 2024, the Commanders’ leap was stunning. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels nearly carried them all the way to the Super Bowl.
But sophomore slumps are real. With limited draft capital and one of the league’s oldest rosters, Washington may struggle to repeat the magic.
Star Man: Jayden Daniels
Deebo Samuel adds veteran help at receiver, but much rests on Daniels’ shoulders again. He’s got the talent — but does he have enough support?
Lost in Wildcard Round – Los Angeles Chargers
Jim Harbaugh wasted no time transforming this team, with the defense allowing the fewest points in the NFL last year. Quarterback Justin Herbert enjoyed his most consistent season yet, and the ground game has been strengthened with Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton.
Expect classic Harbaugh “ground-and-pound” football.
Star Man: Justin Herbert
Herbert’s steady play unraveled in the playoffs with four interceptions. Cutting down mistakes is crucial if the Chargers want to take the next step.
