The 2025 NFL Season is quickly approaching. Let's unveil our final divisional power rankings before the regular season. It is abundantly clear that some divisions are simply more talented than others - that's a fact.
In fact, there is a possibility that all four teams from a division can make the postseason, as the seven-team playoff field does allow for that. As the regular season quickly approaches, we've unveiled our final divisional power rankings.
We considered QB talent, overall roster talent, and coaching in these rankings, so let's get into it right here.
Final division power rankings before the start of the 2025 NFL Season
8. NFC South
It's hard to find something notable in the NFC South outside of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and even that team isn't special. All of the Panthers, Saints, and Falcons have monumentally massive question marks at the most important position - quarterback.
The Saints might truly be the worst team in the NFL and could be the first winless team of the 17-game era, and I don't believe that is a stretch. While Carolina and Atlanta could be frisky in 2025, it's more likely that a QB doesn't pan out, so Bryce Young and Michael Penix Jr are not guaranteed success. This is the worst division in football.
7. AFC South
Another bad division is the AFC South, and it's similar in many ways to the NFC South. The Houston Texans are the top team in the division, but they're not great and do have question marks themselves. The Colts, Jaguars, and Titans are also all bad teams with, you guessed it, QB question marks.
Now yes, Trevor Lawrence on the Jags and Cam Ward on the Titans could both end up being high-end quarterbacks in this league, but this ranking is for 2025, and it's just not looking promising for a few of these teams. The AFC South is seventh in our power rankings.
6. AFC East
The AFC East has the Buffalo Bills and everyone else, and while Buffalo is an exceptional team, th rest of the division is shaky. I am higher on the New England Patriots than most, and the Miami Dolphins can be a fun team, but Buffalo is going to runaway with this division, and the AFC East will have just one playoff team in the 2025 NFL Season, period.
5. NFC West
We're now beginning to get into some divisions that do have some viable teams. The LA Rams are the top team in the NFC West, but that's only if Matthew Stafford is on the field and healthy. Both the 49ers and Cardinals can be frisky in 2025 due to easier schedules and the potential that the Cards breakout.
I am very low on the Seattle Seahawks, personally, but I guess they have a path to eight-ish wins. The NFC West may not have the most talent in our division power rankings, but it's a respectable and tough division to play in.
4. NFC East
The NFC East is fourth in our divisional power rankings. Both Philadelphia and Washington were in the NFC Championship Game in 2024, so that does bode well for the division itslelf, but Dallas and New York are extremely flawed to say the least.
I would also expect a bit of a Super Bowl hangover from the Eagles, as they did lose notable talent in the offseason. This division also does contain some high-end QB talent compared to other divisions, so that's why we've ranked them in the top-half as well.
3. NFC North
The third-ranked division in our power rankings is the tough, rugged NFC North, featuring some of the best teams in the NFL. The Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers are the top teams in this division, but the Minnesota Vikings might not skip a beat with JJ McCarthy under center, and the Chicago Bears really do have a ton of talent.
This could be one of the rare divisions where all four teams make the playoffs, and that would be the first time in the seven-team playoff format we've seen something like that. Three of these four teams also have young, encouraging QBs as well.
2. AFC North
Aside from the Cleveland Browns, the AFC North is an impressive division. The Baltimore Ravens are the best team here, but also might be the best team in the NFL. They've got a two-time MVP in Lamar Jackson and a loaded defense.
The Cincinnati Bengals do have serious defensive questions but are absolutely loaded on offense and could ride that top unit to yet another winning season, though they have not been in the playoff since 2022.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have not finished with a losing record in the Mike Tomlin era, so that's good for something, though everyone can see that this isn't a Super Bowl contender, but rather a steady, stable franchise. The AFC North, however, isn't the best division in our power rankings for the 2025 NFL Season.
1. AFC West
It's quite obvious that the AFC West is the best division in football. Back in 2024, all of the Chiefs, Chargers, and Broncos won double-digit games and advanced to the playoffs. Furthermore, the Las Vegas Raiders did get better in the offseason, as they hired Pete Carroll and traded for Geno Smith.
While Vegas is still the worst team in the division, the duo of Carroll and Smith can stabilize them for a couple of seasons, and when you look at the sheer head coach talent in the AFC West, it's hard to argue with this ranking. Andy Reid, Sean Payton, Jim Harbaugh, and Pete Carroll may all end up in the Hall of Fame when it's said and done.
For many reasons, the AFC West is the best division in football for the 2025 NFL Season.