There surely won't be this many breakout teams, but let's talk about eight potential breakout squads in 2025 - one from each division. Each year, the NFL typically has one or two breakout teams. If you remember back to the 2022 season, the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars were those teams.
In 2023, it was the Houston Texans, and in 2024, we saw the Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders fit into that category. Well, we've looked at one potential breakout team from each division for the 2025 NFL Season.
Again, there won't be this many, but I guess you never know. Let's talk about these teams right here.
Identifying one breakout team from each division in the 2025 NFL Season
AFC North - Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have actually not made the playoffs since the 2022 NFL Season and have gone 9-8 in each of the prior two seasons. Furthermore, they're honestly the only team from the AFC North we could fit into this exercise, as the Cleveland Browns are a lost cause, and we already know what to expect from the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. If the Bengals are able to get Trey Hendrickson back onto the field and can field just an average defense, this team is going to win 12 or more games.
AFC South - Jacksonville Jaguars
I do like the Liam Coen hire - he proved to be a top-tier offensive mind in 2024 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as he coordinated one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL. In 2025, he gets the challenge of trying to do the same thing with Trevor Lawrence and all of those weapons and potential weapons with the Jags. At most, this team could win nine games, but it'd be a huge improvement from what we've seen over the past two seasons.
AFC East - New England Patriots
You probably know at this point how much I love the New England Patriots as a breakout team, and I've got three main reasons: Mike Vrabel, Josh McDaniels, and Drake Maye, who was a lot better than you think in 2024. Buckle up; the Patriots are going to be a lot better than expected in 2025.
AFC West - Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos were one of the NFL's breakout teams in 2024, but they weren't a great team and weren't a contender. Well, after an encouraging 10-7 season in 2024, can they stack a few more wins on top of their 2024 total and perhaps capture the AFC West title? On paper, this is the most talented team in the division, and it might take a 12-5 record to regain the title for the first time since 2015.
NFC North - Chicago Bears
It's hard for us to really say that the Minnesota Vikings could be a breakout team in 2025, as they won 14 games in 2024. The only real choice here is the Chicago Bears, but with Ben Johnson and a rebuilt offensive line present, Chicago might become a viable football team. I do truly believe that this Bears' team is filled with legitimate talent, and I don't think they have the worst roster in the NFC North. It's going to take a lot for the offense to come together, but that unit is solid from top to bottom, and it's not like a year two leap from a QB is out of the question.
NFC South - Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons have a solid offensive line, a rebuilt defensive line, and a second-year QB in Michael Penix Jr, so they've got the formula to be a breakout team. The NFC South might also be the weakest division in football, so Atlanta could potentially sweep the Saints and Panthers, and maybe even steal a game from Tampa in 2025. Led by Penix, Bijan Robinson, and Drake London, the Falcons could ride a high-powered offense to breakout status in 2025.
NFC East - New York Giants
I have been insanely critical of the New York Giants this offseason, but did they just hit the jackpot with Jaxson Dart? Dart has looked outstanding in the preseason, and I am not sure he's not the best QB on that roster right now. In the NFL, there isn't a player who has more influence on the trajectory of a franchise than an encouraging rookie QB, and the G-Men might not want to wait on that. I would also go as far as to say that Russell Wilson's roster status might not be secure as we think at the moment.
NFC West - Arizona Cardinals
My NFC version of the New England Patriots for 2025 is the Arizona Cardinals. At one point in the 2024 NFL Season, the Cardinals were 6-4 and in a great spot, but they finished poorly down the stretch. Well, in the offseason, Arizona had to improve their defensive line, and that's exactly what GM Monti Ossenfort did. On paper, this is the best Cardinals' team we have seen in quite some time, and while some people want to buy into the LA Rams or San Francisco 49ers, the Cardinals could be the team to beat here.