As the bulk of Week 1 approaches, let's unveil our final bold predictions for each team in the 2025 NFL Season. We've got two regular season games in the books, and there really wasn't a lot going on. The Philadelphia Eagles won their first contest against the Dallas Cowboys, and the Chargers looked dominating at times over the Chiefs.
For those who were really paying attention to the Chiefs this offseason, this first loss isn't a major surprise. Anyway, there are still 14 other games to get to on Sunday to wrap up Week 1 of the 2025 NFL Season.
And before we head to the remaining games, we've outlined our final bold predictions for each team, so let's get into them here.
Final bold predictions for all 32 teams in the NFL for the 2025 season
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens - Lamar Jackson convincingly wins his third MVP award
Lamar Jackson truly should have won the MVP award in the 2024 NFL Season, and he’s going to have another MVP-caliber season in 2025. Derrick Henry still seems to be in his prime, and this roster is again elite, so you could pencil in Jackson for his third MVP award.
Cincinnati Bengals - Playoff berth for the first time since 2022
Can you believe that the Bengals haven’t made the playoffs since the 2022 NFL Season? Going 9-8 in both 2023 and 2024, the Bengals could have another win or two up their sleeves with a defense that at least needs to be average. Cincy can get back into the playoffs this year.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Aaron Rodgers regresses big-time and leads Steelers to a losing record
Aaron Rodgers wasn’t half-bad in the 2024 NFL Season for the New York Jets, but there is a ton of change around him for 2025, and he’s going to hit a major wall and see the Pittsburgh Steelers finish with a losing record.
Cleveland Browns - Both Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel get starts
This might not be a majorly bold prediction, but it could be, as it isn’t all that common for multiple rookie quarterbacks in the same division to start in a season, let alone from the same team. A struggling Joe Flacco will lead to starts from Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.
AFC South
Houston Texans - Texans win 12 games and commandingly win the AFC South
The offensive line is going to be a major X-factor for the Houston Texans in the 2025 NFL Season, and as long as it isn’t the worst in the NFL, like it was last year, this team should be able to win another game or two and perhaps take a commanding step toward a dominant AFC South title.
The other three teams in the division all have massive question marks, and the Texans have both the division’s best QB and head coach, so they are in a good position to sustain long-term success.
Indianapolis Colts - Massive firesale at the NFL trade deadline
You just can’t really see a path to success for the Colts in the 2025 NFL Season, so it might be more likely that this team is a heavy seller at the NFL trade deadline, and perhaps they are aggressive in trying away some veterans for cap relief and draft capital.
This would put into question the job security of both Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen, the underwhelming GM/HC combination.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence finally looks like a top-12 QB
An offensive whiz, Liam Coen should be able to unlock the true ceiling for Trevor Lawrence, who has not looked all that great in his first several seasons in the NFL. Already entering year five, Lawrence has just about seen it all and has even won a playoff game.
Coen is going to lead the Jaguars on an offensive resurgence, and the veteran Lawrence is going to look like a top-12 QB, so that could pave the way for an electric 2026 season and even beyond.
Tennessee Titans - Cam Ward throws more interceptions than touchdowns
Cam Ward and the Tennessee Titans do have some nice pieces on either side of the ball, but this team is rebuilding, and we don’t even know if the coaching staff is the right one for the job. In a shaky rookie season, the 2025 NFL Draft’s first overall pick is going to throw more interceptions than touchdowns.
Ward and the Titans could be frisky in 2026, but it doesn’t feel all that promising for the 2025 NFL Season if you ask me.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills - Buffalo makes a run all the way to the Super Bowl (finally)
With a schedule on the easier side in the 2025 NFL Season, the Buffalo Bills finally might be in a good position to slay the dragon and make a Super Bowl run. If Week 1 was any indication, the Kansas City Chiefs are not going to be nearly as good as a lot of people thought they were going to be.
That could thrust the Bills to the top of the AFC for at least this season, perhaps even more.
New England Patriots - Franchise flirts with a winning record and hangs around the playoff picture
The New England Patriots made all of the right changes this offseason. They’ve now got a stable offensive line, proven coaching staff, and a young, promising QB. They aren’t going to make the playoffs in 2025, but the franchise is going to flirt with a winning record and could end up with nine wins if the ball bounces their way once or twice.
I would absolutely sharpie them in as a playoff team in the 2026 NFL Season if 2025 goes the way we are predicting.
New York Jets - Justin Fields gets benched at some point
Folks, Justin Fields is a bad quarterback. He’s bad, period. There is a reason why Fields is already on his third team in as many seasons, and the New York Jets just don’t have much going for them in the 2025 NFL Season.
Fields is going to be an inefficient, replacement-level passer and will be sent to the bench at some point in the 2025 season.
Miami Dolphins - Tyreek Hill gets traded
A healthy Tua Tagovailoa could change things for the Miami Dolphins, but this team’s roster isn’t great, so they could be in store for a rough season in 2025. It could get to the point that their star wide receiver, Tyreek Hill, gets traded. If Hill is still close to his prime self, the Dolphins could get a pretty hefty return for the player, and the Chiefs would honestly make a lot of sense…
AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs - Lack of top-end talent drops KC to second or third in AFC West
It’s time for a changing of the guard in the AFC West, as the Kansas City Chiefs will not win the division for the 10th year in a row, and if Week 1 was any indication, they could even finish in third place if the Denver Broncos are as good as some are predicting them to be.
The Chiefs are simply missing key talent on both sides of the ball and aren’t explosive in any way on offense. They can’t throw the ball downfield and got worked by Chargers’ QB Justin Herbert.
Denver Broncos - Snaps decade-long streak and wins the division
The Denver Broncos are the most talented team in the division and are going to win the AFC West in 2025. They play the Tennessee Titans in Week 1 and should be able to come away with a relatively-easy victory. Denver does have high-end talent on either side of the ball and are elite in the trenches, and that’s where it matters the most, outside of QB.
Los Angeles Chargers - LA is no better or worse than 2024
I understand that people might want to hype up the LA Chargers after a very strong showing, but this is another team missing high-end talent, and I just do not get the sense that they’ll be any better or worse than they were in the 2024 NFL Season. An 11-win campaign would not shock me in the slightest.
Las Vegas Raiders - Contends for the worst record in the NFL
You know, some people are high on the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025, but I don’t see it. They’ve got an average QB in Geno Smith and a very shaky defense. Furthermore, the rest of the roster is underwhelming at best. Not only will they be bad in 2025, but they’ll contend for the worst record in the NFL.
NFC North
Detroit Lions - Lions win four fewer games in 2025 than they did in 2024
It’s hard for me to predict that this supremely talented team doesn’t win a ton of games. They certainly aren’t going to win 15, like they did in the 2024 NFL Season, but a more modest 11 wins is what this franchise has coming for them in 2025.
Detroit still makes the playoffs, but it’s not in dominating fashion.
Green Bay Packers - Newly-acquired Micah Parsons leads the NFL in sacks and QB hits
Not only is Micah Parsons going to lead the NFL in sacks, but he’ll lead the team in QB hits and could even win the Defensive Player of the Year award. This trade is going to have an immediate impact on the defense, as Green Bay could make a deep playoff run now.
Chicago Bears - Ben Johnson helps lead Chicago on the brink of a playoff berth, but just barely misses out
While the Chicago Bears will miss the playoffs in the 2025 NFL Season, first-year head coach Ben Johnson is going to have this tema on the doorstep of a playoff berth, but they might have to wait until the 2026 NFL Season to sniff the playoffs.
Minnesota Vikings - Team goes from 14 wins in 2024 to out of the playoffs in 2025
I struggle to see how the Minnesota Vikings make the playoffs this year. Sure, that might sound a bit crazy, but JJ McCarthy is a de-facto rookie QB, and he’s still quite young. McCarthy is going to play like a rookie QB typically plays, and the playoffs will avoid the team for at least this season.
However, with how much talent this team has, them emerging as a legitimate contender in the 2026 NFL Season could be logical.
NFC South
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Tampa wins more than 10 games in 2025!
It feels like this team has been stuck in the ‘good not great’ tier for a while, so we’re going to make a very bold prediction for this team - not only will they win double-digit games in 2025, but they’ll win more than 10.
I was low on this team earlier in the offseason for some odd reason, but I’ve reversed course. Tampa is the best team in the NFC South and will again host a playoff game this season.
Atlanta Falcons - At some point deep into 2025, Falcons are first in the division
However, the Atlanta Falcons will have something to say about the division in 2025. The Falcons have a second-year QB in Michael Penix Jr who does have a lot going his way. The Falcons do have some key weapons on offense, and the defense did see a ton of new faces enter the equation.
At some point this season, Atlanta is going to hold a lead in the NFC South, but they aren’t going to win the division, at least not this year.
Carolina Panthers - Bryce Young looks like a franchise QB for most of the season
Bryce Young definitely looked much better down the stretch in 2024, so some are predicting a breakout season for the young QB in the 2025 NFL Season. The Panthers do have more talent than you might think, and this team could be frisky in the NFC South.
In a very crucial third season in the NFL, Bryce Young will look like a franchise QB.
New Orleans Saints - Team flirts with zero wins in 2025
Could the New Orleans Saints be the first winless team in the 17-game era? Based on what we know with this team right now, it’s very possible. New Orleans is going to win a few games, but them going winless will be a lot of the chatter for at least the first chunk of 2025.
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles - Philly fails to win the NFC East in 2025
The Philadelphia Eagles didn’t look all that dominant in their Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys. They’re going to lose a grip on the NFC East in the 2025 NFL Season. Philly did lose a good bit of talent in the offseason, and I am tired of people pretending that Jalen Hurts is this special, top-5 type of quarterback.
This Eagles team is not going to be as good as you think in 2025. Book it.
Washington Commanders - Jayden Daniels finishes in the top-3 in MVP voting
Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders are going to win the NFC East in the 2025 NFL Season. Daniels is going to flirt with an MVP season and is going to finish top-3 in MVP voting. I do still wonder a bit about the Commanders top-end roster talent and if it’ll be enough, but Daniels is going to be able to cover up a lot.
New York Giants - Jaxson Dart doesn’t take long to get into the starting lineup
With Jaxson Dart now as the backup QB, it’s not going to take long for the rookie to get into the starting lineup. Russell Wilson is their starter, but Wilson is not very effective as a passer at this point. The New York Giants also have a brutally tough schedule in 2025, so Dart is going to see his chance come.
Dallas Cowboys - Trade chatter around CeeDee Lamb picks up as the season goes on
You have to hand it to the Cowboys - they played quite well in Week 1. However, the roster, overall, is below-average, and it’s going to get to a point where stud WR CeeDee Lamb is going to see his name pop up in trade talks as the season goes on.
If Dallas traded Micah Parsons, could they also trade Lamb?
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals - Team wins at least 10 games in 2025
Through 10 games in the 2024 NFL Season, the Arizona Cardinals were 6-4, so this team is capable of winning a ton of games. Furthermore, they did improve on their shaky defensive line in the offseason, and that position was truly the weakest on the roster. On paper, the Cards aren’t missing much, so a path to 10 wins is on the table.
I do wonder just how good Kyler Murray can be, but he’s been a part of a great Cardinals team before.
Los Angeles Rams - LA Rams are first or second seed in the NFC playoffs
Matthew Stafford staying healthy for most of the 2025 NFL Season doesn’t feel likely at this point, but what if he does? Stafford is still playing at a high level even if the numbers don’t jump out at you. The LA Rams also have a strong roster and are going to roar to a top-2 seed in the NFC when the playoffs roll around.
San Francisco 49ers - Mounting injuries forces San Fran to sell at the trade deadline
I just don’t love this team for 2025, and even Christian McCaffrey got healthy and popped back up in the injury report leading up to Week 1. The 49ers are going to again struggle with injuries in the 2025 NFL Season, so they’ll be forced to be sellers at the NFL trade deadline. San Fran won just six games in 2024.
Seattle Seahawks - Team wins half of their 2024 total
It’s hard for me to be optimistic about the Seattle Seahawks, as in my opinion, it feels like they got worse this offseason. The offensive line is still a notable concern, and I am not sure what their plan was in the wide receiver room.
Sure, the defense is good, but this team is going to take a huge step back in the 2025 NFL Season, as they’ll actually win just half of their total from 2024 and finish the season with just five wins, again missing the playoffs.