The preseason is over. The rosters are set, and the ultimate dream for all 32 teams is still alive. But make no mistake, this is no longer about dreams. It’s about reality. And in this reality, only a handful of teams are truly built to hoist the Lombardi in February. Everybody else is fighting. Fighting for relevance, fighting for their jobs, fighting for their next window of opportunity.
Let’s get into it.
1) Philadelphia Eagles
Until further notice, everything runs through Philly. Jalen Hurts is locked in, Vic Fangio
is back, and this may be the NFC’s most complete roster. The bully is back on the block.
2) Kansas City Chiefs
Don’t let last February fool you: Kansas City is still among the cream of the crop. As long as Andy Reid is calling plays and Mahomes is slinging the rock, the Chiefs will be in the AFC title picture.
3) Baltimore Ravens
While the Eagles may have the most complete roster in the NFC, that title goes to the Ravens in the AFC, and it may be the most complete roster in all of football. Mix that with Lamar Jackson still in his prime, and you have dynamite…but can they finally finish the job in February?
4) Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen may be the most dynamic weapon at quarterback in football, and he was finally recognized for it last year with his first MVP. Now, it’s time for the Bills, with a younger, faster, and deeper roster, to prove they can get to the big game.
5) Green Bay Packers
Injury hastened the breakout of Jordan Love last year. This year, with the arrival of new weapon Matthew Golden on offense and future Hall-of-Fame edge rusher Micah Parsons on defense, the sky is the limit for Green Bay.
6) Detroit Lions
The only thing that could stop Detroit last season was injury; This year, it was a major brain drain with both their offensive and defensive coordinators snagging head coaching jobs. But they still have the core players in Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jared Goff, and Aidan Hutchinson, and they still have Dan Campbell…is that enough?
7) Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud is a star. Will Anderson, Jr. is primed for a breakout. This entire team believes in what DeMeco Ryans is preaching, and the rest of the AFC South is still trying to find itself. Let’s go Houston. It’s time.
8) Cincinnati Bengals
Burrow is still Burrow. Ja’Marr Chase is still one of the baddest receivers on the planet. Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson are both back. The offense will be fine…will the defense?
9) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Losing Liam Coen hurt, but the Bucs still have Baker Mayfield and a heck of an offensive arsenal that surrounds him, headlined by Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and new addition Emeka Egbuka. If Todd Bowles’ defense can be serviceable, you can make it six straight years for the defending NFC South champs.
10) Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels is different and Kliff Kingsbury was in his bag last season. As long as the sophomore slump isn’t too heavy, and Dan Quinn’s defense plays fast, the vibes in D.C. will continue to get better.
11) Denver Broncos
…I hate Sean Payton. Leave it to him to not only make Bo Nix a viable starter in the NFL but a productive one. The offensive line looks incredible, and that defense may be one of the best, if not the best, in the league. What a nightmare.
12) Los Angeles Rams
Apparently, Matthew Stafford is coming out of his Hyperbolic Time Chamber and will be able to play week one without problems…And I’m going to believe it without batting an eye. Half because the alternative is to watch Jimmy Garoppolo, half because I want Stafford to Davante Adams and Puka Nacua in a Sean McVay offense.
13) Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert looked to let his hair down a little bit in year one under Jim Harbaugh. In year two, there’s some real opportunity for the passing game to look a little better, despite the lack of resource allocation to the receiver position. Add in the Rashawn Slater injury and the vibes are down a bit, but not enough to be completely dismal on LAC’s playoff chances.
14) Minnesota Vikings
I’m a J.J. McCarthy believer, but even I know that you can’t just expect a first-year starter to come in and look like 2019 Mahomes. That being said, McCarthy is sitting pretty with arguably the best offensive setup of anyone outside of Philadelphia, and a Brian Flores-led defense ready to wreak havoc on the other side. Just keep the ship afloat, young fella.
15) San Francisco 49ers
This feels like a bet against Kyle Shanahan, and I am usually not one to bet against him and his offense. Especially with last year being a wake-up call of sorts for the 49ers. With Purdy in tow, CMC, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk returning on offense, and a youth resurgence on defense, San Francisco can finish at the bottom of the NFC West just as easily as they could win it.
16) Atlanta Falcons
Alright, Falcons fans. Deep breath. This team should compete for the NFC South crown: Michael Penix, Jr. has real pop out of that left arm, Kyle Pitts seems ready to be unlocked, and Zac Robinson’s scheme should finally have balance. But if the O-line doesn’t hold, if the rookies don’t deliver, and if the defense’s theoretical “pass rush upgrades” don’t translate, we’re in for another heartbreak special.
17) Seattle Seahawks
Mike Macdonald’s defense is coming together. This is another defensive unit that could very well contend for the best in the league, and with the uncertainty in the NFC West, this could be Seattle’s chance to grab hold of the division again.
18) Chicago Bears
The prophecy is being fulfilled. Caleb Williams will finally break the 4,000-yard barrier that this franchise has been unable to barrel through since its inception in 1922 under the tutelage of the wunderkind head coach Ben Johnson. Will that lead to more wins? Maybe. But, it will at least bring the Bears’ offenses to the modern day, and that feels like a win.
19) Pittsburgh Steelers
This feels like nightmare fuel. Aaron Rodgers in an Arthur Smith offense…tight ends and Ayuuscha everywhere. Thank God they have Mike Tomlin there to steady what has to be a fragile ship. Hopefully, the defense can still be this team’s fastball as they look to keep Tomlin’s winning record streak alive.
20) Miami Dolphins
Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are still terrifying to think about on a week-to-week basis, but if Tua can’t stay healthy, the whole Mike McDaniel experiment may be on the way out of town.
21) Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott is fighting, and now he’s got three go-to options in the passing game with CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Jake Ferguson. However, losing Micah Parsons is a huge blow to a defense whose foundation was already shaky at best. Get ready for a whole lot of shootouts in Jerry’s world…
22) Las Vegas Raiders
This is one team I would love to be low on. Geno Smith, Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty, few things would make me happier than to see Maxx Crosby and the Raiders sneak into the playoffs in year one of Pete Caroll in the silver and black.
23) Arizona Cardinals
This is a really young team that’s just looking for proof of concept under head coach Jonathan Gannon. Is Kyler Murray the answer in Arizona? Can Marvin Harrison, Jr. and the rest of the young guys on this roster prove they belong in this league? It’s an interesting thing they have going on in Arizona, and I can’t wait to watch it.
24) Jacksonville Jaguars
Can Trevor Lawrence finally show off why he was the #1 overall pick this season? Is Liam Coen the guy to unlock it? What does Travis Hunter’s snap count look like on a week-to-week basis? So many questions in Duval County, and that doesn’t even get to the budding star they have at WR in Brian Thomas, Jr. Hang on to your hats, Jacksonville…this may be fun.
25) Carolina Panthers
I have to see more. Bryce Young looked a lot better in the back half of last season, but this rebuild is just getting started for Carolina. Teteroia McMillan looks to be exactly what this receiver room needed, but that doesn’t answer all of their questions, especially not with what was a historically bad defense on the other side of the ball.
26) New England Patriots
Drake Maye is the future. Mike Vrabel is ready to instill some attitude in these Patriots, but we’re looking for progress here in Foxboro…not playoffs. And, for now, that’s okay.
27) New York Jets
Aaron Glenn has the Jets believing that they have the right guy in charge. Garrett Wilson gets his college quarterback back in Justin Fields, so the passing game should be watchable. And even if it isn’t, this running game with Fields, Breece Hall, and Braelon Allen should be fun to watch. Not to mention the pieces on defense that Glenn has to work with, it should make for something interesting to follow.
28) New York Giants
Malik Nabers is still here, and Brian Daboll is fighting for his coaching life. Russell Wilson gets first dibs, but this job will probably be Jaxon Dart’s before the season’s end. But that defensive line with Kayvon Thibodeaux, Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, and Dexter Lawrence looks like something fierce, so maybe tune in for that.
29) Tennessee Titans
Nothing personal, Cam. There’s just not enough outside of Cam Ward and possibly Calvin Ridley that really excites me with the Titans…they had the number-one pick this last draft for a reason. But that doesn’t mean Ward isn’t going to be a fun watch as he navigates the league.
30) Indianapolis Colts
I mean, this has all the makings of a dumpster fire…Daniel Jones gets first crack, Anthony Richardson will probably be back in charge by the middle of October…Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard may not make it to Thanksgiving…just pray for your local Colts fan.
31) Cleveland Browns
The chaos that has developed in Cleveland is a sight to behold. The Nasty Man seems to be on his way out, and they are looking under every rock imaginable to find a replacement before it’s too late. Well, it’s too late, and the AFC North is actively leaving the Browns behind.
32) New Orleans Saints
This team feels lost in the wilderness…the defense is aging, the cap sheet looks horrendous, and 2025 looks like a good time to invest in the paper bag industry in Louisiana.
32 teams, one Lombardi, zero guarantees. Every year, someone rises, someone falls, and someone shocks the world. Buckle up, 2025’s about to be a ride.
