Football season has finally arrived—and with it, the promise of unforgettable plays, surprise stories, and high-stakes moments that only the NFL can deliver. With the offseason in the rearview mirror, it’s time to dive into our 2025 NFL predictions, spanning the regular season and culminating in Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026.
Before we look ahead, let’s acknowledge where things stand: the Philadelphia Eagles enter 2025 as defending champions after steamrolling the Kansas City Chiefs in a Super Bowl that left no doubt. Coach Nick Sirianni’s squad, led by 2,000-yard rusher Saquon Barkley and the NFL’s top-ranked defense, claimed its second title in seven years. The Eagles have more than enough on paper to repeat.
As for the Super Bowl LIX runner-ups, all eyes will be on Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, and the Kansas City Chiefs, as they look to make NFL history and tie the 1990-1993 Buffalo Bills with a fourth consecutive Super Bowl appearance.
… And then there are 30 more teams that have a say in how this 2025 NFL Season is going to play out. So let’s drive the pile forward and jump into significant storylines and, after that, bold predictions for what should be an epic NFL season.
Crucial Storylines For the 2025 NFL Season
Every team brings its own version of gridiron drama, but these storylines could shape the narrative for the 2025 NFL Season.
Eagles Look to Repeat—but The Trenches Could Tell the Tale
The Eagles are Vegas favorites to repeat as champions at +700, but a few cracks in the armor could test their resolve. Offensive and defensive line depth will be their biggest question mark.
Pro Bowl offensive guard Landon Dickerson is recovering from pre-season knee surgery, but the unit also needs to replace massive guard Mekhi Becton. The defensive front lost not only pass rusher Josh Sweat and tackle Milton Williams, but also Eagles legend Brandon Graham. If anyone can keep last year's #1-ranked defense on track, it's mastermind defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. With another year of continuity, something tells us that the Eagles' defense won’t be slacking.
Who Rules the AFC? A Ferocious Four-Team Chess Match Awaits
In Kansas City, the defense carried the offense for the majority of the last season. Patrick Mahomes and his collection of weapons should be more productive this year, especially if Hollywood Brown can stay healthy and Xavier Worthy makes a second-year leap. The days of simply outscoring opponents — especially in the playoffs — could be over, to the delight of the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens.
Also worth noting: Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson have three MVP awards, but not a single AFC Championship Game victory. Could this be the year that one of these remarkable quarterbacks finally dethrones Mahomes?
As they look to break through their playoff ceilings, the Bills and Ravens will have to overcome not only Mahomes & Co., but also the high-octane Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Burrow, who has already beaten Kansas City in an AFC Championship Game. The Bengals defense simply has to be better than last year, when they ranked 25th in the league in points allowed.
This four-team battle royale is sure to capture the attention of AFC and NFC fans alike, with regular-season matchups feeling like prequels to high-stakes playoff games that will soon follow.
Aaron Rodgers Seeks Redemption in Pittsburgh
Another compelling story involves former Green Bay legend and current Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.
After back-to-back debacles, this season has all the makings of a final ride for Rodgers, with one last chance to turn back the hands of time and earn the Steelers their league-record seventh Lombardi Trophy. If Rodgers can stay healthy and focused on football (with Mike Tomlin calling the shots, we think he will), the Steelers have a roster talented enough to compete with the best squads in the NFL.
O-line protection, chemistry with DK Metcalf, and Pittsburgh building off its strong defensive performance last season will all be catalysts for how far this fascinating caravan can go.
How Much Noise Will the Lions and Bears Make in the NFC North?
Dan Campbell's Lions lost both of their coordinators to head coaching jobs, but they return twenty combined starters and will be playing the season with an even bigger chip on their shoulder after a shocking home divisional round loss to the Commanders.
Offensive wiz kid Ben Johnson is now calling the shots in Chicago — and that can only mean good things for second-year signal caller Caleb Williams. The former first overall pick showed promise last season, especially considering the floundering system he was operating within.
The Bears greatly improved their offensive line and drafted dynamic Michigan tight end Colston Loveland in the first round, so there's reason to believe Williams will take a leap in year two. Several NFL experts have lamented Williams’ processing speed, so it will be interesting to watch whether that improves under Ben Johnson or proves to be the kryptonite to Johnson’s seemingly limitless offensive potency when he had Jared Goff slinging the rock.
The Pack Are On The Attack
What has gotten into the Packers' front office? After drafting a receiver in the first round—the uber-talented Matthew Golden-for the first time since 2002, the famously conservative Packers brass became downright brazen in the best possible way.
The surprising trade of Micah Parsons to Green Bay has sent shockwaves throughout the NFL.
Though losing defensive tackle anchor Kenny Clark is nothing to gloss over, adding one of the top-3 defensive players in the entire NFL has now positioned the Packers—and their already strong defense—for a serious Super Bowl run.
Quarterback Questions in Minnesota & Green Bay
The Minnesota Vikings only lost to two teams last season, but in the worst possible ways. A season sweep at the hands of the Lions kept them from the NFC's #1 seed—and a dreadful playoff performance against the Rams—saw Sam Darnold turn back into a pumpkin as their season collapsed.
Vikings Coach Kevin O'Connell has gotten the best out of whoever is penciled in at QB1 on the depth chart, and his newest project is 2024 first-round pick JJ McCarthy. After what was essentially a medical redshirt season, McCarthy has been given the keys to the offense in year two and can make good use of All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson.
If the Vikings' completely revamped offensive line can keep McCarthy clean, he's got a great chance to succeed.
Across the border in Green Bay, Jordan Love is already back at practice after thumb surgery. All signs point to Love being ready for week one. A healthy Love is good enough to take the Packers on a deep playoff run, especially if Josh Jacobs repeats his productivity and the wide receiver corps takes a collective leap forward. We’ll be watching how dynamic first-round pick Matthew Golden is utilized, how Romeo Doubs plays in a contract year, and whether Jayden Reed takes the next step toward being a 1,000-yard receiver.
Who are the Sleeper Teams?
Washington and Denver both made the playoffs last year, so they only loosely qualify as sleepers.
The Commanders return most of their young core and could absolutely find themselves in the NFC title game. Meanwhile, Sean Payton’s Broncos look reenergized heading into 2025, even if the AFC West is more crowded than ever.
One team that definitely fits the sleeper criteria? The New England Patriots. The Patriots were terrible last season, with the Jerod Mayo experience ending almost as soon as it started.
New head coach—and Patriots legend—Mike Vrabel inherits a hungry roster with young talent. Quarterback Drake Maye looked sharp late in 2024, and with Christian Gonzalez and Christian Barmore anchoring the defense, New England could quietly surge back into the playoff conversation.
Must-See Matchups on the 2025 NFL Schedule
Week 1: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys
- Date: Thursday, September 4, 2025
- Time: 8:20 PM EDT
- Why It's Marquee: The NFL season begins with pure animosity. This NFC East blood feud kicks things off in the premier Thursday night slot.
Week 1: Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills
- Date: Sunday, September 7, 2025
- Time: 8:20 PM EDT
- Why It's Marquee: The first Sunday Night Football game of the year is a clash of AFC superpowers. Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen are two of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the league, and this head-to-head battle between perennial contenders will provide an immediate barometer for the AFC’s pecking order. Will this be the AFC title game preview?
Week 3: Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens
- Date: Monday, September 22, 2025
- Time: 8:15 PM EDT
- Why It's Marquee: A monster inter-conference Monday Night Football matchup. Two of the league's most physical and well-coached teams collide. The Lions' high-powered offense faces the formidable challenge of the Ravens' stingy and aggressive defense in a true heavyweight bout.
Week 10: Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers
- Date: Monday, November 9, 2025
- Time: 4:25 PM EST
- Why It's Marquee: Keep reading below because our bold predictions absolutely tie back to these two teams. Something tells us this game will directly determine home-field advantage in the NFC.
Week 11: Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
- Date: Sunday, November 16, 2025
- Time: 1:00 PM EST
- Why It's Marquee: One of the most physical and hostile rivalries in the NFL. There is genuine bad blood between these AFC North foes, and while Burrow vs Rodgers adds all sorts of flair, this game is guaranteed to be a hard-hitting, black-and-blue affair. With the division title race heating up in mid-November, this is a must-win game for both sides.
Week 13: Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
- Date: Thursday, November 27, 2025
- Time: 1:00 PM EST
- Why It's Marquee: The battle for the NFC North crown is the centerpiece of Thanksgiving Day. This classic holiday rivalry has been re-ignited with Jordan Love leading a resurgent Packers team into the hostile territory of the reigning division champion Lions—who were 2-0 against the Packers last season, but lost to the Packers in this exact same matchup in 2023 during Love’s first season as a starter.
Week 14: Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs
- Date: Sunday, December 7, 2025
- Time: 8:20 PM EST
- Why It's Marquee: The established G.O.A.T. vs. the brilliant young challenger in a crucial Sunday Night Football showdown. With the season heading into the home stretch, this matchup between Patrick Mahomes and C.J. Stroud will have enormous implications for the No. 1 seed and, potentially, the MVP race.
7 Bold Predictions for How This NFL Season Will Play Out
- Joe Burrow wins the MVP, though his defense leads to his playoff demise.
- Aaron Rodgers has a commendable season and helps guide the Steelers to the playoffs before an early exit.
- Jayden Daniels and the Commanders prove last year was no fluke.
- The Lions make the playoffs, but the Ben Johnson departure zaps some major magic out of the offense.
- The Eagles earn the #1 seed, but lose to the Packers in the NFC Championship game.
- The Bills and Ravens battle it out in the AFC Title game, with the Bills breaking through.
- The Bills bullrush through the Packers to win Super Bowl LX. The city of Buffalo will never be the same.
Prepare for an Epic NFL Season with Elevated NFL Apparel
Get ready for a truly epic NFL season that’s full of high-stakes showdowns week after week. And just as you hope your team elevates atop your division and conference, you can elevate your fan style about conventional looks with premium, crafted, exclusively designed 2025 NFL apparel from Cutter & Buck.
Now, let us all collectively declare: “Yes, we are ready for some football!”
