Ranking all eight NFL divisions entering 2025 season

There’s a bit of mystery surrounding the Jaguars heading into this season. Things unraveled last year, but there’s reason to believe they’re turning a corner. Despite suffering 10 one-score losses, they now have Travis Hunter — a dynamic two-way threat — and a spark of new leadership under head coach Liam Coen. If Trevor Lawrence can rediscover his form, Jacksonville’s offense might surprise people, even if the defense is still playing catch-up.

Tennessee should also take a step forward with Cam Ward stepping in as the new franchise quarterback. The top overall pick will have his hands full getting in sync with a reworked offensive group, but he brings energy and upside to a passing game that desperately needed a boost. He may not light it up like Jayden Daniels right away, but his presence should at least make the Titans more competitive.

As for the Colts, they’ve been stuck in the mud lately, and it doesn’t help that their quarterback situation is murky. With Anthony Richardson still recovering from injury, Daniel Jones is currently in the driver’s seat, though neither option screams long-term solution. There are a few promising pieces on offense, but lingering questions at quarterback — plus gaps on the O-line, at linebacker, and even at kicker — make it tough to get excited about Indy’s outlook right now.

Much like what we’re seeing in the AFC East, there’s a noticeable divide between the top team and the rest in the NFC South. While Tampa Bay didn’t officially lock up the division until the final week of the season — and bowed out early in the playoffs — they still look clearly ahead of their divisional rivals heading into 2025.

Offensively, the Bucs have the potential to be one of the most explosive units in the league. Adding rookie slot weapon Emeka Egbuka gives Baker Mayfield another tool in a loaded arsenal. The early absence of Tristan Wirfs will hurt, no doubt, but this group has the firepower to keep pushing. On the other side of the ball, there's room for growth too — especially if Haason Reddick and some of the young guys up front can generate more consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

The Bills still sit firmly atop the AFC East, with no real debate. They’re part of that small circle of teams you can realistically picture lifting the Lombardi. Josh Allen, fresh off an MVP season, powers an offense that could be even sharper in 2025 — but it’s the defense that needs to bring more toughness and consistency if Buffalo’s going to get over the hump.

If this division is going to gain ground on the AFC’s elite, it's going to take a jump from either the Patriots or the Jets — two teams still trying to redefine themselves.

New England opened the checkbook this offseason and actually made some moves worth getting excited about. There’s a real buzz with Mike Vrabel taking the reins and Drake Maye showing promise at quarterback. The defense looks better at every level, and if the offensive line and pass-catchers can hold their own, this team sneaking into the playoffs isn’t far-fetched.

The Jets might be facing a tougher climb with a new head coach in Aaron Glenn, but there’s a clear identity forming. The ground game has the potential to be elite, and if the defense takes a step under Glenn's leadership, we might finally see some life out of a team that's struggled to find its footing.

Then there’s Miami — a team caught between staying competitive and quietly retooling. Tua Tagovailoa and the offense still bring flash, but questions are everywhere else. The O-line has holes, the secondary’s been picked apart, and after an 8-9 season with no playoff appearance, Mike McDaniel enters 2025 under more pressure than ever before.

Last season, the NFC West was a tight race — every team was still in the playoff mix deep into December. Even the 49ers, who ended up with just six wins, were widely seen as having underperformed rather than regressed, especially given how dominant they’d been in the three years prior.

This division is no pushover. All four teams have a path to the postseason in 2025, but how many of them realistically belong in the Super Bowl conversation? That’s part of why I have the NFC East ranked slightly ahead — more teams at the top feel truly threatening.

I’m expecting a bounce-back year from San Francisco. The roster took some hits over the offseason, but their 2024 campaign was derailed by injuries and close losses — they went 2-6 in one-score games. The 2025 schedule is more forgiving, and while this version of the Niners might not be peak Shanahan, a double-digit win season feels well within reach.

The rest of the division should stay competitive, too. The Rams and Cardinals both have enough talent to be in the mix, while Seattle remains the biggest wild card. If Sam Darnold can find some rhythm behind a reshaped offensive line, and the defense holds up, the Seahawks could sneak into the playoff picture.

The reigning champion Eagles enter 2025 looking to run it back, bringing back nearly their entire offensive core and enough new faces on defense to keep that unit among the league’s best. Their biggest challenge might not come from outside the conference, but from within their own division — the Commanders are on the rise, giving the NFC East a case for the strongest top-two pairing in the league.

Philadelphia was rarely outclassed last year — their only true dud came in a Week 4 loss to the Bucs. After a few early defensive hiccups, the unit turned into a dominant force down the stretch, and while they lost some pieces in free agency, there’s still more than enough talent to reload. A repeat performance on both sides of the ball wouldn’t be surprising.

Meanwhile, Washington took the league by storm. Jayden Daniels looked like a star from the jump, putting the Commanders firmly back on the map. They doubled down this offseason by trading for Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel, adding firepower to an already explosive offense. The only thing holding them back could be a defense that still has plenty to prove.

Dallas is harder to pin down. With Brian Schottenheimer stepping in as head coach, the Cowboys are counting on a new-look offense to reestablish their identity. Dak Prescott needs a more consistent run game to lean on, but it's the defense — especially the run D — that needs the most immediate attention after an up-and-down 2024.

Then there’s the Giants, who made some moves to reshape their defense and completely overhauled their quarterback situation. There’s hope for progress, but a brutal schedule and sky-high pressure on Brian Daboll will test them early. Unless they take a big leap on both sides of the ball, they’re still sitting in the bottom tier of the league heading into the season.

If someone ranks the AFC West above the North, it’s hard to argue. The Chiefs are coming off their third straight Super Bowl appearance, both the Chargers and Broncos made the postseason, and the Raiders have reshaped their roster in a way that makes them one of the league’s more intriguing teams. There’s no shortage of star power in this division.

If this truly is a “last ride” for Kansas City — with Travis Kelce openly pondering retirement — then it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Chiefs push for one more title. Sure, their lopsided loss to the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX raised some eyebrows, especially after a regular season filled with narrow escapes, but Mahomes, Reid, and company have earned the benefit of the doubt. They’re still built to win.

The real question is whether Denver and Los Angeles can level up. The Broncos are stacked on defense — arguably a top-five unit — and with Bo Nix now running the show and more playmakers emerging on offense, there’s a clear path forward. The Chargers, meanwhile, have a new identity under Jim Harbaugh and a franchise QB in Justin Herbert entering his prime. There are questions on defense, especially with pass rush depth and secondary consistency, but the talent is there.

And don’t overlook Vegas. Pete Carroll brings a new edge to this team, and the offense looks revitalized with Geno Smith and rising star Ashton Jeanty. If the defense can rise to the occasion, the Raiders won’t just be more competitive — they could be in the playoff mix by December.

The tightest division race in the league helps the AFC North land at No. 2 in these rankings, just a hair ahead of the AFC West. You could make a case that Cleveland is the weakest team among the eight, and I wouldn’t argue — but the Ravens, Bengals, and a revamped Steelers squad stand toe-to-toe with any trio in the NFL.

In Baltimore, the urgency is real. The Super Bowl window is wide open, but time is ticking. Lamar Jackson is still playing at an MVP level, and the front office quietly put together a strong offseason. The only real hurdle now? Can they finally leapfrog the Bills and Chiefs in January. It’s well within reach.

Cincinnati enters 2025 needing to prove they can return to contender status after missing the playoffs two straight years. Offensively, they’re still a problem — Joe Burrow and that wide receiver room give them firepower few teams can match. But the defense has become a liability, and with Trey Hendrickson still in a contract standoff, that side of the ball might hold them back again.

Then there’s Pittsburgh, arguably one of the biggest wild cards in the league. Aaron Rodgers walks into a more functional situation than he had in New York, and the Steelers have done a solid job retooling the roster. But it’s been nearly a decade since they last won a playoff game, and they’ll have to prove this is more than just a splashy offseason.

As for the Browns, their quarterback competition might be the most compelling in the league — and the most frustrating. No one has separated themselves yet, but the defense has enough teeth to make Cleveland a tough out, even if the offense sputters early.

There was plenty of early-season hype surrounding the NFC North in 2024 — some even called it the deepest division in football. That talk cooled off fast after the Bears collapsed post-Week 6, but the potential remains. If Chicago can avoid another long drought in the win column, this group might actually live up to the billing in 2025.

Detroit enters the season as defending champs, but they’ve got a mountain to climb. A brutal schedule lies ahead, and they’ll be navigating it without both of last year’s coordinators — including offensive guru Ben Johnson, who now coaches division-rival Chicago. Still, Dan Campbell’s group has earned benefit-of-the-doubt status. Even in a gauntlet of a division, the Lions are tough to count out.

Minnesota was a win away from the NFC’s top seed in January and enters the new year with a new face under center. All eyes are on J.J. McCarthy — if the second-year quarterback is ready, this team has the infrastructure to win immediately under Kevin O’Connell.

Green Bay remains firmly in the hunt after an 11-win season, but this year feels pivotal. Jordan Love showed flashes of stardom in 2024, and if he continues trending upward — paired with a more consistent defense — the Packers could be right back in the mix come January.

As for the Bears, they were one of the busiest teams in football this offseason — and for good reason. With Caleb Williams now the face of the franchise and Ben Johnson looking to maximize his rookie QB's upside, Chicago has the pieces to turn things around. But in a loaded division, nothing will come easy.