2025 NFL predictions

We shall start in the AFC.

Buffalo remains the clear class in the east, and will contend again for the Super Bowl. 

The Patriots, with a little more stable coaching and an improving Drake Maye, are one of my wild card picks.

The Jets will be competitive with the douchebag Rodgers gone, but don't have the juice to really contend.

And Miami is just adrift, basically, playing out the string of the Tua era. Dangerous on a game by game basis, but not contenders.

Baltimore again takes the north, and once again, the story will be can they win in the playoffs.

The Bengals have all the offense they need to be a threat, and even just a slight improvement in the defense gets them back to the playoffs.

Sorry, Pittsburgh. I usually root for them, but not this year with the douchebag Aaron Rodgers there. He's washed up. But the Tomlin rules all but guarantee 9 wins and at least fringe contention.

Cleveland will stink, unless Joe Flacco pulls off another miracle.

The south is easily the worst division in the NFL. Houston wins again basically by default.

Jaguars have a new coach, and are still trying to make Trevor Lawrence work.

The Titans break in Cam Ward, who they hope can do a Jayden Daniels and make them instant contenders.

And the Colts have been reduced to pinning their season on Daniel Jones. Poor bastards.

In the west, I may be an idiot (what do you mean "may be"?), but I'm picking the Chargers to end the Chiefs reign. I'm a Harbaugh believer, and I also really do believe in the Super Bowl loser curse. The Chiefs should still easily be a wild card, and then a tough out.

Denver was a big surprise last year, but I don't see them taking the next step.

And the Raiders will stink, unless the NFL still wants to rig things for Brady  

Over to the NFC, I know the east never has a repeat winner, but the defending champion Eagles are still so loaded that I really think the weird streak ends.

Washington was last year's biggest surprise, and I don't think they were a fluke. But I always expect those pop-up teams to regress a little. 

Dallas and the Giants will battle it out for last place. It probably depends on if Russell Wilson has anything left.

In the south, I'm done overlooking the Buccaneers. They have a dangerous offense.

Atlanta goes full Michael Penix. I guess if that doesn't work out, Kirk is there.

Carolina improved a lot as last year went on. Not ready to say that was a future indicator.

And the Saints, oh boy. That 1st pick in the drafts is theirs to lose. 

The west I could honestly see finishing with any team in any spot. Just to be unusual, I'm picking the Cardinals to win it.  The 49ers still have a good roster if they can be healthy. The Rams could win again, but Staffford is banged up. I doubt Sam Darnold can do for Seattle what he did for the Vikings  

Speaking of the Vikings (aces sequeway), officially, I have them at 10-7. I think that's a reasonable pick, considering I remain pretty much in the middle as far as my expectations for JJ McCarthy.

It does feel like the whole season comes down to how good JJ can be right away. If he can hit the ground running a la Daunte Culpepper in 2000, the Vikings can truly contend for a Super Bowl. If he's closer to Ponder territory, they'll struggle to be a wild card team. 

I think he'll be somewhere in the middle. I don't think he will be THE reason they win many games, but I don't think he will be to blame for losses either. 

The rest of the roster is pretty great, outside of a still thin CB position (thought we'd sign someone else). The defense has its best collection of talent in years, and the trenches should be a true strength.

The OL should also be the best it's been in years, provided Darrisaw is back strong. The run game should be the best of the KOC era with Jones and Mason as a great pair. Hockenson is fully recovered from his injury. Jefferson is All Pro, and once he, Addison, Nailor, and welcome back Adam Thielen are all in the fold, McCarthy will have tons of weapons.

Can the Vikings win the division at 10-7? Don't think so. I think the Lions will still take the north, even after losing their 2 coordinators. They won't win 15 games, more like 11.

Green Bay will also be in the mix, although people are vastly overhyping them after the Parsons trade (he's already hurt anyway). Jordan Love isn't that guy yet.

The Bears will be a little better, but I don't see them as anywhere but last place again.

The Vikings season doesn't need to end in February to be a success. If McCarthy looks like he's the guy, and they even win one playoff game, I think we can all be very optimistic about where thos thing is heading. 

Super Bowl pick?

I'm going back to picking the Bills after a year away. In the NFC, I decided to be weird and pick Tampa Bay to break through. Bills win it all.