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Way-Too-Soon 2025-26 NFL Power Rankings: Who's the Favorite to Dethrone Eagles?
The confetti has fallen at Caesars Superdome. The Philadelphia Eagles are champions of the NFL.
As with so many things this season, the Super Bowl didn't go as planned. Sure, the Kansas City Chiefs were just 1.5-point favorites, but no one expected the Eagles to completely dominate the game—especially in the trenches defensively. The final score was 40-22, but make no mistake—Philadelphia blasted the two-time defending Super Bowl champs.
That game closes the book on 2024, but the NFL is a perpetual motion machine—the 2025 league year may not have begun officially, but teams have already shifted their focus toward Santa Clara, California, and Super Bowl LX.
For some teams, the Super Bowl is a pipe dream—they are just trying to improve after an embarrassing campaign. Others are trying to take the step from pretender to contender. Others still (like the Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills) are trying to erase postseason disappointment and make that final push to the biggest game in sports.
There is a lot that will happen between now and September that will impact the odds of those teams accomplishing their goals, including free agency and the NFL draft.
But it's never too early to start looking ahead, and that's just what Bleacher Report NFL Analysts Gary Davenport, Kristopher Knox, Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski are here to do—by ranking all 32 NFL teams from No. 32 to No. 1.
Not to kill the suspense, but the top team wears green.
32. Tennessee Titans
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The 2024 season was a dismal one for the Tennessee Titans—three wins and the realization that Will Levis is most assuredly not the long-term answer at quarterback.
But that woeful season landed the Titans the first pick in the upcoming NFL draft. While addressing the media, new Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi said that the draft is going to be critical to filling the many holes on the Titans roster.
"We'll supplement free agency, but we want to build through the draft," Borgonzi said. "We need to build that core foundation of players really to change the culture, and that takes a little bit of time."
Borgonzi also said that the Titans aren’t locked into any position with the first pick and that the team will listen to offers to trade down.
But make no mistake—until the Titans improve under center, they will be mired in the basement of the AFC South.
Analyst’s Take
The Titans earned their designation as the NFL's worst team. There's only one way to go from this point.
Unsurprisingly, Will Levis didn't do enough to warrant further consideration as the franchise's long-term starting quarterback, hence why the team now owns this year's No. 1 overall draft pick. Tennessee now has a choice to make. The Titans will almost certainly pick between Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, as the only two quarterbacks with solid first-round grades.
Yes, Borgonzi told reporters that the Titans won't pass on a "generational talent." Welp, one doesn't exist in this year's class. So, quarterback it is. -- Sobleski
31. New York Giants
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It was another disappointing season for the New York Giants in 2024. The offense languished, finishing dead last in the NFC in scoring. After handing quarterback Daniel Jones a four-year, $160 million extension in 2023, Jones was released by the team in-season.
Finding a new quarterback is Priority No. 1 for the G-Men, and embattled head coach Brian Daboll told reporters he looks forward to digging in this offseason and doing just that.
"You look for accuracy," Daboll said. "It's leadership; it's accuracy. You watch all the games. It's not a cut-up of games where you're looking at whether it's targets or run blocks, you're watching everything and seeing how they respond. How do they respond in two-minute situations? How they respond after an interception? What's the playbook like after a few bad plays or a few incompletions? Again, there's no exact science in it. It's obvious that there isn't. You do the best job you can."
The problem is that a Week 17 win over the Indianapolis Colts knocked the Giants to third in the 2025 draft. If the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns both draft quarterbacks, Big Blue could face some difficult decisions.
Analyst’s Take
Daniel Jones' benching and subsequent release proved to be the biggest revelation for the Giants during the 2024 season. New York is in the quarterback market again, which will define its 2025 offseason. New York isn't sitting in a pole position, though. As owners of the third overall pick in a two-quarterback draft class (first round, that is), the Giants may need to get creative this offseason to obtain their signal-caller of the future.
However, a second option does exist where Big Blue pursues a veteran option, like Sam Darnold or even Justin Fields. Nothing can be determined until the Giants find out who is going to be leading the team next fall. -- Sobleski
30. Cleveland Browns
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The Cleveland Browns are a hot mess.
The Deshaun Watson trade and contract has become the worst personnel move in NFL history. Watson will likely miss the entire 2025 season after tearing his Achilles tendon—twice. Superstar edge-rusher Myles Garrett wants to be traded. And no team in the AFC is in worse shape relative to the salary cap.
Other than that, everything is fine.
However, head coach Kevin Stefanski remains confident Cleveland can sign or draft a quarterback who can lead the team to a more successful 2025.
“When you win three games, you didn’t do much very well,” Stefanski told reporters. “So, we’re looking at everything. And certainly, you talk about the quarterback position, it is important when it comes to winning and losing — we get that. We’ve had different guys that we’ve won with, so we believe in our system and a system that’s going to adapt to our best players. And certainly, you’re thinking about the quarterback position when it comes to that. But for us right now, it’s about putting the system in with (offensive coordinator) Tommy Rees and this offensive staff and making sure it’s adaptable to whomever we have out there at all of those spots.”
Analyst’s Take
Tell yourself whatever you need to, Kevin.
This team is a disaster. The second overall pick will give Cleveland a shot at either Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. But it’s not hard to imagine one of them pulling an Eli Manning and wanting no part of the circus in Cleveland.
Garrett isn’t going to be traded—the dead cap hit would be crippling to a team already in terrible shape in that regard. But the team’s best player being unhappy is just one more headache. So is a group of in-house free agents including running back Nick Chubb and left tackle Jedrick Wills the team has no money to re-sign.
The Watson deal destroyed the Browns. And there’s no easy (or quick) fix in sight. -- Davenport
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29. Jacksonville Jaguars
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The Jacksonville Jaguars entered the 2024 season with aspirations of winning the AFC South. The team finished it a four-win tomato can with a fired head coach.
The Jags hired Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen to replace Doug Pederson, and while speaking to reporters Coen said his biggest task in the offseason is getting quarterback Trevor Lawrence back on track after an injury-marred and disappointing fourth professional season.
"How do we make Trevor Lawrence and this offense as dynamic and explosive as we can be," Coen said. "We've got to build it around him as well. We've got to make every part of this about improvement, and he will be a part of that process. He's earned that right. I cannot respect his toughness and mentality, and work ethic more than I do already from afar. This will all be about Trevor right now.”
Lawrence has a budding star in the passing game in wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. But if Jacksonville is going anywhere in 2025, Lawrence needs to start playing up to his hefty salary.
Analyst’s Take
Jags ownership seemed to figure out their biggest problem after yet another disappointing campaign. The Khans needed to reset the entire leadership structure in football operations.
Going into the season, Shad Khan referred to the 2024 roster as the "best team assembled" in Jaguars’ history and expected a winning campaign. Instead, Jacksonville finished with a 4-13 record and currently own this year's fifth overall draft pick.
While searching for a new head coach after Doug Pederson's firing, candidates weren't interested in working with general manager Trent Baalke. The Khan family took note and fired Baalke, allowing the team to hire its preferred choice in Liam Coen as the new head coach. Once a new general manager is hired, a completely different approach should be expected after last year's embarrassment. -- Sobleski
28. New Orleans Saints
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The New Orleans Saints have a number of issues entering the 2025 offseason.
Assuming the reported hiring becomes official, Kellen Moore will take over a team that averaged less than 20 points per game a year ago. The future of quarterback Derek Carr is murky at best. And with the team a staggering $54.1 million over the projected salary cap for 2025 per Over the Cap, some difficult financial decisions are coming.
However, while addressing the media, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said the cap situation in the Big Easy isn’t as dire as some are making it out to be.
"I'm pretty comfortable with where we're at. I'm comfortably uncomfortable," Loomis said. "It's something we have to manage, but there's a lot of teams that have to manage their cap that way. Some of the ones are going to have to at some point. I feel OK about where we're at. I think we're making progress from where we've been the last few years, and so I'm feeling better about it."
Lotta glass half-full folks at the bottom of these power rankings.
Analyst’s Take
Moore did an excellent job with the Eagles in 2024 and is widely regarded as a keen offensive mind.
New Orleans needs an offensive mind to get the most out of 11-year veteran quarterback Derek Carr while the front office figures out what to do with its aging defense. The Saints are in terrible position relative to the cap, so we could see a much younger squad with unheralded names in key positions next season. -- Moton
27. New England Patriots
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For the better part of two decades, the New England Patriots were the NFL’s gold standard. Those days are long gone now, and after one disappointing year at the helm, head coach Jerod Mayo was shown the door, replaced by another longtime Pats standout in Mike Vrabel.
Vrabel was 54-45 as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, and second-year quarterback Drake Maye told reporters he thinks that Vrabel’s experience will bring some stability to a young Patriots team.
“He’s played in New England, been a head coach that’s had success. We decided to bring in somebody with some experience and knows what it’s like to handle the locker room and be in the locker room, so I’m excited for Coach Vrabel. And I think he’s gonna go out there and toughen us up, and I think some of us need that, including myself.”
Maye showed some flashes as a rookie, but one of New England’s top offseason priorities needs to be improving the weapons at the young signal-caller’s disposal.
Analyst’s Take
I won't be shocked if the Patriots make a surprise playoff run in 2025. Drake Maye is a legitimate franchise quarterback, and Mike Vrabel was the right hire as head coach. I don't believe Jerod Mayo got a fair shot at the job, but I'm also convinced that Vrabel would have been Robert Kraft's top choice to succeed Bill Belichick had he believed he would be available. The Patriots will be better coached next season. Equipped with a league-best $125 million in projected cap space, they have the assets needed to improve in a hurry.
That said, New England had one of the league's most underwhelming rosters in 2024. There's a lot of work ahead, and until I see how Vrabel and Eliot Wolf handle the challenge, I have to consider the Patriots a bottom-10 team. -- Knox
26. Las Vegas Raiders
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If there has been a constant in Las Vegas the past few years, it has been change—and 2025 is no exception.
There's a new head coach in Pete Carroll. The team's starting quarterback this year more likely than not isn't on the roster. But despite all the questions facing the Raiders in a division that fielded three playoff teams in 2024, edge-rusher Maxx Crosby is confident the Raiders can turn things around—if everyone is on the same page.
"Every year you have to start from square one," Crosby told ESPN Radio. "You do not just start oh yeah we pick off from where we left off, that is not how it works. Across the board we have new coaches and new players we will see. We are going to bring in new players and draft new players. It is about alignment. You have to have everybody on the same page to have a chance. If you do not have that you do not have no chance."
Analyst's Take
This offseason, the Raiders may be retooling instead of rebuilding. They retained defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and special teams coordinator Tom McMahon. As a spry 73-year-old with five decades of coaching experience, new head coach Pete Carroll wants to quickly turn things around in Las Vegas.
That said, the Raiders aren't going anywhere in the standings or the power rankings until they upgrade their quarterback room. Aidan O'Connell will only get them so far, with a low ceiling. Las Vegas should take a big swing at a veteran in free agency or roll the dice on a high-upside draft prospect. -- Moton
25. New York Jets
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The New York Jets were nowhere near Super Bowl LIX, but that didn't stop the team from making news on Super Bowl Sunday.
Per ESPN's Rich Cimini, the Jets will be making another change at quarterback—New York is moving on from Aaron Rodgers.
"(Head coach Aaron) Glenn has been in contact with Rodgers since he was hired, as part of an evolving discussion on the quarterback's future," Cimini wrote. "Glenn, at his introductory news conference on Jan. 27, was noncommittal on Rodgers. The coach said he wanted to meet with the veteran before choosing a direction at quarterback. A formal announcement is likely in the coming days."
The decision leaves the Jets with a sizable dead cap hit—and searching yet again for a starting quarterback.
Can we interest you in a gently-used Sam Darnold?
Remember him?
Analyst's Take
I do believe that Aaron Glenn is the right head coach for this franchise. However, I also believe that it's going to take some time to right the proverbial ship after New York crashed and burned in 2024. The Jets had enough talent to be a playoff threat this past season, but it feels like a fresh start is needed here.
With roughly two dozen players scheduled for free agency and just $12.1 million in projected cap space, New York will likely experience a high level of turnover this offseason. I expect this to be a transitional year for the Jets, though if Glenn can galvanize his team as coaches like Dan Quinn and DeMeco Ryans have recently, there will be room for hope. Just how heavily did a disjointed approach and a fractured locker room impact the Jets in 2024? We'll find out soon enough. -- Knox
24. Chicago Bears
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The Chicago Bears won just five games last year, but there's reason for optimism in 2025.
Quarterback Caleb Williams had his share of struggles as a rookie, but there were flashes of the talent that got Williams drafted first overall in 2024. The Bears also landed the most coveted head coach of this year's cycle, luring Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the Windy City.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters that he fears the Bears made a fantastic hire in the 2024 Assistant Coach of the Year.
"I'll tell you this, what they did offensively, I know Jared Goff really well, he's a fantastic quarterback, but what they did [in Detroit] and just how well it was put together," he said. "It's fundamentally sound, it's systematically sound, but it's also the next level now. They're challenging the barriers of what people thought could be possible to do, with really good players. Ben is fantastic."
The weapons are there in Chicago. If Johnson can coax the best from Williams, the Bears could be an explosive offense in 2025.
Analyst's Take
How much stock should we put in new Bears head coach Ben Johnson? Not enough for me to consider Chicago a top-20 team—yet.
Johnson does have the offensive chops to properly develop Caleb Williams. However, he's never been a head coach before, and the Bears have other issues. Neither their defense nor their offensive line were good in 2024, and it'll take significant work to address those areas. Can Johnson and GM Ryan Poles work together effectively to do it? That remains to be seen. The opportunity is certainly there, as Chicago enters the offseason with the fourth-most projected cap space in the NFL. -- Knox
23. Carolina Panthers
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It has been quite a while since the Carolina Panthers had reason for considerable optimism. A five-win 2024 season wouldn't appear reason for that to change. But look past the record, and there may just be reasons for hope.
Carolina finished the season with wins in two of its last three games. And after a miserable start to the season that got him benched for a time, young quarterback Bryce Young played much better once returning to the starting lineup.
Former Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart told reporters at Radio Row during Super Bowl week that he believes Young's improvement is simply a matter of his maturation as a player.
"He's the guy, and how he's played the last several games of the season, he stepped on that field exactly like he's that guy," Stewart said. "And I think you know he's been wanting to do that, but I just think now, after everything that's transpired, I think you know that he trusts what's happening and the decision-makers. I think it's respected when they do the hard thing, right? And as all the other players in the locker room, you respect it. And when you respect it, you can trust it. And then once you go through the fire and you can come out and have some success, you trust it even more, right?"
Analyst's Take
The Panthers' 2025 outlook will be tied to Bryce Young's development.
If the 23-year-old quarterback continues to improve, Carolina will earn some quality wins and contend for a playoff spot.
But if Young starts the upcoming campaign as he did last season before head coach Dave Canales benched him, the Panthers may have to make an in-season trade for a veteran signal-caller and look for a new potential franchise quarterback in the 2026 draft.
To help Young, the Panthers must overhaul their defensive unit, which allowed the most points and yards last year. They shouldn't force their developing signal-caller to win scoring shootouts every week. -- Moton
22. Indianapolis Colts
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The Indianapolis Colts enter the 2025 offseason facing one question that looms over all others.
Is Anthony Richardson "the guy?"
Richardson's first two seasons as the Colts quarterback have featured some electrifying plays. But Richardson has also struggled mightily throwing the football—a completion percentage below 48 percent last season.
However, despite Richardson's struggles, running back Jonathan Taylor told reporters he still believes Richardson is the right quarterback to lead the Colts offense.
"It's a tough league, and I don't think people realize how young he is," Taylor said. "There are guys coming in this draft who are like 24, I think he's still 22. He's only played 13 games in college I think now 15 in the NFL, so he still hasn't played a bunch of ball. He's doing the things that need to be done to make a great quarterback. He's just young and it's a tough league. It takes time, but we're 100% behind him and especially us as teammates we understand and we know the work that he's putting in."
Analyst's Take
The heat is on...on the streets of Indianapolis. Owner Jim Irsay didn't make sweeping changes after a disappointing 2024 campaign, where the entire Colts organization regressed. General manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen may only have one more year to prove they are the right people to lead the franchise.
As such, expect different approaches this offseason. Ballard should become far more aggressive, particularly in the free-agent market. Steichen needs to rethink his offensive approach after a disappointing second year at the helm. Quarterback Anthony Richardson must prove he's capable of leading the team with his work ethic, leadership and on-field development.
Gus Bradley's removal as defensive coordinator became necessary after his unit's complete no-show against the New York Giants with a potential playoff spot on the line. Improvement should occur on that side of the ball simply from a scheme change under Lou Anarumo. Everyone within the organization should know it's either get better or face the consequences. -- Sobleski
21. Dallas Cowboys
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To say the 2024 season didn't turn out as planned in Dallas is one lulu of an understatement.
Dallas came into the year expecting to make a Super Bowl run. But Dak Prescott got hurt, the team regressed on both sides of the ball, and after a 7-10 season, Mike McCarthy was out as head coach.
Team owner Jerry Jones surprised many when he replaced McCarthy with a first-time head coach in Brian Schottenheimer. But in making the in-house promotion, Jones told reporters he's making plans that will enable the team to rebound quickly in 2025.
"The decisions I'm making are not based on rebuilding," Jones said. "They're based on competing. And competing now. The decisions I made last year were based on competing now. Now they didn't exactly work out. But I think I paid Dak (Prescott) more than anybody's ever been paid in the NFL. That's now. That's not the future. We're excited about our team's ability to compete right now."
Analyst's Take
Jerry Jones' decision to hire Brian Schottenheimer—another attempt by an owner trying to desperately maintain control through his handpicked choice of a controllable coach—sends the Cowboys further down the league's hierarchy. Granted, the Mike McCarthy hire didn't pan out, either. But McCarthy at least presented a track record that led to three playoff appearances in Dallas. Sadly, the organization still holds itself to a standard that really hasn't existed since the 1990s.
Schottenheimer was the coordinator of Dallas' successful offense in 2023, but McCarthy called plays. He wasn't viewed as a hot candidate throughout the league and didn't interview anywhere else. To be fair, those things don't determine who will actually be a good head coach. Schottenheimer may surprise. But the move at head coach feels far more like a non-relevant organization taking another step backward. -- Sobleski
20. Arizona Cardinals
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Back in 2022, the Arizona Cardinals gave quarterback Kyler Murray a five-year, $230.5 million contract extension after a playoff appearance the year before.
Since signing that deal, Murray is 11-14 as the team's starter. There has even been speculation that the Cardinals could look to trade the 27-year-old.
However, Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters that the Redbirds need to do a better job building around their quarterback.
"You start looking around, you list the playoff teams and the quarterbacks of the playoff teams, I told him and I believe this: what is the common denominator of those quarterbacks in the playoffs right now? You could list all these different things," Gannon said. "I said, ‘I'll make it easy on you, it's good teams.’ It's what it is. Good quarterbacks are on good teams. We have to do everything that we can to support him and put a good team around him, then he has to play to his level consistently, which I know he can do.”
Analyst's Take
It's not fair to place all of Arizona's struggles on Murray's shoulders. Marvin Harrison Jr. didn't make the impact as a rookie many expected. The offensive line is average—on a good day. There is room for improvement on defense at all three levels. And with the fourth-most cap space in the league, the Cardinals have the cheese to be aggressive in free agency.
But none of that will matter if Murray doesn't start playing more like the star quarterback he's being paid as and less like an average signal-caller. Frankly, if another team came along with a strong offer for Murray, general manager Monti Ossenfort would be well-served to strongly consider a reset at the position. -- Davenport
19. Miami Dolphins
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It's not unfair to say that 2025 is a make-or-break year for the Miami Dolphins—in more than one way.
This was a team that was supposed to compete for an AFC East title. But quarterback Tua Tagovailoa missed time and struggled—largely because opposing defenses figured out how to take the vertical passing game away from Miami. Supposed offensive wunderkind Mike McDaniel never had an answer for those defensive adjustments. And Miami wound up missing the postseason altogether.
Still, after the season concluded, team owner Stephen Ross wasted no time in telling reporters that McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier's jobs were safe—for now.
“As we now look towards 2025, our football operations will continue to be led by Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel with my full support,” Ross said. “Their positive working relationship is an asset to the Dolphins, and I believe in the value of stability. However, continuity in leadership is not to be confused with an acceptance that status quo is good enough. We will take a hard look at where we have fallen short, and make the necessary changes to deliver our ultimate goal of building and sustaining a winning team that competes for championships.”
Analyst's Take
I'm not quite sure where the Dolphins go from here. They have an offense built to work with Tagovailoa and virtually no other quarterback. He carries significant injury concerns, and it sure feels like the window with Tyreek Hill is closing fast. Miami's offensive line carries significant question marks, and its defense—which could lose safety Jevon Holland in free agency—is more good than great.
Miami also faces a $14.2 million cap deficit, which means improving the roster will be a challenge. Either Chris Grier finds creative ways to get it done, or he and Mike McDaniel could be looking for work in 2026. Right now, I view the Dolphins as a borderline playoff team that could reach the divisional round if they get hot in 2025 or land in the AFC East basement if even a few things go wrong. -- Knox
18. San Francisco 49ers
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There are those who believe the "Super Bowl hangover" is a myth.
The San Francisco 49ers would likely disagree.
After narrowly losing Super Bowl LVIII, the 49ers' 2024 season was snakebit from start to finish. Injuries blasted the team on both sides of the ball—including the absence of running back Christian McCaffery most of the season.
Now, the team faces what could be a pivotal offseason. With three seasons of experience, quarterback Brock Purdy is eligible for an extension that could sail past $50 million a season.
Linebacker Fred Warner told The Athletic's Diana Russini that Purdy is worth every penny he gets.
“If you truly watch the tape and you watch all the other elite quarterbacks in this league, there’s a common thread amongst all of them: The fact that they’re able to process the game at such a high level, able to create plays with their feet, and make the high-level throws up and down the field. Brock Purdy does all these things. And he was in the MVP conversation a year ago—let’s not forget that he took us to a Super Bowl and he gave us the lead before, obviously, Patrick Mahomes and them took it away from us. Everybody out there, if you have any questions about Brock Purdy, I’m here to tell you — I’m not biased, I know ball — he’s the guy.”
The team also has a disgruntled wide receiver—after his role in the offense decreased in 2024, Deebo Samuel has requested a trade out of San Francisco.
Analyst's Take
The 49ers remain more than capable of competing for the NFC West title. And given that they were in the Super Bowl in 2023, a deep playoff run can't be ruled out. But there's cause for concern in Santa Clara.
Purdy's mega-extension is going to put a major dent in San Francisco's ability to be aggressive in free agency moving forward. There are hard decisions to be made about the team's in-house free agents. Stalwart left tackle Trent Williams turns 37 in July. After McCaffrey's lost 2024 season, it's fair to question if all the mileage on his tires has caused a decline.
The 49ers may be underrated here. But they'll have to earn a higher spot on the field next fall. -- Davenport
17. Atlanta Falcons
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The Atlanta Falcons were one of the NFL's more enigmatic teams in 2024. At times, they looked like the best team in their division. Other times? Not so much.
Inconsistent quarterbacking from Kirk Cousins played a significant role in those ups and downs, and late in the season the team handed the reins of the offense over to rookie Michael Penix Jr. While addressing the media, star running back Bijan Robinson said a full offseason as the team's starter can only help the youngster's development.
“For Mike, understanding that he’s now the starting quarterback for our team and for him coming into his second year, this will be really important for this offseason for him to just get comfortable with everybody,” Robinson said. “To find everybody’s rhythms, to find his own rhythm. Obviously, we’re going to help him out a lot.”
Robinson also said that he expects the Falcons to take a step forward in 2025.
“The goal is obviously to win the [NFC] South but for us, like we wanna just take it one game at a time and focus on what we have to do at hand instead of like looking into the future and seeing what we want to become instead of what we’re focusing on now.”
Analyst's Take
The Falcons benched Kirk Cousins two to three weeks too late, costing them a playoff berth. Fortunately for Atlanta, it has its promising young quarterback on the roster. Michael Penix Jr. showed positive flashes in three games as a starter. He can build off his playing experience and hit the ground running next season.
In the offseason, though, the Falcons must do a better job of strengthening their pass rush. They hired defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to coach the talent on that side of the ball. Still, the front office should sign a veteran playmaker and pick up a couple of high-end defensive prospects as well. -- Moton
16. Seattle Seahawks
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The Seattle Seahawks are in a tricky spot in 2025.
Sure, there are plenty of teams that wish they had three straight winning seasons under their belt. Or won 10 games in 2024. But Seattle has missed the playoffs the past two years. They are good. But not great.
That has led to speculation that the Seahawks might consider shaking things up—or even trading quarterback Geno Smith. But Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters that so far as he's concerned, Smith is Seattle's starting quarterback—period.
"I want Geno to be here," Macdonald said. "I think he's a heck of a player ... I feel like Geno's the best for the team right now. I'll be involved with it. Ultimately, it's not my decision. It's a Seahawks decision, but Geno knows how we feel about him, and we love him as our starting quarterback, for sure."
Analyst's Take
Frankly, the notion of trading Smith is rather silly, unless the Seahawks want to jump-start a rebuild. There isn't a better quarterback available in free agency, and Seattle doesn't have the draft capital to pursue a high-end prospect.
Seattle has quite a bit going for it—the team has a solid stable of running backs and wide receivers on offense, and the Seahawks ranked inside the top 10 in sacks on defense. Rather than fix something that isn't broken, the Seahawks should be smoothing edges. Improving the offensive line. Adding some talent on the back end of the defense.
The problem is that Seattle is also upside-down against the salary cap to the tune of over $13 million. But with a few cap machinations and a good draft, the Smith-led Seahawks could be right back in the mix in a winnable NFC West in 2025.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers
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The good news for the Pittsburgh Steelers is that the team won 10 games and made the playoffs in 2024.
The bad news is that counting said playoffs, Pittsburgh lost its last five games—and the team's quarterback situation is unsettled.
Both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson made multiple starts for the Steelers in 2024. But now both are set to hit free agency.
Wilson's return appears to be growing less likely. A rift has reportedly opened, with Wilson's camp blaming the team's late-season swoon on Arthur Smith's play-calling, while Dejan Kovacevic of DK Pittsburgh Sports contends that Wilson simply wasn't playing well.
"Absolutely nothing had changed about Smith's approach in the options he offers to quarterbacks, whether Wilson or Justin Fields, and nothing sure was about to change after Wilson ran up 44 points against the Bengals," Kovacevic wrote. "But I'm told that Wilson's agents, part of his voluminous entourage, put forth that narrative, and they did so in an apparent attempt to either preserve his status in Pittsburgh or enhance the chance that another team might want him as a starter."
Analyst's Take
It will be fascinating to see how the Steelers handle the quarterback position. Head coach Mike Tomlin could have changed back to Fields at any point down the stretch last season. But he didn't. If the team re-ups Fields and not Wilson, it's essentially admitting that Tomlin made a mistake.
Wilson is who he is—he may have the higher floor, but Pittsburgh's ceiling with him under center is likely the 10-win, bounced-in-the-Wild-Card-Round team we saw in 2024. Fields has a lower floor, but he's a younger, more dynamic player who would likely cost significantly less to sign.
Steelers owner Art Rooney II stated that he'd like to bring one of the two quarterbacks back in 2025. For this analyst's money, Fields is the wiser play.
Tomlin will have to get over it. -- Davenport
14. Cincinnati Bengals
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The 2024 season was a tale of extremes in the Queen City.
On the bad end, there was a miserable defense that ranked 25th in both yards and points allowed. On the good end, there was the play of quarterback Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase—Burrow led the league in passing yards and scoring strikes, while Chase won receiving's "triple crown," pacing the NFL in catches, receiving yards and touchdown grabs.
Now, the Bengals face a trio of potentially expensive offseason decisions. After leading the league with 17.5 sacks, edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson wants an extension. Chase is eligible for one of his own—a megadeal that would all but certainly reset the market at the position. And fellow wide receiver Tee Higgins is set to hit free agency after playing under the franchise tag in 2024.
Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin told reporters he'd like to re-up Hendrickson and the wideouts but admitted that may not be financially feasible.
"We can't have guys at the top of the payroll in every position, right?" Tobin said last week. "We'll do what we can. We'll do what we feel is right, and we will try to get Trey re-signed. It's not giving anybody an extension. It's agreeing with somebody on an extension."
Analyst's Take
Chase isn't going anywhere. And the Cincinnati defense is bad enough without losing Hendrickson, although his age makes negotiations trickier. Burrow hasn't been at all shy about lobbying for all three to get extensions, going so far as to say that he'll redo his deal to free up cap space.
Making the numbers work won't be easy, especially with Chase's deal likely to sail past $35 million a season. But whatever Tobin decides, the Bengals can't afford to go into 2025 with the same defensive deficiencies as this past year. Burrow may have won MVP if the Bengals had been a playoff team, but scoring 35 points every week isn't much good if you also give up 38.
Because, you know, math. -- Davenport
13. Denver Broncos
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With rookie Bo Nix under center, expectations for the Denver Broncos weren't especially high in 2024.
But Nix greatly exceeded those expectations, a Denver defense led by 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II was among the best in the game, and the Broncos made the postseason in Sean Payton's second season as head coach.
Taking the next step and winning a playoff game in 2025 will require a step forward from Nix, but ESPN's Dan Orlovsky thinks Nix is capable of much more. In fact, he went so far as to compare Nix to future Hall of Famer Drew Brees.
"We're not saying they're the same player. We're saying the style of play is similar. Think some of the mannerisms are similar," Orlovsky said on the DNVR Broncos Podcast. "Obviously Drew was one of the greats and a Hall of Famer. So, there's a very high bar that I think one, the consistent ball placement - accuracy in the quick game."
High praise indeed.
Analyst's Take
DraftKings listed the Broncos' over/under win total at 5.5, which tells how impressive their 10-win season looks relative to expectations. As a rookie, Bo Nix performed well in head coach Sean Payton's offense and did it with multiple fractures in his back for the last several weeks of the season.
With a stout third-ranked scoring defense to complement a developing offense, Denver looks like a team on the rise if it retains its core players and adds a couple of playmakers at the skill positions. The Broncos will compete with the Chargers to be the biggest thorn in the Chiefs' side. -- Moton
12. Los Angeles Chargers
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The season ended in rather ignominious fashion at the hands of the Houston Texans, but Jim Harbaugh's first season as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers has to be viewed as a success—the team went from five wins in 2023 to 11 in 2024.
Much of the criticism for the Bolts' lopsided loss to Houston fell on the shoulders of quarterback Justin Herbert, who is winless in the postseason. But veteran safety Derwin James told reporters that it's ridiculous to blame one player for an entire team's poor performance.
"He don't deserve it," James said recently on Micah Parsons' The Edge podcast. "We play a team sport. When you're the quarterback, you're the D-end, or, like I'm the safety, it all lies on our shoulders. When it ain't going right or if it is going right. I just feel like it's always going to be on [No.] 10's shoulders no matter how the guys are playing around him or how he's playing. It's always going to be on his shoulders."
Look at the bright side, Derwin. If the Chargers win the Super Bowl, Herbert will get all the credit for that, too.
Analyst's Take
Head coach Jim Harbaugh did it again. He immediately elevated an underachieving team. This time, Harbaugh led the Chargers to their highest win total since 2018 and a playoff berth.
More importantly, Harbaugh and his coaching staff fostered an offensive identity that evolved from hard-nosed and physical to dynamic by the end of the year. Yes, running back J.K. Dobbins experienced a career resurgence, but Justin Herbert posted high-volume passing numbers with few turnovers in the last few weeks of the regular season.
Under Harbaugh, the Chargers are only getting started—few teams have it better than them. -- Moton
11. Houston Texans
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The Houston Texans were champions of the AFC South and won a postseason game in 2024. But while the season as a whole was relatively successful, Houston faded as the season wore on—largely due to injuries on offense.
When Houston downed the Indianapolis Colts in Week 8, the team was 6-2. But the Texans won just four of their final nine games and defeated only one team with a winning record in the regular season.
However, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud became just the sixth quarterback in NFL history to start and win a postseason game in each of his first two seasons with a Wild Card Round waxing of the Chargers. While speaking to reporters, head coach DeMeco Ryans made it clear that the young quarterback is a true team leader.
"C.J. is authentic, he's real," coach DeMeco Ryans said. "It's not only here, it's in the locker room around the guys and that's what leadership is to me. As you evolve as a leader, you just be authentic to yourself. You don't have to make up anything or make up a speech or make up something to say to guys. C.J. is being C.J."
If the Texans make a deeper playoff run in 2025, it will be because Stroud led them there.
Analyst's Take
The luster wore off the Texans in Year 2 with head coach DeMeco Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud leading the way. Yet, somehow, the organization still found a way to win the AFC South for the second straight season. Granted, Houston's division is the league's weakest. Still, the Texans found a way, even though things weren't going as well as they had the previous year.
Despite another winning season and division crown, changes started this offseason with the firing of former red-hot offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. A move like this shows that expectations have now changed in Houston.
We're long past the years of a glacier-paced rebuild. The Texans are no longer content with just taking a division and then quickly bowing out of the playoffs. With Stroud behind center, the Texans front office must use this offseason to build its roster into something that can compete with the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens. -- Sobleski
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the NFC South for the fourth consecutive season in 2024. It didn't translate to postseason success (the team lost to the Washington Commanders in the Wild Card Round), but the Bucs rule the South—at least for now.
That lack of postseason success has led to a measure of criticism of head coach Todd Bowles. But while speaking to reporters, Tampa general manager Jason Licht credited Bowles for keeping a Buccaneers team that has some flaws consistently atop its division.
"It's just kind of the cycle that we're in with this team," Licht said. "Two years ago, when we had the—I don't want to say rebuild—but we knew it was going to take some time to fill every spot on the defense. Is there some spots that we could add to? Of course. But it takes time. And what he [Todd Bowles] has done with what we have, I think, has been remarkable."
The question now is whether Bowles can keep the ball rolling after offensive coordinator Liam Coen took a head coaching job with the cross-state Jaguars.
Analyst's Take
The Buccaneers will head into the offseason with questions and concerns. Will they re-sign Chris Godwin? How will Baker Mayfield perform after losing his offensive coordinator in consecutive years with the team? How does co-assistant general manager John Spytek's departure to Las Vegas impact personnel decisions?
The Buccaneers are clearly the best team in the NFC South, having won four straight division titles, but the club needs to regroup, or its rivals will certainly close the gap in 2025. -- Moton
9. Minnesota Vikings
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The Minnesota Vikings were arguably the biggest surprise in the entire NFL in 2024. When quarterback J.J. McCarthy went down with a knee injury, most expected the Vikings to be an also-ran. But quarterback Sam Darnold peeled off easily the best season of his career, and Minnesota won 14 games and entered the final week of the regular season with a chance at the NFC's No. 1 seed.
Darnold faltered in that game—and in the Wild Card Round loss to the Los Angeles Rams. As he prepares to hit free agency, opinions are torn on whether he should return to the Twin Cities in 2025.
But while speaking to reporters, 2024 Coach of the Year Kevin O'Connell said the Vikings are interested in bringing Darnold back—provided the price is right.
"Look, you guys know how I feel about Sam," O'Connell said. "He is a guy that we identified last year as somebody who could come in and be successful. And really no matter where he was at before he arrived in his quarterback journey, it was about maximizing our time together. And I think we did that, and I think it was a very special year for Sam. And what that earned him is, everybody in our league now thinks he's a bona fide legitimate starting quarterback and can win a lot of football games. He won 14 of them [in 2024]. So he's earned the right to be a free agent, but we will continue to have ongoing dialogue and discussions with him and his representation."
Analyst's Take
I have the Vikings outside of the top 10 entering the offseason, which may seem odd, considering they won 14 games in 2024. However, Minnesota carries quarterback questions that other top teams do not. Darnold played well overall last season but floundered in the biggest games. If he doesn't return, Minnesota will essentially be starting a rookie in McCarthy—or turning to another bridge like Daniel Jones.
Additionally, the majority of Minnesota's secondary is scheduled to reach free agency, along with standout running back Aaron Jones. I have confidence in the core of this roster and in head coach Kevin O'Connell. There's a very real chance, though, that the 2025 Vikings look a lot different than their 2024 incarnation. -- Knox
8. Los Angeles Rams
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At some point, we really need to stop calling the Los Angeles Rams a "surprise" team.
For the second straight season, the Rams made the postseason in 2024. The Rams also waylaid the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card Round before bowing out one week later. But changes could be coming in 2025—the Rams reportedly plan to trade or release veteran receiver Cooper Kupp, and every offseason brings questions about the playing future of quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, while the potential loss of Kupp stings, Stafford is happy with the direction of the team—happy enough that the 37-year-old will likely return for another season on a restructured deal.
"People I've talked to with the Rams don't sound overly concerned about Stafford leaving, despite the tricky contract situation," he wrote. "Last summer's negotiation wasn't easy, and this year's could be even more difficult, considering his status as a top-shelf QB in a league starved for them. Stafford ranked 12th in QBR in 2024 (64.7). By all accounts, Stafford was happy with the direction of the offense this season, and multiple people with the team say it doesn't seem as if changes are coming. But other teams will inevitably call the Rams to gauge trade interest anyway. Stafford will be the top quarterback available if Los Angeles entertains the idea of moving him.
Analyst's Take
The Rams aren't a top-tier team in the NFC, but as we have seen these past two years, so long as Stafford is at the helm, Los Angeles is a contender in the NFC West. Puka Nacua has blossomed into one of the NFL's better young wideouts, and general manager Les Snead crushed last year's draft with the selections of Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse and defensive tackle Braden Fiske.
The Rams are actually in relatively solid position against the salary cap, and Snead has been masterful at finding real contributors in the draft. If they retain Stafford as expected and have a decent offseason, the Rams will be in the thick of it in the NFL again in 2025. -- Davenport
7. Green Bay Packers
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The Green Bay Packers won 11 games last year—the team's most regular-season victories since 2021. But they were dispatched by the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round, raising questions as to whether quarterback Jordan Love is truly the player to take Green Bay back to the Super Bowl.
However, in Love's defense, the young quarterback dealt with injuries for a chunk of the season—injuries that he detailed while speaking to reporters.
"Week 1, MCL. That was the big one that I was battling. Missed two games with it, came back, came back early," Love said. "It was a tough injury. It limits you a little bit in what you can do mobility-wise. A couple weeks after that, I end up straining my groin because of the knee. It's tough. You're not 100 percent, but we all know no one's ever 100 percent in the NFL."
The pressure will be up on Love and the Packers to "rebound" in 2025—making the playoffs is great, but fans in Titletown have come to expect the season to stretch well into January.
Analyst's Take
Though the Packers were thoroughly outplayed in the postseason, I'm very high on their 2025 outlook. This is largely because Green Bay has the most important pieces in place. Matt LaFleur is one of the better coaches in the NFC, and while Love still has room for growth, he can provide stability at the quarterback position.
Green Bay has an incredibly young roster and isn't at risk of losing key players in free agency. I expect this team to be better in 2025. The question is whether the Packers can improve more rapidly than the rest of the talented NFC North. -- Knox
6. Washington Commanders
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Two years ago, the Washington Commanders were a four-win bottom-feeder. Last year, the Commanders won 12 games and made it within a game of Super Bowl LIX.
There was more than one reason for the rapid ascension. But the biggest was easily the play of quarterback Jayden Daniels, who was the runaway choice for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
While making a radio appearance, Kurt Warner of NFL Network (who knows a thing or two about playing quarterback) said that he's a fan of Daniels' game. But he also cautioned fans to bear in mind that Daniels has still played just one professional season.
“Jayden’s gonna put in the work, and sometimes, you have off games or off seasons, but you don’t go into things thinking, he’s gonna have a sophomore slump, or, he’s got to be better than he was this year,” Warner said. “To me, it’s always about letting it play its course. I’m always a believer of give me three years of seeing a guy, because there’s going to be ebbs and flows, but then I can tell you who I believe he is as a quarterback. So, I think the hard thing is having a year like this is you guys are going to come back and go, if he doesn’t do better than this, then what’s wrong? But if he just drops a little bit from what he did this year, it’s still gonna be a phenomenal season for him, so we have to put things in perspective."
Analyst's Take
Life is different in the NFL when a team has a legitimate franchise quarterback. The Washington franchise knows this better than anyone now.
Jayden Daniels changed the direction of the entire organization after being drafted second overall during the 2024 class. The Offensive Rookie of the Year proved to be a playmaker and a calm, collected leader behind center, particularly late in contests when other rookies would have crumbled from the pressure.
The Commanders may have fallen flat against the rival Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. But the fact they were even there for the first time since...checks notes...1991 says so much about a franchise now under the direction of owner Josh Harris, head coach Dan Quinn and Daniels. -- Sobleski
5. Detroit Lions
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For most of the 2024 season, the Detroit Lions were the talk of the NFC—the Lions won more regular-season games than in any season in franchise history and entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
But that postseason trip was a short one—the Lions were stunned at home by the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round, a frustrating end to what had been one of the best seasons in Lions history.
As if that wasn't bad enough, the Lions will have to replace both coordinators—defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn (Jets) and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson (Bears) both accepted head coaching jobs.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff acknowledged to SiriusXM Radio that watching Johnson join a division rival stung a little.
"He's a hell of a coach," Goff said. "He's a guy that's made a ton of difference in my career. I'm obviously a big fan of his. I was joking with him—I wish he didn't have to be in our division, so I didn't have to try to beat him twice a year. He's going to do a great job. Hopefully not too good, though, with us being in the division together still. I'll always be a fan of his and we'll always have a good relationship."
Analyst's Take
I'm not going to overthink the Lions' situation. Their season didn't end the way they would have hoped, but injuries were a massive issue in 2024. Detroit still won 15 games and should be healthier at the start of the 2025 season. Most of the team's core players are under contract long-term, and Detroit has the eighth-most projected cap space in the NFL. There's a non-zero chance that the Lions roster is even deeper and more talented next year.
Of course, losing coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn hurts. Continuity has played a big role in Detroit's ascension over the past few seasons, and the coaching turnover could be tough to navigate. Dan Campbell has made this a very resilient team, though, and until the Lions prove otherwise, I'm inclined to view them as a top-five team. -- Knox
4. Baltimore Ravens
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The Baltimore Ravens have settled into a cycle that is equal parts pleasant and unpleasant.
In the regular season, the team is excellent—the Ravens led the NFL in total offense, fielded a top-10 defense and won 12 games and the AFC North.
But as has been the case every year during the Lamar Jackson era, the season ended in playoff disappointment—a Divisional Round loss to the Buffalo Bills.
However, while another playoff loss will once again bring about questions regarding whether quarterback Lamar Jackson can win "the big one," running back Derrick Henry (who joined Baltimore in free agency this past season) told reporters there's no question Jackson is the heart and soul of a team that opened tied for the best odds to make it to Super Bowl LX.
"I came in being a teammate and found a brother," Henry said after this year's divisional playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills. "Lamar is what makes this team go, and he's the reason why we still had a chance. He's a Hall of Fame player, had a great season. … We believe in him, and we always are going to be behind his back."
Analyst's Take
Let's just stop with the "Lamar can't win in the postseason" nonsense. Yes, Jackson is now just 3-5 in the postseason, and his passer rating is over 100 in the regular season but less than 85 in the playoffs. But football is a team sport, and every postseason opponent is an excellent team—including the Bills squad that bounced the Ravens this year.
Jackson just had arguably the best statistical season of his career, although he missed out on winning a third MVP award. There are questions in the secondary in 2025 and with the age of Henry, who was admittedly fantastic in his age-30 season. But Jackson is the league's most electrifying player, and so long as he's leading the Ravens and playing at an MVP level, they are the AFC North favorites and perennial Super Bowl contenders. -- Davenport
3. Buffalo Bills
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Josh Allen is the 2024 NFL MVP, and there's no denying Allen's value to the Bills—there may have been quarterbacks with better stats, but there's zero chance the Bills win another AFC East title or make the AFC Championship Game without the 28-year-old under center.
But Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs continue to be Allen's Kryptonite in the playoffs. Allen and Mahomes have faced each other nine times. The Bills have won four of five regular-season meetings, including one this past season. But the Bills are 0-4 against the Mahomes-led Chiefs in the playoffs.
While speaking to reporters after another postseason disappointment, Allen didn't mince words.
"To be the champs, you've got to beat the champs," Allen said, "and we didn't do that tonight. You can either get it done, or you can't, and we didn't get it done."
Buffalo could stand to improve its passing-game weapons, and the team is in rough shape relative to the projected salary cap. But the Bills still enter the offseason as the chief (see what we did there) obstacle to continued AFC supremacy from the Chiefs.
Analyst's Take
I'm going to view Buffalo as a top-three team entering the offseason, largely because of a strong coaching staff and foundational pieces like Josh Allen, James Cook and Dalton Kincaid. However, I think the Bills face a far more pivotal offseason than they had a year ago.
Much was made of Stefon Diggs' departure, but I believe Joe Brady's offense can work without a true No. 1 receiver. I'm sure we'll hear calls to get Allen more weapons after the season ended with a failed fourth-down conversion. Yet, I view defensive help as a bigger priority. Buffalo is talented enough to get back to the AFC title game, but it isn't going to get past the Chiefs until it can stop Patrick Mahomes. Doing so with a defense that ranked 19th in yards per carry allowed and 17th in net yards per pass attempt allowed simply isn't going to happen.
Buffalo also has key contributors like Mack Hollins, Damar Hamlin, Ty Johnson and Rasul Douglas scheduled for free agency. There's a lot of work to be done, and the Bills face a $2.5 million cap deficit. My outlook on Buffalo could change significantly in the coming months. -- Knox
2. Kansas City Chiefs
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The Kansas City Chiefs headed into Super Bowl LIX with a chance to make history by becoming the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls.
They left New Orleans licking their wounds after being pounded by the Philadelphia Eagles in a game that was nowhere near as close as the final score.
The Chiefs are still a dynasty—the team has played in five Super Bowls in six years, winning three. Only the Chiefs and Buffalo Bills have played in three straight Super Bowls. But head coach Andy Reid, who passed Bill Belichick for the most postseason games as a head coach, told reporters that those achievements mean little after getting your butt kicked.
“Today was a rough day all around. Nothing went right. I didn’t coach well. Proud of our guys for fighting. We will learn from this,” Reid said. “Too many turnovers, too many penalties. Against a good football team, can’t do that.”
Now the Chiefs have to begin the daunting task of returning to the Super Bowl after losing it—a feat rarely accomplished in the annals of NFL history. There has also been just one team to ever play in four straight Super Bowls.
The aforementioned Bills, who lost them all.
Analyst's Take
The Chiefs took an embarrassing blowout loss in Super Bowl LIX, but they're still one of the league's best teams heading into the offseason. With head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes still attached at the hip, Kansas City's Super Bowl window is still open.
However, the Chiefs must upgrade their offensive line, particularly at left tackle, and do their best to retain impending free-agent guard Trey Smith to hoist another Lombardi Trophy. In the Chiefs' last two Super Bowl losses, their opponents dominated them in the trenches, which resulted in rough outings for Mahomes. -- Moton
1. Philadelphia Eagles
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The Philadelphia Eagles are NFL champions—and they won Super Bowl LIX in emphatic fashion.
The Eagles blasted the two-time defending champions—Philly led the Chiefs 34-0 in the third quarter. While addressing the media after the game, head coach Nick Sirianni said that his team played well in just about every facet of the game.
“This is the ultimate team game. You can’t be great without the greatness of others. Great performance by everybody — offense, defense, special teams,” coach Nick Sirianni said. “We didn’t really ever care what anyone thought about how we won, or their opinions. All we want to do is win.”
Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts lauded a defense that completely dominated the Chiefs, sacking Patrick Mahomes six times despite not blitzing once.
“Defense wins championships,” Hurts said. “We saw how they played today. We saw the difference they made in the game. They gave us opportunities, gave us short fields. And we’re able to do what we do.”
Perhaps most impressively, the Eagles were dominant without star running back Saquon Barkley, who gained just 57 yards on 25 carries.
All hail the champions. They have earned the top spot in these power rankings.
And they aren't going to be easy to knock off that perch.
Analyst's Take
The Eagles got back on track during the 2024 season after disappointing during the previous campaign. A couple of solid hires among the coordinators, along with multiple shrewd roster moves, allowed Philadelphia to return to the Super Bowl for the second time in three seasons. More importantly, an identity reemerged as a physical team capable of dominating in the trenches, running the football upon command and being highly opportunistic on defense.
The formula should hold strong for multiple years, especially considering the composition of the Eagles' offensive and defensive lines, a rebuilt secondary, quarterback Jalen Hurts under contract and Saquon Barkley still a few years removed from the dreaded 30-year-old plateau for running backs. -- Knox
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