The Preseason Will Matter Most to These NFL Teams

By the time this weekend is through, the preseason will be underway for every NFL team. 

But August football matters a lot more to some than others. 

Based on offseason changes, increasing pressures and related factors, here are six teams with the most at stake over the course of the next three weeks of exhibition action.

Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Highly touted young quarterback Caleb Williams faces significant pressure to take a major step forward in his sophomore campaign, but he’s already been making headlines for the wrong reasons. 

Viral practice clips have their limits, though, and a lot more eyes will be on the 2024 No. 1 overall pick when the Bears open their preseason against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. At that point, we’ll have our first real-game look at Williams in Ben Johnson's new offense while working behind a revamped offensive line.

Those should be good things, but they also represent significant change ahead of a year in which the whole team is expected to improve dramatically despite residing in the toughest division in football.

Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

When you're a popular team with a hungry fanbase and you've got, arguably, the best defensive player in the sport in his prime, a quarterback battle involving as many as a handful of players is far from ideal. 

That's what the Browns face as Tyler Huntley joins a QB room that already contained Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and the lightning rod that is Shedeur Sanders, and that's without even considering the injured Deshaun Watson. 

The Browns can't afford to spend the season with a merry-go-round at quarterback. They have already been hit by various injuries at the position, which explains the addition of Huntley, but the key is that someone grabs the starting job by the reins before the games start to matter in September. 

That could come down to how each handles the Panthers, Eagles and Rams over the course of the next two-and-a-half weeks.

Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

This really comes down to what might be the best one-on-one quarterback battle in football, with two relatively recent top-10 picks fighting for their NFL futures. 

That's the case with Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones in Indianapolis, and it doesn't appear as though either has jumped out in front in a major way as the Colts prepare to face the Ravens (Thursday), Packers and Bengals this month.

Indy has remained surprisingly competitive despite quarterback issues the last two years. There's a solid chance that continues to hold them back in 2025, as Richardson has been a disappointment thus far and Jones posted an 84.3 rating in six rough seasons with the New York Giants. 

However, it's also possible competition will bring out the best in one of them, if not both. The reviews and results have been mixed thus far in camp, but real impressions could be made starting Thursday night in Baltimore.  

Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

This is almost entirely about Aaron Rodgers, and it depends to an extent on how much he will play in what might be his last-ever preseason.

The 41-year-old is likely to get some action, though, and establishing live-game chemistry against legit competition could be critical. 

Not only is Rodgers getting acclimated to a new offense, but so too is new receiver DK Metcalf. Both will have to get adjusted this month to a new system with different personnel, as well as each other. 

If Rodgers and Co. can't find some rhythm by September, they could be in trouble on the road against the veteran's former team, the sneaky-talented New York Jets. And there will be a miniscule margin for error in the AFC North in 2025.

Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/John Raoux

This is a massive season for the well-paid Trevor Lawrence and a Jaguars team that has the talent to win the AFC South but hasn't come close of late. 

Before that quest officially begins, the 25-year-old quarterback will have three live-action games against true competition in a new system under the tutelage of new head coach Liam Coen and offensive coordinator Grant Udinski. 

That will also be his only work with rookie receiver Travis Hunter before this entire group takes on the Bengals, Texans, 49ers and Chiefs in four of the first five weeks of the regular season. 

It's safe to say Saturday's Jags-Steelers matchup could be a lot more telling than most of the action this weekend.

New England Patriots

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Because the Patriots aren't expected to be a major player in 2025 as they continue their rebuild, they can afford some preseason speedbumps.

That said, because of all of the youth and change in New England, it's important everything comes together sooner than later. 

The last thing this franchise needs is a sophomore slump from promising second-year quarterback Drake Maye, and now he's working with an almost entirely new offensive line under old/new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

The 22-year-old will also have a new No. 1 receiver in Stefon Diggs and a new head coach in Mike Vrabel. 

The Pats need to know that this new "fast break" offense can work moving forward with this core, and we will get some important information on that when they take on the Commanders (Friday), Vikings and Giants this month.