One Sentence To Describe Every NFL Team Entering Thanksgiving 2025

It's here. 

Thanksgiving marks the start of the holiday season on the Gregorian calendar, as well as the start of the home stretch on the NFL calendar. 

With half-a-dozen games remaining for the vast majority of the league's teams, here is one sentence to encapsulate the status of each.

AFC East

AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

Tua Tagovailoa

Buffalo Bills

Something's off, but the ingredients remain in place for a team that could benefit from entering the playoffs with lower expectations. 

Miami Dolphins

Tua Tagovailoa has peaked, and the ceiling has become pretty obvious for a team that isn't positioned for an easy rebuild. 

New England Patriots

Meanwhile, this rebuild is on hyperspeed for a team that is shocking the world thanks only in part to Drake Maye (don't overlook the defense).

New York Jets

With a midseason fire sale complete and the 2026 quarterback up in the air, the only question now is whether head coach Aaron Glenn is more than one-and-one for Gang Green.

AFC North

AP Photo/Jeff Lewis

Shedeur Sanders

Baltimore Ravens

Momentum, a weak division and Lamar Jackson's return to health favors them, but a lot of question marks remain for a team that will be rebounding the rest of the season. 

Cincinnati Bengals

The season is now lost, again, regardless of Joe Burrow's health, and the defense is the primary culprit for a team adrift. 

Cleveland Browns

It's not pretty offensively, but at least they should have a good feel for where both Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel are by January. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

Does anybody truly believe this team is beyond its traditional one-and-done nature?

AFC South

AP Photo/Matt Freed

Shane Steichen

Houston Texans

They've been saved by a defensive surge, but a wildly inconsistent offense remains a huge concern. 

Indianapolis Colts

Shane Steichen is building something special with a team that continues to perform significantly greater than the sum of its parts.

Jacksonville Jaguars

It's probably not a good sign that, for what feels like the 432nd year in a row, nobody knows what to make of the inconsistent and untrustworthy (albeit talented) Jaguars. 

Tennessee Titans

They're clearly the NFL's worst team, which is just fine because a seed must be buried to bloom. 

AFC West

AP Photo/Peter Aiken

Patrick Mahomes

Denver Broncos

With their two losses coming by a total of four points more than two months ago, they've emerged as the team to beat in the AFC. 

Kansas City Chiefs

You just know Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid have one more push in them between now and January. 

Las Vegas Raiders

At this point, there's nothing left to do of significance but draft a quarterback and pray he's the man for the job. 

Los Angeles Chargers

The 2025 Chargers are a reminder that one particularly weak or demoralized unit—in this case an offensive line—can derail an entire season. 

NFC East

AP Photo/Matt Patterson

Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys

Something tells me that by Thursday evening, we'll find out if a Week 12 comeback victory over the Eagles was a turning point or a fluke for the deeply flawed by undeniably talented Cowboys. 

New York Giants

Fighting hard and performing well but losing isn't a bad thing for a team that is a good coaching hire and a quality high-first-round selection away from making waves in 2026. 

Philadelphia Eagles

Repeating is rare and difficult, so the surviving-not-thriving Eagles had better rediscover their ability to step on throats.

Washington Commanders

Offensive injuries are a big factor, but with their defensive struggles, I'm not sure this team would be in contention regardless. 

NFC North

AP Photo/Matt Ludtke

Jordan Love

Chicago Bears

They've surpassed expectations, but their status as a contender will be determined by how they deal with the Eagles and Packers in upcoming consecutive road games.

Detroit Lions

They've fallen short of expectations, but their status as a contender will be determined by how they deal with the Packers and Rams in Weeks 13 and 15, respectively. 

Green Bay Packers

The defense is balling out, but it's difficult to fully trust Jordan Love and an ailing offense. 

Minnesota Vikings

We've reached a point at which it's fair to say the Vikings are facing a quarterback crisis. 

NFC South

AP Photo/Butch Dill

Tyler Shough

Atlanta Falcons

Like the Vikings, the Falcons have a huge decision to make about their future at quarterback, because rolling into 2026 with a post-surgery Michael Penix Jr. is a huge risk. 

Carolina Panthers

A 6-6 team that has scored fewer than 10 points three times in the last five weeks (and 16 or fewer in five of the last six) is not a real contender.

New Orleans Saints

It's really just a Tyler Shough audition now.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It's comical that this was once considered by many to be a legit contender, as the Bucs are riddled with deficiencies and can't be saved by an unreliable quarterback.

NFC West

AP Photo/Stew Milne

Sam Darnold

Arizona Cardinals

There's a decent chance Kyler Murray has played his last game for a team that desperately needs a shakeup under center. 

Los Angeles Rams

It's quite amazing that they essentially avoided a full rebuild and have turned themselves back into prime Super Bowl contenders on the fly. 

San Francisco 49ers

Beyond the annual injury bonanza, it's important not to lose sight of the fact that they erred substantially by paying Brock Purdy and Brandon Aiyuk. 

Seattle Seahawks

There are few weak spots on this team, but it's impossible to watch this run without wondering if turnover-happy quarterback Sam Darnold will again fold when it matters most this winter.