Bold Statements Following the 2025 NFL Regular Season

The offseason has arrived for 18 NFL teams, while the remaining 14 will join them over the course of the next four weeks. 

That being the case, this is an appropriate time to get bold and with high-level views on some of the squads in particularly interesting situations this January. 

Here are 10 bold predictions as we embark on 2026.

Detroit Lions Will Never Win a Super Bowl with Jared Goff

AP Photo/Abbie Parr

Jared Goff

Why?

In two of the team's most critical games down the stretch, Goff performed terribly with sub-65 passer ratings as the Lions scored 19 total points in losses to the Eagles (Week 11) and Vikings (Week 17). He also bombed in last year's playoffs. Goff is 31 now and has a mere 85.1 career passer rating in the playoffs. 

The Situation in a Nutshell

One of the most talented teams in football has won just two playoff games the last three seasons. Two years ago, when the team also blew a huge opportunity in the playoffs, head coach Dan Campbell wondered aloud if they had wasted their "only shot." It appears that's becoming true. 

Prediction

While they're likely married to him financially and via a no-trade clause in 2026, I wouldn't be surprised if the organization were to make major moves if they don't finally get to the Super Bowl next winter.

Bills Are Overrated and Untrustworthy, but Still Might End Up at Super Bowl

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Sean McDermott

Why?

Before hammering the Jets in a meaningless finale, the Bills were limping to wrap up a season that has been marred by inconsistent and unpredictable performances. Their average margin of victory between Week 10 and Week 17 was just 2.6 points, and they went just 2-3 this year against winning teams. 

The Situation in a Nutshell

Only the Giants and Bengals surrendered more yards per carry on defense than a Buffalo squad that gave up an AFC-high 24 rushing touchdowns. The D is a potential problem. And for all of the criticism the Patriots have taken for their soft schedule, the Bills actually had the easiest sked in football based on ESPN's Power Index.

Prediction

The Bills are lucky to be having an off year just as the Ravens and Chiefs have disappeared from the Super Bowl conversation. The Broncos, Patriots and Jaguars appear to be a year away from truly contending, the Steelers and Chargers have obvious ceilings, and the Texans are just as much of a wild card facing a road-filled playoff run. The path remains open for this flawed Buffalo team and its superstar quarterback. 

Las Vegas Raiders Aren't Far from Being in Great Shape

AP Photo/Jeff Lewis

Ashton Jeanty

Why?

The talent is there despite their 3-14 campaign, and by moving on from head coach Pete Carroll after one problematic season, they have a chance to set things right with their new coach and quarterback. 

The Situation in a Nutshell

They now have the No. 1 overall pick to add a potential franchise quarterback, a variety of intriguing head coaching candidates and a core that includes stars Ashton Jeanty, Brock Bowers, Kolton Miller, Maxx Crosby and Eric Stokes. 

Prediction: They hire Klint Kubiak to lead the new offensive charge, spend some of their oodles of cap space to spruce up the roster, and draft Fernando Mendoza to lead that offense. As a result, we should see significant immediate progress in Vegas. 

Kansas City Chiefs Need to Rebuild, Should Entertain Patrick Mahomes Trade

AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann

Patrick Mahomes

Why?

This was a team that was merely surviving while relying on its big-game experience and abilities in clutch situations in 2023 and 2024. That house of cards collapsed when the competition became stronger and the roster became weaker in 2025. 

The Situation in a Nutshell

Not only has the defense regressed, but the quarterback problem is also becoming significant. Mahomes will be coming off a major knee injury in 2026, which could impact his improvisational abilities at the very least. It also has to be stated that in the last three seasons, the 30-year-old ranks 20th among 31 qualified passers with a 92.0 rating. In that span, only Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield have thrown more interceptions.

Prediction

Mahomes is too much of a staple for the franchise to move on this quickly, and it would likely cost them a ton of money to trade him (even if he lifts his no-trade clause). He's probably not going anywhere, but the Chiefs shouldn't rule it out in the event of a blockbuster offer. Regardless, they need to regroup and rebuild around him in dramatic fashion or this whole thing will begin to rot. 

Denver Broncos Are Overrated

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Bo Nix

Why?

As mentioned, all of the AFC's top-end seeds are far from ready, but Denver stands out as a No. 1 seed that is ripe for the picking. Ten of its 14 wins came against losing teams, 12 came via comebacks, and 11 came by one score. Six teams had better scoring margins. 

The Situation in a Nutshell

The defense is stellar, but quarterback Bo Nix suffered somewhat of a sophomore slump as the league's 28th-highest-rated passer. He threw a tied-for-league-high seven interceptions on deep passes and struggled down the stretch. And even that talented defense gave up 26-plus points three times in the last six weeks of the season. 

Prediction

The Broncos lose to the Bills in the divisional playoffs, but they use that as motivation to keep building on a strong foundation in the 2026 offseason.

Falcons and Vikings Should Not Give Up on Struggling Young Quarterbacks

AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn

Michael Penix Jr. and J.J. McCarthy

Why?

Daniel Jones, Sam Darnold and even Mac Jones reminded us this season that teams need to be patient and let young quarterbacks develop. 

The Situation in a Nutshell

J.J. McCarthy and Michael Penix Jr. have thrown a total of 624 career NFL passes. Bo Nix almost threw that many in 2025 alone. McCarthy and Penix remain young, cheap and undeniably talented. 

Prediction

While both teams will likely (smartly) bring in reinforcements via Day 2 or 3 in the draft and/or free agency (especially considering Penix's injury), they need to commit to these guys being the top priorities for one more year. They invested too much to bail already. 

Quarterbacks Should Be Taken 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the Draft

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Fernando Mendoza

Why?

The Raiders, Jets and Cardinals all need new quarterbacks, and they are all moving on from veterans. Las Vegas and New York can't keep cycling through retread free agents, while the Cardinals appear to be so far from contending that another vet would likely be a waste. 

The Situation in a Nutshell

Practically every year, it seems far-fetched in January that a bunch of quarterbacks will be selected super early. And practically every year, that's exactly what happens come April. 

Prediction

It happened in 2024, three of the top four picks in 2023 were QBs, and it also happened in 2021. I'll bet Ty Simpson joins Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore near the top this year. 

Making the Playoffs Was Bad for Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Mike Tomlin

Why?

A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers is at the end of his NFL road, a team that had a mere plus-10 scoring margin in 2025 is destined to fall short of a playoff win for a ninth consecutive year and Pittsburgh costs itself a ton of draft capital. 

The Situation in a Nutshell

The Ravens get to pick 14th overall, while the Steelers could be a fluke win away from falling out of the top 20. 

Prediction

They lose to the Texans but wind up with false hope for 2026 and a worse draft pick. 

Browns Should Not Have Fired Kevin Stefanski

AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel

Kevin Stefanski

Why?

Cleveland had one of the least talented NFL rosters in 2025, and Stefanski was stuck with that as well as a mess at quarterback. It was a similar situation in 2024. In the four years preceding that, he led the Browns to the playoffs twice and won Coach of the Year both times. 

The Situation in a Nutshell

The 43-year-old has become the scapegoat in Cleveland, but the Browns have to realize the grass may not be greener on the other side. 

Prediction

Stefanski, who is clearly in high demand, goes on to have immense success at his next stop (a la Mike Vrabel this year in New England) while the Browns continue to toil with a weak roster regardless of their next hire. 

Parity Is Dying and Tanking Is Trendier Than Ever

AP Photo/Jeff Lewis

Sam Darnold

Why?

Teams are less patient than ever and thus giving up faster, which we've seen with a busier-than-ever trade deadline in recent years. That erodes the middle class and makes the rich richer and the poor poorer. 

The Situation in a Nutshell

In the AFC, all but two teams either won or lost double-digit games. This is also the first season in NFL history with four 14-loss teams (only twice before have three teams done that), and a record-tying three teams had three or fewer losses, despite the fact that it's now a 17-game schedule. 

Prediction

Several teams—particularly the Raiders and Jets—were blatantly tanking down the stretch. I expect that to continue to be the case in 2026 and beyond.