How the NFL division and wild card races shape up in 2025:
NFC West
49ers. Some of the more reactionary members of the fan base actually believed the 49ers were tanking the season after retooling their roster. What they really did was make themselves better and kept their contention window open for at least two more years.
NFC North
Detroit Lions. Gave up 34 or more points four times in their last six games including a 45-31 playoff loss to Washington. With Aidan Hutchinson back and an explosive offense, should defend their title in the NFC’s toughest division.
NFC South
Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I’ve totally underrated Tampa Bay (and quarterback Baker Mayfield) for the last two seasons. No longer. Hard to believe they won’t run away with the weakest division in the NFC.
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles. Expect more bumps in the road coming off a much-deserved Super Bowl championship. But the Eagles should prevail in the NFC by a Tush Push because of explosive balance on both sides of the ball.
Wild cards
Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears. The Rams have been very good for two years running with tough playoff losses to Detroit and Philadelphia. They develop young talent as good as any team in the NFL. The Packers will need an uptick in terms of quality play from quarterback Jordan Love but it appears doable. Coach Ben Johnson will be the best thing that ever happened to quarterback Caleb Williams.
On the outside looking in
Minnesota Vikings. As good as Kevin O’Connell is as a head coach, I’m sensing a rough rookie season for quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Their free agency and draft decisions left something to be desired.
Washington Commanders. Will the C.J. Stroud sophomore slump be in play for Jayden Daniels? It looked like Deebo Samuel hit the wall last season with the 49ers.
Patrick Mahomes (right) and Travis Kelce play on a Chiefs team that has won nine straight AFC West titles. A.P. Photo
AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs. You really think there’s any other choice but the team that’s won the AFC West nine straight years, has Andy Reid as coach and Patrick Mahomes at quarterback? There will be a surprise in the division, but it won’t be at the top.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens. At some point, Derrick Henry is going to be running on empty, but for the time being he and teams with Lamar Jackson for the NFL’s most feared 1-2 punch. Hard to believe Baltimore hasn’t been back at the Super Bowl since taking down Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers.
AFC South
Houston Texans. C.J. Stroud wasn’t the same miracle worker he was in a fabulous rookie season, but the Texans under DeMeco Ryans are still the class of a suspect division.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills. Sean McDermott is one of the NFL’s most underrated coaches. The Bills don’t have a star-studded roster but are better than the sum of their parts. Josh Allen is among the top five NFL quarterbacks no matter who is doing the ranking.
Wild cards
Cincinnati Bengals, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots. All Cincinnati needs to make the postseason is a healthy Joe Burrow. It didn’t happen last year. The Raiders added some juice with Pete Carroll after the two disappointments of Josh McDaniels and Antonio Pierce, an explosive rookie runner in Ashton Jeanty and a competent game manager (that’s a good thing, remember?) in Geno Smith at quarterback. Something just feels right about Mike Vrabel being back with the Patriots.
On the outside looking in
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Pittsburgh Steelers. Mike Tomlin is in his 19th year and has never had a losing season, although he went 8-8 three times. Look for an 8-9 record this season even with Rodgers at quarterback and Tomlin will be in demand to coach elsewhere in 2026.
Denver Broncos: Will be surprised if Denver gets 20 games combined out of Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga.