The new NFL season is mere weeks away. And while fans can get plenty of clues in the training camps and preseason games, we won’t know how teams will gel until the action gets underway on September 5.
We know who the contenders are on paper, but looking at the NFL betting lines for Week 1, there could be a few upsets on the cards. Indeed, there will always be a sense of “it was obvious in hindsight” once the season ends.
Anyway, we want to pose some questions that, when answered, might help shape the talking points of the 2025 NFL Season on the road to Super Bowl LX.
Will the Ravens convert regular-season dominance into January wins?
They’ve looked like a No. 1 seed on paper, and they now find themselves as Super Bowl favorites with most sportsbooks. The sense is that the Ravens have given Lamar Jackson what he needs, including an elite wide receiver, so there can be no more excuses.
Can the Chiefs’ retooled supporting cast keep Mahomes in the driver’s seat?
If the offensive line gels and one receiver becomes a true WR1, they’re right back in the AFC’s pole position. In a sense, the Chiefs feel like the toughest team to work out. They flattered to deceive for long periods last season, but Mahomes and co. Found a way to Super Bowl LIX.
Will the Eagles regret their defensive turnover?
If it’s not broken, don’t try to fix it. The Eagles didn’t follow that logic, so it remains to be seen. The offense should keep them afloat, and they will be in the Playoffs, but we are keen to see how that new edge works out.
Did the Bills’ pass-rush reboot fix their January problem?
The January problem is, in short, the Chiefs, who eliminated the Bills in four of the past five seasons. It’s become a “thing.” If the front four consistently wins without blitzing, Josh Allen won’t have to play hero ball every week, and we could be looking at a more cohesive unit.
Can the 49ers bounce back to actual contender status?
What went wrong for the 49ers last season? How do we go from a Super Bowl to a 6-11 season? The good news is that the 49ers have one of the easiest NFL regular season schedules this time, and they are likely to get into double figures for wins. The bad news is we don’t know if they have fixed the problems that characterized last season.
Are the Lions built to last without their departed coordinators?
The Lions were the most exciting team in the NFL last season, at least in the regular season. However, they lost Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn to the Bears and Jets, respectively. Continuity with Dan Campbell’s identity helps, but red-zone creativity must survive the changes.
Is this the Bengals’ healthiest season with Joe Burrow?
Joe Burrow was excellent in what was an up-and-down campaign for the Bengals. Keep him upright for 17, and they’re an AFC title threat, but anything less and they’re fighting for wild-card margins. He’s an interesting MVP candidate when healthy.
Will Jordan Love take another step or level off?
If we could pick any under-the-radar team that could step up to bother the Super Bowl betting favorites, it is the Green Bay Packers. But – and it’s a big if – much of that depends on Jordan Love. The ingredients are there, and Matt LaFleur has faith in him, so it’s just a question of taking that step. Packers fans will hope that he does.
Will Jayden Daniels have a difficult second album?
There’s no question that Daniels was the breakout star of the NFL last season, while you can argue that the Commanders were the breakout team. There is a new kind of pressure that comes with expectation, though. In preseason, Daniels looks bigger (he’s been at the gym this past six months). If he gets better, he can take the league by storm again.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vNk2r__NF2U?si=__tTwYx4CiGPCqav" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Who will come out of nowhere to contend?
We mentioned a couple of teams like the Packers and Bengals who might take the step up to challenge the Ravens, Chiefs, Lions, Bills, and Eagles next season. But who else might upset the odds? The Rams are well-liked, although they have questions about their defense, and the Chargers and Broncos look interesting. But it’s often a team you don’t expect, so we must wait until we find out.
