The NFL is back! Every September brings a clean slate, every January writes its own chaos, and by February, legacies shift in ways nobody could’ve thought back in training camp. That’s the beauty of this league.
So here we are again, staring into the crystal ball, trying to forecast the twists and turns of the 2025 season. Which stars will rise, which contenders will collapse? Because if history’s taught us anything, it’s that the NFL loves nothing more than to make the improbable feel inevitable.
The Contenders
NFC Playoff Teams (7)
Philadelphia Eagles **
Green Bay Packers*
Atlanta Falcons *
Seattle Seahawks *
Los Angeles Rams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
San Francisco 49ers
AFC Playoff Teams (7)
Denver Broncos**
Buffalo Bills *
Baltimore Ravens*
Houston Texans *
Kansas City Chiefs
Cincinnati Bengals
Pittsburgh Steelers
Divisional Round
Broncos, Bills, Ravens, Texans
Eagles, Packers, Rams, Buccaneers
AFC Championship Game
The Denver Broncos host the Baltimore Ravens
The upstart Cinderella story in Denver ends at the hands of Lamar and Derrick.
NFC Championship Game
The Philadelphia Eagles host the LA Rams
The Eagles overcame the gauntlet of beating Tampa and a Rams team that desperately wanted revenge to make it back to the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl LX
Baltimore Ravens vs. Philadelphia Eagles, the one everyone wanted to see.
Two quarterbacks with something to prove. Two defenses that hit like it is the 90s, and two all-pro running backs.
Jalen Hurts, trailing by 6 with 1:42 left and no timeouts, hits A.J. Brown on a deep comeback to get down inside the red zone. Hurts then connects on a slant to DeVonta for a gain of 8. An incompletion and a Saquon run for no gain later, Jalen Hurts runs it himself on a 4th-and-2 from the Ravens’ 12 with 22 seconds left. Touchdown, and the lead!
The Ravens attempted a final shot at a Hail Mary that fell incomplete.
Eagles 31, Ravens 30!
Back-to-back Super Bowl wins for the Eagles, along with another Super Bowl MVP for Hurts. The debate is over. Jalen is a top QB in the league.
League Awards
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Ahston Jeanty
The last time the OROY award went to a running back was in 2018, when Saquon Barkley took home the honor.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Abdul Carter
He is playing with a very talented line and should find his matchups advantageous to be successful.
Offensive player of the year
Ja’Marr Chase
The Bengals will throw a lot, and he will be the recipient.
Defensive player of the year
Jalen Carter
A totally unbiased decision.
Comeback player of the year
Aidan Hutchinson
I am looking forward to seeing him healthy and on the field.
MVP
Lamar Jackson
He just keeps winning MVPs. A hat trick for LJ!
Coach of the year
Nick Sirianni
He should have won last year, but they usually correct a year later. If Sirianni leads the Eagles deep into the postseason again, I do not know how anyone can justifiably not choose him.
As always, thank you for reading.
Follow me @PHLEagleNews
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
