Hello Eagles! The NFL season is here! Join us as we break down our previews for this upcoming season for both the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC), starting with the AFC.
AFC
AFC North:
In recent years, the AFC North has been dominated by the Baltimore Ravens, and with the help of former two time NFL Most Valuable Player quarterback, Lamar Jackson, we predict them to finish first once again. However, not all the credit can be attributed to the superstar quarterback. The Ravens’ defense is the real deal, led by “All-World” safety Kyle Hamilton and Linebacker Roquan Smith, to go along with stellar starting players at almost every position. With a notorious history of being solely a great regular-season team, it will be up to Jackson to try and lead Baltimore to the promised land and secure a Super Bowl come the playoffs. We have the Cincinnati Bengals finishing at second place in this division, going 10-7. The Bengals missed the playoffs last year due to defensive struggles and a tough schedule. Despite last year’s disappointment, star quarterback Joe Burrow and last season’s leader in yards, touchdowns, and receptions, wide receiver Ja’marr Chase, each look to make a statement. They’ve made and lost the Super Bowl before in 2022, so anything truly is possible. The Steelers have not had a record below .500 since 2003, so it is statistically probable that, no matter how good we think the roster is, 9-8 is a good prediction. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers joined the team this offseason, a quarterback destined for a gold jacket one day, and one with plenty of winning experience. Steelers longtime head coach Mike Tomlin is known for winning no matter the circumstance, and with the new addition of wide receiver DK Metcalf, we can expect no less. The Cleveland Browns have had a losing season in seven of the last ten years, with this year’s team not looking like an outlier. Forty-year-old quarterback Joe Flacco does not raise any eyebrows as a fan scans the league, and with a lackluster defense to go along with it, the Browns are poised to headline the race for the number one overall pick in next year’s draft.
AFC North predicted records:
1. Ravens – 14-3
2. Bengals – 10-7
3. Steelers – 9-8
4. Browns – 3-14
AFC East:
The Bills headline the division this year, led by 2024 MVP quarterback Josh Allen. They won the division last year with a record of 13-4, but they could not get over the hump to reach the Super Bowl, which is something Allen has yet to accomplish. They look to do that this year, as the defense looks strong and young receiver Keon Coleman is poised for a breakout season. The Patriots are our most improved team from last year as they went 4-13. However, after hiring Mike Vrabel, former Coach of the Year for the Titans in 2021, and pairing him with rising second-year quarterback Drake Maye, the sky is the limit for the Pats. For the Miami Dolphins, the limits seem obvious. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has struggled to stay healthy the past couple of years, and as superstar receiver Tyreek Hill continues to age, it is hard to see a team like Miami stacking up against the powerhouses of the AFC. As we look at the Jets roster and schedule all that can be predicted is that they will be the same old, underperforming Jets. Justin Fields comes in at quarterback to lead a mediocre offense, whose only bright spot will be star receiver Garrett Wilson. If the Jets are going to win games, it will be on the back of their defense, and considering their tough division, 6-11 is the best I see them doing.
AFC East predicted records
1. Bills – 13-4
2. Patriots – 10-7
3. Dolphins – 8-9
4. Jets – 6-11
AFC South:
The AFC South is undoubtedly the division most up for interpretation. The Houston Texans have won it most recently, led by ascending quarterback CJ Stroud and explosive wide receiver Nico Collins. The Texans have a steady defense, great pass catchers, and a varying AFC South schedule. Given all of those factors, 10-7 seems very likely, but playoff success in the AFC, not so much. The Jacksonville Jaguars have also won the division relatively recently in 2022, and with former number one overall pick Trevor Lawrence at QB. Lawrence, a player with some of the most to prove this season, will be targeting young, high-potential receivers in Brian Thomas Jr. and two-way rookie phenom Travis Hunter. If Lawrence can use these weapons efficiently and the defense can hold up, head coach Liam Coen could be looking at a playoff appearance in his first season with the Jags. Though there is some reason for optimism, we ultimately have them finishing at 8-9. The Indianapolis Colts are a toss-up team. Sparking some controversy, Daniel Jones was recently named the Colts starter at QB, no doubt limiting their ceiling. The coaching staff and the front office clearly feel the heat from the fizzling out of the Anthony Richardson experiment and are trying to maximize their potential this season. The pieces that surround Jones are lackluster outside of running back Jonathan Taylor and a few other select players, so I see 7-10 as a sweet spot between their low ceiling and decently high floor. From the first overall pick last year we see a small improvement possible for the Tennessee Titans to 5-12. It will not be enough however as the Titans get last place in the AFC South in this prediction. QB Cam Ward, the first pick in this year’s draft, looks to make his imprint on the league as a young star. Ward will have a lot on his shoulders as the group around him does not really look to be aiding him in any real direction. The receiving talent is formidable, and there are some stars on defense, such as defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed who should provide a boost. Aside from Ward’s promise and a few defensive gems, it is an unproven coaching staff, bad offensive line, and a young mind leading the Titan’s offense that will lead to their last place finish.
AFC South predicted records
1. Texans – 10-7
2. Jaguars – 8-9
3. Colts – 7-10
4. Titans – 5-12
AFC West:
The Chiefs, and last year’s Super Bowl runner-ups, will try and continue their dynasty into the 2025-2026 season. Dynamic duo quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce head the other-wordly offense. Struggles from last year seem to have been fixed with an upgraded offensive line and with a proven defense led by All-Pros Chris Jones and Trent McDuffie, the Chiefs have a chance to run this division once more. They’ve been at the top of the mountain before, but with the talent in the NFL this season, the summit will be more of a challenge. Not only did the NFL become more talented, but so did the AFC West. We have both the Chargers and the Broncos going 9-8. The Chargers are led by quarterback Justin Herbert and the Broncos are led by quarterback Bo Nix, who both have potential to breakout this season. . Both franchises have looked to build heavily around these guys in the past year, bringing in new pieces to bolster their roster. However, the AFC West schedule is tough, and with both Denver and Los Angeles not really proving anything yet in terms of big-time wins, a 9-8 record is the most accurate we can predict for the two of them. Predicting the record for the Raiders is an interesting task. They brought in two-time Pro Bowl QB Geno Smith and Super Bowl winning coach Pete Caroll, but I do not think it is enough to push them over the competition. They went 4-13 last year, so 7-10 is a reasonable prediction for a team going through a complete coaching and front office overhaul in year one.
AFC West predicted records:
1. Chiefs – 13-4
2. Chargers – 9-8
3. Broncos – 9-8
4. Raiders – 7-10
NFC
NFC North:
The Lions come out on top in the strong NFC North, with a powerful offense led by the fierce running back duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, and star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. The Lions may take a step back offensively this season due to their loss of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, but young defensive end Aidan Hutchinson should be able to power their defense to balance out their potential offensive struggles. The Green Bay Packers look to have an exciting season with the new addition of superstar defensive end Micah Parsons, who will strengthen their defense, along with their returning safety Xavier McKinney, who had the second-most interceptions in the NFL last season. The Packers have the youngest team in the NFL and an offense full of young stars, including quarterback Jordan Love, running back Josh Jacobs, and receivers Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, and Romeo Doubs. The Vikings had an amazing season (14-3) last year, led by superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson. There are some doubts at quarterback, with new starter J.J. McCarthy looking to gain respect as he missed his entire rookie year with a meniscus tear. The Vikings roster runs deep as they try to replicate last season’s success, but they will still struggle due to their tough schedule and quarterback uncertainty. The Bears are led by last year’s number one overall pick, gunslinging quarterback Caleb Williams. Their top two receivers, D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze, are the offensive weapons of this team, as Odunze looks to take a leap in his second year. They will look to keep improving, but will struggle to rack up wins in the highly competitive NFC North.
NFC North predicted records:
1. Lions – 13-4
2. Packers – 11-6
3. Vikings – 9-8
4. Bears – 7-10
NFC East:
Reigning Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles lead off the NFC East at 13-4, as they try to defend their Super Bowl title with aid from running back Saquon Barkley, who was voted the NFL’s number one overall player by his peers. The Philadelphia offense is protected by the best offensive line in the league and gets its starpower from receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Their defense is also at the top of the ranks with an exciting young core that headlines Jalen Carter, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean. The Commanders are coming off of their best season in 33 years, led by their young, dynamic quarterback, Jayden Daniels, who was awarded the 2025 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Daniels is likely to continue to throw to his favorite target, receiver Terry McLaurin, and will become very familiar with new receiver addition Deebo Samuel Sr. Their fast and aggressive defense is led by veterans like Bobby Wagner and Von Miller, who will try to help their team continue from last year’s defensive success. The Cowboys improved their offense this season with the addition of silent assassin receiver George Pickens, adding more firepower to their offensive core to add on to quarterback Dak Prescott and superstar receiver CeeDee Lamb. Although the offense may improve, the defense will decline due to the loss of star edge rusher Micah Parsons, which is why we have them lower in the rankings. The Giants don’t look to improve but with their new additions of veteran quarterback Russell Wilson and rookie quarterback Jaxon Dart, their QB room will be inclined to target young star receiver Malik Nabers. Nabers is the only promising player on the Giants’ roster, so they won’t produce much success this year.
NFC East predicted records:
1. Eagles – 13-4
2. Commanders – 11-6
3. Cowboys – 6-11
4. Giants – 3-14
NFC South:
The Buccaneers aim to win their 5th consecutive NFC South division title, a streak only behind the Bills and the Chiefs. QB Baker Mayfield will have plenty of offensive targets, including veteran receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and young rookie Emeka Egbuka. Running backs Bucky Irving and Rachad White will hold down the fort in the backfield for the Bucs. They will have a tough schedule, and it will fall on their mediocre defense to step up when the lights are the brightest. The Falcons are a young and intriguing team, but they follow at 7-10. Running back Bijan Robinson looks to take a leap as one of the best running backs in the league, and if their passing stays consistent, the Falcons could make something happen. The Panthers are led by QB Bryce Young, who struggled in his rookie season, and intends to take a step forward with newer pieces around him acquired from the draft and free agency. The Panthers are not a contending team just yet, but they are certainly moving in the right direction. At the bottom of the pack, the Saints are in for a rough year due to their uncertainty at a plethora of positions. Running back Alvin Kamara and receiver Chris Olave are still dynamic playmakers, but the rest of the team lacks the firepower. Rookie quarterback Spencer Ratler will add some intrigue to the team, but it is unclear what the rest of the team will look like. They’re clearly in the rebuilding stage and appear focused on building their future, which will leave them at the bottom of the division, whether it is due to tanking purposes or simply a lack of talent. The South could be the worst division in all of football for this upcoming season due to its shortage of elite players and questionable quarterback situations.
NFC South predicted records:
1. Buccaneers – 9-8
2. Falcons- 7-10
3. Panthers – 6-11
4. Saints – 3-14
NFC West:
The Rams lead the highly competitive NFC West with an entertaining offense, which include renowned receivers Davante Adams and Puka Nacua, along with their prominent running back Kyren Williams. The rest of the team won’t improve much, therefore keeping their record the same as last year’s. The Seahawks also come into the season with an exciting offense, including the new addition of quarterback Sam Darnold, who’s coming off of a great season where he revitalized his career. Former Offensive Player of the Year, Cooper Kupp, joins the receiver group alongside Jaxon Smith-Njigba as well as powerful running back Kenneth Walker III. They will have an average season, as we have them finishing with a 9-8 record. The 49ers return with their quarterback Brock Purdy and superstar running back Christian McCaffery, who returns from injury. All-Pro tight end George Kittle stands out, however they will have some question marks with their receivers and defense, as they try to battle in the tough West. The Cardinals have a high-powered offense containing quarterback Kyler Murray, running back James Connor, young and promising star Marvin Harrison, and tight end Trey McBride. Their defense is one of the worst in the league, lacking firepower at any position, so they will continue to struggle.
NFC West predicted records:
1. Rams – 10-7
2. Seahawks – 9-8
3. 49ers – 7-10
4. Cardinals – 7-10
