Most of the last decade of NFL football has been dominated by passing offense. The best quarterbacks and wide receivers have typically led their teams to the most success in recent years. In the process, running back contracts began to shrink as some NFL teams adopted the philosophy that an elite RB won’t provide much more over a replacement level RB. However, last season we saw the return of the elite running back. Whether it be Saquon Barkley’s 2,000 yard season, Derrick Henry’s best year since he hit 2K in 2020, or the Lions’ dynamic duo better known as Sonic and Knuckles, big name running backs played a major role in the 2024 season. It’s proven that RBs of a certain talent level are worth spending elite capital on, and it’s a trend I expect to continue into the 2025 season. How will the rest of the NFL shake up? Keep reading below to see my predictions.

AFC East

1. Buffalo Bills (13-4, #2 seed in AFC)
2. New England Patriots (10-7, #7 seed in AFC)
3. Miami Dolphins (9-8)
4. New York Jets (5-12)

The Bills still look like the heavy favorites in this division, but the landscape behind them has changed significantly over the course of the offseason. It’ll likely be the Dolphins and Patriots battling for the second spot.

The Dolphins have been playoff regulars in recent years, and they still have the talent to get there, but between the drama surrounding WR Tyreek Hill and concerns about Mike McDaniel’s coaching style, off the field issues could hold them back. New England’s culture is trending in a much better direction, as Mike Vrabel takes over for Jerod Mayo and looks to reinstate the Patriot Way on the back of a revamped defense and young QB Drake Maye. I think the improvements they made should be enough to squeak ahead of Miami.

That leaves the Jets alone in the basement. While new QB Justin Fields has untapped potential, the team doesn’t exactly have a great track record of unlocking potential under center. As a result, I don’t see this team performing much better than they did under Aaron Rodgers.

AFC North

1. Baltimore Ravens (14-3, #1 seed in AFC)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7, #5 seed in AFC)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (10-7)
4. Cleveland Browns (2-15)

Unlike the AFC East, this division looks just about the same as last season. The Steelers look to have a top 5 defense, and the Bengals have one of the most electric offenses in football. I still think the Ravens take the crown as they have the best of both worlds. QB Lamar Jackson has what’s arguably his best group of weapons yet, and the secondary went from great last year to elite this year with the addition of Jaire Alexander. I give the Steelers the slight edge for a Wild Card, especially given the uncertainty in Cincinnati surrounding Trey Hendrickson.

The biggest change I see happening in this division is a further collapse of the Cleveland Browns. Juggling 4 QBs is not going to get this team anywhere. They are clearly paying the price for trading for Deshaun Watson, who appears more concerned with avoiding consequences for his actions than recovering from his torn Achilles and bouncing back on the field. The Browns need to start targeting talent that won’t be held back by character issues, and until they learn that, they will be in this division’s basement.

AFC South

1. Houston Texans (10-7, #4 seed in AFC)
2. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-9)
3. Indianapolis Colts (7-10)
4. Tennessee Titans (4-13)

While I have the Texans taking this division for the third straight year, it won’t quite be as easy as 2024. I expect the Jaguars to bounce back to an extent under Liam Coen, and the Colts’ schedule appears easy enough that they should be able to pick up their fair share of wins and put up a fight as well.

However, I still have Houston as the division’s only playoff team. While the team is still flawed and the o-line is a concern, I trust C.J. Stroud more than any other QB here and on paper the Texans also have one of the best defenses in football. The Colts still have a huge question mark at the QB position, and coming off a 4-win 2024 season, it’s going to take time for the Jaguars to get back into playoff position.

The Titans still fall short of posing a threat in this division. I do expect big things out of Cam Ward, but I’m not sure how much he moves the needle in Year 1. To add to it, this defense already struggled last year and has only continued to lose talent in free agency.

AFC West

1. Kansas City Chiefs (11-6, #3 seed in AFC)
2. Los Angeles Chargers (10-7, #6 seed in AFC)
3. Denver Broncos (9-8)
4. Las Vegas Raiders (5-12)

A year ago, this division had three playoff teams, headlined by the 15-2 Chiefs. I still see the Chiefs, Chargers, and Broncos putting up good years, but I think the division takes a slight step back overall.

The Chiefs may have had the luckiest 15-win season in NFL history, and they were humbled in Super Bowl LIX. I still have them narrowly winning the division, but they’ll regress to 11-6 and especially struggle during WR Rashee Rice’s 6-game suspension.

That brings the Chargers and Broncos closer to a division title than last year, but the competition in the AFC is tough enough that I have Denver just missing the playoffs. QB Justin Herbert has a better arsenal of weapons than last year. Though the Chargers lost some pieces on defense, I think the offensive improvements keep them afloat here. The Broncos’ defense, on the other hand, will win them some games singlehandedly. However, I don’t see QB Bo Nix taking much more of a step forward as he’s already older than your average rookie contract QB.

The Raiders will still likely be in the basement here, but the Pete Carroll-Geno Smith combo as well as the addition of RB Ashton Jeanty should buy them a win or two more than 2024.

NFC East

1. Philadelphia Eagles (13-4, #1 seed in NFC)
2. Dallas Cowboys (9-8, #6 seed in NFC)
3. Washington Commanders (7-10)
4. New York Giants (7-10)

The NFC East hasn’t had a back to back winner since 2004, but if there’s anyone to buck the trend, it’s the Jalen Hurts/Saquon Barkley-led Eagles. Many suspect the Commanders will give them a run for their money, but their defensive line concerns me and it may be difficult for QB Jayden Daniels to replicate his rookie year. Meanwhile, Philly brings back many established veterans and should remain one of the top Super Bowl contenders.

The Commanders’ decline would give the Cowboys a better shot to make the playoffs, as I have them doing here. It would also open the door for a Russell Wilson-led Giants squad to pick up a few more wins than last year. Wilson is the most competent QB the Giants have had since Eli Manning retired, so I feel that will make a difference. The Cowboys roster is much less the same outside of the recent loss of Micah Parsons, but we’ll have to see how much Brian Schottenheimer can get out of this squad compared to Mike McCarthy. I suspect Jerry Jones, not the coaching, is the problem here in Dallas, but in 2025 the Cowboys may be able to take advantage of a weak, but deep NFC wild card race and buy Schottenheimer another year.

NFC North

1. Detroit Lions (13-4, #2 seed in NFC)
2. Minnesota Vikings (8-9)
3. Green Bay Packers (8-9)
4. Chicago Bears (7-10)

This division, much like the AFC West, had three playoff teams a year ago. However, I think the Packers, much like the Commanders, were a beneficiary of a weaker NFC wild card race. This year’s race runs deeper than last year’s, which could actually in effect lead to more 8 to 9 win teams making the wild card, but I don’t see Green Bay being one of them this time around.

The Vikings were more than just your average wild card team last year, but it’s hard to know what they’ll get out of QB J.J. McCarthy, and I don’t have the same faith in him that I do in the rest of his QB class. He was surrounded by elite talent when he won a national title with Michigan. Even though he has a lot of talent in Minnesota, it’s unknown if McCarthy’s ability will translate.

I think Ben Johnson will allow the Bears to challenge Minnesota and Green Bay for 2nd place in the division. However, the talented offense in Detroit will succeed with or without Johnson. In fact, John Morton’s offense has seemingly played to the benefit of guys like RB Jahmyr Gibbs and WR Jameson Williams in camp. I have them winning this division in a much more defining fashion than a year ago.

NFC South

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-6, #3 seed in NFC)
2. Atlanta Falcons (6-11)
3. Carolina Panthers (6-11)
4. New Orleans Saints (4-13)

While QB Baker Mayfield is by no means a generational talent, the supporting cast he has around him should help Tampa Bay repeat their performance as one of the best offenses in football. That’s far more than the other teams in this division can celebrate.

Carolina’s offense has also showed promise under QB Bryce Young, but not enough to overcome the gaping roster holes on the defensive side of the ball. The Falcons will go as far as QB Michael Penix Jr. goes, and he didn’t exactly show much promise down the stretch last year. The Saints may be the biggest disaster of all in this division. Their continuous delaying of a needed rebuild put the team in salary cap hell, which could make the rebuild they’re starting now a long and tedious one. Even stars like RB Alvin Kamara can’t help the Saints recover from trotting out Tyler Shough or Spencer Rattler at QB.

NFC West

1. San Francisco 49ers (10-7, #4 seed in NFC)
2. Seattle Seahawks (10-7, #5 seed in NFC)
3. Los Angeles Rams (8-9, #7 seed in NFC)
4. Arizona Cardinals (8-9)

This division could be one of the biggest bloodbaths in recent NFL history. All four of these teams are very competent, but none necessarily stands out as built to blow away the competition.

I have the Seahawks and 49ers competing for the crown. Seattle has one of the best defenses in the NFC, highlighted by another elite secondary. I’d argue QB Brock Purdy is the best passer in the division, and with a strong roster around him hat still includes TE George Kittle, ED Nick Bosa, and LB Fred Warner, I see San Francisco just barely beating out Seattle for the West and the #4 seed in the NFC.

I see the Rams taking a slight step back as QB Matthew Stafford ages and the defense continues to lose talent, but they still sneak into the playoffs as another beneficiary of a close wild card race. Arizona just gets a little unlucky with tiebreakers here; both these teams will be competitive but just don’t quite have the upper level talent of their division counterparts up north.

Super Bowl Prediction: Ravens over Eagles

In an era where running backs have returned to the spotlight, I have two of the best duking it out in the Super Bowl: Derrick Henry of the Ravens and Saquon Barkley of the Eagles. The Eagles have most of their Super Bowl roster from last year back, and that will help them make a deep run. However, Baltimore added seasoned veterans like WR DeAndre Hopkins and CB Jaire Alexander to an already talented roster. That veteran experience will help them on the big stage.

That does it for my NFL predictions this season. Stay tuned to my Twitter, @AndrewRoberts1 for my weekly NFL picks and much, much more.