NFL team-by-team guide 2025: Who are the Super Bowl contenders?

NFL is fresh to return - nan caller play starts connected 4 September, pinch each 32 teams hoping that this will beryllium their year.

The Philadelphia Eagles won nan Super Bowl successful February, ending nan Kansas City Chiefs' hopes of a three-peat.

Who will situation for nan Vince Lombardi Trophy this clip around? Here, we look astatine each team's prospects.

Super Bowl champions

Is this nan commencement of a caller dynasty? The Philadelphia Eagles went 9-7 aft their past Super Bowl triumph successful 2018 but they're overmuch stronger and settled this time, and tin bring backmost nan mostly of their stars, specified arsenic backmost Jalen Hurts, his 2 elite receivers and generational moving backmost Saquon Barkley.

There's alteration successful nan fearsome defence that dominated nan Kansas City Chiefs successful New Orleans, pinch immoderate large names leaving. But Jalen Carter is simply a beast and will lead what is still apt to beryllium 1 of nan champion units successful nan convention pinch Vic Fangio astatine nan helm.

Star Man: Saquon Barkley

Hurts is simply a prima but Barkley opens up nan doorway and was much often nan quality successful cardinal moments past season. Beyond conscionable his 2,000 yards rushing, he tin people from anyplace astatine immoderate clip and will beryllium nan cardinal to glory again.

Lost successful Super Bowl

Can nan empire onslaught back? Only 1 squad successful 32 years has returned to nan Super Bowl nan twelvemonth aft losing it, and nan mode of their beatdown by Philadelphia was a immense worry.

First-round draught prime Josh Simmons will beryllium charged pinch giving Patrick Mahomes nan protection he lacked past year, and that will beryllium cardinal if Kansas City are to subordinate nan trend.

Star Man: Patrick Mahomes

He's nan champion of a procreation but his numbers are connected nan descent and he was beaten up successful nan Super Bowl. He has a large constituent to beryllium and will want to make a immense connection this year.

Lost successful Divisional Round

The fourth-highest points full successful history (564) - positive nan accomplishment of being only nan ninth squad to triumph 15 games successful a regular play - gave Detroit nan apical seed successful nan NFC but they still suffered different heartbreaking play-off nonaccomplishment astatine location to nan upstart Commanders.

Now nan mobility is whether they tin prime themselves up yet again to motorboat a 3rd consecutive situation pinch Dan Campbell losing some his violative and protect coordinators this summer.

Star man: Aidan Hutchinson

The Lions person a tremendous accomplishment group connected offence pinch Jahmyr Gibbs (1,929 yards, 20 touchdowns) nan standout, but losing protect extremity Aidan Hutchinson to a surgery limb past twelvemonth wrecked their defence - if he's backmost to his best, they'll beryllium a different animal.

Lost successful Wildcard Round

Sam Darnold revived his backmost profession pinch this squad past twelvemonth but JJ McCarthy is nan starter now, having mislaid each of his rookie play to a knee injury.

The pieces are each location for him to thrive, not slightest caput coach Kevin O'Connell being thing of a backmost whisperer and a beardown defence that should support them successful games.

Winning 14 again, particularly playing successful nan NFC North, is simply a reliable ask, though.

Star Man: Justin Jefferson

What helped Darnold, and will thief McCarthy, is having a stud receiver successful Justin Jefferson, who tin conscionable astir drawback thing sloppy of being covered aliases not.

Lost successful AFC Championship

There's only ever 1 mobility successful Buffalo, and that's really tin they hit nan Kansas City Chiefs, pinch Patrick Mahomes dumping them retired of nan play-offs successful 4 of nan past 5 seasons.

They've had 5 years of being a consistently elite side, pinch reigning MVP Josh Allen a existent superstar astatine quarterback. So nan vexation is immense arsenic each play ticks by without a Super Bowl quality nan squad deserves.

Star Man: Josh Allen

After starring nan apical scoring offence, nan MVP will person to do it each again arsenic squad officials spent nan first 5 draught picks and astir free agency money connected strengthening a defence that's allowed 33 points a crippled successful their past 5 play-off defeats.

Lost successful Divisional Round

Last play summed up nan Ravens and Lamar Jackson - arguably nan strongest squad successful nan NFL but failing successful nan play-offs. The two-time MVP and 1 of nan champion quarterbacks astir is now 70-24 successful nan regular play and 3-5 erstwhile it gets superior successful nan post-season.

Not that it's Jackson's responsibility arsenic he produced 1 of nan champion campaigns connected grounds successful position of passing. With ascendant moving backmost Derrick Henry still alongside him, they'll return immoderate stopping.

Star Man: Lamar Jackson

The champion moving backmost we've ever seen threw 41 passing touchdowns past season, pinch nan 4th champion passer standing ever recorded (119.6), and conscionable 4 interceptions. His Super Bowl will surely come.

Lost NFC Championship

The Commanders made a monolithic jump from 4 wins successful 2023 to 12 past season. And they were conscionable a crippled distant from nan Super Bowl acknowledgment to a stunning play from rookie backmost Jayden Daniels. But will he suffer nan dreaded sophomore slump?

Opposing defences person plentifulness of movie connected him now to study truthful you'd expect immoderate regression - particularly arsenic Washington had conscionable 3 draught picks successful nan apical 200 and will again section 1 of nan oldest squads successful nan league.

Star Man: Jayden Daniels

Deebo Samuel will connection much acquisition for Daniels to thin connected arsenic receiver but almost everything will beryllium put connected nan quarterback's shoulders again. He's sewage nan talent but whitethorn not rather person nan squad to spell arsenic acold arsenic past season.

Lost successful Wildcard Round

Head coach Jim Harbaugh made an instant effect past twelvemonth pinch nan Chargers defence, allowing nan fewest points successful nan league. while backmost Justin Herbert had his astir accordant season.

Expect much textbook Harbaugh 'ground and pound' this twelvemonth aft nan presence of moving backs Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton.

Star Man: Justin Herbert

Herbert constricted his mistakes each play past threw 4 picks successful their play-off conclusion by Houston - he'll request to cleanable that up if they are to push on.

Lost successful Wildcard Round

Head coach Matt LaFleur again had nan youngest squad successful nan NFL past play and it showed arsenic they mislaid each six games against amended teams, including a reliable play-off conclusion successful Philadelphia.

They're adjacent but still don't look to person capable stars to hit nan really elite teams erstwhile it matters.

Star Man: Jordan Love

Running backmost Josh Jacobs carried nan offence past play and while he'll beryllium cardinal again, if you person a backmost connected a $220m statement past he really should beryllium nan focal point.

Lost successful Wildcard Round

One of conscionable 4 teams to people 500-plus points past season, nan Bucs offence should again beryllium container agency viewing. And they should not beryllium underestimated arsenic they battered eventual champions Philadelphia successful week four, won distant successful Detroit, took nan Chiefs to overtime successful Kansas City and only mislaid successful nan play-offs connected a last-second section goal.

Star Man: Baker Mayfield

A existent all-action gunslinger, Mayfield is besides container agency pinch his backmost play. The Bucs whitethorn get much from nan play if blimpish caput coach Todd Bowles acts a spot much for illustration his backmost and goes for much 4th downs and two-point conversions.

Lost successful Divisional Round

The Rams pushed nan Eagles each nan measurement successful nan play-offs arsenic Matthew Stafford showed why they kept him successful LA. But he's 37 and is struggling pinch a bad backmost that could limit him astatine immoderate clip during a long, reliable season. With Stafford fresh to propulsion to caller signing Davante Adams, nan Rams are a play-off squad - but nan uncertainty is there.

Star Man: Jared Verse

The offence mostly takes attraction of itself, but nan defence needs large plays, and galore should travel from 2nd twelvemonth linebacker Jared Verse aft winning Defensive Rookie of nan Year past season.

Lost successful Divisional Round

It's difficult to telephone it a sophomore slump for CJ Stroud arsenic Houston won nan AFC South and won a play-off crippled - each while their prima backmost was getting sacked 52 times. It's each alteration this twelvemonth connected nan violative statement to effort and support their man upright.

Star Man: CJ Stroud

Just 23 but starting his 3rd NFL season, Stroud still looked bully astatine times contempt protection issues. He should nutrient thing of a bounce backmost pinch an improved statement successful beforehand of him.

Lost successful Wildcard Round

Aaron Rodgers embarks connected what looks for illustration his last year, but astatine 41 and successful specified a reliable division, it looks a immense task to thief nan Steelers get a first play-off triumph since 2016.

Mike Tomlin managed to get 10 wins retired his squad past twelvemonth though and Rodgers, on pinch large caller signing DK Metcalf astatine receiver, connection an upgrade successful attacking options.

Star Man: TJ Watt

Pittsburgh will again thin heavy connected defence this play and that intends nan crippled wrecking expertise of TJ Watt, who nan Steelers made nan highest paid non-quarterback successful nan convention pinch a caller $123m woody successful July.

Lost successful Wildcard Round

Denver's defence went from atrocious to apical 5 past play to lead an improbable play-off run, and caput coach Sean Payton has strengthened that again pinch immoderate big-name additions successful free agency - things are really looking up astatine Mile High moreover if they're a spot short connected violative playmakers.

Star Man: Bo Nix

Underrated successful nan draught but cleanable for Payton. Having a coach of his calibre should thief backmost Bo Nix to debar a sophomore slump and nutrient much of nan bully worldly he delivered down nan agelong past season.

Second successful NFC West

Seattle signed backmost Sam Darnold from Minnesota, but was his renaissance each down to nan Vikings' violative set-up? The Seahawks look decent connected defence but they'll request Darnold to deed nan crushed running.

Star Man: Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Despite Cooper Kupp's arrival, Smith-Njigba tin beryllium nan go-to feline for Darnold aft his breakout twelvemonth past play - erstwhile he made nan Pro Bowl aft 100 catches for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns.

Third successful AFC North

No backmost had ever thrown for much than 4,500 yards, much than 40 touchdowns and had less than 10 interceptions yet still not made nan play-offs earlier Joe Burrow past year.

That's really bad nan Bengals defence was, and there's not excessively overmuch betterment this twelvemonth pinch their champion defender Trey Hendricksen looking to leave. At slightest they will beryllium nosy to watch.

Star Man: Joe Burrow

It'll beryllium reliable to amended connected his stats from past year, but he whitethorn person to if he wants to make nan play-offs.

Third successful NFC West

A reasonable play past twelvemonth arsenic Arizona doubled their triumph tally from 2023 and nan defence really improved. Quarterback Kyler Murray and receiver Marvin Harrison Jr person to show much this play though.

Star Man: Trey McBride

A breakout play for Trey McBride resulted successful Arizona making him nan highest-paid tight extremity successful nan convention - he'll look to repay immoderate of that successful 2025.

Second successful AFC East

A genuinely explosive offence mislaid each of its spark past year, pinch Tua Tagovailoa throwing tons of short passes and his speedy receivers losing much than a step. Throw successful a mediocre secondary and this could beryllium a reliable play for nan Fins.

Star Man: Tyreek Hill

He said he was done successful Miami aft an alarming dip successful form, but now Cheetah is staying, he needs to find that velocity again to springiness this stagnated offence a boost.

Second successful AFC South

Anthony Richardson, 4th prime successful nan 2023 draft, has mislaid his starting backmost occupation to Daniel Jones, who had plentifulness of problems astatine nan New York Giants. The defence tin support them successful games but they request astatine slightest mean backmost play to triumph them.

Star Man: Jonathan Taylor

Has conscionable had his champion play since he was 2021 rushing champion - and he'll request much of nan aforesaid to transportation this offence.

Second successful NFC South

The Falcons could beryllium thing this twelvemonth pinch Michael Penix Jr nan caller starting backmost and nan defence relying heavy connected rookies James Pearce Jr and Jalon Walker to make a antecedently non-existent walk rush.

Star Man: Bijan Robinson

The moving backmost had a monster twelvemonth pinch 1,456 yards and 14 touchdowns, and he'll person to transportation nan violative load arsenic Penix settles in.

Third successful NFC East

Another summertime and much play successful Dallas pinch protect superstar Micah Parsons asking to time off aft a disagreement complete a caller contract.

The Cowboys besides person a caller first-time caput coach successful Brian Schottenheimer to woody pinch that and turning astir a squad that's gone astir 30 years since moreover making nan NFC Championship.

Star Man: Dak Prescott

He has George Pickens joining CeeDee Lamb arsenic 2 elite receiving options and Dak Prescott puts up bully numbers erstwhile fresh - but he'd for illustration a decent tally crippled to besides thin connected this season.

Bottom of NFC West

The Niners mislaid 8 decent players successful free agency and could not switch them arsenic they handed backmost Brock Purdy a monolithic $265m statement hold - but he's a spot ray connected receivers because of injuries. There's still plentifulness of talent successful this squad but they can't spend different wounded situation for illustration past year.

Star Man: Christian McCaffrey

McCaffrey only played 4 games past twelvemonth because of wounded but has looked crisp during nan summer, truthful could beryllium a immense summation if he's backmost to his 2023 form, erstwhile he had much than 2,000 full yards and 21 touchdowns.

Bottom of NFC South

Derek Carr's status should've been a large hint for nan Saints to execute a complete overhaul, but they still person an ageing roster and a mediocre net headdress business aft immoderate questionable free supplier moves. This could beryllium a reliable year.

Star Man: Tyler Shough

The second-round draught prime should beryllium nan starter and he's nary mean rookie arsenic he's 25 aft spending 7 seasons successful college, truthful he should person nan correct temperament for what looks a reliable gig this season.

Third successful NFC South

The Panthers defence allowed much points than immoderate different squad successful NFL history past clip around, truthful it will return much than 1 off-season to propulsion that portion backmost together. It's babe steps this twelvemonth for Carolina.

Star Man: Bryce Young

The erstwhile number 1 wide prime was benched past twelvemonth but came connected beardown down nan stretch, and pinch rookie Tetairoa McMillan joining Xavier Legette astatine receiver Young has progressively bully options to return a large leap forward.

Bottom of NFC North

Bringing successful Detroit's highly regarded violative coordinator Ben Johnson arsenic caput coach is nan large off-season move nan Bears dream tin get nan astir retired of past year's apical draught prime Caleb Williams. Drafting a tight extremity imaginable successful nan first information can't wounded either.

Star Man: Caleb Williams

Chicago person ne'er had a 4,000 gait passer successful a play but violative guru Johnson surely has nan devices now to thief Williams break that duck.

Third successful AFC East

New caput coach Aaron Glenn wasted nary clip successful moving connected from Aaron Rodgers, and that no-nonsense attack mightiness thief to threat their tally of 14 consecutive seasons without making nan play-offs. Whether Justin Fields, connected his 3rd NFL team, tin beryllium nan backmost to do it remains to beryllium seen.

Star Man: Garrett Wilson

He's surgery 1,000 yards receiving successful each 3 seasons moreover pinch each nan backmost issues nan Jets person had - springiness him conscionable a settled man throwing him nan shot and he'll beryllium electric.

Bottom of AFC West

Pete Carroll, who turns 74 successful September, will go nan oldest caput coach successful NFL history arsenic he starts what's been an intolerable occupation of turning this franchise astir - he's nan 14th man successful complaint since nan team's past play-off triumph 22 years ago. He'll nary uncertainty amended them, but it an improving section advancement whitethorn beryllium slow

Star Man: Ashton Jeanty

New backmost Geno Smith is steady, defender Maxx Crosby is 1 of nan champion astir and Brock Bowers had nan champion rookie tight extremity play connected grounds past year, but bruising rookie moving backmost Ashton Jeanty could beryllium a immense prima and will person plentifulness of carries to beryllium it.

Bottom of AFC East

Things could yet beryllium turning astir successful New England aft successive four-win seasons. Head coach Mike Vrabel knows what he's doing and bringing backmost violative coordinator Josh McDaniels was a smart move - positive they spent a decent magnitude successful free agency.

Star Man: Drake Maye

We saw capable from Maye past twelvemonth to judge he's a caller franchise quarterback, and though nan supporting formed astir him looks weak, isolated from an ageing Stefon Diggs, nan squad wide being amended should thief him along.

Third successful AFC South

Trevor Lawrence really needs to commencement repaying immoderate of that monolithic $275m statement now arsenic we've only seen flashes - possibly caller caput coach Liam Coen tin do nan instrumentality arsenic he besides has weapons astir him including Brian Thomas Jr, who had a stellar rookie season.

Star Man: Travis Hunter

The Jags traded up to get nan NFL's 'unicorn' and adjacent large star, who plans to play plentifulness connected offence and defence this year. He'll beryllium 1 of nan biggest stories to travel successful nan league.

Bottom of AFC North

Joe Flacco will commencement astatine backmost but each eyes will beryllium connected Shedeur Sanders moreover if he remains nan 4th prime for Kevin Stefanski. But pinch mobility marks complete his 3 rivals and some decent pre-season work, Sanders whitethorn get his changeable - and if he does Cleveland will beryllium nan spot to be.

Star Man: Myles Garrett

The Browns handed their prima walk rusher a monster statement to bent astir truthful he'll beryllium expected to beryllium a crippled wrecker connected nan section and a leader disconnected it. Getting caught speeding successful nan summertime wasn't nan champion start.

Bottom of NFC East

Veteran Russell Wilson will beryllium nether unit from rookie Jaxson Dart aft his awesome pre-season, and nan backmost alteration whitethorn travel sooner than later arsenic caput coach Brian Daboll's occupation is connected nan statement aft going from 9 wins to six to 3 successful his 3 seasons successful charge.

Star Man: Malik Nabers

Whoever is backmost has a genuine prima receiver successful Malik Nabers, who collapsed nan rookie grounds for receptions past twelvemonth truthful should thief retired Wilson and apt Dart later on.

Bottom of AFC South

Going from 7 wins to six to three, nan Titans person been getting worse complete nan past fewer years, truthful there's plentifulness of unit to move astir this ailing franchise from nan off. It's a reliable spot for number 1 wide draught prime Cam Ward.

Star Man: Calvin Ridley

A existent number 1 receiver connected his day, Ridley will beryllium captious successful helping Ward retired of immoderate tight spots he gets into, and has surgery 1,000 yards receiving successful 3 of past 4 seasons.