The NFL schedule launch means just one factor: It’s time to begin excited about the top recreation.
I’m solely half kidding. Sure, we simply obtained our first have a look at the 2025 regular-season slate. However I’m excited about the place all of it leads — the postseason and the Tremendous Bowl. It’s form of like once you simulated the complete season on Madden to see who wins all of it. That’s what I wished to have a look at right here.
So how does the 2025 NFL season finish?
I’ve considered what the playoff standings will appear like. And I’ve projected every spherical — together with the scores (as a result of no element is simply too exact) — all the best way into the Tremendous Bowl.
Let’s do that.
Playoff standings
AFC standings
- Baltimore Ravens
- Buffalo Bills
- Denver Broncos
- Indianapolis Colts
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Cincinnati Bengals
After all, my Colts choose is prone to addle just a few brains. The Houston Texans didn’t appear like a powerful workforce on movie final yr — however they coasted into the postseason on account of weak division. Indy obtained higher this offseason. Houston didn’t. And whether or not it’s Daniel Jones or an improved Anthony Richardson at QB, the Colts ought to win extra video games — and so they had been already 8-9 final season.
Elsewhere within the AFC, the Pittsburgh Steelers will both 1) haven’t any quarterback or 2) have Aaron Rodgers, which is likely to be worse than having no quarterback.
I badly wished to get the Las Vegas Raiders into the combo, however I feel the Bengals’ offensive expertise will carry them into that final spot, as a result of for as soon as Cincinnati will win its first two video games of the season (@ CLE, vs. JAC).
Some individuals just like the Patriots to make the playoffs after a busy offseason. However on the flipside, New England has an unlimited quantity of turnover round Drake Maye, an ascending-but-still-unproven quarterback. The Patriots’ offseason seems so much like most Jaguars’ offseasons: new coach, big free-agent class, robust draft grades. For that cause, I’m hesitant to foretell a playoff berth. Let’s see how New England’s new items match collectively first.
NFC standings
- Washington Commanders
- Los Angeles Rams
- Detroit Lions
- Carolina Panthers
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Minnesota Vikings
- Dallas Cowboys
This convention is extra sophisticated.
The place are the Packers, for instance? The AFC North goes to be brutal. Will probably be the strongest division within the NFL, and I believe meaning the 4 groups will eat one another’s lunch. Solely two of the groups will make the postseason this yr. I like what the Chicago Bears did for his or her offensive line, however we’ve seen rebuilds like this flop and/or falter. (Have a look at the Jets over the previous few years.) I don’t like what the Packers have achieved this offseason, and I’m apprehensive that Jordan Love’s contract — which is formally consuming into the supporting solid the Packers can afford — will impression the workforce’s efficiency. He’s simply not constant sufficient but as a recreation supervisor to beat this weakening roster.
Sure, I’ve the Panthers within the fourth spot after taking house the NFC South title. Few had been paying consideration on the finish of final yr, however Bryce Young put collectively an eight-game run that fully modified my perspective on him — and coach Dave Canales. There might be one thing particular brewing in Carolina. It received’t take a lot to win the NFC South. It’d merely take an aligned coach and a QB. However on high of that, the Panthers may also have a slew of offseason additions, from WR Tetairoa McMillan to DT Tershawn Wharton to security Tre’von Moehrig. Carolina is tied for the fifth-easiest power of schedule, in response to final yr’s data. Issues are lining up.
And Dallas. The place did the Cowboys come from? They really have the fifth-hardest power of schedule. However in the event you have a look at their depth chart from high to backside, they’re absurdly proficient. In 2024, they completed 7-10, though Dak Prescott performed simply eight video games — and in a division that put two groups within the NFC Championship. Dallas has seemed silly in headlines this offseason, however this workforce is far more harmful than we expect.
Wild-card spherical
Bye: Ravens, Commanders
AFC matchups:
Bills over Bengals, 29-28
Broncos over Chiefs, 13-10
Chargers over Colts, 21-7
NFC matchups
Rams over Cowboys, 24-17
Vikings over Lions, 28-10
Eagles over Panthers, 31-17
There are two organizations that — to me — look exhausted: Kansas Metropolis and Detroit.
The Chiefs simply put their coronary heart and soul into the three-peat and failed brutally on the largest stage. And whereas I feel there’s a big-brother complicated the place Andy Reid lords over each Sean McDermott and John Harbaugh, I don’t suppose that’s true of Sean Payton, who will bump a fatigued Reid, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce out of the offseason.
For the Lions, they only appear to be on a downward pattern. Their two 2024 coordinators at the moment are head coaches (Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn). It appears as in the event that they’ll by no means repair their secondary points. And now, with out Johnson, I’m wondering if the super-powered offense may expertise some vulnerability, notably as groups league-wide bulk as much as cease the stylish, run-heavy offenses.
Divisional spherical
AFC matchups:
Ravens over Chargers, 31-17
Payments over Broncos, 17-14
NFC matchups:
Commanders over Vikings, 28-17
Rams over Eagles, 24-20
The matchup between the Ravens and Chargers could be an enchanting one. It might be one other Harbaugh Bowl. However extra necessary (a minimum of to me) could be how this recreation influences the legacies of Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert — each of whom face fixed criticism for his or her lack of success within the postseason. It appears Herbert should endure extra of the remedy that Lamar obtained. And Jackson will proceed to graduate from it.
J.J. McCarthy’s season may appear like a poor man’s model of what Jayden Daniels did final yr. McCarthy might be getting back from an ACL damage, which might sluggish a participant down within the early days. However Minnesota has the supporting solid to carry its younger QB. By the postseason, I feel this offense might be buzzing. However … not on the degree of the Commanders, whose offseason additions will assist forestall a sophomore droop for Daniels. He’ll rerurn to the NFC Championship Sport.
Championship spherical
AFC Championship: Payments over Ravens, 42-35
NFC Championship: Rams over Commanders, 33-21
I’ve obtained a loopy thought right here. What if each Josh Allen and Sean McVay are underrated?
Sure, I do know Allen simply received MVP. However I’m undecided everybody has wrapped their heads round simply how a lot he’s achieved to hold the Payments out of irrelevance and into six consecutive divisional titles. And what he did, specifically, to carry Buffalo’s offense final yr. His incapability to beat Patrick Mahomes within the playoffs has dampened his legacy. However once you merely have a look at Allen on a game-to-game degree, you can simply argue he’s essentially the most full quarterback within the recreation.
Which is why he’s headed to the Tremendous Bowl. The Payments win the AFC Championship in a rematch of their season-opener towards the Ravens.
Within the NFC, it’s an analogous story with McVay, who has carried his workforce by some tough patches since he and Matthew Stafford received the Tremendous Bowl. L.A. wanted to rebuild — or a minimum of renovate — its roster. There was loads of turnover from the celebrities who helped the Rams win final time. Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp, Jalen Ramsey and Bobby Wagner are all gone. This looks as if the yr when that development undertaking involves an finish. And within the NFC Championship, all the pieces seems as picturesque on L.A.’s roster as McVay might think about.
Tremendous Bowl
Payments over Rams, 27-26
There was a fourth-down play that determined the Payments’ loss to the Chiefs within the AFC Championship. You in all probability know the one. It was BUffalo’s ultimate offensive drive. Allen didn’t seem to acknowledge a disguised blitz off the suitable facet. The blitzers hurried the go and Allen couldn’t full the throw to tight finish Dalton Kincaid. (Or, maybe, Kincaid dropped the go.) The incompletion value Buffalo the sport.
How badly is that play seared in Allen’s thoughts? How a lot will it encourage him?
My sense is that it’s a reminder of how good he’ll must be to make it not simply to a Tremendous Bowl however by one — and with a win. As a result of a quarterback’s preparation needs to be so intense and immense that he can see that blitz coming and make the correct adjustment. On each play, together with and particularly on third and fourth downs within the fourth quarter.
Somewhat than additional cementing McVay and Stafford’s legacies, this season will give Allen the platform to rework himself. There’s no denying that he might be thought to be probably the most proficient quarterbacks of his era. However this Tremendous Bowl might open conversations about his greatness.
Earlier than becoming a member of FOX Sports activities as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years overlaying the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Comply with him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.
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