The 2025 NFL season is set to kick off. Here are the teams I believe will win each division, with a couple of surprises. I also break down the top-2 Tiers of the AFC and NFC teams with the best shot to make the Super Bowl. Lastly, I give a Super Bowl matchup with a prediction of the winner.
2025 Divisional Winners
AFC East
AFC North
AFC South
AFC West
The only surprise in the AFC would be the Broncos being the team in the AFC West that finally overtakes the Kansas City Chiefs to win the division. It’ll be the first time that Denver has won the division since 2015, which is also the last time the Chiefs failed to win the division.
NFC East
NFC North
NFC South
NFC West
In the NFC, I see a couple of teams that aren’t the favorites to win the division pull off surprises. The Packers top the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. The Seahawks take the crown over the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams. Maybe the most shocking is the Panthers overtaking the South from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Super Bowl Championship Tiers
AFC Tier 1
AFC Tier 2
First 3 Teams outside of Tier 2
Most Overrated AFC Team: Los Angeles Chargers
It’s hard to bet against Patrick Mahomes, and having him along maybe should push the Chiefs up to the bottom of Tier 1. However, the suspensions of Rashee Rice, the decline of Hollywood Brown, and the injury risk with Xavier Worthy’s light frame give me concern for the offense with an aging Travis Kelce.
The Chargers have a good roster, but they aren’t at the level of the Tier 2 teams that they’re mostly mentioned alongside. They’re more likely to be competing with the non-divisional winners from the AFC North in the Bengals and Steelers, for the final playoff spots.
NFC Tier 1
NFC Tier 2
First 3 Teams outside of Tier 2
Most Overrated NFC Team: Washington Commanders
After losing talented coordinators on both sides of the ball to head coaching positions, along with key departures on the offensive line, the Lions regress back to third in their own division a year after finishing with the best record in the entire NFC.
Washington’s coverage has been similar to the Texans coverage of 2024 when they were expected to make a Super Bowl push, largely on the back of their stellar second-year QB who went 2nd overall in the draft the year prior (2023). Washington now has expectations of a potential Super Bowl push, largely on the back of their stellar second-year QB who went 2nd overall the year prior (2024). I’ve seen this movie before.
Super Bowl Matchup: Green Bay Packers vs Baltimore Ravens
I liked the Packers going into this year, but with the addition of Micah Parsons, it pushes them over the top to make a successful Super Bowl run.
Lamar Jackson has been on the cusp for years, but like with Josh Allen and the Bills, they haven’t been able to get over the hump. Each has the opportunity to do so this year, but I believe the Ravens roster is stacked and built better for success.
Outcome: Ravens win the Super Bowl
