The 2025 NFL season is officially here, and fans are eager to dive into the action. Get ready for the upcoming campaign with our comprehensive team preview series, which features detailed analyses of all 32 franchises. Each team preview includes insights on strengths, weaknesses, quarterback highlights, fantasy football tips, best bets, and much more. Click the “read full team preview” button below to explore each team in depth.
Biggest Strength: Rushing Attack
The Arizona Cardinals boast a robust rushing attack anchored by their offensive line and dynamic ball carriers. Their use of multiple tight end sets enhances their ground game, making it the backbone of their offensive strategy.
Biggest Weakness: Linebackers
Despite efforts to upgrade the defensive line, the linebacker unit stands as a significant concern. The secondary is still a work in progress, raising questions about the overall defensive strength.
Bottom Line: With Kyler Murray's consistency and the impact of recent defensive additions, the Cardinals are on the verge of playoff contention.
Biggest Strength: Offensive Line
Even without standout center Drew Dalman, the Atlanta Falcons maintain one of the league's strongest offensive lines, particularly in the run game.
Biggest Weakness: Pass Rush
The Falcons struggled significantly in pass rush, ranking among the bottom three teams last season, and their only notable free-agent addition was Leonard Floyd, who had a lackluster performance.
Bottom Line: Atlanta has the offensive weapons to challenge for the NFC South title, but Michael Penix Jr. must deliver consistently for them to succeed.
Biggest Strength: Rushing Offense
The duo of Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson created a historic rushing offense for the Ravens, achieving a record-setting 94.5 team PFF rushing grade.
Biggest Weakness: Edge Rushers
While the Ravens have a solid edge defender group, they lack a standout star, with no player surpassing a pass-rush grade of 74.7 last season.
Bottom Line: With their championship-caliber components, the Ravens need to step up in crucial postseason moments to capitalize on their potential.
Biggest Strength: Josh Allen
Buffalo’s MVP-winning quarterback remains the core of the team’s success. Josh Allen’s performance has kept the Bills competitive despite a struggling defense and receiving corps.
Biggest Weakness: Safeties
The Bills' safeties have faced criticism, ranking 31st in coverage last season, contributing to the team's second-worst coverage grade overall.
Bottom Line: As long as Josh Allen stays healthy, the Bills will remain contenders in the AFC East, but their postseason aspirations rely heavily on defensive improvements.
Biggest Strength: Offensive Line
Carolina made significant investments in their offensive line, which paid off with a top-ranked unit last season, giving rookie quarterback Bryce Young the support he needs.
Biggest Weakness: Defensive Front
The front seven has been a vulnerability, but recent veteran and rookie additions aim to strengthen this area for the upcoming season.
Bottom Line: The Panthers may emerge as surprise contenders if they see improvement from Bryce Young and their defensive front.
Biggest Strength: Offensive Line
With a revamped interior offensive line, the Bears have significantly bolstered their blocking capabilities, which will be crucial for quarterback Caleb Williams.
Biggest Weakness: Running Back
Chicago's running backs have struggled, finishing 26th in rushing grade and failing to add any major talent in the offseason.
Bottom Line: If Caleb Williams can capitalize on the improved supporting cast, the Bears could make a strong push for the playoffs.
Biggest Strength: Star Trio
The combination of Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins makes the Bengals a formidable offensive threat when all three are healthy.
Biggest Weakness: Offensive Line
Consistently subpar offensive line performance has plagued the Bengals, ranking in the bottom five over the past seasons.
Bottom Line: The Bengals can compete with anyone but need to bolster their offensive line and defensive consistency to elevate their postseason chances.
Biggest Strength: Defensive Line
Led by Myles Garrett, the Browns' defensive line is one of the best in the league, excelling in both pass rush and run defense.
Biggest Weakness: Quarterback
The Browns are still searching for a long-term solution at quarterback, with a mix of veterans and rookies vying for the position.
Bottom Line: The Browns' defense will keep them competitive, but finding stability at quarterback is essential for a postseason push.
Biggest Strength: Pass Rush
Despite losing Micah Parsons, the Cowboys remain a threat on the pass rush, ranking fourth in the NFL last season.
Biggest Weakness: Run Defense
The run defense has lagged behind the pass rush, finishing among the lowest in the league last season.
Bottom Line: The Cowboys need Dak Prescott to bounce back, and addressing their run defense will be crucial for playoff aspirations.
Biggest Strength: Offensive Line
The Broncos return a strong offensive line that excelled in pass-blocking last season, which will be vital for their quarterback's success.
Biggest Weakness: Receiving Depth
With only one reliable pass-catching option, the Broncos must improve their receiving corps to support their offensive strategy.
Bottom Line: A solid defense and coaching expertise may lead the Broncos to another playoff appearance, but offensive skill player performance is key.
Biggest Strength: Explosive Offense
The Lions possess a strong offensive group, including a top quarterback and running back unit, despite some turnover in coaching staff.
Biggest Weakness: Pass-Rush Depth
Injuries greatly impacted the Lions' pass rush last season, and they must recover from the loss of key players to maintain competitiveness.
Bottom Line: The Lions have the talent to compete in the NFC, but they must address their concerns in the trenches and coaching transitions.
Biggest Strength: Pass Protection
The Packers excelled in pass protection last season, allowing minimal sacks and maintaining a strong passing game.
Biggest Weakness: Cornerbacks
With the loss of key veterans, the cornerback unit is a concern heading into the season, requiring strong performances from younger players.
Bottom Line: The Packers have been playoff contenders regularly, but they must find consistency in both offense and defense to advance further.
Biggest Strength: Pass Defense
The Texans feature a formidable pass defense, ranking highly in both pass rush and coverage grades last season.
Biggest Weakness: Offensive Line
The offensive line proved problematic last season, with major concerns following the trade of their star left tackle.
Bottom Line: With a strong defense and quarterback, the Texans are positioned well, but offensive line issues could hinder their success against top teams.
Biggest Strength: Pass Catchers
The Colts have an impressive array of receiving options, making their passing game a potential strength.
Biggest Weakness: Quarterback
With a competition between quarterbacks, the Colts need to establish a strong leader to maximize their offensive potential.
Bottom Line: The Colts have the weapons to compete but must resolve their quarterback situation to make a playoff run.
Biggest Strength: Wide Receivers
The Jaguars are poised to have an elite wide receiver duo, which could elevate their offensive capabilities significantly.
Biggest Weakness: Secondary
Struggles in the secondary last season leave the Jaguars vulnerable, particularly at safety.
Bottom Line: With an intriguing offensive setup, the Jaguars need improvements on their offensive line and secondary for AFC South contention.
Biggest Strength: Defense
While their offense lacked explosiveness last season, the Chiefs' defense was one of the best in the league, excelling in multiple facets.
Biggest Weakness: Offensive Line
The offensive line remains a concern, particularly at the tackle positions, which could affect their offensive efficiency.
Bottom Line: With a strong core intact, the Chiefs are still prime contenders in the AFC, relying on their established winning culture.
Biggest Strength: Offensive Improvement
The Raiders have made significant efforts to boost their offensive capabilities with new acquisitions and drafting.
Biggest Weakness: Pass Defense
Las Vegas struggled severely in pass defense, which could limit their success against high-powered offenses.
Bottom Line: With new offensive talent, the Raiders have potential, but defensive weaknesses may restrict their win total in a tough division.
Biggest Strength: Secondary
The Chargers' secondary was outstanding last season, contributing to their high coverage grade.
Biggest Weakness: Receiving Depth
The team lacks depth in the receiving corps, which could impact their offensive efficiency this season.
Bottom Line: While facing injury challenges, the Chargers remain a strong team capable of competing for a playoff spot.
Biggest Strength: Pass Catchers
The Rams have a highly-rated wide receiver unit, showcasing significant talent that could elevate their passing game.
Biggest Weakness: Pass Protection
Last season, their pass protection was subpar, which significantly affected their offensive performance.
Bottom Line: The health of key players will determine the Rams' success, with potential Super Bowl contention if they can stay on the field.
Biggest Strength: Speed on Offense
The Dolphins' offensive unit is built around speed, with explosive players capable of making big plays.
Biggest Weakness: Cornerbacks
Departures and injuries have left the Dolphins' cornerback unit weak, creating a significant gap in their defense.
Bottom Line: If Tua Tagovailoa can remain healthy, the Dolphins could be a playoff contender; however, defensive and injury concerns loom large.
Biggest Strength: Offensive Supporting Cast
With a strong supporting cast, including Aaron Jones and Justin Jefferson, the Vikings' offense has the potential to excel.
Biggest Weakness: Unproven Quarterback
The newly appointed starting quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, is a major question mark, with limited experience at the NFL level.
Bottom Line: With excellent offensive personnel and play-calling, the Vikings should remain in playoff contention but face challenges with a first-year starter.
Biggest Strength: Defense
The Patriots have strengthened their defense significantly this offseason, positioning themselves to be a formidable unit.
Biggest Weakness: Offensive Line
Last year's offensive line was the lowest-graded in the league, and improvement is crucial for the team's success this season.
Bottom Line: With an upgraded roster, the Patriots have a chance to improve upon last season’s records, hinging on their young offense's development.
Biggest Strength: Pass Catchers
Despite uncertainties at quarterback, the Saints have several talented receivers that can make an impact in the passing game.
Biggest Weakness: Run Defense
The run defense struggled significantly last season, requiring improvements across the defensive line.
Bottom Line: With a focus on development, the Saints may need to use this season to identify foundational players under new head coach Kellen Moore.
Biggest Strength: Defensive Line
The Giants' defensive line, led by Dexter Lawrence, has the potential to be a dominant force in the league.
Biggest Weakness: Offensive Line
Concerns remain about the offensive line's performance after a disappointing season, needing improvement for the Giants to succeed.
Bottom Line: With defensive potential and an improved quarterback situation, the Giants could emerge as a dark-horse playoff contender if their offensive line performs better.
Biggest Strength: Offensive Line
If first-round tackles Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou meet expectations, the Jets could feature one of the top offensive lines in the league.
Biggest Weakness: Receiving Depth
While Garrett Wilson stands out, the Jets lack depth in their receiving corps, which could limit their offensive production.
Bottom Line: Under new head coach Aaron Glenn, the Jets aim to reshape their culture and improve their win total, driven by a resurgent defense.
Biggest Strength: Defense
The Eagles' defense ranked as the highest-graded in the NFL last season, showcasing elite talent across all levels.
Biggest Weakness: Passing Game Consistency
Despite their success, the Eagles struggled with passing-game consistency, particularly affecting quarterback Jalen Hurts' performance at times.
Bottom Line: With a talented roster and minimal personnel concerns, Philadelphia is poised for another deep postseason run, despite potential offensive adjustments.
Biggest Strength: Pass Rush
The Steelers possess a formidable pass rush, anchored by elite talents like T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward.
Biggest Weakness: Offensive Tackles
Younger offensive tackles will face heavy scrutiny as they protect an aging quarterback, crucial for the team’s offensive success.
Bottom Line: While the defense is elite, questions on offense could hinder Pittsburgh's playoff aspirations if they cannot protect their quarterback effectively.
Biggest Strength: Offensive Star Power
When healthy, the 49ers boast exceptional offensive talent, including Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey.
Biggest Weakness: Defensive Line Depth
Beyond Nick Bosa, the 49ers face challenges with defensive line depth, needing young players to step up this season.
Bottom Line: A return to health and favorable scheduling can lead the 49ers back to the postseason, but they must address defensive concerns early.
Biggest Strength: Secondary
The Seahawks' secondary features talented players with versatility, laying a strong foundation for their defense.
Biggest Weakness: Interior Offensive Line
The interior offensive line's performance last season was subpar, contributing to inefficiencies on offense.
Bottom Line: If the offensive line can protect the quarterback and the defense plays at a high level, the Seahawks have the potential for a successful season.
Biggest Strength: Offensive Balance
The Buccaneers showcased balanced offensive capabilities last season, excelling in multiple areas.
Biggest Weakness: Middle-of-the-Field Coverage
Coverage struggles at linebacker and safety positions exposed the Buccaneers to vulnerabilities last season.
Bottom Line: Tampa Bay's explosive offense can lead them to success, but defensive improvements will be crucial for a deep postseason run.
Biggest Strength: Interior Defensive Line
The Titans' defensive tackles excelled last season, leading the league in run-defense grade.
Biggest Weakness: Linebackers
With a complete overhaul of the linebacker corps, the Titans will need to find effective replacements for last season's contributors.
Bottom Line: The development of Cam Ward and the team’s ability to fill gaps will determine their success this season.
Biggest Strength: Offensive Skill Players
With an elite young quarterback and multiple offensive threats, the Commanders are set to have a high-flying offense in 2025.
Biggest Weakness: Defensive Line
While the offense excels, the defense has significant issues to address, particularly with a lackluster defensive line performance last season.
Bottom Line: Washington's offensive potential looks promising, but defensive improvements are necessary to elevate the overall team performance.
