With the 2025-26 NFL season around the corner, fans are already setting high expectations for the upcoming year. Most people prefer to be optimistic over pessimistic, leading many to think about the best-case scenario at the start of a new season.
Many things have to go right for a team to reach its ceiling. They need strong execution when it matters most, and they need their star players to stay healthy. A little bit of bad luck befalling their opponents never hurts, either.
To prepare for the best-case scenario for each NFL team, let’s predict the ceiling for each squad going into the 2025 season.
Note that these are not record predictions; they’re predictions of the best possible record every team could attain this year.
Arizona Cardinals: 11-6
The Arizona Cardinals seem to be trending in the right direction. Last year, they went 8-9 in Jonathan Gannon’s second season as head coach, a four-win upgrade over the previous year. They significantly improved their defense on paper this offseason, bringing in the likes of Josh Sweat, Calais Campbell, Walter Nolen, and Will Johnson.
Whether the Cardinals reach their ceiling hinges on whether Kyler Murray can avoid injuries. In the consecutive seasons, Arizona went 4-13, and Murray missed a combined 15 games. He stayed healthy last year, and the results were much better for the Cardinals. They could push for the NFC West crown with a better roster and a healthy QB.
Atlanta Falcons: 11-6
Before their collapse in the second half of 2024, the Atlanta Falcons were 6-3 and in prime position to make the playoffs. Things went south from there, but the hope is that Michael Penix Jr., as the full-time quarterback, can get them back to those highs they had early last season.
One of the Falcons’ biggest issues last year was their pass rush. By signing Leonard Floyd and drafting both Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., they have more talent rushing off the edge this year. Penix has a nice core group of weapons in Drake London, Bijan Robinson and Darnell Mooney. If he plays well at QB, Atlanta could take back the NFC South.
Baltimore Ravens: 15-2
As long as Lamar Jackson is their quarterback, the Baltimore Ravens will contend in the AFC. It’s the rest of the roster that has me excited, as they’re loaded from top to bottom on both sides of the ball. Bringing in DeAndre Hopkins and Jaire Alexander could help them out on both ends of the perimeter.
Rookies like Malaki Starks and Mike Green have the potential to contribute right away for Baltimore. They have a dominant run game, a talented pass rush, and one of the best HC-QB combos in the NFL. If their core stays healthy, there’s a chance they end up with the best record in the AFC.
Is this the year Lamar Jackson & the Ravens make it to the Super Bowl? 🤔
🐦⬛ +325 to win the AFC
🐦⬛ +700 to win SB 60pic.twitter.com/tkI1lfUc43— ESPN BET (@ESPNBET) July 3, 2025
Buffalo Bills: 15-2
Reigning MVP Josh Allen will always keep the Buffalo Bills in the mix as Super Bowl contenders. They went 13-4 last year and arguably got better this offseason. They didn’t lose any major contributors in free agency, they signed Joshua Palmer at wide receiver, and they boosted their defensive line by signing Joey Bosa, Michael Hoecht, and Larry Ogunjobi.
The Bills have one of the most well-rounded rosters in the NFL, and it helps that their quarterback is one of the best at his position. They’ve already seen a lot of success in recent seasons. If their young secondary takes a leap in 2025, they could reach unparalleled heights.
Carolina Panthers: 8-9
The Carolina Panthers were active in free agency, making multiple key moves to improve their defense. The hope is they can build off of their late-season momentum from 2024, when Bryce Young started to look like the player they traded up to the first overall pick for back in 2023.
Tershawn Wharton, Patrick Jones II, Bobby Brown, Nic Scourton, and Princely Umanmielen highlight the Panthers’ revamped defensive line. They didn’t lose much in free agency and drafted a potential WR1 in Tetairoa McMillan. I don’t think Carolina makes the playoffs in 2025, but they could certainly make their way into the hunt if all goes right.
Chicago Bears: 11-6
It’s a major projection to say the Chicago Bears’ best-case scenario is a six-win upgrade over their 5-12 season in 2024. However, with the moves they made this offseason, don’t rule it out entirely.
Ben Johnson is the new head coach, and he brings in a talented coaching staff. The Bears upgraded their offensive line with additions like Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson. Caleb Williams has an extremely high ceiling at quarterback, and he has a better support system in Year 2. Things could click in a big way in Chicago if he makes the leap.
Cincinnati Bengals: 12-5
The Cincinnati Bengals’ defense looms large when figuring out their best-case scenario in 2025. New defensive coordinator Al Golden should upgrade the coaching staff, but the unit on paper has too many holes. The reason the Bengals’ ceiling is as high as 12-5 stems from their offense.
Joe Burrow is one of the few elite quarterbacks out there, and he has a loaded offense to work with. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins form one of the best receiver tandems in the NFL, Mike Gesicki is a good tight end, and Chase Brown is a rising star at running back. Cincinnati’s explosive offense could offset their defense and get them back on track.
Cleveland Browns: 6-11
Things don’t look all that peachy for the Cleveland Browns heading into 2025. They don’t know who their quarterback is going to be, and they don’t have much proven offensive firepower outside of Jerry Jeudy at wide receiver. That makes it difficult to project them as a playoff contender.
That said, the Browns could still turn some heads and build momentum going into 2026. They have a talented defense with a great coordinator in Jim Schwartz, and the unit got better by drafting Mason Graham and Carson Schwesinger. If one of the quarterbacks starts making some noise, Cleveland could play spoiler for some teams down the stretch.
Dallas Cowboys: 12-5
After three straight seasons at 12-5, the Dallas Cowboys dropped down the ranks with a 7-10 performance in 2024. A lot of that was due to Dak Prescott’s hamstring injury, forcing them to go nine games without their starting quarterback. Luckily for Dallas, Prescott is back to full health.
New head coach Brian Schottenheimer is an unknown variable, but the offense should be explosive with Prescott throwing to CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Jake Ferguson.
They have a solid pass rush and two playmaking defensive backs in Trevon Diggs and Daron Bland. If their key defenders stay healthy, the Cowboys could make some serious noise.
Does Dak Prescott win a Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys before he retires (or plays for a new team😅) pic.twitter.com/gVeNCKl73g
— PFSN (@PFSN365) June 13, 2025
Denver Broncos: 12-5
One of the biggest surprises of the 2024 season, the Denver Broncos made the playoffs in Bo Nix’s rookie year. They’re even better on paper going into 2025, after making key additions like Evan Engram, JK Dobbins, Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, and Jahdae Barron this offseason.
The Broncos have a brilliant head coach in Sean Payton and one of the best defensive coordinators in the game in Vance Joseph. Playing in the AFC West likely means they won’t be winning the division. But if Nix continues to develop, Denver’s ceiling is very high.
Detroit Lions: 14-3
With NFC North championships in consecutive seasons, the Detroit Lions have solidified themselves as one of the league’s elite. Their best-case scenario sees them overcome the losses of Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn from their coaching staff and maintain that level of excellence.
RELATED: NFL Analyst Boldly Puts Lions in ‘Overrated’ Category After Early Playoff Exit
Most of the Lions’ core returns in 2025, and they added cornerback DJ Reed in free agency to improve their secondary, which already has elite safety play. Getting Aidan Hutchinson back from injury should be huge for their defense. Detroit had an explosive offense and a smothering defense last year. If they keep that up this year, they’ll be just fine.
Green Bay Packers: 12-5
With consecutive playoff appearances since Jordan Love took over as their starting quarterback, the Green Bay Packers project as a strong contender in the NFC. They improved from 9-8 to 11-6 in 2024, and continued improvement is possible going into 2025.
What the Packers’ roster lacks in flashiness, it makes up for in being well-rounded. They have a good offensive line, a tremendous run game, a solid passing attack, and a defense that took a big leap in 2024. Their cornerback room is inexperienced, but if they perform at an acceptable level, the rest of their roster is good enough to improve from 11-6.
Houston Texans: 12-5
The Houston Texans have won the AFC South in consecutive seasons, finishing with a 10-7 record in the regular season both times. They remain the favorite in the division again in 2025, but the hope is that they will better position themselves as powerhouses in the conference.
Injuries hindered the Texans’ offense in 2024, but adding Jayden Higgins, Christian Kirk, and Jaylin Noel should provide C.J. Stroud with more quality wide receivers than only Nico Collins.
With a talented pass rush and an All-Pro cornerback in Derek Stingley Jr., Houston has the potential to stack some divisional wins and fight hard with any team they go up against.
Indianapolis Colts: 10-7
Despite their lackluster quarterback play over the last couple of seasons, the Indianapolis Colts sit at an even 17-17 in the two seasons Shane Steichen has been their head coach. Whichever of Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones wins the starting job, they’ll have a deep group of offensive weapons to work with.
Adding Charvarius Ward and Cam Bynum should improve the Colts’ secondary, and they have some solid pieces in the front seven. They have a good enough roster that even average quarterback play could be enough to get them in the playoffs. That seems to be a realistic best-case scenario for Indianapolis in 2025.
Jacksonville Jaguars: 8-9
The 2024 season was disappointing for the Jacksonville Jaguars. After surpassing the .500 mark in each of the previous two seasons, they fell to 4-13. With Liam Coen now as their head coach, the hope is that he brings a similar spark to their offense to the spark he brought to Tampa Bay.
Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter Jr. give Trevor Lawrence two tremendous weapons to throw to. Defenders like Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen can get to the quarterback, and additions like Robert Hainsey and Patrick Mekari should help the offensive line. In a weak AFC South, the Jaguars could surprise some people if Coen gets off to a hot start.
Kansas City Chiefs: 16-1
When you go 15-2 and make it to the Super Bowl, you set the bar pretty high for yourself to improve the following year. That’s what the Kansas City Chiefs face in 2025. Going through the regular season with just one loss will be tough, but it’s not impossible.
The Chiefs lost Joe Thuney and Tershawn Wharton, but the rest of their core on both sides of the ball remains intact. They’re a well-coached, well-built team with an elite quarterback in Patrick Mahomes and one of the greatest head coaches in NFL history in Andy Reid. It feels wild to say a 16-1 season is a realistic best-case scenario, but it applies here.
Las Vegas Raiders: 8-9
Arguably, no team improved their quarterback room from 2024 to 2025 like the Las Vegas Raiders did. Going from the combination of Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell to Geno Smith should be a major upgrade. Pete Carroll gives the Raiders an experienced leader with Super Bowl history.
The Raiders are still a work in progress, but they have some strong pieces on both sides of the ball. Players like Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty, Maxx Crosby, and Christian Wilkins give them some star power. Under better leadership and with improved quarterback play, they could improve from their 4-13 campaign last season.
Los Angeles Chargers: 12-5
Jim Harbaugh’s first season with the Los Angeles Chargers was a big success. They went 11-6 and made the playoffs. They weren’t super active in free agency, but they retained their offensive core. Their best-case scenario in 2025 would be to build off their breakout campaign the year before.
The development of young players like Ladd McConkey, Joe Alt, Omarion Hampton, Cam Hart, and Tarheeb Still will be interesting to monitor. The Chargers have a proven quarterback, an intelligent head coach, and reliable veterans on both sides of the ball. If their young guys continue developing, they could be even better in 2025.
Los Angeles Rams: 13-4
The Los Angeles Rams gave the Eagles the toughest test of their Super Bowl run last postseason. Now adding Davante Adams to their supercharged offense alongside Puka Nacua, Matthew Stafford, and Kyren Williams, they’re arguably better on paper than last year when they went 10-7.
Their young, talented defensive line gives the Rams plenty of upside on defense. The big question is their secondary, but they should generate pressure up front either way. If the defensive backs take the next step in 2025, they could be a powerhouse in the NFC.
Miami Dolphins: 11-6
The Miami Dolphins’ best regular-season finish under Mike McDaniel is 11-6. I think that’s their ceiling going into 2025. Their performance next season hinges a lot on whether Tua Tagovailoa is able to stay healthy.
If Tagovailoa avoids injuries, Miami’s offense has tremendous potential. He has Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and De’Von Achane all in his arsenal, and with McDaniel calling plays, their speed and effectiveness can be dangerous. If their defense is even average in 2025, which will rely on the plays of their young cornerback, they should be able to make the playoffs.
Minnesota Vikings: 13-4
It’s difficult to predict how the Minnesota Vikings will do. On paper, they upgraded their offensive and defensive lines significantly and retained most of their core team that went 14-3. At the same time, their unstable play under Kevin O’Connell saw them go from 13-4 in 2022 to just 7-10 in 2023.
A lot rides on whether or not JJ McCarthy can keep up the high level of play Sam Darnold displayed in 2024. He’s coming off an injury and hasn’t started an NFL game yet, but he’s a talented passer with a great staff and supporting cast around him. If he plays well, the Vikings could replicate their performance from last year.
New England Patriots: 9-8
On paper, the New England Patriots should be one of the most improved teams in the NFL in 2025. They added Stefon Diggs, Will Campbell, and TreVeyon Henderson to their offense, and they brought in Milton Williams, Carlton Davis, Harold Landry, and Robert Spillane to shore up the defense.
New head coach Mike Vrabel figures to be an upgrade over Jerod Mayo, and Drake Maye showed encouraging flashes in his rookie year. If Maye takes the leap in Year 2 and their acquisitions pan out, don’t be surprised if the Patriots’ record improves significantly this season.
New Orleans Saints: 7-10
With Derek Carr’s retirement, the New Orleans Saints have a major question mark at the quarterback position. While that uncertainty is a key factor in the Saints’ low expectations going into 2025, they could surpass expectations if they play good team football.
New head coach Kellen Moore knows what it takes to be a winning organization, having just won the Super Bowl as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator. He has pieces like Chris Olave and Alvin Kamara to work with on offense, and they have multiple intriguing young defenders with breakout potential. The cupboard isn’t entirely bare in New Orleans.
New York Giants: 7-10
The 2024 season was not kind to the New York Giants, as they ended the year with a measly 3-14 record. After some of the moves they’ve made this offseason, they could see their win total increase.
It would be a surprise to see the Giants make it to the playoffs, but their roster is in better shape than last year. Jevon Holland and Paulson Adebo are strong additions to the secondary, and Abdul Carter has All-Pro potential off the edge. If Russell Wilson can improve at quarterback, they could outperform expectations, as low as they may be.
New York Jets: 7-10
The New York Jets haven’t finished with a record above .500 since 2015. Given the current state of their roster, that’s unlikely to change. However, that’s not to say that they can’t rebound from their 5-12 performance in 2024.
Justin Fields takes the charge as the Jets’ new quarterback, and his elite athleticism should provide a wrinkle to their offense that wasn’t there in 2024. He has a good offensive line and solid run game to work with, and the defense has some pieces. If New York buys into new head coach Aaron Glenn, they could play spoiler to some teams down the stretch.
Philadelphia Eagles: 16-1
Coming off a 14-3 season and a Super Bowl victory, expectations are sky high for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025. Their best-case scenario is very similar to the year they had last year, but as long as you have three losses, you have three more games that could’ve gone your way.
An undefeated season is extremely difficult, but a one-loss season isn’t entirely far-fetched for Philadelphia. They have arguably the most well-rounded offense in the NFL, a high-quality coaching staff, and a defense with multiple rising stars surrounded by proven veterans. They’re the standard in the NFL currently.
Nick Sirianni is known for his catch phrases his team loves to repeat such as last years “can’t be great without the greatness of others.”
Looks like the 2025 Eagles new slogan will be:
“The celebration is over. Preparation is here”
The road to repeat has already begun. https://t.co/94JEnr6BGm pic.twitter.com/RL6NkmLP4m
— Fly Eagles Fly Bets (@Fly_EaglesBets) June 18, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers: 12-5
Mike Tomlin hasn’t finished below .500 in his 18 years as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Amazingly, that’s continued through all of their quarterback instability the last couple of years. The hope is that Aaron Rodgers will provide an upgrade at the most important position in the game.
This offseason, the Steelers added DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey, and Jonnu Smith in addition to Rodgers. They went 10-7 last year, and they’re arguably a better team than they were in 2024. A season with 11 or 12 wins isn’t out of the question.
San Francisco 49ers: 13-4
The San Francisco 49ers were perhaps the biggest disappointment in the NFL last year after winning the NFC the season before. Not everything was their fault, as several key players missed time to injury. Nick Bosa, Brandon Aiyuk, and Christian McCaffrey were among those who missed considerable playing time.
Based on last year’s records, the 49ers have the easiest schedule in the NFL heading into 2025. They have the star power to take advantage of that. If their core players can stay healthy, a massive bounce-back could be in the cards for San Francisco.
Seattle Seahawks: 12-5
As the only team with double-digit wins to miss the playoffs, the Seattle Seahawks must prioritize a postseason berth in 2025. A best-case scenario would see them not only make the postseason but also win the NFC West.
Swapping out Geno Smith for Sam Darnold at quarterback is a risky move, but Darnold is coming off a tremendous season with the Vikings in 2024. He’ll have some talented weapons to work with on offense, and the Seahawks have a talented secondary that can make plays on defense.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 12-5
Most of the players from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 10-7 season return from last year. Baker Mayfield is coming off a career year, and they added Haason Reddick in free agency to upgrade their pass rush.
The Buccaneers’ trio of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Emeka Egbuka might be one of the best wide receiver groups in the NFL. They have an explosive offense and a steady defense. Five of their seven losses came by one possession. If they flip a few more of those games in 2025, a best-case scenario of 12-5 isn’t that unrealistic.
Tennessee Titans: 7-10
As the NFL’s worst team in 2024, almost anything would be an upgrade for the Tennessee Titans this year. They’re still a ways away from competing, but their best-case scenario would see Cam Ward showcase encouraging flashes in his rookie year.
Bringing in Dan Moore Jr., Kevin Zeitler, and Dre’Mont Jones should improve their play in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Most importantly, Ward figures to be an upgrade at quarterback. Don’t expect them to be a serious playoff contender, but they have enough pieces to hold their own in a weak AFC South.
Washington Commanders: 14-3
The Washington Commanders were the surprise team of the year in 2024, coming from a 4-13 season the year before to make it all the way to the NFC Championship. The scariest thing? They might be better in 2025.
Washington made trades for Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil, giving Jayden Daniels more offensive firepower to work with. They also added Javon Kinlaw to fortify their defensive line, and they didn’t lose many contributors this offseason. If Daniels builds off his rookie campaign, the Commanders could easily surpass their 12-5 record from last year.
