Free company will not start till March 12, and the draft in Inexperienced Bay follows on April 24, so groups have vital roster strikes to make earlier than the 2025 season begins in September.
However that hasn’t stopped Yardbarker NFL writers from evaluating the Tremendous Bowl potential of AFC groups for the 2025 season. (2024 regular-season information are in parentheses.)
This is a way-too-early rundown:
AFC East
BUFFALO BILLS (13-4) | Kansas Metropolis nonetheless has a staff, proper? | Andy Reid’s Chiefs will proceed to maintain Sean McDermott’s Payments away from the NFL’s greatest recreation. Reid gave McDermott his first NFL job whereas head coach of the Eagles in 2001 however has eradicated his former assistant from the playoffs in 4 of the previous 5 seasons.
MIAMI DOLPHINS (8-9) | No cash, extra issues | After saying that he was accomplished enjoying in Miami, wide receiver Tyreek Hill backtracked, kind of, whereas live-streaming a online game by saying the staff wanted to “put some strain on (expletive), repair this (expletive) and add some (expletive) canines on this (expletive).” Eloquent as he could also be, Hill should not notice that Miami is already $14M over subsequent season’s cap, the fourth-worst quantity within the NFL, which doesn’t bode properly for 2025.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (4-13) | So, you’re saying there’s an opportunity? | Tom Brady, a sixth-round decide in 2000, led the Patriots to their first Tremendous Bowl win in franchise historical past, which clearly means beginning QB Drake Maye will lead New England to glory in his second season with the staff. Truly, there are 26 causes the staff gained’t attain Tremendous Bowl LX: the 26 groups that completed 2024 with a greater report than New England.
NEW YORK JETS (5-12) | Will the offense within the room please arise? | The Jets gained fewer video games with Aaron Rodgers on the roster than they did with him on the IR in 2023. Whether or not or not new head coach Aaron Glenn retains the longer term Corridor of Fame QB round stays to be seen, however the 19.9 factors per recreation New York averaged in 2024 gained’t win them any championships, even with the NFL’s third-ranked defense. — Bruce Ewing
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS (10-7) | Inching towards the mountaintop | The Broncos have discovered their man at QB in Bo Nix, who had the league’s sixth-most TD passes (29 in 17 begins) within the common season. If they offer him extra weapons within the NFL Draft and free company, he may lead Denver to its first playoff win since Tremendous Bowl 50. And when you get within the playoffs…
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (15-2) | Can they cease successful Tremendous Bowls? | In Tremendous Bowl LIX in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Chiefs purpose to develop into the primary staff to win three straight championships within the Tremendous Bowl period. Even when Okay.C. loses to Philadelphia, it ought to stay within the Tremendous Bowl hunt for years to come back, as QB Patrick Mahomes, who will not flip 30 till Sept. 17, continues to be in his prime.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (4-13) | Can minority proprietor Tom Brady donate one in all his Tremendous Bowl rings? | Brady — who gained seven Tremendous Bowls in 23 seasons as a Patriots/Buccaneers QB — higher get used to shedding. The Raiders just lately employed new head coach Pete Carroll, however he could flop if Vegas doesn’t discover a viable beginning QB within the NFL Draft or free company. This season, Vegas ranked twenty seventh within the league in passer ranking (82.4).
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (11-6) | Is determined by whether or not QB Justin Herbert can step up within the playoffs | In two playoff begins, Herbert is 0-2 and has a below-average 60.7 passer ranking. In a 32-12 wild-card spherical loss to the Houston Texans this season, he tossed 4 interceptions. — Clark Dalton
AFC North
BALTIMORE RAVENS (12-5) | Invoice Murray in “Groundhog Day” | Each Ravens season appears to play out the similar method: wonderful common season, Lamar Jackson within the MVP dialog after which a demoralizing loss within the AFC playoffs. Until Jackson finds a method to enhance his playoff performances, Baltimore can be caught in the identical day time and again.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (9-8) | In Joe Burrow we belief | Burrow almost led the Bengals to a Tremendous Bowl in 2021, and he’s the one QB not named Tom Brady who has taken down Mahomes within the AFC. Cincinnati must make some enhancements on protection, however the championship window is open so long as Burrow is donning black and orange.
CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-14) | Is there a quantity decrease than zero? | The Browns have one of many bleakest futures within the NFL contemplating Deshaun Watson carries a $72.9M cap hit in every of the subsequent two seasons and can be coming off an Achilles harm. Cleveland ought to be extra targeted on 2026 mock drafts than any hopes of a playoff berth.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-7) | Not till drastic modifications are made | Mike Tomlin has gone .500 or higher in all 18 of his seasons as the top coach in Pittsburgh, however he hasn’t gained a playoff recreation because the 2016 season. The Steelers would possibly must hit the reset button on head coach and QB to get again to Tremendous Bowl contender standing. — Jack Dougherty
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS (10-7) | Get an offensive line (and coordinator), after which we’ll speak | Houston reached the AFC divisional spherical for the second consecutive season, nevertheless it gained’t be a reputable title contender except it fixes its offensive line, which ranked No. 22 in ESPN’s pass-block win rate and thirty first in run-block win price. Houston fired offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, so who head coach DeMeco Ryans hires as his substitute may also decide how large of a menace the Texans can be in 2025.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8-9) | Can Anthony Richardson throw extra completions than incompletions? | In 2024, Richardson turned the primary QB with no less than 250 cross makes an attempt to finish fewer than half of his passes since former Broncos QB Tim Tebow in 2011. Poor QB manufacturing is only one of Indianapolis’ issues, nevertheless it’s essentially the most regarding.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-13) | Secondary is main impediment | New Jaguars head coach Liam Coen has stable offensive personnel to work with in Yr 1, however Jacksonville’s protection, notably the secondary, wants an overhaul. The Jaguars ranked last in pass defense (4,375 yards) and twenty sixth in passing touchdowns allowed (29) and intercepted six passes, making it the staff’s most important street block to success.
TENNESSEE TITANS (3-14) | Is there a C.J. Stroud or Jayden Daniels on this yr’s draft class? | The Titans have the No. 1 general decide within the 2025 NFL Draft, placing it able so as to add a QB, the staff’s greatest want. If it chooses correctly, Tennessee would possibly have the ability to replicate the success of earlier worst-to-first turnarounds in Houston and Washington in 2023 and 2024, respectively. — Eric Smithling
