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The NFL schedule release is the new unofficial halfway point of the offseason. Now that we know the order in which the games will be played, it's the time of year where I go through and pick every game on the 2025 slate.
From Week 1 to Week 18, every game was picked, and the following are the resulting standings from those picks. Read 'em and weep.
The Bengals were 4-4 in games in which they scored 30+ points in 2024 - that defense will be better by default, and the offense will continue to be explosive with all of their stars returning. No team has ever won the AFC North three consecutive times, and a deadly Bengals team should rebound and get back on top.
Baltimore isn't going anywhere, though. They'll be a playoff team as the top Wild Card seed in the AFC. However, the Ravens have been the Wal-Mart Christmas section of the NFL since drafting Lamar Jackson. They show up from September to December and disappear by January. Every year they don't win is a wasted year.
The Steelers will find a way to win 10 games as they do every year before getting blown out in the postseason, and then we have to pretend it's impressive what Mike Tomlin is doing despite not winning a playoff game for eight years and counting.
Cleveland and their half dozen quarterbacks will be a fun storyline to follow, but they are looking forward to the 2026 NFL Draft for a quarterback.
The Bills have Josh Allen.
I'm being told that's not enough to say about the Bills, but really, he's proven that as long as he's in Buffalo, their Super Bowl window is open. Adding Joey Bosa to the defensive line, amongst several other defensive additions, will boost that side of the ball tremendously. Their floor is the divisional round of the playoffs.
The Patriots are the team I'm planting my flag in. They added multiple stars on defense, most notably defensive tackle Milton Williams and cornerback Carlton Davis. They also drafted very well, bringing in a new left tackle in Will Campbell, as well as running back TreVeyon Henderson and wide receiver Kyle Williams. Throw in Stefon Diggs out wide, as well as a promising quarterback in Drake Maye, the Patriots take a big jump forward in year one under Mike Vrabel.
The Jets' defense will be very good, especially with Aaron Glenn at the helm. I can't put faith in them to win more than six games, though, until they show they can.
The Dolphins are slowly falling apart. They put Jalen Ramsey on the trade block, Tyreek Hill could also be on his way out, and their cruise ship vape store manager head coach has seen his schtick run out.
Houston may be going through some changes offensively, but their defense is one of the best in the league, and they have a great quarterback - they'll be fine.
I would love for the Jaguars to prove me wrong and win the division. As an unapologetic Trevor Lawrence truther, I see Jacksonville being in the Wild Card hunt, and wouldn't be shocked if they won the division.
If Tennessee sees progression from Cam Ward and wins six games, that would be a very good Year One for the new era.
I know Colts fans will be flabbergasted by this, and they very well may win more than six games, but that quarterback situation is too much for me to put any confidence in that team.
The Chiefs aren't going anywhere, despite what fans of every other team in the division seem to think/try to manifest. As long as Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are there, the Chiefs will be on top.
Jim Harbaugh wants to play offense like it's 1964, which will only take the Chargers so far. They could be a playoff team, but their ceiling is low.
Denver's defense will be one of the best in the league, but the offense will take a step back with a lack of top weapons.
The Packers won 11 games in 2024 with Jordan Love dealing with an injury all year. With offensive upgrades at receiver and a strong defensive corps, Green Bay will win the NFC North and be the No. 1 seed in the conference.
The Lions will still be a playoff team, but I'm curious to see what their ceiling is without Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn.
Year One under Ben Johnson won't yield a playoff berth, but the Bears will see their win total increase and be in the Wild Card hunt until the end of the season.
I don't see the Vikings replicating the magic carpet ride they went on in 2024. J.J. McCarthy is still practically a rookie and will be asked to do a lot more in Minnesota than he did at Michigan.
The Eagles are one of the best-built teams in the NFL and will be the favorite to come out of the NFC after winning the Super Bowl. They win the division again and host at least one playoff game.
The Commanders won't be a 12-win team again, but will repeat as the No. 6 seed in the NFC. Jayden Daniels has already cemented himself as one of the best quarterbacks in football and will help Washington be a perennial playoff team for the foreseeable future.
Brian Schottenheimer as the head coach in Dallas with George Pickens added to the locker room. What could go wrong?
It's only a matter of time before Russell Wilson drives Brian Daboll to the brink of physically assaulting him and Jaxson Dart becomes the starter.
This is the least confident I feel about any prediction. The Todd Bowles era won't last much longer, and the Buccaneers have a very specific tier they fit in, where they are better than bad teams, worse than great teams, and also better than mediocre teams. They aren't quite good, but they are better than mediocre. I'm buying into the Falcons, though, because I trust their defense more, and Michael Penix displayed a ton of potential at the tail end of 2024. Carolina still has too many holes on defense, despite my liking what they've done offensively. The Saints are a tire fire. Good luck with that quarterback room of Hollister models.
The Rams were mere plays from the Super Bowl this past season, and they just added Davante Adams to their offense. They will be in the handful of teams expected to win the Super Bowl.
The 49ers just paid Brock Purdy a lot (too much) money, but they are facing a last-place schedule - they'll be back in the playoffs.
Arizona is another team I may be too low on. They won eight games last season and got better on defense. Don't be surprised if they're a Wild Card team.
The Seahawks haven't made much sense to me this offseason. They traded both Geno Smith and DK Metcalf, leaving the door open to rebuild. Instead, they signed Sam Darnold and Cooper Kupp, neither of whom I thought made any sense for Seattle to add. They may win more than five games, but this isn't a team that I'm interested in in 2025.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: NFL 2025 standings predictions: Division-by-division picks
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From Week 1 to Week 18, every game was picked, and the following are the resulting standings from those picks. Read 'em and weep.
AFC North
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- Cincinnati Bengals: 12-5 (3)
- Baltimore Ravens: 11-6 (5)
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-7 (7)
- Cleveland Browns: 5-12
The Bengals were 4-4 in games in which they scored 30+ points in 2024 - that defense will be better by default, and the offense will continue to be explosive with all of their stars returning. No team has ever won the AFC North three consecutive times, and a deadly Bengals team should rebound and get back on top.
Baltimore isn't going anywhere, though. They'll be a playoff team as the top Wild Card seed in the AFC. However, the Ravens have been the Wal-Mart Christmas section of the NFL since drafting Lamar Jackson. They show up from September to December and disappear by January. Every year they don't win is a wasted year.
The Steelers will find a way to win 10 games as they do every year before getting blown out in the postseason, and then we have to pretend it's impressive what Mike Tomlin is doing despite not winning a playoff game for eight years and counting.
Cleveland and their half dozen quarterbacks will be a fun storyline to follow, but they are looking forward to the 2026 NFL Draft for a quarterback.
AFC East
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- Buffalo Bills: 13-4 (2)
- New England Patriots: 10-7 (6)
- New York Jets: 6-11
- Miami Dolphins: 6-11
The Bills have Josh Allen.
I'm being told that's not enough to say about the Bills, but really, he's proven that as long as he's in Buffalo, their Super Bowl window is open. Adding Joey Bosa to the defensive line, amongst several other defensive additions, will boost that side of the ball tremendously. Their floor is the divisional round of the playoffs.
The Patriots are the team I'm planting my flag in. They added multiple stars on defense, most notably defensive tackle Milton Williams and cornerback Carlton Davis. They also drafted very well, bringing in a new left tackle in Will Campbell, as well as running back TreVeyon Henderson and wide receiver Kyle Williams. Throw in Stefon Diggs out wide, as well as a promising quarterback in Drake Maye, the Patriots take a big jump forward in year one under Mike Vrabel.
The Jets' defense will be very good, especially with Aaron Glenn at the helm. I can't put faith in them to win more than six games, though, until they show they can.
The Dolphins are slowly falling apart. They put Jalen Ramsey on the trade block, Tyreek Hill could also be on his way out, and their cruise ship vape store manager head coach has seen his schtick run out.
AFC South
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- Houston Texans: 10-7 (4)
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 9-8
- Tennessee Titans: 6-11
- Indianapolis Colts: 5-12
Houston may be going through some changes offensively, but their defense is one of the best in the league, and they have a great quarterback - they'll be fine.
I would love for the Jaguars to prove me wrong and win the division. As an unapologetic Trevor Lawrence truther, I see Jacksonville being in the Wild Card hunt, and wouldn't be shocked if they won the division.
If Tennessee sees progression from Cam Ward and wins six games, that would be a very good Year One for the new era.
I know Colts fans will be flabbergasted by this, and they very well may win more than six games, but that quarterback situation is too much for me to put any confidence in that team.
AFC West
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- Kansas City Chiefs: 14-3 (1)
- Los Angeles Chargers: 9-8
- Denver Broncos: 8-9
- Las Vegas Raiders: 8-9
The Chiefs aren't going anywhere, despite what fans of every other team in the division seem to think/try to manifest. As long as Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are there, the Chiefs will be on top.
Jim Harbaugh wants to play offense like it's 1964, which will only take the Chargers so far. They could be a playoff team, but their ceiling is low.
Denver's defense will be one of the best in the league, but the offense will take a step back with a lack of top weapons.
NFC North
- Green Bay Packers: 13-4 (1)
- Detroit Lions: 11-6 (5)
- Chicago Bears: 8-9
- Minnestoa Vikings: 7-10
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The Packers won 11 games in 2024 with Jordan Love dealing with an injury all year. With offensive upgrades at receiver and a strong defensive corps, Green Bay will win the NFC North and be the No. 1 seed in the conference.
The Lions will still be a playoff team, but I'm curious to see what their ceiling is without Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn.
Year One under Ben Johnson won't yield a playoff berth, but the Bears will see their win total increase and be in the Wild Card hunt until the end of the season.
I don't see the Vikings replicating the magic carpet ride they went on in 2024. J.J. McCarthy is still practically a rookie and will be asked to do a lot more in Minnesota than he did at Michigan.
NFC East
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- Philadelphia Eagles: 12-5 (2)
- Washington Commanders: 10-7 (6)
- Dallas Cowboys: 7-10
- New York Giants: 4-13
The Eagles are one of the best-built teams in the NFL and will be the favorite to come out of the NFC after winning the Super Bowl. They win the division again and host at least one playoff game.
The Commanders won't be a 12-win team again, but will repeat as the No. 6 seed in the NFC. Jayden Daniels has already cemented himself as one of the best quarterbacks in football and will help Washington be a perennial playoff team for the foreseeable future.
Brian Schottenheimer as the head coach in Dallas with George Pickens added to the locker room. What could go wrong?
It's only a matter of time before Russell Wilson drives Brian Daboll to the brink of physically assaulting him and Jaxson Dart becomes the starter.
NFC South
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- Atlanta Falcons: 9-8 (4)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-9
- Carolina Panthers: 6-11
- New Orleans Saints: 2-15
This is the least confident I feel about any prediction. The Todd Bowles era won't last much longer, and the Buccaneers have a very specific tier they fit in, where they are better than bad teams, worse than great teams, and also better than mediocre teams. They aren't quite good, but they are better than mediocre. I'm buying into the Falcons, though, because I trust their defense more, and Michael Penix displayed a ton of potential at the tail end of 2024. Carolina still has too many holes on defense, despite my liking what they've done offensively. The Saints are a tire fire. Good luck with that quarterback room of Hollister models.
NFC West
- Los Angeles Rams: 11-6 (3)
- San Francisco 49ers: 10-7 (7)
- Arizona Cardinals: 8-9
- Seattle Seahawks: 5-12
The Rams were mere plays from the Super Bowl this past season, and they just added Davante Adams to their offense. They will be in the handful of teams expected to win the Super Bowl.
The 49ers just paid Brock Purdy a lot (too much) money, but they are facing a last-place schedule - they'll be back in the playoffs.
Arizona is another team I may be too low on. They won eight games last season and got better on defense. Don't be surprised if they're a Wild Card team.
The Seahawks haven't made much sense to me this offseason. They traded both Geno Smith and DK Metcalf, leaving the door open to rebuild. Instead, they signed Sam Darnold and Cooper Kupp, neither of whom I thought made any sense for Seattle to add. They may win more than five games, but this isn't a team that I'm interested in in 2025.
AFC Playoff Picture
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Buffalo Bills
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Houston Texans
- Baltimore Ravens
- New England Patriots
- Pittsburgh Steelers
NFC Playoff Picture
- Green Bay Packers
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Los Angeles Rams
- Atlanta Falcons
- Detroit Lions
- Washington Commanders
- San Francisco 49ers
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: NFL 2025 standings predictions: Division-by-division picks
Continue reading...
