It’s often difficult to project which teams are going to do better or worse from season to season. The NFL is unpredictable, and what we do and don’t expect often doesn’t go the way we think. I have three teams that I think will improve and could surprise us with a playoff appearance, or at the very least upset some good teams. I also have two teams that I think will not be as good as most think.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals finished 2024 with an 8-9 record. They lost five games by a touchdown or less mostly because of their 19th-ranked defense. This season the Cardinals used their first 5 draft picks on defense. First round pick DT Walter Nolan, second round pick CB Walter Johnson, and third round pick LB Jordan Burch should make immediate impacts. They also bolstered their defensive line by signing DT Dalvin Tomlinson and DE Josh Sweat via free agency. These defensive improvements alone could make the Cardinals a team to surprise us in 2025. Add in the fact that WR Marvin Harrison is entering his second season and TE Trey McBride is one of the best in the business and this team should be fighting for a playoff spot.
Carolina Panthers
I don’t think the Panthers will be fighting for a playoff spot but I think they can win 6-7 games and give teams fits. The main reason is the improvement of QB Bryce Young. He looked much more confident in the final month of last season and his numbers showed by throwing 10 touchdown passes and rushing for 4 more. Remember, last season the Carolina offense was dealing with many receiver injuries led by Adam Thielen but when healthy they were able to move the ball through the air. The addition of first round pick WR Tetairoa McMillan should greatly help this offense. I expect solid production from Young and the passing game to complement running backs Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle. If the defense can improve slightly, they will upset some teams that think they will have an easy win.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders were very disappointing by finishing the 2024 season with a 4-13 record. Head coach Antonio Pierce was fired and in comes Pete Carroll to take over. Carroll’s no-nonsense approach and ability to turn teams around should automatically make the Raiders an improved team in 2025. It also helps that he has much more to work with than the previous regime with a solid upgrade at QB in Geno Smith who they acquired from the Seattle Seahawks. Smith should be able to get the ball into All-World tight end Brock Bower’s hand and be savvy enough to sustain drives that other quarterbacks could not do for the Raiders. Also, the Raiders will run the ball much better with explosive RB Ashton Jeanty who they drafted with the 6th pick overall in this year’s draft. Look for the Raiders to improve dramatically on offense and have a few upsets on their 2025 resume.
Washington Commanders
The Commanders finished last season with a 12-5 record and were one game away from making a Super Bowl appearance. I know this is going to be unpopular but I would not be surprised if the Commanders do not have major regression and are fighting for their playoff lives. Before the playoffs, the Commanders had a very soft schedule and only beat two teams with a winning record. One of those wins was against a severely depleted Eagles team. This season, they play a much more difficult schedule that features several playoff teams outside of their division and the tough AFC West. Finding 10 wins is going to be difficult let alone the 12 they had a season ago. I love QB Jayden Daniels but it’s not uncommon for NFL players to have a sophomore slump especially facing top tier defenses that the Commanders will line up against. Also, I think the lack of running game may bite them a little bit harder than it did a season ago. Look for the Commanders to be a solid team fighting to make the playoffs rather than the team that was one game away from the Super Bowl.
Seattle Seahawks
I am really down on the Seahawks this season. So much, that I think they finish dead last in the NFC West. The addition of QB Sam Darnold is a huge mistake in my opinion. They will soon see that he is not a 30-plus TD passer without the likes of the Viking receiving weapons. Another factor is the acquisition of WR Cooper Kupp does not off-set the loss of DK Metcalf. I mean the Seahawks did nothing to improve their offensive weapons and got markedly worse. Defensively they are going to be solid but they aren’t going to be feared. I don’t think they will hold many teams under 20 points which is they will need to do if they want to contend for a playoff spot. Look for a disappointing below .500 finish.
