1 Hot Take For Every NFL Team Before the 2025 NFL Season
- Neel Network
- Sep 4
- 11 min read
After a long offseason, the NFL season is finally here. Preseason is done, rosters are set, and teams are gearing up for Week 1. The NFL is filled with unpredictability- crazy things happen every year. That said, here is one hot take for every NFL team for the upcoming season.
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF |SEA| TB | TEN | WAS |
Hot Take >> Marvin Harrison Jr. doesn't live up to the hype
Marvin Harrison Jr. had an underwhelming rookie year. He was good, no doubt, but he was not great. In his sophomore year, I don't expect him to make a massive leap. The Cardinals' offense is very inconsistent, and with Kyler Murray at the helm, I think there's a pretty clear ceiling for Harrison Jr.
Hot Take >> The Falcons finish well above .500 and get a Wild Card Spot
I'm all in on Michael Penix Jr. Penix looked very good towards the end of last year, and he's only getting better. If the Falcons' defense can step up and hold their ground, I could see the Falcons having a very strong season under second-year Head Coach Raheem Morris. The talent is there- and I believe the execution will be too.
Hot Take >> Kyle Van Noy registers only 6 sacks
Kyle Van Noy had a very elite 2024, recording a career high 12.5 sacks. However, Van Noy has played double digit seasons and is no doubt nearing the end of his career. I anticipate a pretty significant regression this year, ultimately hurting the Ravens pass rush.
Hot Take >> The Buffalo Bills win the Super Bowl
Every year, Josh Allen and the Bills get agonizingly close to the Super Bowl. This is the year I think they will finally break the curse and lift the Lombardi Trophy. They added some solid pieces in Joey Bosa, Larry Ogunjobi, Michael Hoecht, and WR Joshua Palmer. If Josh Allen keeps up his MVP-level performances, the Super Bowl will be a close reality for them.
Hot Take >> Bryce Young plays excellently, and the Panthers are in playoff contention until Week 17
After his benching last year, Bryce Young has looked very promising. He gained confidence, and the Panthers' offense was running very efficiently. I believe they will carry this momentum into 2025 and start off the season very strong. This team is not a Super Bowl contender- but they are miles better than where they have been the last couple of years. This season won't be one where they make a deep playoff run- but it will be a big step forward for an organization looking to get back on track.
Hot Take >> Caleb Williams plays well, but the running game struggles.
The Chicago Bears are in a new era under new HC Ben Johnson. Last year with the Lions, Ben Johnson led the best rushing attack in the league with star RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. I don't think he will be able to replicate it with the Bears. The offensive line will be good, no doubt, but I just don't see the same talent in the backfield. Swift is not as elusive, and Roschon Johnson isn't a legitimate RB2. The only way I see this RB room being elite is if Kyle Monangai steps up and takes Chicago's leading back role.
Hot Take >> The Bengals finish with a bottom 5 defense- but still make the playoffs.
The last couple of years, Joe Burrow has done all he can to will the Bengals to the playoffs. Burrow and Chase have formed the best tandem in football, and the offense averaged 27.8 PPG. The only reason they didn't make the playoffs- the defense. The Cincinnati Bengals' defense ranked dead last in almost every major category. This year, I expect the defense to be slightly better. Will it be good? No. Will it be better than last year? Yes. Which is exactly why I think the Bengals will have just enough to make the playoffs this year.
Hot Take >> The Cleveland Browns cycle through three starting QBs by Week 12.
The Cleveland Browns have a QB problem. Joe Flacco is the starting QB for Week 1, but I don't expect him to hold that job for long. Cleveland does not have a good roster, and I expect them to lose a lot of games early on in the season. This will open up opportunities for both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders to get starts. I expect Gabriel to start by Week 7 and Sanders by Week 11 or 12.
Hot Take >> The Cowboys disappoint and finish well under .500
I am not a fan of this Cowboys team. The offense will be solid with talent like Dak, Lamb, and Pickens. However, defensively, with the departure of Micah Parsons, the Cowboys lack a true difference-maker. This defense will struggle tremendously throughout the year, and the Cowboys won't even sniff the playoffs.
Hot Take >> RJ Harvey shines, and the Broncos have a very productive offense
This Broncos team has very few holes. The defense is elite, and the offense is only getting better. The one thing they struggled with last year was a solid rushing attack to complement the passing game. This year, I believe that will change under RJ Harvey. RJ Harvey will prove to be a very productive back, helping Bo Nix run an elite offense.
Hot Take >> The Lions have a winning record...but miss the playoffs
I think this Detroit Lions team is going to have a major falloff. Without their coordinators, both the offense and defense are going to struggle adapting to new systems. The Lions will try to replicate what they had in 2024, but they just won't have the coaching for it. The talent is definitely there, which is why I have them still finishing above .500. However, in a competitive NFC, I just don't think it will be enough.
Hot Take >> The Packers win the North and get a Top-3 seed in the NFC
This Packers team is going to be very, very good. With newly acquired LB Micah Parsons, this defense will be one of the top units in the league. With an offensive mastermind in Matt LaFleur, the offense won't be far behind. I expect this team to be an absolute juggernaut and one of the major contenders in the NFC.
Hot Take >> Nico Collins finishes the year Top 3 in receiving yards.
Nico Collins is simply one of the most slept-on receivers in the NFL. Before his injury last year, Nico Collins was the league leader in receiving yards. If he can stay healthy and Stroud can continue to look his way, I expect a monster year out of Nico Collins.
Hot Take >> The Colts win 0-1 games outside their division
This Colts team is going to suck. Plain and simple. Neither of their QBs are very good, and Jonathan Taylor has struggled to replicate the elite production he had in 2021. In a weak division, I expect the Colts to win a few games against teams like the Jags and Titans. However, outside of their division, I don't see many games I think the Colts can win. I expect them to struggle this year.
Hot Take >> Trevor Lawrence disappoints
The Jaguars made a huge splash under new GM James Gladstone and traded up for WR/CB Travis Hunter. Trevor Lawrence now has all the weapons he needs with Travis Hunter and second-year star Brian Thomas Jr. That said, I think Lawrence is going to disappoint a lot of folks. He won't play horribly, but he also won't be the game-changer that everyone expects him to be. Jaguar fans will end the season questioning whether Trevor Lawrence is truly their QB of the future.
Hot Take >> Travis Kelce is not the Chiefs' leading receiver
Travis Kelce is regressing. It's obvious. Last year, Kelce's numbers took a pretty significant drop. I expect that trend to continue this year, to the point where I think there will be a new receiving leader in Kansas City. The most likely candidate is Xavier Worthy, but I wouldn't be surprised if Rashee Rice puts up solid numbers as well.
Hot Take >> Dont'e Thornton impresses and finishes as a borderline top 2 receiver on the Raiders
The Raiders are entering a new era under new HC Pete Carroll and QB Geno Smith. So far, in training camp, I have been most impressed with WR Dont'e Thornton. His contested catching has been very good, and I expect Geno Smith to throw him a lot of jump balls. Don't be surprised if he ends the season as the clear WR2 for the Raiders.
Hot Take >> The Chargers have one of the best rushing attacks in the league
Jim Harbaugh runs his offense through a rushing attack. This year, with rookie Omarion Hampton and veteran Najee Harris, I believe the Chargers can have one of the best tandems in the NFL. Hampton brings the youth energy and explosiveness, while Harris can be the goal-line back. With a very solid offensive line, I expect this Chargers team to run the ball effectively.
Hot Take >> Stafford gets hot at the end of the season and leads the Rams to a late-season push for the #7 seed
Matthew Stafford has been dealing with a couple of injuries over the offseason, but I don't think this means people should overlook the Rams. They have great talent on both sides of the ball and have one of the best coaches in the league. I expect them to get hot late in the season and snag the final seed in the NFC.
Hot Take >> The Dolphins are eliminated from the playoffs by Week 15.
The Dolphins have one of the worst situations in the NFL. They are extremely mediocre, and the culture is very bad. Their best offensive player, Tyreek Hill, isn't fully bought into the season. I expect the season to be very rough for the Dolphins. There will be wins- but significantly more losses. I don't see this team being competitive in the latter half of the year.
Hot Take >> The Vikings have the worst rushing attack in the league
The Minnesota Vikings have an offensive mastermind in HC Kevin O'Connell. With rookie QB JJ McCarthy, the Vikings are definitely going to look to establish the run game. However, with an aging Aaron Jones and no promising young back, I believe the Vikings are going to struggle with this. Especially with Justin Jefferson on offense, it won't make sense to run the ball a significant amount once McCarthy gets comfortable. I expect this team to have the worst rushing attack in the league, significantly hurting their offensive productivity.
Hot Take >> Drake Maye shines, but his team fails him
Drake Maye has looked very promising throughout the end of last season and training camp. I expect him to be a big difference maker for the Patriots on offense. However, the Patriots really lack elite skill position players. Stefon Diggs, their WR1, is coming off an ACL injury. Outside of Diggs, there isn't much talent in the receiver room. Unless rookie TreVeyon Henderson shines, I just don't think there is much Maye can do with this roster.
Hot Take >> Tyler Shough starts by Week 5 but fails to lead the Saints to more than 5 wins
I don't think the Spencer Rattler era is going to last long in New Orleans. We've seen what he can do on the field- and it's not much. A disappointing start is going to cause the Saints to throw in QB Tyler Shough earlier than they had anticipated. He will show flashes, but the Saints just aren't talented enough to win many games.
Hot Take >> Russell Wilson puts up very solid numbers
The Giants QB room is filled with talent- meaning Wilson likely won't have a long leash to begin the season. However, I believe he will silence some doubters and play surprisingly well. Daboll has a great offensive mind, and Nabers is undoubtedly the best wide receiver he's played with since his Seattle days. The Giants will end up being a great fit for Wilson, and he will prove that he still has some juice left in the tank.
Hot Take >> Justin Fields shows flashes, but ultimately the offense can't produce enough yards to get more than 7 wins
I am a Justin Fields fan. I think that Fields can be a very good QB in the NFL. His running ability adds so much to his overall arsenal. However, at least this year, his passing ability will limit the versatility of the Jets' offense. They will be solid- but not good enough to reach .500.
Hot Take >> The Eagles have two receivers over 1000 yards
The Eagles' offense is undoubtedly one of the best in the NFL. They have two elite WRs, an elite QB, and arguably the best RB in the league. There are very few holes on this team. This year, with teams game-planning for Saquon Barkley, I expect the Eagles' passing game to be a heavy emphasis. This emphasis will lead to both AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith going for 1000 yards+ each.
Hot Take >> Mike Tomlin suffers his first losing season
It's bound to happen eventually. Tomlin can't keep up the winning record forever. In a strong division, I just don't see the Steelers finishing above .500. Rodgers hasn't looked great, and besides Metcalf, the Steelers lack top-tier skill players. I think this offense will struggle, marking the end of Mike Tomlin's run in Pittsburgh.
Hot Take >> Ricky Pearsall steps up and proves to be a true WR2 for Purdy
The 49ers have a WR problem. They have been riddled with injuries and are looking for someone to step up and take a prominent role in the offense. That guy will be Ricky Pearsall. He's shown a strong connection with Purdy throughout training camp, and I expect this chemistry to be evident on the field. Expect a big season out of Pearsall.
Hot Take >> Sam Darnold shocks the world and leads the Seahawks to a division title
The Seahawks underwent one of the most eventful offseasons in a long time. They traded starting QB Geno Smith and WR1 DK Metcalf. However, they made plenty of solid additions, signing QB Sam Darnold, Demarcus Lawrence, and WR Cooper Kupp. Additionally, they had a solid draft, taking S Nick Emmanwori and G Grey Zabel. The Seahawks have very few holes on their roster, and if Sam Darnold can step up, this team will be very good.
Hot Take >> The Tampa Bay Buccaneers get the NFC's Number 1 seed.
I am a heavy believer in this Buccaneers team. They are one of the most complete teams in the NFL. Baker Mayfield is a top 10 QB, and the WR room is very strong with Evans, Egbuka, and Godwin. Additionally, the Buccaneers have star RB Bucky Irving out of the backfield. In a weak division, if the defense takes a step up from last year, this team will get the best seed in the NFC.
Hot Take >> HC Brian Callahan is fired by the end of the season
With new GM Mike Borgonzi, who wasn't involved with the hiring of Callahan, Brian Callahan is undoubtedly on the hot seat. If Callahan can't get the best out of Cam Ward and lead him to a solid season, I could easily see the Titans moving on after two years. I believe the Titans will be one of the worst teams in the NFL, ultimately leading to major organizational changes, including the replacement of their HC.
Hot Take >> Jayden Daniels leads QBs in rushing yards- by a lot
In his rookie year, Jayden Daniels proved he wasn't a game manager, but a game changer. In his sophomore year, I expect him to make a lot more explosive plays, specifically with his legs. This Commander's offense requires a lot from Daniels, and I believe he will answer the call. Don't be surprised when his rushing numbers are way ahead of any other QB in the league.
Drop your hot take in the comments!