The Lead’s Mac Pham, Nate Skinner, RJ Wagner and Spencer Brod contributed to this story
The 2025-2026 NFL season is upon us, and The Lead’s analysts have answered some of the league’s toughest questions. From Super Bowl predictions to teams taking the leap, we have it all in our roundtable:
Who will have the largest win increase and the biggest decline?
Pham:
Team that improves the most: Chicago Bears
2024 record: 5-12
2025 prediction: 10-7 (+5 wins)
Team that declines the most: Minnesota Vikings
2024 record: 14-3
2025 prediction: 8-9 (-6 wins)
Skinner:
Team that improves the most: Tennessee Titans
2024 record: 3-14 (first overall pick in 2025 NFL Draft)
2025 prediction: 7-10 +4 wins)
Team that declines the most: Detroit Lions
2024 record: 15-2
2025 prediction: 9-8 (-6 wins)
Wagner:
Team that improves the most: New England Patriots
2024 record: 4-13
2025 prediction: 9-8 (+5 wins)
Team that declines the most: Washington Commanders
2024 record: 12-5
2025 prediction: 8-9 (-4 wins)
Brod:
Team that improves the most: Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders
Jacksonville Jaguars:
2024 records: 4-13
2025 prediction: 10-7 (+6 wins)
Las Vegas Raiders:
2024 records: 4-13
2025 prediction: 10-7 (+6 wins)
Team that declines the most: Detroit Lions
2024 record: 15-2
2025 prediction: 11-6 (-4 wins)
Jaguars:
Dynamic. That’s the best adjective to describe the 2025 Jaguars.
Jacksonville’s promising start to the Doug Pederson era came crashing down like a brick building after an earthquake last year. From injuries to poor play calling, the Jaguars struggled to find their footing, finishing a woeful 4-13.
New general manager James Gladstone’s roster overhaul will pay massive dividends for this team in 2025. Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr. make up an explosive wide receiver room, and Trevor Lawrence is poised to make a jump under new head coach Liam Coen. The dynamic aspect of this offense will come from Coen – his ability to scheme up trick plays and fool offensive coordinators is unparalleled. As long as Lawrence limits turnovers and stays calm in the pocket, this should be a top 10 offense.
The defense isn’t as strong, but a pass rush spearheaded by Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen should make the secondary’s life easier. Although the interior defensive line is weak, the linebacker corps led by Devin Lloyd should be a solid unit. Jacksonville’s secondary isn’t spectacular, but should suffice to earn it a playoff spot.
Raiders:
Geno Smith alone doesn’t add six wins to this roster. Pete Carroll alone doesn’t add six wins to this roster.
The two of them together, however, will add a veteran presence that Sin City hasn’t seen in over eight years (since Derek Carr). Smith is volatile and needs to cut down his turnovers, but is accurate, poised in the pocket, reads the defense well and excels at tight-window throws. Carroll is a seasoned veteran at HC, having a Super Bowl (nearly two) on his resume along with familiarity with Smith already.
Between Smith and Carroll and the three-headed monster of Ashton Jeanty, Brock Bowers and Maxx Crosby, the star power on this team outweighs its defensive flaws.
The secondary may be a liability at times. But with great coaching and veteran leadership, Vegas will be back in the playoffs.
Lions:
Losing one of two coordinators in an offseason is survivable. Losing both, on the other hand, will lead to multi-game regression.
Ben Johnson is a wizard. His innovative play designs and route concepts won’t be topped, regardless of how new offensive coordinator John Morton fares. While quarterback Jared Goff is a capable game manager, Johnson’s scheme was catered to Goff’s strengths (intermediate throws over the middle, curls, etc.). Without adequate structure, Goff may struggle to find his rhythm early on, leading to decreased production from Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, among other receivers.
With former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn now with the Jets, 2025 will be an adjustment period for Detroit’s young defense. D.J. Reed provides a nice boost at CB2, but Terrion Arnold may continue to face growing pains under first-year coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. The front seven should remain solid with Aidan Hutchinson returning from injury, but it’s unreasonable to expect this unit to be one of the best in football due to new formations and an adjustment period under Sheppard.
Between losing All-Pro center Frank Ragnow to retirement and both Johnson and Glenn, Detroit won’t replicate the success it had in 2024. That’s not an indictment of head coach Dan Campbell – more so a testament as to how critical coordinators are in today’s NFL.
The Lions will still be a playoff team. But they won’t be the powerhouse we’ve seen over the last two years.
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What will this year’s playoff field look like?
Brod:
AFC Playoff Predictions:
1 seed: Baltimore
2 seed: Kansas City
3 seed: Buffalo
4 seed: Houston
5 seed: Jacksonville
6 seed: Las Vegas
7 seed: Denver
NFC Playoff Predictions:
1 seed: Minnesota
2 seed: Tampa Bay
3 seed: Philadelphia
4 seed: Arizona
5 seed: Detroit
6 seed: Chicago
7 seed: Dallas
Pham:
AFC Playoff Predictions:
1 seed: Kansas City
2 seed: Cincinnati
3 seed: Buffalo
4 seed: Houston
5 seed: Baltimore
6 seed: Pittsburgh
7 seed: Jacksonville
NFC Playoff Predictions:
1 seed: Detroit
2 seed: Washington
3 seed: Tampa Bay
4 seed: San Francisco
5 seed: Philadelphia
6 seed: Chicago
7 seed: Arizona
Skinner:
AFC Playoff Predictions:
1 Seed: Buffalo
2 Seed: Baltimore
3 Seed: Denver
4 Seed: Houston
5 Seed: Pittsburgh
6 Seed: Kansas City
7 Seed: New England
NFC Playoff Predictions:
1 Seed: Dallas
2 Seed: Tampa Bay
3 Seed: Los Angeles
4 Seed: Chicago
5 Seed: Philadelphia
6 Seed: Atlanta
7 Seed: Washington
Wagner:
AFC Playoff Predictions:
1 Seed: Baltimore
2 Seed: Buffalo
3 Seed: Denver
4 Seed: Jacksonville
5 Seed: Kansas City
6 Seed: Los Angeles
7 Seed: New England
NFC Playoff Predictions:
1 Seed: Philadelphia
2 Seed: Green Bay
3 Seed: Seattle
4 Seed: Tampa Bay
5 Seed: San Francisco
6 Seed: Detroit
7 Seed: Atlanta
Since 1990, there have been at least four new teams that qualify for the NFL playoffs that missed it the previous year. It’s as steady as an NFL trend gets: it’s held up through realignment, expansion, playoff field expansion, rule changes, and generations of quarterbacks. The four-team rule isn’t gospel, but it’s a solid framework for how to evaluate playoff outlooks.
Some teams you can throw in the playoffs and call it a day. The Ravens, Bills, Chiefs, and Eagles are safe bets and among the prime Super Bowl contenders. The Packers, Buccaneers, Lions, and Chargers are still very good teams in favorable positions to return.
The Broncos are the worst kept secret in the league in a great spot to win the AFC West, and the Seahawks are a true threat with a competent Sam Darnold. The 49ers have escaped the year from hell (mostly), and should bounce back in 2025. They also have by far the easiest schedule in the league, so they have room for error should things go south again.
As for the others, these are where the ‘Rule of 4’ applies, plus one extra. Jacksonville, New England, and Atlanta make up our newcomers, along with San Francisco and Seattle who have already been touched on. The Texans, Steelers, Rams, Commanders, Vikings, and Rams all exit.
The Texans O-Line is incredibly shaky, much like last year. The running game looks questionable, putting much more pressure (literally) on C.J. Stroud. On the other hand, the Jags improved in multiple ways. Liam Coen has a great offensive resume, Travis Hunter is a prodigy, and the division is gettable.
Likewise, New England underwent structural revival. Mike Vrabel is an elite coach and brings a culture that’s exactly what the franchise needed. The offensive trio of Drake Maye’s promise, TreVeyon Henderson’s electricity, and Will Campbell’s versatility will give identity to the offense. Pittsburgh had a busy offseason, but didn’t move forward in any meaningful way. The season will likely play out the same way last year did, which won’t be enough in the AFC.
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The Rams are a house of cards, all dependent on Matthew Stafford’s health. The Vikings are trotting out a rookie QB coming off a major injury, and the Commanders are the oldest team in the league that got every break imaginable last year. These teams won’t fall off a cliff, but have enough red flags that they are the best fits to be replaced.
Seattle looks to be a very strong team in every facet, and Atlanta’s investment in offense has to finally pay off (right?…). Despite spending an incredible amount of draft capital on edge rusher, that was Atlanta’s most lacking position group.
On the fringe sit the Bengals, Cowboys, Raiders, Bears, and Panthers. Teams with good qualities and good talent, but not enough to get them in.
Who are the top five quarterbacks?
Skinner:
Honorable Mention: Jayden Daniels
Brod:
1 Patrick Mahomes
2 Lamar Jackson
3 Josh Allen
4 Joe Burrow
HM: Matthew Stafford
Wagner:
1 Josh Allen
2 Lamar Jackson
3 Patrick Mahomes
4 Joe Burrow
5 Matthew Stafford
HM: Tied – Jayden Daniels and Jalen Hurts
Pham:
1 Patrick Mahomes
2 Joe Burrow
3 Josh Allen
4 Lamar Jackson
5 Jalen Hurts
Honorable Mention: Baker Mayfield
Patrick Mahomes’ regular season stats have been below average to his standards the last two seasons. However, come playoff time, Mahomes is the most feared and that’s why he’s number one. Joe Burrow has terrific mechanics and he’s consistently carving up defenses for double digit plays that result in touchdowns.
Josh Allen — a freak of nature — showed dominance even without a true number one option at wide receiver last year. He’s a true threat for deep throws, designed quarterback runs and throws off script. Lamar Jackson is elite at getting his team in the right position — having a third of his throws going to a target with five or more yards of separation — best in the league. His elusiveness to find space in the pocket is still one of the best.
Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts — sitting behind last year’s top offensive line — knows when to keep scanning downfield to see the play unfold and also knows when to call his own number. He hasn’t had his unique low stance when he takes a snap, ever since Jason Kelce retired. While the Eagles get backlash for using the “tush push” frequently, Hurts doesn’t get enough credit for taking on bodies piling on him for these plays.
Super Bowl 60 Predictions
Brod: Baltimore Ravens vs Minnesota Vikings
Winner: Ravens over Vikings 27-24
Super Bowl MVP: Lamar Jackson
Pham: Kansas City Chiefs vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Winner: Chiefs over Buccaneers 40-27
Super Bowl MVP: Patrick Mahomes
Wagner: Baltimore Ravens vs. Green Bay Packers
Winner: Ravens over Packers 30-27
Super Bowl MVP: Lamar Jackson
Skinner: Baltimore Ravens vs Philadelphia Eagles
Winner: Ravens over Eagles 34-24
Super Bowl MVP: Lamar Jackson
Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles look like a logical Super Bowl matchup. The Eagles are coming off last year’s Super Bowl win and are looking to repeat as champions. With returning players such as Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown and Saquon Barkley, the Eagles’ offense presents a difficult challenge week in and week out.
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The offensive line should also remain intact despite minor changes, including the addition of Ben VanSumeren. On defense, the depth should allow the team to withstand an injury or two. The unit, highlighted by Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Nakobe Dean, Cooper DeJean, Quinyon Mitchell and Zack Baun, should continue to rank among the NFL’s best and keep the Eagles well-rounded.
On the other side, the Ravens bring their own challenges. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is a dual threat who can beat teams through the air and on the ground. Along with Jackson, the Ravens feature Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, DeAndre Hopkins, Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely. Giving Jackson a deep group of weapons allows him to continue making highlight plays that wow viewers.
On defense, the Ravens have Nnamdi Madubuike, Roquan Smith, Kyle Van Noy, Trenton Simpson and Odafe Oweh anchoring the front seven after an offseason of addressing the secondary by adding Jaire Alexander, Malaki Starks and Chidobe Awuzie, Baltimore appears well-equipped to match up with the Eagles.
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