Greg Cote’s 2025 NFL Team Rankings: 1-32, Super Bowl winner to Dolphins to dregs
The NFL’s 106th season kicks off this week. I remember that very first Sunday. Cloudy, as recall. No, I’m not quite that old. But I’ve been predicting games in the Miami Herald since the early ‘90s and putting out my annual NFL Team Rankings for a while, too -- and here they come for 2025.
Below you will find my picks for every team, 1 through 32, separated in four tiers: Super Bowl Favorites, Playoff Contenders, Also-Rans and The Dregs.
Who will win the Super Bowl. Who’s in and out on the playoffs? What team will surprise and disappoint? How will the Miami Dolphins fare? It’s all right here, with last season’s regular-season and playoff record (where applicable) after each team name.
Forecasting the NFL is educated guesswork more than science, as any fan or gambler will attest. The past three years, my rankings have correctly predicted 27 of 42 playoff teams, or 64%. Out to beat that this time. Let’s go!.
SUPER BOWL FAVORITES
1. Baltimore Ravens (12-5, 1-1): QB Lamar Jackson will finally get what has eluded him. Two-time MVP, maybe should have three. Dual-threat fantasy darling. But still no ring. It’s his time. Ravens are loaded again on offense and still top five on D, especially against the run and at cornerback. A rebound year from tight end Mark Andrews will be a key.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3, 4-0): I see reigning champs back in title game as Super Bowl 60 (LX for our Roman readers) looms in Santa Clara, California. Birds GM Howie Roseman has constructed arguably the most airtight roster in the NFL, one that ended last season on a 16-1 run after early bye. (Hey, Howie, do you offer seminars? Somebody sign up the Dolphins’ Chris Grier.) Adjusting to a new offensive coordinator and weakness might be edge rush, but Philly has great O-line, great secondary and big shot at a repeat.
3. Detroit Lions (15-2, 0-1): When last we saw Jared Goff, he was committing four turnovers in a quick playoff exit to spoil a stellar regular season. He will bounce back with a great ground game behind him. The Lions’ defense is tough, stout at safety, but it’s not contender good. We’re not that far off from the Cinderella Super Bowl of Lions-Bills (see just below), but not quite there, either.
4. Buffalo Bills (13-4, 2-1): I like reigning MVP Josh Allen to front another high-scoring offense, but don’t see Buffs defense as anything real special — certainly not Super. Not a great sign when you’re counting on a last hurrah on the edge from Joey Bosa, 30. Safety also a soft spot. Buffs still own the AFC East, but championship window may be slowly creaking to a close.
5. Kansas City Chiefs (15-2, 2-1): Patrick Mahomes is still Mahomes, but Travis Swift-I-mean-Kelce is 35 now ... and does anybody really think Rashee Rice is a No. 1 receiver? K.C.’s running backs room is thin, too. Chiefs had a share of luck with 12 one-score wins last year, and the defense has fallen from top-10 level. Patrick Mahomes, though.
PLAYOFF CONTENDERS
6. Cincinnati Bengals (9-8): Joe Burrow is in his prime and great, Ja’Marr chase is a fantasy god at wideout, and the Gals will score plenty. But that will be despite a really shaky offensive line — and Cincy’s defense might be as bad as Joe Cool is good. Could be playoffs-or-gone for coach Zac Taylor. He should get there, but too many flaws for Burrow to overcome.
7. Washington Commanders (12-5, 2-1): Everybody loves Jayden Daniels. I get it. But the “sophomore slump” is a thing, no? More than that, the Comms are the NFC’s Bengals: Impressive on offense, bottom-tier on defense. That pass rush especially won’t bother too many opposing QBs, and CB Marshon Lattimore needs a big rebound year.
8. Green Bay Packers (11-6, 0-1): I’m leaning his way, but still a fence-sitter on whether QB Jordan Love is all that. But he and RB Josh Jacobs can churn some points, and Pack also is strong at safety to help offset the departure of cornerback Jaire Alexander. Still a notch below the top five who are the elite of our SB faves.
9. Los Angeles Rams (10-7, 1-1): QB Matthew Stafford and WR Puka Nacua front a more than capable offense, but the defense is weak at linebacking and very youthful at cornerback. Still, Sean McVay and Stafford are playoff-good.
10. Minnesota Vikings (14-3, 0-1): Vikes have a strong defense led by a top edge rush. But matching last year’s regular season will be a tall ask, especially with new QB J.J. McCarthy taking over after missing his entire rookie season. WR Justin Jefferson helps; still, McCarthy is unproven until he shows some proof.
11. Denver Broncos (10-7, 0-1): Coach Sean Payton is tossing around ‘Super Bowl’ as his team’s upside. Whoa, now! Denver is solid-to-strong on defense and has a very good.O-line. But QB Box Nix, even with time to toss, is thin on quality targets.
12. San Francisco 49ers (6-11): The Niners grab our seventh and last NFC playoff berth in a big bounce back from last year’s disappointment. Brock Purdy leads a stout attack, though run D could be a soft spot.
13. Chicago Bears (5-12): Much-improved Bears should be in playoff hunt ‘til the end if QB Caleb Williams enjoys a sophomore jump as I think he will under first-year coach Ben Johnson — one of five rookie head coaches and six new HC’s overall. A really good O-line will give Williams a fighting chance.
14. Houston Texans (10-7, 1-1): QB C.J. Stroud has some proving yet to do, and issues on the blocking front won’t make his job easier. But a near-elite defense, especially at cornerback, will make for a playoff team again.
15. MIAMI DOLPHINS (8-9): I had Miami 11th in last year’s rankings off two straight playoff appearances, but they let me (and their fans) down. This time it’s a demotion to 15, but still good enough for my seventh and final AFC playoff ticket. I’m higher on the Fins than most. They are 20th in ESPN’s latest Power Rankings, lower in many others, and almost universally counted out of the playoffs. But I see otherwise — and coach Mike (Hot Seat) McDaniel better hope I’m right. Fins have issues at CB despite the late signing of veteran Rasul Douglas, and also questions on the O-line. But I see a healthy Tua Tagovailoa, rebound years from Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, a solid ground game and a strong front seven on D. Playoffs!
16. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6, 0-1): There was a big offseason push to improve the offense, which at times seemed to have QB Justin Herbert in handcuffs under coach Jim Harbaugh. Big year for offensive coordinator Greg Roman.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7, 0-1): Baker Mayfield and solid (if aging) WRs lead an OK team that benefits from being in a winnable division. The defense is nothing special, and a scramble for a wild-card spot is in play.
18. Dallas Cowboys (7-10): I see some improvement by Boys under new coach Brian Schottenheimer, but likely not enough to please perpetually displeased Jerry Jones. Dak Prescott to CeeDee Lamb makes for a dangerous attack, even with little running game. The defense at least has Micah Parsons — if Jerry ever gets out the wallet and solves that mess of his own creation.
ALSO-RANS
19. Seattle Seahawks (10-7): Seattle’s defense used to be the vaunted “Legion Of Boom,” then fell apart, and now is good again. Maybe really good. But I don’t see much with the ball under new QB Sam Darnold and what’s left of Cooper Kupp.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7, 0-1): QB Aaron Rodgers will be about the same miracle worker for Pittsburgh as he was for the Jets. Meaning a lousy one. A bigger problem than his age (41) is not much skill-position talent around him on offense. Much will depend on Pitt’s still (marginal) top-10 defense as the seat warms under Mike Tomlin.
21. Arizona Cardinals (8-9): Cardbirds are a losing record-to-playoffs candidate if Kyler Murray has a big year. I think Zona is going to be much better on defense (usually an Achilles heel), especially on the interior D-line and at safety.
22. New England Patriots (4-13): Pats should be better and could challenge Miami for second in AFC East, but a lot falls on QB Drake Maye building on an impressive(ish) rookie year. That’s no given, especially with rookies expected to start at both left tackle and left guard, an NFL rarity.
23. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13): QB Trevor Lawrence needs a breakthrough in his fifth season, but a bad offensive line stands in his way. And an equally bad defense means he will need to score a lot, or coach Liam Coen’s maiden year could be a rough one. Two-way rookie star Travis Hunter could make Jags worth a curiosity watch, at least.
24. New York Giants (3-14): A 9-25 record during the past two years has coach Brian Daboll under the gun. New QB-for-now Russell Wilson has a name, but not many weapons around him. But a strong edge rush might help NYG double last year‘s wins.
25. Atlanta Falcons (8-9): QB Michael Penix has some weapons in Bijan Robinson and Drake London. If TE Kyle Pitts has a rebound year this offense could be solid. Bu, ugh, that defense!
THE DREGS
26. New York Jets (5-12): Ton of pressure on new QB Justin Fields to work wonders with what seems a bad offense and help make it a smooth first year for new coach Aaron Glenn. A marginally top-10 defense led by strong CB play gives that a shot.
27. Cleveland Browns (3-14): Veteran stopgap QB Joe Flacco is the man until rookie Shedeur Sanders shows that he is, which, based on preseason hints, could be awhile. Not much help on offense, although a better-than-average D could keep the Browns in games.
28. Las Vegas Raiders (4-13): Vegas has a recycled new coach in Pete Carroll, an old new QB in Geno Smith, and one of the least-talented overall rosters in the NFL.
29. Indianapolis Colts (8-9): For Miami’s first opponent on Sept. 7, the franchise-quaking sudden retirement of Andrew Luck after the 2018 season reverberates still as the Colts turn now to retread Daniel Jones at QB. Indy doesn’t have a lot going outside a solid interior defensive line.
30. Carolina Panthers (5-12): With a bottom-five defense, Cats need a big bounce in performance from QB Bryce Young. A supposedly improved blocking front and an exciting rookie WR in Tetairoa McMillan could help.
31. Tennessee Titans (3-14): Welcome to the bigs, QB Cam Ward, No. 1 overall draft pick from the Miami Hurricanes. Make magic with a bad defense and not many offensive weapons around you. Second-year coach Brian Callahan helped develop Joe Burrow while in Cincy and could be a good fit for Ward, but a rough rookie season for him seems all but guaranteed.
32. New Orleans Saints (5-12): The starting QB is Spencer Rattler, unless it’s somebody named “Tyler Slough.” Bottom-three overall roster. Pray for new coach Kellen Moore.
This story was originally published August 27, 2025 at 9:46 AM.
