2025 NFL Preview - NFC
- Matthew Seall
- Sep 3, 2025
- 11 min read
NFC West
The NFC west doesn’t have any teams I expect it to be bad, but are there any elite teams? The Rams won last year at 10-7 with a tie breaker they held over the Seahawks. 49ers still have lots of talent even with their roster changes so I expect them to be fine. The Cardinals should be frisky and have been slowly improving over the last couple of years by and adding talent. It wouldn’t surprise me if again this division comes down to a tie breaker. They play the lowly AFC South and NFC South division so they all should be able to stack a decent number of wins.
The, on the edge of glory or disaster, team: Rams
The Rams are a streaky team, kind of like future Hall of Fame QB Matthew Stafford. There are moments when Stafford looks like one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, but then there’s games where the Rams defense gets jumped, punched in the face, and Stafford launches head-scratching interceptions and winces in excruciating pain as he’s sacked as if he’s still playing 90s football. The Rams have the highest ceiling with their young talent on defense and their offense which is a machine when running properly, but again, the Rams offense is an old glorious convertible that just crashes at times.
Matthew Stafford is King Phillip II of Macedon at this point. Old, grizzled war veteran who is underappreciated for his accomplishments. If he goes down, the season is in trouble, there’s no Alexander waiting in the wings. But if this defense improves, and we get a healthy Stafford, I expect this team to win the division. The Rams were the only team to even come close to beating that juggernaut Eagles team last year in the playoffs. Playing in a snowstorm in Philly, I was ready to crown Stafford as an all-time great if he pulled it off. He got darn close, but they didn’t quite get it done. This year they brought Devantae Adams in from his fever dream with the Jets. A receiver who was a perennial pro-bowler for a long time, he could be huge, or he could be just okay, as he is at the back end of his career. I think he’ll be good though.
The large and odd kid in the corner you don’t want to talk to team: Seahawks
The Seahawks now have Sam Darnold who won 14 games last year as a starter for the Vikings and then imploded in the last two games of the season in the games with the highest stakes. If the Seahawks can’t protect Darnold, their season is probably screwed. I think the defense should be good though. Their young coach, Mike Macdonald, is a very good defensive coach. I think they’ll have some good depth on defense, especially on the line, and make life living hell for opposing offenses that fly up to Seattle to play them. Macdonald, funny enough, seems to want to be the same sort of team Pete Caroll had in Seattle for a long time. Play great defense and pound the rock, only difference he’s 40 years younger. Seattle’s running backs are solid, Walker & Charbonnet, but don’t believe anyone who gives you a confident answer on how Sam Darnold and that passing game is going to fare, good or bad.
The team you don’t expect to stink again: 49ers
The 49ers, when healthy, have usually been very good under Kyle Shannahan as head coach. I think they got a nice roster refresh over the offseason, shedding some costly and older players while bringing in some younger talent. If Christian McCaffrey really did get his legs fixed overseas by that European doctor, then this offense should be humming again. Why do I think they’ll win the division? I have the most faith in their coaching staff. Robert Saleh is back as defensive coordinator who went with them to the super bowl in 2019. They still have good blue-chip talent, which is harder to find on some of the other NFC West teams outside the Rams. The 49ers have a very easy schedule this year, and also, this team went to the NFC Championship three straight times before last year where everything went wrong. In 2024 rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall got shot in the chest in Chinatown and McCaffrey’s legs, the fine luxury automotive machine that they are, had to be shipped to Germany for repair. I think they’ll bounce back in 2025.
The, is this going anywhere, team? Cardinals
Quarterback Kyler Murray is in a prove-it year. The Cardinals offense was solid last year with room for improvement. The defense has been mostly wanting, but they play hard and have steadily improved as the team has rebuild the roster the last three years, loading talent up on the defensive side of the ball. When coach Jon G took over for the Cardinals, the talent was low, but the GM has done a good job adding talent in the draft. Perhaps it starts to pay real dividends this season, which is the hope. The Cards have the talent to make the playoffs now. The biggest question is Murray. Our short king has always been a week-to-week guy. Catch him on the right week, he’s a joy to watch, a video game character come to life. Other weeks, he appears small and sullen with very little energy. If he can be more consistent, the Cardinals can make the playoffs. If they don’t and there’s still concerns with him, the Cards will likely start planning for a future quarterback sooner than later. My prediction is the Cards do what the Cards do in the Kyler Murray era. Start the season off hot with a lead in the divisional race come November and then crash out in December and either fail to make the playoffs or limp in barely.
Division Winner: 49ers
Game to watch: Rams at 49ers
Players to watch: QB-WR connections.
Brock Purdy and Ricky Pearsall. Matthew Stafford and Devantae Adams. Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr.
NFC South
The, you want to take a hit of this team? Falcons.
Yes, I’ll take a hit of the Falcons. It could end up bad, but the night is young and I am optimistic. I surprisingly like what the Falcons have done with their roster. If second year QB Michael Penix is good, they have the receivers, Drake London and Darnell Moondy, the running back, Bijan Robinson, and offensive line to put up huge numbers. The defense is suspicious, but they did just draft two SEC pass rushers in the first round. If both those picks hit, it would be a big bump, and I think the defense could be good. Their head coach, Raheem Morris, is supposed to be a good defensive coach. Is Morris a good head coach? Ugh, I don’t know, to be determined. The Falcons should have won the division last year, they beat the Buccs twice, but then Kirk Cousins fell off a cliff.
The, how is LSU doing? team: Saints
Close your eyes. Imagine Kellen Moore and Spencer Rattler. What do you see? Darkness. Just darkness. The Saints have decayed in a slow and painful fashion ever since Sean Payton left the Big Easy. The team reminds me of that old river town, Natchez. Back in the old days, in the 1800s, it was a lively, bustling, rich town. And then the South lost the civil war and the place is now kind of decrepit and forgotten. It still has charming parts, and is cool for a day trip, Alvin Kamara, Cam Jordan, Demario Davis, but it’s not in any stretch a serious contender. The Saints are not going anywhere this year. Louisiana and New Orleans will be more more interested in Garrett Nussmeier and LSU.
The, oh fun, Speed is on TNT, team: Buccaneers
The Buccaneers have won this division four straight years and still boast the most talent in the division. This team is the clear favorite of the division. Baker Mayfield has been a sensation for this team the last two years, coming out of nowhere to replace Tom Brady. Baker has been so good he’s helped get his last two play-callers head coaching jobs. The Buccs offense is fun to watch. Bucky Irving, future Hall of Famer Mike Evans, and rookie Emeka Egbuka are great weapons for Baker. None of these guys exactly scream oh shoot that’s a star, or that’s a super bowl team contender, but they kind of are, or at least, can be.
I don’t know what sort of high-end talent they have on the defense besides the behemoth at nose tackle, Vita Vea, but Todd Bowles is still the coach and with him I always expect the defense to have a high floor. There’s really no other confident team in this division besides the Buccs. I don’t think they can a win a super bowl, but if the defense surprises, and the o-line plays well, I can see it. They usually play the other good teams very well. The big problem to me is that they can often play down to their competition.
The, is there a proof of concept, team? Panthers
The Panthers have suffered some form of organizational long Covid during all of the 2020s. They are the opposite of whatever the “Team of the Decade” is. But there’s some light, a little, I think. Owner David Tepper has stayed out of the news which is great, and quarterback Bryce Young looked competent at the end of last season. They drafted a stud receiver in the draft, Tetairoa McMillan, so that should help Young, and they’ve improved the o-line in free agency. So the offense should be okay, right? I have no clue about the defense.
The noise of Bryce Young potentially being a huge bust has turned our attention from the crap show that the defense has been. I have no clue if the defense will be any better this year. They are in the second year under a new regime, so I think Panthers fans are just looking for signs of improvement and the team being competitive and fun. Unless you live in the Carolinas or your team is playing them, I don’t think we will be seeing much of the Panthers on the box.
Winner Prediction: Buccaneers
Players to watch: Gunslinger QBs. Michael Penix and Baker Mayfield
Game to watch: Buccaneers at Falcons
NFC East
Hungover or still crushing beers? Eagles
I think the Eagles have a bit of a super bowl hangover again at some point. The Eagles might have had one of ten most impressive playoff runs ever last season. They destroyed the Packers, Commanders, and humiliated the two-time defending champion Chiefs. The only close game was the Rams and that was in a blizzard.. The Eagles offense should still be awesome unless their new offensive coordinator is a bummer. They have the best offensive line and the best running back in Saquon Barkely. The defense lost some depth and players to free agency but Vic Fangio is still their coordinator so I think they’ll be fine. They still got studs at every level of the defense, especially the former Georgia D-Linemen, Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. And yet, I'm going off history here, the NFC East not having a repeat winner since 2004, so I predict something will go wrong, what that will be, I dont know.
Was it all a fluke, or did it really happen, team? Commanders
Jayden Daniels won rookie of the year, they won twelve games, and made it to the NFC Championship. The Commanders had a dream season last year that no one saw coming. Daniels is the most exciting player to watch in the division. He’s young, can run and pass incredibly well and has ice in his veins. The rest of the team I’m unsure of. The roster and defense looks old on paper, and I’m unsure about their defense in general.
The keep your head up and don’t look down at the misery, team: Giants
The Giants are confusing. On paper they have an incredible defensive line. They also have one of the strangest quarterback rooms on paper. Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and Jaxson Dart. I think they Giants could be good but then remember this organization has been quite inept for a decade now since the final years of Eli Manning. The Giants address their quarterbacks like when I go to Home Depot and buy a bunch of cheap and varied plugs to bring back home and attempt to fix a pipe. My prediction is that one of them works for a stretch of time, and then they walk in the backyard one day, and see there’s still a leak and they really didn’t solve the problem all that well. But the G-Men have hope! There's a buzz around the Giants. Imagine if the Giants end up nailing the 2025 NFL Draft they just had? Edge rusher Abdul Carter, Quarterback Jaxson Dart, and running back Cam Skattebo. If all those guys turn out to be good, then the Giants misfortunes could finally be over.
The, mid-life crisis at 82, team: Cowboys
The Cowboys traded their best player, edge-rusher Micah Parsons, to the Packers right before the season kicked off. That is a devastating blow to start the season, essentially hacking off an arm before going into a fight. But the Cowboys, like the Black Knight from Python, have so much arrogant pride in themselves, I’m sure they still maintain some sort of confidence while the rest of the football worlds looks on in disbelief. The defense was already lousy last year, and Parsons was the best player. Ridicule the Cowboys for all they deserve, but they have done a decent job of always having a couple blue-chip players. The Parsons trade is a head-scratcher since the Cowboys usually don’t get rid of their blue-chip guys. My hunch is something more personal went on with the whole deal, or owner Jerry Jones is planning more moves. You get two first round picks for him, but the odds of such player being as good as Parsons is very unlikely, and the Cowboys are even farther away from super bowl contention with him gone.
I haven’t even gotten to new head coach Brian Schottenheimer. His resume doesn’t inspire confidence. He was the last coach hired in the offseason, and I’m unsure if any other team actually considered him in their own searches. The offense should be good if everyone stays healthy. People forget Dak Prescott was second in MVP voting only two years ago. I predict Dak will complete his transformation into Tony Romo where he will throw for a ton of stats to great receivers like CeeDee Lamb but end up faltering at the end and end up 8-9 or something.
Division Winner: Commanders
I will note that the Eagles should win this divsion but the NFC East has not had a repeat winner since 2004. This is a funky division. It's really hard imagining another team besides the Eagles, but I'm going to be on history, and pick the Commanders. I was going to pick the Cowboys but the Micah Parsons trade, and remembering who their new coach, pushed me away from the pick.
Players to watch: Jayden Daniels, Giants & Eagles D-Line, Saquon Barkley
Game to watch: Eagles at Commanders
NFC North
I’m tried of writing so have few words for this division which is a sad thing since this is a really interesting division with some great teams.
Packers should be great with Micah Parsons now on the defense and a healthy Jordan Love returning.
The Lions still have a fantastic roster but I have questions after all the great coaches that departed for better gigs. Seemed like last year was their year and they didnt capitalize on it.
The Bears I don’t trust at all just from an overall organization standpoint, although they do have some talent on offense. I think they dissapoint again. Way too many questions with them for me.
The Vikings, I think surprise some people and win the division. The Vikings coaches are great. They have a good roster and a good defense, they won 14 games last year, and I think mystery-man JJ McCarthy proves to be worth the high draft pick at quarterback. JJ McCarthy at this moment is the greatest Wild Card of this division. I think the Vikings win the division but lose in painful fashion yet again in the first round of the playoffs as JJ is not quite ready for that stage.