Potential Playoff Teams for 2025
The NFL’s landscape can shift dramatically from year to year, and that’s one of its intriguing aspects.
Time and again, we witness remarkable turnarounds, with unexpected teams making their way into the playoffs. Here, we’re highlighting four teams that we believe have a chance to make the postseason in 2025 after missing out in 2024.
This isn’t really shocking. Back when Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch were at the helm, San Francisco was a formidable playoff contender in the NFC. Sure, 2024 was a rough patch for the Bay Area team, but we’re not overly concerned about their prospects this season. It’s pretty common for teams that lose the Super Bowl to experience a bit of a slump the following year. The 49ers had a tough time last season—finishing 6-11—largely due to off-field issues and injuries. However, with standout running back Christian McCaffrey leading the charge, they seem poised to regain their health and form in 2025. We think they could at least snag a wildcard spot.
The Bengals mirror the 49ers in the AFC. They had high expectations last year but came up short, and it looks like they’re ready to rebound. Cincinnati’s 2024 season was quite unusual. They stumbled out of the gate with an 0-3 start and a 4-8 record—falling to New England in a surprising upset week one. Yet, they managed to turn it around, finishing strong at 9-8. Facing Cincinnati in the playoffs wouldn’t have been ideal for any team, but they’ll need to be ready this season, especially in the competitive AFC. If they don’t make the playoffs this time, head coach Zach Taylor could be in a precarious position.
Now, let’s look at a more unconventional option. The Panthers, having gone 5-12 in 2024 and 2-15 the previous year, face an uphill battle. It might seem unrealistic to expect Dave Canales’ squad to leap into playoff contention. Still, there’s potential. They showed signs of improvement towards the end of last season, largely thanks to young quarterback Bryce Young who finished strong after some early-season struggles. The receiving corps isn’t bad either, and Young could continue to develop in his third year. Given that the NFC South isn’t very strong, the Panthers might just sneak into the playoffs in 2025.
Finally, there’s New England, another team that desperately needs to progress toward playoff contention. They ended both of the last two seasons with a 4-13 record, and coach Jerodo Mayo is entering his second year. The Patriots are now under the guidance of former linebacker Mike Vrabel, who has returned to New England to lead a roster featuring promising second-year quarterback Drake Maye. With the Vrabel-Maye duo, they could see a quicker turnaround. Plus, New England had a notable offseason, making some impactful free-agent signings. It won’t be easy with the AFC being so competitive, particularly with the Bills in the mix, but they might still vie for a wildcard spot.
