2025 NFL Predictions: Ranking 12 teams still waiting for their first Super Bowl win
Several NFL teams still chase their first Super Bowl win. In 2025, a dozen franchises remain without a title. Some are close. Others rebuild. This list ranks the most likely teams to finally claim that elusive trophy.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Each has strengths and challenges. From star quarterbacks to tough defenses, these teams will try hard this season. Here's a breakdown of who stands the best chance.
1. Buffalo Bills
The Bills have been close before. They lost four Super Bowls. But Josh Allen plays like an MVP. The offense is strong, with good weapons. Defense is the weak spot. Rookies need to adjust fast. Injuries and suspensions may slow them early. Still, the AFC East is theirs to lose.
This team has a solid chance this year.
2. Detroit Lions
The Lions had a great 2023 season. They went 15-2 and made the NFC title game. This year, some key coaches left. The division is tough, and the schedule harder. Losing Frank Ragnow hurts the offensive line. The offense scores well but defense must hold up. If the team stays healthy and focused, they could make history.
3. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings had a strong regular season but stumbled in playoffs.
Rookie QB J.J. McCarthy is a wildcard. The offense has top talent. Defense added free agents but the secondary is shaky. Special teams struggled last year. Their schedule is tough. The team could either soar or fall. They have a high ceiling but must be consistent.
4. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals lost three Super Bowls and missed playoffs recently. Joe Burrow is healthy and leading the offense. Chase and Higgins make a deadly duo. Defense was a problem last year.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
A new coordinator must fix that. Contract talks around Hendrickson cause uncertainty. AFC North is tough. Defense needs to improve for a real shot.
5. Houston Texans
The Texans regressed in 2024 but won playoff games. C.J. Stroud enters his third year. They added new receivers, linemen, and defensive backs. Coach DeMeco Ryans has two 10-win seasons. Red-zone defense is a concern. The division is winnable. They can compete if they beat the best.
Progress is visible.
6. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers ended strong last season but lost in the playoffs. Jim Harbaugh is now coach. Defense allowed few points last year. Justin Herbert played well. Offense looks deeper with a better run game. Defense might slip a bit. The playoff path is hard. Still, they have the talent to push far.
7. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals last reached the Super Bowl 17 years ago. They started strong but finished weak in 2024. Kyler Murray still shines sometimes.
Marvin Harrison Jr. gives new hope at receiver. Offensive line and running backs are solid. Defense added talent. Rookies must step up fast. They're improving but need more time.
8. Atlanta Falcons
Michael Penix Jr. will take over soon at QB. Kirk Cousins remains. The offensive line is strong. Skill players are talented but inconsistent. Kyle Pitts sometimes struggles. Defense lost leaders but added rookies. Run defense might be weak.
Secondary has depth. They can fight in their division but not for the title yet.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars picked a rare talent, Travis Hunter, who plays wide receiver and defensive back. He's risky but could be great. WR Brian Thomas Jr. looks promising. Trevor Lawrence must rebound. New coach Liam Coen brings energy. Defense is young but unproven. The AFC South is winnable. But a Super Bowl is still years away.
10. Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young showed progress late last season.
They won three overtime games. Rookie WR Tetairoa McMillan adds speed and skill. The supporting cast is young and improving. Defense was very weak in 2024. They gave up over 30 points often. Rookie pass rushers could help. They have a chance but not for a title yet.
11. Tennessee Titans
The Titans are rebuilding. They drafted QB Cam Ward first overall. He will start early. Passing game should get better. The AFC South is weak, so they might win the division.
Defense and special teams need work. Playoffs seem unlikely. A Super Bowl run is not expected soon.
12. Cleveland Browns
The Browns have a QB mystery with Pickett, Flacco, and rookies. Coach Stefanski has twice won 11 games. Defense got rookies and kept Myles Garrett. The offense added new pieces. The Watson trade hurt morale and salary cap. They face a long rebuild. There is hope, but a title is far away.
Also Read:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Hilary Knight agrees to join Seattle PWHL expansion team; Vancouver lands Frost duo Thompson, Jaques
Boston Fleet captain Hilary Knight is heading to the PWHL's expansion team in Seattle, while Vancouver landed the two-time defending champion Minnesota Frost's blue-line duo of Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques to start the league's expansion signing period Wednesday. Knight, one of the league's three MVP finalists, agreed to a one-year contract in becoming Seattle's first player. The agreement moves Knight closer to her offseason home in Idaho, and provides the team an immediate high-profile presence in a city that already features NWSL and WNBA franchises. She leaves Boston following a season in which she had 29 points to tie for the league lead with New York rookie Sarah Fillier. And it comes as Knight, who turns 36 in July, is winding down her international career upon announcing the 2026 Winter Games will be her fifth and final representing the United States. Knight is reuniting with Seattle general manager Meghan Turner, who spent the past two years as the Fleet's assistant GM. 'Signing Hilary Knight was an absolute no-brainer. She's the heartbeat of any team she joins,' Turner said. 'Hilary's not just a game-changer on the ice, she's the kind of person who defines a culture, and we're incredibly proud to have her as the first-ever player to join PWHL Seattle.' Vancouver struck first in opening the five-day signing period in landing two of among the league's top-scoring defensemen. Thompson, Jaques and Toronto's Renata Fast are finalists for the defender of the year honor, and the Minnesota pair represented Canada at the world championships in April. The two expansion teams are allowed to sign up to five players who were either left unprotected by their current teams or eligible to become unrestricted free agents and then then take part in an expansion draft on Monday. After that, each team will have a dozen players. Then they will fill out their rosters during the PWHL draft on June 24 and during the league's free agency period. Thompson was Minnesota's first-round pick in the PWHL draft last year. She will be reunited with her coach at Princeton, Cara Gardner Morey, who left the Tigers last month to become Vancouver's general manager. 'Having had the privilege of coaching Claire at Princeton, I know how exceptional she is as a player and as a person and couldn't be prouder to build our foundation with her contributions both on and off the ice,' Gardner Morey said. Thompson had 18 points to tie with Toronto's Jennifer Gardiner for the PWHL lead among rookies. She was a rookie at 27 after forgoing turning pro in 2024 to focus on her medical studies at NYU. Still undecided on when she'll return to medical school, Thompson signed a one-year contract with Vancouver while preparing to represent Canada at the Winter Olympics in February. Jaques, who signed a three-year contract, had seven goals and 22 points in 25 games to finish tied with Fast for the league lead among defensemen. She completed her first full season with the Frost after being involved in the PWHL's first trade, a three-player deal that sent Susanna Tapani and Abby Cook to Boston in February 2024. 'I'm incredibly honored to sign with PWHL Vancouver and to help lay the foundation for something truly special in this city,' Jaques said. 'I want to thank the Minnesota Frost for the opportunity the past two seasons, and I am so proud of the work we did to win two championships.' After losing two players, the Frost added forward Britta Curl Salemme to their protected list, which already included captain Kendall Coyne Schofield, forward Taylor Heise and defenseman Lee Stecklein. The league's six existing teams will lose four players each during the expansion process. women's hockey: /hub/womens-hockey
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Raiders coordinator Patrick Graham embraces learning from Pete Carroll's defensive expertise
HENDERSON, Nev. — Pete Carroll, like Antonio Pierce just a year prior, retained Patrick Graham as the Raiders' defensive coordinator even after both took over the program and largely cleaned house. Keeping Graham was a testament to the respect both coaches have for the job he has done in Las Vegas. The defense was Graham's to run as he saw fit under Pierce and Josh McDaniels before him, but how much autonomy he will have under Carroll is something to watch. Carroll is a defensive-minded head coach known for creating the famed Legion of Boom in Seattle that was pivotal to the Seahawks making back-to-back Super Bowls and winning one in a 43-8 blowout over Denver. 'Any time you get a chance to work with someone with that experience, that level of success, I couldn't be happier ... just in terms of to bounce ideas off of him and hear different ways of doing things,' Graham said after practice Wednesday. "It's been really beneficial for my growth, if I'm being selfish. It's just something really good and positive for me. The track record, I mean, why wouldn't you listen? It's been great.' The Raiders likely are far from those great Seahawks defenses, but led by end Maxx Crosby, they aren't devoid of talent. This was a top-10 defense just two years ago, allowing 19.5 points per game. Even more was expected last year before that side of the ball was decimated by injuries beginning in training camp when pass rusher Malcolm Koonce suffered a season-ending torn ACL. Las Vegas gave up nearly an additional touchdown per game, dropping to a tie for 25th with Cincinnati. But even during those struggles, the Graham-led makeshift defense found a way to hold six consecutive opponents to fewer than 20 points during one stretch in the season's second half. Now the challenge is fitting in new players after watching key components such as linebackers Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo and defensive backs Nate Hobbs and Tre'von Moehrig leave in free agency. There also is major concern about the rehabilitation setback of defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, whose return from a broken foot creates a noticeable shadow over the unit. That's why the 46-year-old Graham — who interviewed for Jacksonville's head coaching job in January — didn't make a big deal about the continuity his presence means to the team as the Raiders go through organized team activities. 'Each season is so different," Graham said. "You take a step back, look at and evaluate yourself, like, 'What did I do, what can I do better, what was good?' Then you look at the defense and see what was good, what was bad. Then you've got to look within the league and see what the trends are. Because if you don't stay ahead of it, you can get in trouble.' No matter the changes, be with the coaches or the players, Graham understands the importance of communication. It's something new Raiders linebacker Elandon Roberts quickly came to appreciate. 'When he talks, I'm just kind of zoned in on it,' Roberts said. "I've spent a lot of time with PG. We only get a certain amount of time in the building, and shoot, I'm trying to pull up on PG at his house. 'I'm telling you, PG is the type of guy he wakes up in the morning, he thinks about football. He can be eating something, he's thinking about football.' Graham and Roberts kept missing each other until now. Graham was on New England's staff from 2009-15 and Roberts played for the Patriots from 2016-19. Then Graham was Miami's defensive coordinator in 2019 and Roberts played for the Dolphins from 2020-22. 'He was running from me,' Roberts said jokingly. 'I get out here and said, 'It's about time.'' And this is the time for teams, the Raiders included, to be optimistic. Many of the post-practice media questions reflected that mindset. Games will be played soon enough, and then Graham will know what kind of defense he has. There also should be more clarity on how he Carroll will work together. Graham was asked about Carroll multiple times, so it's clear that storyline isn't going away any time soon. 'You can see the energy he has and the ability to teach the position and coach the whole team,' Graham said. "This has been really a great situation for myself, for the players, the coaches. We're watching a master teacher working at his craft and seeing it live and in person. This is really beneficial for us.' /hub/nfl
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Steelers risk betraying T.J. Watt's loyalty as contract standoff threatens to end his Pittsburgh legacy
T.J. Watt's future with the Steelers is uncertain due to a potential contract standoff (Getty Images) T.J. Watt's name is synonymous with the Pittsburgh Steelers. From the moment he stepped onto the field in 2017, he embraced the legacy of a franchise built on dominant defense. With 108 career sacks, four First-Team All-Pro selections, and the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year honor under his belt, Watt has become one of the most feared pass rushers in the NFL. But now, his future in Pittsburgh is clouded by uncertainty. T.J. Watt's loyalty tested as Steelers risk losing their defensive icon over contract standoff Despite T.J. Watt's desire to remain a lifelong Steeler, his looming contract standoff could challenge that vision. 'When I'm done, I want to come back. And I want them to say, T.J. Watt, Super Bowl champion. That's all that's important to me,' he said last year. It's a powerful statement about legacy over accolades—but as former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch pointed out, legacy doesn't always win championships. Speaking on Up & Adams, Batch said Watt wants to be a 'one-helmet guy' but noted that the linebacker is closely watching the team's commitment to building a winning roster. 'Ultimately the goal in Pittsburgh is not to win division titles, just to win a Super Bowl,' Batch added, highlighting that even players with deep loyalty will weigh their options when the ring continues to elude them. T.J. Watts (Imagn Images) While Watt's bond with veterans like Cam Heyward reinforces his loyalty, his past contract history hints at his willingness to dig in. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esse novo alarme com câmera é quase gratuito em Taboão Da Serra (consulte o preço) Alarmes Undo In 2021, he signed his deal just three days before the season began, following skipped OTAs and training camp. That same determination might be on display again in 2025. Mike Tomlin silent as pressure builds around Watt's future Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has been notably quiet on the issue, but sources suggest the franchise believes they've already made a 'pretty substantial' offer. The problem? That term has become fuzzy in a market where Myles Garrett just reset the edge rusher ceiling at $40 million per year. As the impasse lingers, Batch issued a sober reminder: 'No matter how great you are, there's a strong chance the team you start with isn't the one you finish with.' Names like Brady, Manning, and Brees are proof. Also Read: 'Tua won't get better': Is Tua Tagovailoa's contract the beginning of the Dolphins' downfall? If the Steelers don't act quickly, they could risk turning Watt's dream into another cautionary tale about how business, not loyalty, often writes the final chapter in NFL careers.
