Frank The Tank's 2025 NFL Preview And Predictions
AFC East
- Buffalo Bills 14-3 (1)
- New England Patriots 8-9
- New York Jets 6-11
- Miami Dolphins 4-13
As the Buffalo Bills get set to open a new stadium in 2026, they have unfinished business. So close the past few seasons, but unable to get past the Chiefs. The Bills remind me of a team like the 1994 49ers, 1996 Packers, and 2006 Colts, which is due to finally slay the dragon. They have pressure to win now, and they will. Look for them to break through and bring a Lombardi Trophy to Western New York.
Mike Vrabel will bring a winning pedigree to Foxboro. The New England Patriots are still a year away from being a serious playoff contender as they continue to show improvement.
The New York Jets are as close to irrelevance as any team in the NFL. Aaron Glenn could make things better, but the roster is not good, as the Jets' playoff drought extends to 15 years.
Let it burn!! For 25 years, the Miami Dolphins have been a wash in mediocrity, after coming close two years ago. The team is as big a mess as ever. They are weak in the secondary and on the line. Tua Tagovailoa is one hit away from disaster, and Tyreek Hill is not worth the trouble. A major crash is coming, and a major crash could be what this franchise needs, as it needs to be burned down before it can be rebuilt.
AFC North
- Baltimore Ravens 12-5 (3)
- Cincinnati Bengals 11-6 (5)
- Pittsburgh Steelers 9-8
- Cleveland Browns 3-14
Success in the regular season is nearly a given for the Baltimore Ravens, who are still waiting to get a big postseason run from Lamar Jackson. The Ravens will win the North again and will battle with the Bills and Chiefs for a trip to the Super Bowl. Look for Jackson to again be in the MVP decisions.
The Cincinnati Bengals were one of the hottest teams at the end of 2024. However, their poor start kept them out of the playoffs. Look for the Bengals to avoid that fate this year, as Joe Burrow has an MVP-caliber season and the Bengals become a dangerous dark horse in the AFC postseason.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are rolling the dice and trying to make a run with an old roster. This is a young man's game, and Aaron Rodgers is not good enough to get the Steelers into the playoffs in the loaded AFC.
The Cleveland Browns are a mess. The Deshaun Watson trade set back the team five years, and the ridiculous number of quarterbacks they had in camp shows evidence of a franchise that does not have a clue how to build a serious NFL contender.
AFC South
- Houston Texans 10-7 (4)
- Jacksonville Jaguars 9-8
- Indianapolis Colts 7-10
- Tennessee Titans 5-12
C.J. Stroud had some second-year struggles, but still managed to get the Houston Texans into the playoffs, as the AFC South was the weakest division in the NFL. The AFC South remains the worst division in the NFL, but Stroud should have a better season as the Texans set their calendars for Saturday on Wild Card weekend.
The Jacksonville Jaguars were a disaster in 2024. Trevor Lawrence struggled, and the team quit on coach Doug Pederson. The Jaguars need to bounce back for new coach Liam Coen, as Lawrence needs to regain his confidence. Expect the Jaguars to contend, but fall just short of a playoff appearance.
The Indianapolis Colts have created a mess at quarterback, as Anthony Richardson has become a disaster, losing the starting job to Daniel Jones. Jones, meanwhile, is unlikely to be a reliable long-term solution, as the Colts will likely need to find a new starter in the offseason.
The Tennessee Titans are rebuilding and hoping to contend when their new stadium is ready in 2027. Cam Ward was selected with the first pick and will be given a chance to sink or swim over the next two years. It will be a learning year for Ward, as the Titans will struggle again.
AFC West
- Kansas City Chiefs 13-4 (2)
- Denver Broncos 11-5 (6)
- Los Angeles Chargers 10-7 (7)
- Las Vegas Raiders 6-11
The Kansas City Chiefs have been to three straight Super Bowls and are looking to regain their crown after their quest for a three-peat fell short. As long as they have a healthy Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs will be the team to beat in the AFC. They are a part of the AFC's trinity, but the wear on the tires could become a concern, as long playoff runs will eventually take their toll.
The Denver Broncos took a big leap forward last year, ending an eight-year playoff drought. They have one of the top defenses in the NFL, as Bo Nix, under the tutelage of Sean Payton, had a great rookie season. The Broncos could throw a scare into the Chiefs' AFC West reign if Nix can take a step forward, and the Broncos can get more offense.
The Los Angeles Chargers always seem like they should be better than they are. Justin Herbert has a big arm, but every year it's a struggle, even with Jim Harbaugh at the helm. The Chargers will continue to follow the same script, a season of unpredictable and inconsistent performances that result in them getting the last playoff spot in the AFC.
The Las Vegas Raiders are the NFL's transient team. They have now been in Vegas for five years, and they still have more road fans filling Allegiant Stadium. Now they are hoping that Pete Carroll can turn things around by bringing the 2022 Seahawks to Vegas, as Geno Smith joins him. This never works in the NFL.
NFC East
- Philadelphia Eagles 12-5 (2)
- Washington Commanders 11-6 (5)
- Dallas Cowboys 6-11
- New York Giants 5-12
The Philadelphia Eagles added Saquon Barkley and won Super Bowl LIX last year. Barkley had a magical season, making a particular team up the Turnpike look clueless along the way. There could be a bit of a Super Bowl hangover, especially with the loss of Mekhi Becton on the line and the departures of Darius Slay and C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the secondary. However, they will edge out the Commanders and make a deep playoff run again.
Jayden Daniels is him. The Washington Commanders went from a disaster to a Super Bowl contender in one season, thanks to second pick Jayden Daniels, who won Rookie of the Year, and gave fans in Washington hope they had not felt in three decades. Daniels took Washington to the NFC Championship Game, and although there could be a sophomore slump, with a tougher schedule, expect the Commanders to make the postseason again.
The Dallas Cowboys are a disaster. They have overspent and built the team around Dak Prescott. Underperformance has become a hallmark in Dallas, as they now move forward with Brian Schottenheimer as head coach, who has to deal with the loss of Micah Parsons. This could get ugly fast.
The New York Giants are undergoing repairs. They had a great draft, but they will not be anywhere close to the playoffs. Abdul Carter will show promise, but Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston will both struggle at quarterback before Jackson Dart gets his chance after Thanksgiving. When it's all said and done, Giants fans will be giving thanks as GM Joe Schoen is shown the door, with coach Brian Daboll.
NFC North
- Detroit Lions 13-4 (1)
- Green Bay Packers 10-7 (6)
- Minnesota Vikings 8-9
- Chicago Bears 7-10
The Detroit Lions had their best-ever regular season, but when the season ended, they had several key injuries, leaving them vulnerable to an upset by the Commanders. Some are writing off the Lions with the loss of both coordinators, but Dan Campbell will keep the Lions on track as they reach their first Super Bowl.
The Green Bay Packers made an 11th-hour move that significantly upgraded their chances by acquiring Micah Parsons from Dallas. Parsons vastly improves the Green Bay defense. Jordan Love is an effective quarterback, but he would not be able to lead the Packers on his own.
The Minnesota Vikings enter the season with high hopes, but J.J. McCarthy will need an adjustment period. Up and down, the NFC North could be one of the toughest divisions in the NFL. Look for the Vikings to fall just short of the playoffs as McCarthy will have his struggles.
The Chicago Bears begin a new era with coach Ben Johnson. Last season saw Caleb Williams struggle in his rookie campaign, as they were one of the worst-coached teams in the NFL. The Bears will be improved, but the playoffs are still a year away, as Caleb Williams will spend most of the season unlearning the bad habits he developed last year.
NFC South
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10-7 (4)
- Atlanta Falcons 9-8
- Carolina Panthers 8-9
- New Orleans Saints 2-15
The NFC South remains the worst division in the NFL, though the Falcons and Panthers are showing signs of improvement. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, however, remain the best of the bunch. Baker Mayfield has proven to be a solid NFL quarterback, and the Buccaneers do just enough to win on most weekends against teams they should beat.
The Atlanta Falcons are the NFL's most funky team. They win games against the best teams and lose to the worst teams. This inconsistency has become Atlanta's brand. If they are to squeeze into the playoffs, they will need Michael Pennix Jr. to become a top-tier quarterback. I don't believe he will ever be a top-tier quarterback.
After getting benched, Bryce Young showed significant improvement at the end of the 2024 season. Will this be enough to turn the Carolina Panthers into a playoff team? No. Young will continue to improve, but the Panthers lack the personnel to make the playoffs.
The New Orleans Saints are bad. The surprise retirement of Derek Carr has left them with Spencer Rattler as their starting quarterback. Spencer Rattler will look more like Spencer Rattled as the Saints' biggest hope is landing at the top of the 2026 draft. Don't be surprised if the Saints have an October fire sale, with Chris Olave and Alvin Kamara being shipped to contenders.
NFC West
- San Francisco 49ers 11-6 (3)
- Arizona Cardinals 9-8 (7)
- Los Angeles Rams 7-10
- Seattle Seahawks 6-11
The San Francisco 49ers were plagued by injuries throughout the entire season last year. Expect them to bounce back and win the NFC West fully. A trip to the Super Bowl, though, is likely a long shot as they will need to win a tough road game with one of the oldest rosters in the NFL.
The Arizona Cardinals have gotten off to good starts, but have been unable to maintain it for an entire season over the last few years. This is a pivotal year for the Cardinals, as they will need to make a significant step forward or consider a complete overhaul and start from scratch.
The age and health of Matthew Stafford could be a concern for the Los Angeles Rams. They have some good pieces, but if Stafford's age becomes a factor, things could go off the rails fast.
The Seattle Seahawks are in for a long season as Sam Darnold, who had a great year in Minnesota, is likely to regress to the quarterback he was with the Jets.
Playoff Picks
AFC Wild Card
- Chiefs 31 Chargers 10
- Ravens 27 Broncos 16
- Bengals 34 Texans 20
NFC Wild Card
- Eagles 41 Cardinals 10
- Packers 27 49ers 24
- Commanders 23 Buccaneers 17
AFC Divisional Round
- Bills 38 Bengals 27
- Ravens 23 Chiefs 20
NFC Divisional Round
- Lions 27 Commanders 20
- Eagles 24 Packers 20
AFC Championship
- Bills 31 Ravens 20
NFC Championship
- Lions 24 Eagles 20
Super Bowl LX
- Bills 27 Lions 24
NFL Awards
- Coach of the Year: Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
- Comeback Player of the Year: Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Detroit Lions
- Defensive Rookie of the Year: Abdul Carter, LB, New York Giants
- Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
- Defensive Player of the Year: T.J. Watt, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Offensive Player of the Year: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
- MVP: Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills