Breaking down the TOP 10 teams in the NFL that could break out and exceed expectations for the 2024-25 season. Make sure to drop your thoughts in the comment section!
No. 10: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are not projected to be a highly competitive team this season, mainly due to the fact that they have such uncertainty under center with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields competing for the starting quarterback job this summer. However, they have some elite talent on defense and Wilson, despite clearly being on the decline, still managed to toss 26 touchdowns in 15 games last season. Plus, Mike Tomlin has never coached a losing season. The Steelers could sneak up on teams this year.
No. 9: Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks went just 9-8 last season and missed the playoffs, indicating a regression could be underway for QB Geno Smith and company. Head coach Pete Carroll resigned in the offseason, marking the beginning of a new era in Seattle. But this is still a team with a stacked group of talent on offense and some key players on the other side of the ball, too. If Smith can stay healthy, he and new head coach Mike Macdonald could lead the Seahawks to some wins this season.
No. 8: New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints barely missed out on the playoffs last season while competing in a lowly NFC South. But they also had some key members of their roster banged up with injuries. This season, running back Alvin Kamara is fully healthy and their offense could take a step forward if and when rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler takes over as the starter. The Saints could surprise people this season.
No. 7: Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a team that severely under performed last season after rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson was lost for the year due to an injury. However, Richardson is healthy now and looking to take a leap in his second season. If he can be as dynamic as they expect him to be, Richardson and the Colts could stack some wins this year.
No. 6: Minnesota Vikings
Expectations for the Minnesota Vikings plummeted after rookie first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy went down with a season-ending injury. Sam Darnold is now projected to be the starter which has given fans reasons to doubt the Vikings this season. But head coach Kevin O’Connell knows how to get the most out of underdeveloped quarterbacks and Darnold will be throwing to a stacked arsenal of wide receiver talent. Combine that with a rising defense, and the Vikings could end up being a sneaky competitive team this season.
No. 5: Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders don’t have a super-talented roster, but they do have an exciting new head coach. Antonio Pierce was hired this offseason after a successful stint as the interim head coach last year. Sometimes teams just perform better when they love their head coach and that seems to be a possibility for the Raiders this season.
No. 4: Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a team with a ton of question marks and a roster that seems to be a little bit away from truly being competitive. However, they did select rookie quarterback Bo Nix in the first round, and if Sean Payton can get the most out of him in his first season, the Broncos could wind up winning some games behind their rookie quarterback and strong defense.
No. 3: Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray is finally back and fully healthy this season and now has a new exciting weapon to throw to in Marvin Harrison Jr. The Cardinals don’t have a ton of talent, but they do have star power, and that could be enough to help them win more games than people expect this season.
No. 2: Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders are viewed as one of the worst teams in the NFL this season, but they sneakily had one of the best offseasons of any team in the league. They drafted Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, and if he can make an instant impact, then this Commanders team could surprisingly be competitive.
No. 1: Chicago Bears
If No. 1 pick QB Caleb Williams is as good as advertised (and so far in training camp and the preseason, he has been), the Chicago Bears could be a much better team than expected. The Bears made some key moves this offseason to load up on talent on both sides of the ball and are considered a fringe playoff team. But if Williams bursts onto the scene with fellow rookie WR Rome Odunze, the Bears could be cooking up one of the franchise’s best seasons in a long time.