The smell of freshly cut grass. The cold grasp of Blue Mountains on a Sunday afternoon. The screams of your friend as his 4-leg parlay doesn’t cash thanks to a last-second touchdown. Football season is back—and so are the predictions that come with it.
One of the biggest annual questions: Who will win each division? I’m going to give you my 8 sure-fire, bet-now (you’ll lose money) division winners for the 2025 NFL season.
AFC East – Buffalo Bills
In my opinion, this is the easiest division to predict. The Bills had an aggressive, defense-minded offseason, bolstering their front seven with Bosa and Hoecht, while adding secondary help by drafting Maxwell Hairston. The reigning MVP gets some receiver depth in Shenault and Moore, and more importantly, the team retained all its key pieces. The Patriots are interesting, but realistically, a few years away.
Prediction: Bills, Patriots, Dolphins, Jets
AFC North – Baltimore Ravens
Just like anxious-attachment personalities in relationships, we’re overthinking this one. Sure, the Bengals have arguably the most lethal passing attack in the sport. It also swallows half of their cap space on four players, resulting in Trey Hendrickson hanging out in Florida with no contract.
The Bengals won’t be able to stop anyone, but the Ravens will be able to stop everyone while putting up 200+ rushing yards on them. Baltimore retained its core and added major talent in Jaire, Nuk, and Awuzie. They’re my pick for the AFC’s 1-seed this year.
Prediction: Ravens, Bengals, Steelers, Browns
AFC South – Indianapolis Colts
If this were the NBA, the AFC South would be a race for the play-in: an entertaining fight for a crown that gets eliminated after one round. I see the Colts coming away with this one. They had a sneaky-positive offseason, adding Pro Bowl talent in Ward and Bynum, while reinforcing their defensive trenches with Gallimore and Tuimoloau.
I could be wrong here—Houston has a truly elite defense. But I have a hard time trusting horrid offensive lines. The NFL has too much front-seven talent, and I see elite defensive efforts in Houston going to waste. Please send Stroud out in a full-body Guardian Cap. Thanks!
Prediction: Colts, Texans, Jaguars, Titans
AFC West – Kansas City Chiefs
There are two rules I’ve learned in sports betting: 1) Don’t bet in favor of your own team, and 2) never bet against Brady. That second rule has become a new one: never bet against Mahomes.
People aren’t “insane” to think the Broncos could win this division. The Chiefs are entering the mid-2010s Patriots phase: paying their league-best QB top money while losing aging talent. Trading Thuney hurt, but adding Moore and Simmons is a surefire way to protect Kermit. As a matter of fact, Simmons would arguably have been the first tackle drafted this year if not for injury concerns (which turned out to be nothing).
The Broncos had a great draft and free agency. In my opinion, they’ll easily be the best wildcard team. A defense of Greenlaw, Hufanga, and Surtain is scarier than anything Blumhouse has put out in years. But you won’t catch me betting against Pat and friends. I’m taking the Chiefs to win the division for the 10th straight year.
Prediction: Chiefs, Broncos, Chargers, Raiders
NFC East – Washington Commanders
No one has won this division in back-to-back seasons since the Eagles in 2004—and I love trends. Adam Peters and company added a lot of talent to an NFC Championship squad. Deebo, Tunsil, Kinlaw, and Miller all bring free-agent upgrades. That becomes absurd when you factor in their draft-day robbery of Amos.
And let’s be real—Scary Terry isn’t going anywhere. Trade requests these days are just leverage plays, and the last thing this front office would do is take away Jayden’s best weapon.
Sure, the Eagles are still on the throne. Hurts and his viziers are ready to defend the land they’ve conquered. But the Commanders are ready to commit regicide. And my Cowboys are still worried about headlines over harvest, so I’m curled up in a fetal position.
Prediction: Commanders, Eagles, Cowboys, Giants
NFC North – Detroit Lions
The grimy North is no longer in the AFC. The Lions maintain juggernaut status, but this could just as easily be the Packers’ year to reclaim the belt. The franchise showed love to its QB by adding Banks, Hobbs, and Golden.
Still, despite not adding much to the pride, I see Detroit staying at the top of the food chain. The most important thing? They kept the apex den intact.
I think the surprise comes from an 11th-century-like Viking regression. Call me a Democrat in the 1950s—I’m just not a fan of McCarthy. His Michigan tape left me wanting more, and so does his training camp footage.
Prediction: Lions, Packers, Bears, Vikings
NFC South – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Coen departure isn’t as detrimental as you might think. New OC Josh Grizzard was the passing coordinator for the Bakerenaissance. That continuity will keep the offense steady. On defense, don’t sleep—Reddick and mates will send opposing QBs to Davy Jones’s locker.
There are some young cubs in Charlotte worth watching. If Bryce Young has no fans, then I am dead. Carolina is defying the odds of a terrible owner to build a promising core that’ll compete for years.
Prediction: Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers, Saints
NFC West – Los Angeles Rams
Honestly? This is the division I’m least sure about. The Golden Gate guys have one of the best coaching staffs in the league and a healthy CMC. But they’ve lost nearly all their impact veterans from recent Super Bowl runs. No matter what your couch QB opinions are, Purdy earned his money. But with that comes cap strain. A retool is coming, but I don’t see them striking gold this season.
The Rams played 20 years in St. Louis, relocated to the City of Stars, made a Super Bowl, rebuilt, won a Super Bowl by selling their future, rebuilt through days 2 and 3 of the draft, and are ready to compete again—all before the Cowboys could make an NFC Championship (I’m crying on the inside).
All of that to say: this is one of the best-run franchises in the league. Verse is my dark horse DPOY, and he leads a solid front seven. Give McVay an average defense with this walk-of-fame offense, and I see the Rams stampeding to another division crown.
Prediction: Rams, Niners, Seahawks, Cardinals
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