The 2025 NFL season kicks off with the Dallas Cowboys traveling to Philadelphia to meet the World Champion Eagles this Thursday. America’s favorite sport is never short of storylines and here’s a few that I’ll be keeping an eye on this season:
Can the Eagles repeat after losing several starters on defense and both coordinators? If they do, will Jalen Hurts finally receive the credit he deserves? What will Saquon Barkley do for an encore to his historic season last year? I believe the Eagles can repeat, but I won’t pick them to do so. Wouldn’t surprise me if they did, but nobody has repeated as Super Bowl Champions since New England in 2004. I do believe that Philly will be the repeat winner of the NFC East, another accomplishment that hasn’t been done since the Eagles did it in, well, 2004.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts speaks with the media. #FlyEaglesFly https://t.co/MDuGQQSv8b
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 31, 2025
Was last year a flash in the pan, or are the Commanders sufficiently built to be a consistent contender? Sophomore slumps often happen in the NFL, but I believe that Jayden Daniels is the real deal and Washington will be back in the playoffs.
What will Dallas’ pass rush look like without Micah Parsons? Can Kenny Clark make a difference for the Cowboys stopping the run? Will George Pickens put the immaturity that’s plagued him away? If so, he and CeeDee Lamb could be one of the better receiving tandems in the league. Can Dak Prescott regain his form after a serious hamstring injury? So many questions for a team that’s always surrounded by distractions.
Can anyone unseat Tampa Bay in the NFC South? Not likely, but if anyone can, it would be the Falcons. Very excited to see what Michael Penix can do now that the reins are fully is. Can Baker Mayfield back up last year’s production with a similar season?
It’s about time for Detroit to fulfill their potential, or they’re going to fall into the Buffalo Bills’ category of teams that I don’t trust. Two new coordinators for the Lions, but I’m picking them to win the NFC.
Parsons to Green Bay makes the Packers a bigger threat to come out of the NFC than before, but can Jordan Love elevate himself into the upper crust of QB’s? If so, better keep an eye on the Pack.
First No. 1 in GB in 99 years pic.twitter.com/MeC29dHqtw
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 30, 2025
How much of an impact will former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson have now that he’s the head coach in Chicago? The Bears have upgraded personnel around Caleb Williams, and for his sake, let’s hope Chicago’s offensive line is much improved. If they are, the Bears could be a dark horse playoff team.
Is this San Francisco’s last stand before a rebuild? The 49ers still have a talented roster, although it’s not as deep as it has been with losses at LB and CB. The schedule is very favorable for the Niners and I have them winning the NFC West.
Matt Stafford’s injury is worth keeping tabs on. Whenever I read of an injury needing to be “monitored and managed,” I tend to become pessimistic. Got a feeling the Rams take a step back this season.
Is this finally the season that the Bills make a run to the Super Bowl? They’ve done as well as you can possibly do without making one, even beating Kansas City routinely in the regular season. It’s high time, maybe even past time that Buffalo takes another step.
I’m a big fan of the way Baltimore does things, and Lamar Jackson still doesn’t get the respect that he deserves. Fair being fair though, this group of Ravens is in the same boat as the Bills. At some point, if you want to be elite, you have to earn it. Can Derrick Henry follow up last season with another like it?
Does Aaron Rodgers have one more year in the sun? If so, you better not forget about Pittsburgh. When will Rodgers do or say something to be a distraction? Customarily, the Steelers are an organization that doesn’t deal with garbage.
Can the Bengals improve on the defensive side of the ball? Cincinnati set an NFL record last season by losing four games in which they scored at least 33 points. I don’t know how much better they’ll be on defense, but I think they get back in the playoffs.
The AFC South…yeah, me neither. Houston obviously. Okay, fine…can Cam Ward start to dig the Titans out of the ditch? Will Anthony Richardson get a chance to earn his job back in Indianapolis? And whatever happened to the Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence? They were a team on the rise a few years ago.
Seems like everyone’s wanting to bury, or at least move on from, the Chiefs. I might remind everyone that they were 15-2 last season and made their third consecutive Super Bowl. Sure, they have some retooling to do, but I’d caution anyone to dismiss Kansas City. That Mahomes guy can still play.
We love reading your letters, Chiefs Kingdom ❤️
Head to https://t.co/gThf3pjhvW and send in your own Good Luck Letter presented by G.E.H.A before the season starts! pic.twitter.com/PzD1aYMwh9
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) August 28, 2025
I’m bullish on the Broncos. Terrific defense and offensive line, and Bo Nix had a really good rookie season. Jim Harbaugh has the Chargers playing real football again too. Is Los Angeles good enough to take advantage of Justin Herbert’s talent and make a run in the AFC? Both Denver and L.A. are playoff teams, but I’ll be over here sticking with what I know in the Chiefs.
I’ve got Baltimore beating Detroit in Super Bowl 60. Lamar Jackson will be the MVP of the regular season and the Super Bowl. Enjoy the season!
Matt Meyer
@Bluto51
