The final four teams alive in last season's NFL playoffs came from the NFC East (two clubs), AFC East and AFC West. None of those three divisions rank in either of the top two spots of my 2025 division rankings.
So how do we measure divisional strength? Sure, having Super Bowl contenders is part of the equation, but you can't just look at the tops of divisions. The bottoms matter, too. Ten of the past 11 Super Bowl champs have played in a division with a team that finished with five wins or fewer.
The first step in the calculations was to update my post-draft Power Rankings based on some of the biggest developments that have happened since then, with the Steelers' moves -- signing Aaron Rodgers and trading for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith -- especially raising their profile.
Let's see how the divisions stack up as we gear up for training camps in a few weeks.
1) NFC NORTH
Early last season, everyone tried to manifest this as the best division top to bottom, and it ended up being a three-horse race with the Bears cratering after a 4-2 start. If Chicago can avoid going nearly three months without a win this coming season, this truly could be the strongest division -- pound for pound, one through four.
The reigning NFC North champion Lions have a beastly schedule in 2025. Furthermore, they not only have to make do without their offensive and defensive coordinators from last season, but they must face Ben Johnson twice a year now. Still, they've earned enough respect to be considered prime contenders. It's hard to imagine this team suddenly going in the tank, even in such a stacked division.
The Vikings won 14 games and had a shot at the NFC's top seed in Week 18, but their win projection now is murkier with the shift to QB J.J. McCarthy. If the second-year pro is ready to roll, this is a team that can win now behind Kevin O'Connell. No slouches, the Packers are out to prove they can build on an 11-win season, although it's a critical campaign for Jordan Love and Green Bay's defense to prove proficient.
If Johnson can maximize Caleb Williams' effectiveness, the Bears have enough talent to make a playoff run. Chicago was the busiest team in a busy division this offseason, and Johnson's creativity and exacting nature could help change the franchise's trajectory. This is a loaded division, no doubt, so the Bears have their work cut out for them.
2) AFC NORTH
The closest division battle fueled a No. 2 ranking in this exercise, with the AFC North just edging out the AFC West. If you were to argue that the Browns are the worst team in either division, I wouldn't push back too hard. But I believe the Ravens, Bengals and newly refurbished Steelers stack up just as well as the West's top three teams.
The clock is starting to tick in Baltimore, but Lamar Jackson remains in his prime and the team had a quietly solid offseason. The question now is whether the Ravens can topple the likes of the Chiefs and Bills for AFC supremacy, but it should shock no one if they ultimately do.
The real questions in this division are if Cincinnati can bounce back after two playoff-less seasons and whether Pittsburgh really has done enough to load up for a Super Bowl run. The Bengals are a handful offensively but figure to be bound by the limitations of the defense, with reigning NFL sack king Trey Hendrickson still in a contract dispute. Aaron Rodgers seemingly is in a much better situation now than he was with the Jets, but the Steelers still must show they're capable of not only making the playoffs but also winning their first postseason game since January of 2017.
Cleveland's QB competition is easily the NFL's most interesting right now, although it remains a morass until one of the contenders proves starter-worthy. Even still, the Browns' defense is capable of turning into a fairly formidable group.
3) AFC WEST
If you have the AFC West ahead of the AFC North, I won't report you to the authorities for it. The Chiefs just made their third straight Super Bowl, the Chargers and Broncos made the playoffs, and the Raiders are a fascinating team that underwent big changes this offseason. There's plenty of firepower here.
If this is something of a "last dance" season in Kansas City, with franchise icon Travis Kelce discussing retirement this offseason, then we could see another championship run from Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and the boys. The Chiefs' humiliating loss to the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX -- after they logged a slew of narrow regular-season victories -- has some questioning their chances, but the track record earns this team major credibility.
Can the Broncos and Chargers take the proverbial next steps? Denver boasts a top-five defense, which could be even better than last season's unit, plus Bo Nix and an emerging offense. The Chargers can't be overlooked with Jim Harbaugh back in the saddle and Justin Herbert squarely in his prime, but some defensive regression might be felt with the pass rush and in the secondary.
The Raiders have generated a little buzz this offseason and figure to be far more competitive this fall. Pete Carroll can light a fire under this group, with Geno Smith and Ashton Jeanty leading a remade offense, but the defense must show major improvement.
4) NFC EAST
The Super Bowl champion Eagles will try to defend their title with the vast majority of last year's offense back in place and enough defensive reinforcements to match the unit's 2024 success. Their biggest threat could come from within the division, with the rising Commanders giving the East arguably the best 1-2 punch of any division.
Last year's Eagles were only truly outplayed one time all season -- a 33-16 defeat at Tampa Bay in Week 4 -- and they have enough talent to replace their free-agent losses on defenses. After a few early stumbles last September, the defense emerged as an elite unit -- and a repeat wouldn't be shocking.
The Commanders took the league by storm, with Jayden Daniels stealing the key to the city in a brilliant rookie season. Daniels is a special talent, and Washington added two big offensive pieces (LT Laremy Tunsil and WR Deebo Samuel), but concerns remain on defense.
The Cowboys are a tricky team to handicap with Brian Schottenheimer taking over. Dallas' new head man needs to revitalize the run game and get the best from Dak Prescott. But the defense also looms as an area of worry after last season's troubles stopping the run.
The Giants have added more talent to a solid defense and completely refreshed the QB room, offering hope for better results. But a daunting schedule and major pressure on head coach Brian Daboll won't make it the easiest turnaround this season without major improvement on both sides of the ball. New York remains a bottom-eight team until it proves otherwise.
5) NFC WEST
The West was tightly packed a year ago, with all four teams in playoff contention in mid-December. It's also telling that the division's worst team, six-win San Francisco, was viewed as something of a fluke, considering the 49ers had averaged nearly double that number of victories in the previous three seasons.
It's a very solid division. You can make a case for all four teams having a playoff path in 2025. But how many have legitimate Super Bowl aspirations? That was one reason I stacked the NFC East ahead of the West.
I expect the Niners to bounce back this season, even with a slew of offseason personnel losses. They were ravaged by injury in 2024 and went 2-6 in one-score games, and they face a much kinder schedule in 2025. This might not profile as one of Kyle Shanahan's most dangerous clubs right now, but a return to double-digit wins shouldn't surprise anyone.
The Rams, Cardinals and Seahawks all could be competitive once again, although Seattle might be the least-known quantity of the group right now. If Sam Darnold and a reconfigured offensive line come together, the run game and defense could push the 'Hawks into the playoffs.
Arizona has been on a slow burn since Jonathan Gannon took over in 2023. Now this team must show it can make the necessary improvements defensively and iron out the offensive inconsistencies in order to earn more wins. The Cardinals were 6-4 a year ago before collapsing after the bye.
The Rams have rallied from 3-6 and 1-4 starts the last two seasons to make the playoffs, nearly knocking off the Eagles in this past January's Divisional Round, so everyone knows they're dangerous. Keeping Matthew Stafford healthy and making wholesale improvements to the run defense could earn them a second straight division title.
6) AFC EAST
The Bills remain the undisputed heavyweights in the East, with a secure spot among the handful of true Super Bowl contenders in the AFC. Reigning MVP Josh Allen leads a dangerous offense with potential to improve, yet it's the defense that must show more grit to get Buffalo back into a Super Bowl.
If the division as a whole is going to take a step forward in the hierarchy, it likely will require either the Patriots or Jets to outperform their exterior expectations.
The Pats spent good money this offseason, spawning legitimate hope they can return to prominence. Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye have generated real optimism, and the defense appears improved on all three levels. If the O-line and receivers step up, landing in the playoffs wouldn't be a crazy result.
The Jets might have a steeper climb under new head coach Aaron Glenn, but they could feature one of the best run games in the NFL. If they can control the ball and take a tangible step forward defensively under Glenn's watch, a better record could be in store.
Are the Dolphins in a rebuild? Tua Tagovailoa and a high-flying offense offer hope for Miami treading water, but the offensive line and secondary stand as major question marks following a flurry of departures this offseason. Fresh off a campaign that saw Miami miss the postseason and finish with a losing record (8-9), Mike McDaniel has never felt more heat than he will entering this season.
7) NFC SOUTH
As with the AFC East, there appears to be a fairly sizable gap between the top team and the rest of the pack in the NFC South. The Buccaneers didn't seal up the division until Week 18 last season, and they lost their home playoff opener, but I believe there's some real space between them and the South's other three teams.
The Bucs could feature one of the best offenses in the NFL in 2025, having added rookie slot receiver Emeka Egbuka to an already-dangerous group, although Tristan Wirfs' injury will sting early in the season. There also is a reasonable case for the defense improving, provided Haason Reddick and the young defensive linemen can help crank up the pass-rush pressure.
The Falcons pushed the Bucs for the division crown in 2024, and there's tangible excitement with the turn to QB Michael Penix Jr. They were 6-3, with a prime-time win at Philadelphia, before things fell apart last season. Draft resources (including first-round edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr.) should provide more defensive firepower, too, so Atlanta emerging from the pack can't be dismissed.
Similar things could be said about the Panthers, although their climb to respectability appears farther. The offseason was spent reinforcing the offense around Bryce Young, who flipped a Week 3 benching on its head to play far more inspired ball down the stretch. Now, about that defense that allowed an NFL-worst 534 points: The loads of new faces should help, but how many true difference-makers did they add?
The Saints are another tricky team to forecast, with rookie QB Tyler Shough having an excellent chance to win the starting job from Day 1. An improved offensive line and some decent weapons should help stabilize Kellen Moore's offense, but the new coach has to be worried about a leaky defense that is swapping many pieces in the secondary.
8) AFC SOUTH
The Texans stand atop the pack for now in the South, a division that has been down for a few years. While Houston didn't take a tangible leap after a breakout 2023 season, two competitive playoff showings offer hope there might be untapped resources for DeMeco Ryans. If the offensive line improves, C.J. Stroud and Co. should be right back in the postseason and could do some serious damage.
But will any of the other three squads make major improvements?
If there's a team with some intrigue here, it's the Jaguars. Last season was a hot mess, but there is some hope after 10 one-score losses, the addition of two-way star Travis Hunter and some new energy from head coach Liam Coen. If Trevor Lawrence bounces back, this Jacksonville offense could be fun ... even while the defense might still have a long way to go.
The Titans also figure to be better with No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward taking over at quarterback, though the rookie will be tasked with bringing a lot of new offensive faces together. Ward might not be Jayden Daniels in Year 1, but it's not hard to envision him adding major life to a passing game that was one of the league's least dangerous a year ago.
The Colts have been stuck in neutral for a few years now, and the Daniel Jones-Anthony Richardson QB battle might not have fans booking early Super Bowl arrangements this summer. Right now, we don't know for sure when Richardson will return from injury, making Jones the unofficial leader in the competition. The Colts have some offensive building blocks, but the underwhelming QB situation and various roster holes (OL, linebacker and kicker, especially) have muted Indianapolis' excitement level.
