Breaking down the 2025 NFL season

The NFL’s 32 teams are divided equally into two conferences: the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC), which are further split into four divisions each — North, South, East, and West.

• Starting this weekend through January 5th, each team will play 17 regular-season games over 18 weeks (every squad has one bye week), squaring off against each division rival twice.

• And these rivalries run deep, especially considering each division winner automatically qualifies for the postseason, along with the three next best teams in each conference, making up a 14-team playoff field.

The reason for the season? The Super Bowl, of course. Super Bowl LX (aka 60) is slated for Sunday, February 8th (smack dab in the middle of the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics), and will be hosted at Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco, California, home of the San Francisco 49ers.

• No, the Monday after Super Bowl Sunday isn’t a universal holiday just yet, so consider this your sign to ask for February 9th off work. You’re welcome.

With the groundwork laid, it’s onto the NFL’s movers and shakers. Here are the major storylines we’ll be keeping an eye on this season.

🧪 The elder millenial experiment: Turns out playing quarterback (QB) is an old man’s game — and the Pittsburgh Steelers are banking on it, going all in on 41-year-old QB Aaron Rodgers. This season will reportedly be Rodgers’ swan song, and he’s hoping it’s not the end of another era: Head coach (HC) Mike Tomlin hasn’t had a losing season during his 18-year Steelers’ tenure.

• The Cleveland Browns and NY Giants will also be helmed by vets, forgoing more youthful options in favor of former Super Bowl MVP, 40-year-old Joe Flacco, and 36-year-old Super Bowl champ Russell Wilson, respectively. Age really is just a number.

✈️ All-Pro faces in new places: Yes, the aforementioned Parsons was part of the messiest breakup of the summer, but his rebound just might be the real deal — the Pack should be title contenders this year.

• As for other big offseason moves, a trio of All-Pro wide receivers (WRs) will be repping new threads in 2025.

• Former San Francisco 49er Deebo Samuel landed with the Washington Commanders, former Seattle Seahawk DK Metcalf is Rodgers’ newest target in Pittsburgh, and former LA Ram Cooper Kupp is ready to catch passes in Seattle.

📈 Sophomore slump or second-year success?: Rookie QBs impressed in 2024, but first-year dominance doesn’t always lend itself to second-year success as opposing teams now have more film to scout. Whether it’s Washington’s Jayden Daniels, Denver Bronco Bo Nix, or Chicago Bear Caleb Williams, the pressure is only mounting.

🐣 The 2025 rookie class: Tennessee Titans QB Cam Ward enters the season as the 2025 No. 1 overall pick, but all eyes are on Jacksonville Jaguars dual threat and No. 2 pick Travis Hunter, who’ll play WR on offense and cornerback on defense. Tired just thinking about it.

🦅 Philadelphia Eagles, NFC East: The defending champs are ready to run it back, boasting the same dynamic group of offensive weapons including the human highlight reel himself, running back (RB) Saquon Barkley. The one lingering question for this squad though is the secondary (the pass defense), where the Birds lost two of last year’s starters. Still, expect ’em to fly.

🦬 Buffalo Bills, AFC East: Death, taxes, and the Bills’ postseason curse — but this year could be different. Reigning MVP QB and Hailee Steinfeld's other half Josh Allen is back taking the snaps, while Buffalo also brought in some defensive upgrades. Add in a little good karma, and Bills Mafia just might have something big to celebrate this season.

🦁 Detroit Lions, NFC North: Sonic and Knuckles — aka the Lions’ dynamic RB duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery — have title aspirations, and the highly-anticipated return of Pro Bowl defensive end Aidan Hutchinson only helps the cause. That said, the Lions did lose both of their coordinators to coaching gigs elsewhere in the league. Oof.

🐦‍⬛ Baltimore Ravens, AFC North: QB Lamar Jackson is the centerpiece of this flock. But this year, the two-time MVP has one of his best-ever supporting casts lining up beside him, from football royalty in All-Pro RB Derrick Henry to a stout defense anchored by defensive backs Kyle Hamilton and old friend Jaire Alexander.

🔴 Kansas City Chiefs, AFC West: KC suffered a bonafide beatdown in last year’s title game and QB Patrick Mahomes and tight end (TE) Travis Kelce were shockingly average all season long, but this team is always in the mix with HC Andy Reid at the helm — and a fourth straight Super Bowl appearance awaits. We’ve seen this film before.

🐯 Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals: The inimitable Joe Cool had an MVP–caliber season in 2024, but Cincy still missed the playoffs. That simply won’t cut it this year, especially after the Bengals shelled out a whopping $276M to superstar WRs Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

• Other QBs to watch: Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles), Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers), Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers)

🏴‍☠️ Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Irving’s rookie campaign was nothing short of spectacular: He put up a 1K rushing yards and scored eight touchdowns — oh, and he can catch the ball too. Now, it’s time for the encore, and Irving’s notoriously punctual.

• Other RBs to watch: Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons), Ashton Jeanty (Las Vegas Raiders), De’Von Achane (Miami Dolphins)

💜 Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings: Whether he’s breaking records on the gridiron, stunning at the Met Gala, or popping up in seemingly every commercial, the four-time All-Pro is that guy. Pencil him in for a “catch of the year” candidate or two.

• Other WRs to watch: Puka Nacua (LA Rams), CeeDee Lamb (Dallas Cowboys), Malik Nabers (NY Giants)

⚔️ Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders: Lead all TEs in receiving yards, make the Pro Bowl, and earn first-team All-Pro honors? Check, check, and check. No further commentary required because Bowers’ rookie season did all the talking.

• Other TEs to watch: Trey McBride (Arizona Cardinals), George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers), Evan Engram (Denver Broncos)

The gridiron gauntlet begins in Philadelphia tonight at 8:20 p.m. ET with the reigning champ Eagles kicking off their repeat pursuit against their archnemesis, the Dallas Cowboys, on NBC in the U.S. and TSN in Canada.

• Then, the action continues on Friday with the second annual NFL game in Brazil, this time featuring KC and the LA Chargers, followed by a full slate of Sunday games.

• As always, Week 1 wraps with the first Monday Night Football game of the season: An 8:15 p.m. ET NFC North showdown between the Bears and Vikings. …Ready for it?