“I think we’ve seen Alex Ovechkin play his final game,” Raby said Wednesday following the Caps’ 2-1 win in Columbus to close out the regular season. “That said, I don’t think this is as simple as it may appear, as far as, ‘Oh, he has a decision to make.’ I do think there’s some layers to it.”

Plenty of people will be in Ovechkin’s ear this offseason.

“He’ll meet with management, his doctors, his family, etc.,” Raby said. “I think, from what I understand, the team might be more prepared for this, might be more ready to move on than Ovechkin is.”

That’s the fascinating aspect of this story: Franchise greats knowing when to step away before the team makes the decision for them. But Raby said that, while the team is ready to turn the page from the Ovechkin era, it doesn’t mean they’ll push him out the door.

“I should be clear that doesn’t mean they’re tired of Ovechkin or his act,” Raby said. “When Barry Bonds and the Giants parted ways, there was an act that came with that. When the Packers turned the page on Brett Favre, there was a bit of an act with that. Alex Ovechkin the person — he’s always welcome around the Capitals.”

Raby said the Capitals organization has a plan for 2026-27 that includes both sides of the Ovechkin retirement decision.

“To the Capitals’ credit, they have prepared themselves,” Raby said of the Caps’ life after Ovi. “They’ve put themselves in position with a young core, a young nucleus. Look, you could never single-handedly fill Alex Ovechkin’s skates, but they have set themselves up that these aren’t going to be dark seasons up ahead. Whether Ovechkin retires now or a year from now, the team is set up for some sustained success on the other side of Ovechkin.”

Raby said continuing to play Ovechkin next season, which would begin around his 41st birthday in mid-September, would not be detrimental to the development of younger players for one key reason: The pivot to life after Ovi is likely to begin whether or not he’s on the team.

“As Alex Ovechkin saw this year, his minutes might be even more limited,” Raby said. “We saw this year — his minutes, his usage, it was a little bit different. Leaning on him, for example, less than they would have in years past, and maybe utilizing him in different situations as compared to years past, when he played heavy minutes.”

Raby added that part of the reason for the transition is the Capitals’ proverbial cupboard isn’t bare, and the organization values its current mix of grizzled veterans, young up-and-comers and midtier tenured players.

“This past season as a rookie, Ryan Leonard already hit 20 goals,” Raby said. “Tom Wilson — he still has some tread left on the tires. He’s going to be here for years to come, your captain in waiting.”

The team has youth up and down the depth chart to transition into a new era.

“You also had double digit goals from a rookie lower down the depth chart, not a household name, Justin Sourdif,” Raby said. “They are not single-handedly filling Alex Ovechkin’s skates, but they are pieces.”

With Wilson in line to be the new captain of the Capitals, Raby said he’s not on the trade block, but perhaps younger pieces could be dangled to add some elite scoring up front.

“It’s actually a very thin free agent class,” Raby said. “I think there is an appetite to add through trades, as the Capitals have shown a knack for doing over the years. T.J. Oshie, once upon a time, was a pretty blockbuster trade acquisition. I think there is an appetite to do what they weren’t able to a year ago.”

The Great 8 had an all-time great 21 seasons in Washington. Whether or not Ovechkin comes back for Season 22, this isn’t about when the Capitals turn the page — it’s about the fact they already have.

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55 years in Washington and a lifetime of memories

There will never be another quite like Sonny

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders)

Let’s start with affable, lovable and indomitable — because a simple Google search (and this AP article) will reveal Jurgensen was a five-time Pro Bowler, led the NFL in passing yardage five times and still holds multiple Washington franchise passing records more than 50 years after his retirement.

But for a middle-aged man like me who never saw Jurgensen play in the NFL, he’s still a banner figure in Burgundy and Gold history. He’s almost Washington’s version of John Madden — an outstanding franchise legend who later became even more iconic as a broadcaster.

If you dust off an old VHS tape of the great Super Bowl runs of the 1980s and early ’90s, you’ll hear Jurgensen, Sam Huff and Frank Herzog on the radio broadcasts of Washington’s golden era of football. They were the soundtrack of those title runs and part of the fabric of the D.C. region’s love affair with the team.

“Everybody loved Frank Herzog, Sam Huff and Sonny Jurgensen — iconic and everyone is measured against them,” longtime CBS Sports host James Brown (a D.C. legend in his own right) told º£½Ç¾«Æ·ºÚÁÏ on Friday.

His soft-spoken, Southern drawl further enhanced his trademark sense of humor often displayed on Channel 4’s legendary “Redskins Report” — a must-see discussion hosted by the late, great George Michael about the Burgundy and Gold on the eve of game day. Young fans like me loved that Jurgensen was always the homer of the show, picking Washington to win virtually every game.

What a gift, given his remarkable playing career.

Those who saw Jurgensen sling it call him one of the best pure passers in NFL history — a gunslinger ahead of his time in an era when the forward pass was still in its relative infancy and the road to ultimate victory was paved by great running backs.

“Today, the game is more offensively focused and it’s a passing attack with all of these young quarterbacks who are doing great things,” Brown said. “Sonny Jurgensen was as excellent as any of today’s young quarterbacks at a time when they were dominating and focusing on the run game.”

Brown cited Jurgensen’s famous behind-the-back pass in 1961, comparable to the on-field exploits of Patrick Mahomes.

As Casserly alluded to later in the interview, one of the great “what-ifs” in Washington franchise history is how Jurgensen’s legacy would have formed had Vince Lombardi lasted more than one season with the Burgundy and Gold. In 1969, Jurgensen led the NFL in passing attempts, completions, completion percentage and passing yards, and spoke glowingly of playing for the legendary Green Bay Packers coach for many years after his death in 1970.

With George Allen’s run-first, defense-oriented approach came the arrival of Billy Kilmer and the advent of a yearslong quarterback controversy in Washington.

Which brings to mind another “what-if” — were it not for Jurgensen’s injury in 1972, perhaps Washington would have stopped the Dolphins from completing the first (and still only) undefeated season in NFL history. After all, Jurgensen completed a whopping 66.1% of his passes and the Burgundy and Gold went 4-0 in games he started in that year.

Even still, Jurgensen’s greatness shined through. In his final season in 1974, while still splitting time with Kilmer, Jurgensen made only four starts but still threw for 1,185 yards and 11 touchdowns — and did it at the age of 40.

Like I said, affable, lovable and indomitable.

Rest in peace, Sonny Jurgensen — and thanks for the memories.

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Jayden Daniels leads Washington back from an early 14-0 deficit to stun Baltimore in the final minute and win Super Bowl MVP.

How did we get there? º£½Ç¾«Æ·ºÚÁÏ’s Rob Woodfork predicts the path to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California.

Here’s the playoff run (seeding in parentheses):

Wild cardÌý

AFC: Chiefs (2) over Chargers (7), Bengals (6) over Texans (3), Bills (4) over Broncos (5)

NFC: Rams (7) over 49ers (2), Packers (3) over Lions (6), Eagles (5) over Bucs (4)

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AFC: Ravens (1) over Bengals (6), Chiefs (2) over Bills (4)

NFC: Commanders (1) over Rams (7), Eagles (5) over Packers (3)

Conference

AFC: Ravens (1) over Chiefs (2)

NFC: Commanders (1) over Eagles (5)

NFL Awards

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ashton Jeanty, Raiders

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Malaki Starks, Ravens

Offensive Player of the Year: Jayden Daniels, Commanders

Defensive Player of the Year: Kyle Hamilton, Ravens

Protector of the Year: Penei Sewell, Lions

Comeback Player of the Year: Aidan Hutchinson, Lions

MVP: Jayden Daniels, Commanders

Coach of the Year: Dan Quinn, Commanders

**Note: Daniels and Quinn arguably should have won their respective awards in 2024, so this is a makeup call by voters.

Top of NFL draft order:

1. Browns

2. Saints

3. Titans

4. Panthers

5. Vikings

31. Ravens

32. Commanders

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Playoffs and Awards

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Ravens 13-4

The 30th season of Ravens football promises to be one of Baltimore’s best.

All three coordinators return and 19 of the team’s 22 starters from the season-ending roster are back. Keaton Mitchell looks to be back to form after the 2023 knee injury, and figures to be the perfect speedy, change-of-pace X-factor for Derrick Henry running behind the least-expensive offensive line in the league.

On defense, the Jaire Alexander signing gives BaltimoreÌýÌýbut the two-time All-Pro only played in 34 of 68 games for the Packers the last four seasons, so health is a major concern.

Annual MVP candidate Lamar Jackson will remain among the top performers on a Ravens offense ranked first in defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA) in 2024. If Zach Orr’s defense can take another step forward, the Ravens look poised to fly all the way west to play in Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara.

Which they’d better, because Baltimore’s championship window is closing — fast.

Bengals 11-6

The key to Cincinnati’s season is how they start. The Bengals are 1-11 in the season’s first two weeks under Zach Taylor and over the last three seasons, Cincy is 5-10 in the first five weeks, then 25-10 the rest of the way.

This year, Taylor played his starters more in the preseason to try and halt another slow start and the schedule lends itself to correcting that (at Browns, vs. Jaguars the first two weeks) — but then again, this is the same team that lost their opener to the four-win Patriots last year.

In the preseason, the Bengals defense under first-year coordinator Al Golden looked to be just as problematic as it was under the departed Lou Anarumo last year, even with edges Trey Hendrickson and rookie Shemar Stewart paid and (somewhat) happy.

This will be another season of the defense holding back Joe Burrow and one of the league’s most prolific offenses from getting back to the Super Bowl.

Steelers 10-7

Pittsburgh just had the least Steeler season I’ve ever seen.

Historically a team that doesn’t make a ton of high-profile trades and free agent signings (let alone both in the same offseason), the Steelers added Jonnu Smith, Jalen Ramsey and DK Metcalf via trades and signed Aaron Rodgers Ìýin the Steel City.

Though it’sÌý, it’s the only one that keeps Mike Tomlin in a position to extend his unprecedented streak of non-losing seasons to 19.

Ramsey essentially replaces Minkah Fitzpatrick in the secondary, a move that gives the Steelers four key defensive starters aged 30 or older. The D should hold up in 2025, but probably not much longer.

°ä´Ç²Ô²õ¾±»å±ð°ù¾±²Ô²µÌý, I expect another rough end to the season in Pittsburgh (they face only one team in the final 10 weeks expected to finish with eight or fewer wins), leaving the Steelers at the mercy of tiebreakers with the Chargers and Patriots for a wild card spot.

Browns 2-15

There’s an old NFL adage that if you have two quarterbacks, you don’t have any.

So what about a team that, at one point, had five?

The 40-year-old journeyman Joe Flacco is the starting quarterback after being deemed the best option of the whopping five in Cleveland during training camp, including rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.

Unsigned rookie Quinshon Judkins is probably looking at a suspension for off-field trouble, something the Browns have had no problem courting this offseason.

´¡²õ²õ³Ü³¾¾±²Ô²µÌýafter trading a possible ticket out of Cleveland for (at the time) the richest contract for a defensive player, Jim Schwartz’s defense should be more than good enough to keep the Browns in games. Just don’t expect many wins.

AFC East

Bills 12-5

, and for good reason. Josh Allen’s coming off his first (sympathy) MVP award and has ascending talent around him, such as Khalil Shakir, James Cook and Keon Coleman.

I’m not sure how much the injury-prone Joey Bosa has left in the tank at age 30, but the Bills defense should be good enough to keep them atop the division. That said, the Super Bowl window in Western New York is closing quickly.

Patriots 10-7

Ìýunder former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel, who brings homeÌý that should help their young Christians (Gonzalez and Barmore). Even with the release of Jabrill Peppers, this should be an underrated unit.

On offense, Josh McDaniels is back for a third tour of duty as the coordinator, this time tasked with the development of second-year QB Drake Maye. The retooled offensive line is pretty old and the skill positions aren’t exactly top notch, but in a top-heavy division, the Pats are clearly second-best with a chance to develop into more in the future.

Dolphins 7-10

The Miami Dolphins haven’t won a playoff game in nearly a quarter century, last tasting postseason victory back when Lamar Smith carried a Jay Fiedler-quarterbacked team to the divisional round.

Ìýto get Miami to the next level in 2025. The only way it happens is if he plays a full season for just the second time in his career.

The Dolphins defense overhauled the secondary, including Jalen Ramsey — the fourth team captain from last season to exit the squad. That corner depth was further troubled by the season-ending injury to Kader Kohou.

Tua probably can’t overcome the suspect (at best) offensive line and the defense takes a step back to extend Miami’s playoff drought and put head coach Mike McDaniel firmly on the hot seat … if not on the unemployment line.

Jets 7-10

There has been a QB reclamation project for three years running — from ex-Jets Geno Smith and Sam Darnold to Baker Mayfield in between — but could 2025 be the year there’s a QB rebirth forÌýGang Green?

, and it’s his show on Broadway despite his lack of a real opportunity in Chicago or Pittsburgh.

Gang Green’s largest obstacle — owner Woody Johnson — but we here in Washington know that tends not to last with toxic ownership. New coach Aaron Glenn will do well with the defense, but he can only do so much.

AFC West

Chiefs 12-5

Kansas City’s had a quiet offseason but the Chiefs remain compelling.

KC will be the first team in NFL history to open a season with five prime-time games in the first eight weeks of the season. Patrick Mahomes is still must-see TV, even if he’ll play the first six games of the season without top wide receiver Rashee Rice (suspension).

With better protection from his offensive line (the Chiefs drafted offensive tackle Josh Simmons in the first round), Mahomes will return the offense among the NFL’s best, while the underrated defense will again threaten to force the AFC to come through Arrowhead to unseat the three-time defending conference champions.

Broncos 11-6

Much like Washington, Denver found stability in a rookie quarterback, as Bo Nix led the Broncos to the playoffs as the 14th different starter since Peyton Manning retired.

Denver is a popular pick to put a stop to Kansas City’s nine-year reign over the division, which I don’t disagree with after the additions of former 49ers Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga on defense and the Evan Engram signing to give Nix a more reliable target in the middle.

The Broncos will come close to unseating the Chiefs but I think they’re still a year away from actually doing it.

Chargers 10-7

As expected, Jim Harbaugh’s trademark quick turnaround took hold in Los Angeles, leading the Chargers from 5-12 afterthought to 11-win playoff team in just one season.

But in 2025, star left tackle Rashawn Slater is out for the season, a huge blow to Justin Herbert in year two with standout WR Ladd McConkey. The run-first Chargers drafted Omarion Hampton with the hope that he’ll form a strong 1-2 punch with veteran Najee Harris.

Expect to see the defense get stronger with youngsters Daiyan Henley and Tuli Tuipulotu, especially if Khalil Mack still has a lot left in the tank at age 34.

LA’s surge to the playoffs will depend on tiebreakers with the Steelers and Patriots.

Raiders 6-11

Fun fact: PeteÌýCarroll’s addition makes the AFC WestÌýthe winningest division of coaches in NFL history (yes, including theÌý1983 NFC East, which included Hall of Famers Tom Landry, Joe Gibbs and Bill Parcells).

Carroll brings to the desert his trademark enthusiasm,Ìý. But I don’t see that happening right away.

The Raiders have, by far,ÌýÌý(-19 days), which will be especially taxing on a defense missing .

ButÌýÌýshould prove to be a strong complement to Geno Smith and Brock Bowers in the passing game. So while the Silver and Black aren’t all the way back in a highly competitive division, they’ll be fun to watch.

AFC SouthÌý

Texans 12-5

Nick Caley replaces Bobby Slowik as offensive coordinator, so who knows what to expect from C.J. Stroud.

The Texans were held back by a bad offensive line in 2024, and inexplicably traded the unit’s best piece (Laremy Tunsil) to Washington. The receiving corps added Christian Kirk to help offset the loss of Tank Dell to that gruesome leg injury last season. Joe Mixon might be out for the season, so Houston may have a problem if Nick Chubb has aged out of effectiveness.

So it’s pretty much all on Stroud, who can cement his status as an elite QB if he can be the answer to all the questions surrounding the offense.

Another C.J., Gardner Johnson, to a Houston defense that could use it on the back end. If the interior line can stuff the run while the Will Anderson-Danielle Hunter tandem hunts opposing QBs, the Texans will run away with this division and perhaps take a game or two in the playoffs.

Jaguars 8-9

New head coach Liam Cohen comes across state from Tampa to Jacksonville, and , I question whether it’s a good fit.

Trevor Lawrence enters his fifth season with just as many questions as to whether the former No. 1 overall pick can lead a franchise to prominence. He’s playing behind perhaps the league’s worst offensive line (though I like the addition of former Ravens Swiss army knife Patrick Mekari) and Brenton Strange is a question mark at tight end.

I expect the other two phases of the game to keep the Jaguars competitive: The defense has quality edge rushers and figures to get more production from two-way star rookie Travis Hunter than the offense will, plus Cam Little’s 70-yard field goal was the talk of the preseason, giving the Jags another potential weapon should the offense take a while to gel.

On a team of youth (43-year-old defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile is the oldest among the Jags’ coordinators, head coach and GM), there will be growing pains and signs of hope for the future — and little else.

Colts 7-10

After losing longtime owner Jim Irsay, .

Maybe that provides an additional boost to a team that saw vault him into the starting QB role over former 4th overall pick Anthony Richardson. Jones is a fine backup but it’s hard to imagine him thriving as a starter beyond just handing off to Jonathan Taylor and finding rookie tight end Tyler Warren over the middle.

Lou Anarumo has landed with the Colts after his Bengals defense was the reason Cincy did little celebrating in 2024 despite having a historically great offense. That overhauled unit will struggle, and with the Colts’ new ownership structure, 2026 may spell the end of GM Chris Ballard and coach Shane Steichen’s time in Indy.

Titans 4-13

Cam Ward is the first No. 1 overall pick to not get a prime-time game in his rookie season since Myles Garrett in 2017, and the first QB picked first without one since Cam Newton in 2011.

It’s a good thing Ìýbecause the only hope for the Titans is Ìýdespite the lack of playmakers around him and a defense that’s enigmatic (ranked second in total defense in 2024 but third-worst in scoring defense at 27.1 points allowed per game).

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Playoffs and Awards

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Washington 13-4

I know this win total will come as a surprise to many, but one factor has me high on these Commanders: Jayden Daniels.

No. 5 has made Washington , which is why the Commanders are tied for the most stand-alone games (8) of any NFL team in 2025. Daniels is aided in his quest by newcomers Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel, and yes, a happy and paid Terry McLaurin, who paired historically well with Daniels in 2024.

Passing rating between Jayden Daniels & Terry McLaurin in 2024 (130.4)

Best single-season passer rating among a QB/receiver duo since Tom Brady & Rob Gronkowski in 2012

(via:)

— brandon (@JayDanielsMVP)

And don’t sleep on the Deebo addition; he and he’s for a unit that already ranked in the top five last year.

On paper, Washington has the NFL’s easiest schedule in September, opening the door for a fast start. But with a net rest disadvantage of -13 (the league’s third-worst in 2025), it could prove difficult for the Commanders to match or exceed last year’s 12 wins.

Furthermore, I have two big questions: 1) Can Matt Gay end the carousel at kicker?

The eighth placekicker signed in the span of 13 months missed multiple field goals in the preseason for a team that can’t afford another year of kicking instability if it’s going to play in as many close games as 2024.

And 2): Can the defense turn the corner from being one of the NFL’s worst units against the run to a reliable compliment to the potent offense?

The Commanders signed veteran maulers Deatrich Wise Jr., Javon Kinlaw and Eddie Goldman to help that defensive front (the latter two with local ties), plus the late (and underrated) addition of future Hall-of-Famer Von Miller, who seeks to become just the second player to win Super Bowls with three different teams, joining Matt Millen (who won one of his four career Super Bowls in Washington).

Von Miller joins the after a season where he recorded the quickest pass rush get-off in the NFL (0.69 seconds, min. 150 pass rushes).

While playing limited snaps in Buffalo, Miller generated a 17.9% pressure rate, the 5th-highest among edge defenders with at least…

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats)

I think Washington enjoys back-to-back double-digit win seasons for the first time since 1990-91 — and like that ’91 season, the Lombardi Trophy comes back to the nation’s capital.

Eagles 10-7

Philadelphia is loaded after winning its second Super Bowl title in eight years, but I have a feeling there’s a letdown in 2025.

On paper, the Eagles look stout. The offensive and defensive lines are as good and tenured as any in the sport and maybe, just maybe, Nick Sirianni isn’t the petulant child we thought he was. But I have a feeling some of the changes may upset the balance in Philly.

With Kellen Moore off coaching the Saints, Kevin Patullo takes over as offensive coordinator. On defense, I can also see the reshuffled secondary taking a step back after .

Not to mention the reality that 28-year-old running backs don’t get more durable and Saquon Barkley (though a healthy scratch for Week 18 last season) has yet to play a full NFL season entering Year 8 — just the sort of fact that could invite back .

Plus, the Eagles’ more difficult schedule and the 21-year streak without a repeat NFC East champion leads me to believe in a slight regression in Philly.

Ladies & gentlemen, your 2025 Dallas Cowboys

— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes)

Cowboys 8-9

It brings me great joy to type this: Dallas, thanks to Washington’s resurgent 2024 season, is now the only NFC team to fail to reach the conference championship game in the not-so-new millennium.

Jerry Jones, whose front office is composed almost entirely of people who share his surname, settled for the OG nepotism hire, Brian Schottenheimer. I’m not sure why Jones thinks someone partially responsible for last year’s no-show under Mike McCarthy can do better in the lead role but … do you, Jerruh.

And if his 8-part Netflix documentary told us anything, Jerry will always do him. I did this preview before the blockbuster Micah Parsons trade, which could either derail the Cowboys’ season (especially considering he didn’t get what could/should have been a Herschel Walker-esque haul for an All-Pro pass rusher entering his prime) or

Either way, Dallas has defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus (who is as strong at leading a defense as he is bad at head coaching) going for it and a healthy (and probably ) Dak Prescott throwing to with the addition of George Pickens.

But my simple recipe for predicting a Cowboys season is already playing out: Size up what you think they are … then subtract two games.

Dallas played in the NFC Championship Game 16 times preceding the first 30 Super Bowls. The 2025 season will ensure the Cowboys go 0 for the ensuing 30.

Giants 5-12

The Giants have a stronger roster than this record implies but Big Blue has a big hurdle to clear — .

I know there’s fallacy in assessing strength of schedule based on last year’s results, but New York’s opening month (at Washington, at Dallas, then home against Kansas City and the LA Chargers) lends itself to an 0-4 start, maybe 2-2 at best.

While rookie Abdul Carter can help an already underrated defense ugly up some games to make them winnable, Russell Wilson isn’t elevating a mediocre offense at this stage in his career. Expect to see rookie Jaxson Dart get some late-season starts and the Joe Schoen-Brian Daboll pairing to get their walking papers in a Giant overhaul in 2026.

NFC North

Packers 10-7

Green Bay was already a chic pick to win this division, and maybe more.

The Micah Parsons trade probably just clinched it.

The 3-time All-Pro edge could be the missing piece for a legacy team trying to advance to a Super Bowl for the first time in 15 years. The Packers haven’t had a double-digit sack player since 2020.

Parsons averages 13 sacks per season in a four-year career in which he’s made the Pro Bowl every season. I expect his addition to take Jeff Hafley’s defense to the next level, even without Jaire Alexander in the secondary.

I’m not yet sold on Jordan Love at quarterback but the offense needs only be in the top half of the league to complement a defense that last season ranked sixth in the NFL in both scoring and total defense.

Even before the Parsons deal, I had the Packers winning the division in a tiebreaker over the Lions and perhaps making a little noise in the playoffs.

Now, the sky’s the limit for a team that just made its most impactful offseason acquisition since Reggie White in 1993. Parsons may have come too late for me to adjust this win-loss total, but he’s right on time to turn Green Bay back into Titletown.

Lions 10-7

… and this year just feels like a bust.

, but both coordinators from the Lions’ juggernaut 2024 season left for head coaching jobs, four-time Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow retired (and is replaced, in part, by second-round rookie Tate Ratledge) and the injury-riddled defense from 2024 is already missing Ennis Rakestraw Jr. due to a season-ending shoulder injury.

, but it comes with the NFL’s best rest advantage of +13, including an NFL-record eight games with a rest edge over their opponent. That will help them contend for the division title but little more.

Bears 8-9

Perhaps among the biggest questions of the 2025 NFL season: Who really is Caleb Williams?

Case in point: The D.C. native landed in Tier 3 of , though he received five Tier 2 votes and (alarmingly) 15 Tier 4 votes. There may be no QB with more pressure this year than Williams.

Chicago spent early and often on offensive line help after Caleb Williams took 68 sacks as a rookie (the second-most in NFL history), but it hasn’t stopped him from having some lofty (and, ) goals for 2025.

The Bears make progress but not quite enough to make the playoffs in Year 1 of the Ben Johnson era.

Vikings 5-12

Minnesota will slide in 2025 for two reasons: J.J. McCarthy is basically a rookie after missing all of 2024 with a knee injury that seemed to prevent him from making bigger strides this year, and he won’t have Jordan Addison to throw to in the first month of the season while he serves a suspension.

Also, the schedule isn’t doing the Vikings any real favors. Already playing in a highly-competitive NFC North, Minnesota has to take a two-week European trip and face the NFC East and AFC North divisions this season. I expect a forgettable season.

NFC West

49ers 12-5

After years of being hamstrung by the schedule,Ìý.

, but the young receiving corps is banged up heading into the season.

On defense, there’s questions along the D-line beyond Nick Bosa, so I expect the Niners to return to relevance, even if it’s not a return to Super Bowl contention.

Rams 10-7

L.A. has , a 32-year-old Davante Adams joining an offense loaded with young talent, and an equally young, ascending defense.

The only reason I don’t have the Rams winning this division is because it feels like the beginning of the end of Matthew Stafford, who at 37, . The threat of Jimmy Garoppolo starting games is enough for me to downgrade the Rams a bit.

Seahawks 9-8

Seattle inexplicably decided to rebuild a passing offense that ranked eighth in the league in terms of yards last year and helped the team win 10 games in 2024. Unless the drafting of Jalen Milroe behind Sam Darnold is a reincarnation of 2012’s Matt Flynn-Russell Wilson situation, the Seahawks are a wild card contender, at best.

Cardinals 6-11

I don’t trust Kyler Murray (even with quality weapons around him), the defense is old and the division is too good. This might be it for Jonathan Gannon in Arizona.

NFC South

Bucs 9-8

Almost by default, Tampa keeps control of the NFC South.

In addition to Todd Bowles’ usually strong defense, Mike Evans , and he’s going for a record 12th straight 1,000-yard receiving season that I think he’ll get if Baker Mayfield’s resurgenceÌýcontinues.

Falcons 7-10

Atlanta’s offense will be driven by second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and I’m almost certain Bijan Robinson will be a fantasy football darling in 2025. But the defense is relying on a youth movement in the front seven (headlined by first-round picks Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr.), likely leading to some growing pains. The Falcons will fly right around .500 much of the year before a letdown and the pressure will really be on Raheem Morris to deliver in 2026.

Panthers 5-12

For the first time, Bryce Young is playing in the same offense in consecutive seasons, which is crucial to him playing his way into (or out of) the franchise QB role in Carolina.

That’s led toÌý, but trading away Adam Thielen leaves a very young receiving corps without a strong on-field mentor. The Panthers defense is what keeps them below .500.

Saints 3-14

New Orleans, coming off its worst season since 2005, enters 2025 with Spencer Rattler as the starter on a team with perhaps . It’s gonna be hard to watch football in the Big Easy this year.

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Playoffs and Awards

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For the second straight year, I’m moving from the more comprehensive division-by-division model for the preview of each conference with a tilt toward the NFC East (for Washington) and the AFC North (for Baltimore) to focus on the region in which I write.

But rest assured, I still underwent the painstaking efforts to study each team before doing my annual exercise of going game-by-game to predict the season results. Just remember — if you want to put me on blast for being wrong, keep that same energy when I’m right.

Before we delve into the predictions and previews, let’s look at three key questions impacting the 2025 NFL season:

Can anyone stop the Chiefs from returning to the Super Bowl?

and the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers have made strides significant enough to be able to stop Kansas City’s nine-year streak of winning the AFC West.

But the Andy Reid-Patrick Mahomes pairing has proved to be largely unstoppable in recent years, and while nothing lasts forever, many have predicted the Chiefs’ demise early at their own peril.

What does Jayden Daniels have for an encore?Ìý

Just by virtue of starting in Week 1, Jayden Daniels has settled this long-tumultuous franchise at the most important position in sports.

This year is the first since 2017 in which the Commanders have the same starting QB as the year prior.

2015-17: Kirk Cousins
’18: Alex Smith
’19: Case Keenum
’20: Dwayne Haskins
’21: Ryan Fitzpatrick
’22: Carson Wentz
’23: Sam Howell
’24: Jayden Daniels
’25: Jayden Daniels

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala)

And boy, was his opening act a great one. JD5 helmed an offense that was , and led Washington to that included the most wins in a season since the 1991 Super Bowl champions. He was also the cinch Offensive Rookie of the Year for being the first first-year quarterback to actually lead his team to the conference championship game.

During Commanders training camp, Daniels said between his historic debut season and his Year 2 iteration. Assuming the day is now, this could be an MVP-caliber season.

Is this the year an entire division make the NFL playoffs?

I’ve asked this question every year since the expanded playoff format was instituted in 2020, and every year, there’s at least one division that threatens to make this possibility a reality.

The entire AFC North finished .500 or better in 2023, a year after the NFC East did the same. There’s a case for the NFC North, the AFC West and AFC East to join them in 2025.

It’s only a matter of time before we get our first division in NFL history to have every team make the playoffs — or even win at least 10 games.

OK, enough talk. Let’s roll up our sleeves and preview this season.

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Playoffs and Awards

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Repeat after us: Anybody, Anywhere, Anytime

️ | |

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders)

The Commanders kick off their regular season against the New York Giants on Sept. 7 in Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. This is the fourth time in the last five years that Washington has opened its season at home.

The Burgundy and Gold then have a short turnaround to Week 2, playing the first of five primetime games this season (Thursday Night Football in Green Bay).

The Commanders also play twice on Monday Night Football (Week 6 vs. the Chicago Bears in a rematch of and Week 8 at Kansas City in the first meeting between reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels and two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes).

Both of Washington’s Sunday Night Football appearances are at home: Week 9 vs. the Seattle Seahawks and Week 13 against the Denver Broncos.

Of the Commanders’ eight standalone games, five are at home in Northwest Stadium. The Burgundy and Gold could play in as many as 11 nationally-televised games.

After being saddled with the latest available bye (Week 14) in each of the last three seasons, Washington’s bye week falls in Week 12 this season.

The Commanders’ regular season ends with four straight NFC East matchups: A Week 15 rematch with the Giants, followed by the Saturday, Dec. 20 meeting with the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, the Cowboys on Christmas Day and the Eagles again in Philadelphia.

Washington’s first game in Spain

Get your passports, Commanders fans. Week 11 will be in Spain.

Washington will face the Miami Dolphins at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid on Sunday, Nov. 16.

The game will kick off at 9:30 a.m. Eastern and be televised on the NFL Network, the team said in a .

Washington will be the road team, as Miami has been designated to be the home team.

It will be the franchise’s second international game. The Commanders played the Cincinnati Bengals to a 27-27 tie in London in 2016.

Washington released its schedule Thursday using animation from the RollerCoaster Tycoon simulation game. See the whole announcement below.

The gates are open…time to ride | ️

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders)

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A;FK;JD;KJF;LAKEJFLKJVAL;KEJL;JF;EFJ;LFAKJ

JAYDEN DANIELS HAIL MARY! WIN!

— NFL (@NFL)

Daniels is the second player with 1,500 pass yards and 400 rush yards in his first eight career games. Many other stats support the notion that he’s close to having the best rookie season by a quarterback ever, making him a legit MVP candidate is his maiden voyage as a pro (a case I’ll make further in the D.C. Sports Huddle on Thursday).

But this isn’t about stats. This is a matter of the heart. And Daniels’ arrival signals something we haven’t truly been able to say in many, many years: It’s OK to love the Burgundy and Gold again.

. says he is choosing Jayden Daniels over Josh Allen for MVP

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN)

Though a significant number of fans refuse to warm up to the new nickname, it’s objectively noncontroversial. There’s no scandal afoot involving an owner who mistreated colleagues, employees and fans alike. No talking yourself into a mediocre quarterback or holding your nose to rally around an unlikable and/or ineffective player. The coach isn’t a know-it-all or a blithering idiot. There’s no born-on-third-base front office executive gaslighting us with proclamations that

The first step in healing from a dysfunctional and toxic relationship is ending it. Check! Next, we surround ourselves with the right people.

By all accounts, the Commanders have done that. Washington is 6-2 for the first time since his way to that mark in 2008. The 4-0 start at home is the franchise’s best since 2005 — the last season that included a playoff win.

The Commanders aren’t the NFL’s most talented team. But general manager Adam Peters has quickly turned over the roster and assembled players with the correct chemistry. Head coach Dan Quinn and his staff are getting the most out of the available talent and, as evidenced by the walk-off win over the Bears, he .

Whatever’s in should be bottled and sold.

As I said when Quinn was hired, he doesn’t have to be the NFL’s best coach to get things headed in the right direction. But what’s quickly catapulted Washington to national relevance and resuscitated its dying fan base is primarily Daniels, who projects to be a generational superstar.

His work ethic is the stuff of legend. His calming influence, both on and off the field, have given the Commanders the leadership it has sorely lacked at quarterback for years, if not generations. But what has his jersey a bestseller and is making the Commanders draw in box office numbers is the fact that he’s the most electric and aesthetically pleasing, dual-threat QB this side of Lamar Jackson.

I know we’ve been here before with Robert Griffin III. He was a scintillating talent who went on to beat out first overall pick Andrew Luck for Offensive Rookie of the Year. But as RGIII recently reminded us, Ìýwhile Daniels tries to deflect it — but nonetheless attracts it — and delivers appropriately.

Furthermore, Daniels’ success seems more sustainable because he operates so well from the pocket. Anyone who’s watched him closely can see that he’s a passer who happens to have running ability, not a runner who can throw.

Jayden Daniels: This is a performance you’re going to remember for a long time.

Never seen a rookie with the courage in the pocket to deliver a DIME while he’s getting crushed. Look when he releases it!!

— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel)

And like any new love should, he understands where you’ve been, Washington fans. Remember ? He knows the team’s history and embraces it in the same warmth he does the challenge of writing new championship tales for Ol’ D.C.

The only way to truly trust such a fantastic love is with time — time for them to prove themselves and time for the injured party to heal. As much as we’re enjoying this wave of success, the stress dreams over the previous regime haven’t fully subsided yet.

But Jayden is an obvious catch, Washington fans. All that guarantees is that it’s really OK to love again.

And for now, that’s enough.

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In years past, this was a more comprehensive preview of all 32 teams. Now — for a variety of reasons, including the region in which I write — I’ll simply preview each conference with a tilt toward the NFC East (for Washington) and the AFC North (for Baltimore).

But trust me: I still took painstaking efforts to study each team before doing my annual exercise of going game-by-game to predict the season results. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry and some will make you put me on blast for being wrong at year’s end.

Which is fine, as long as you also give me my flowers when I’m right.

Before we delve into the predictions and previews, let’s look at three key questions impacting the 2024 NFL season:

How will the new kickoff rule impact games?Ìý

The new-look alignment has generated more discussion than touchdowns in the preseason, so.

But in the preseason, the number of kickoff returns was up to nearly 80%, (compared to 22% last season) and the average return yardage was also up. That’s not to mention the potential for trick plays, which teams understandably would keep under wraps in exhibition play. If nothing else, the kickoff is no longer the go-to time for a beer and/or bathroom run.

How will the rookie QBs fare in 2024?Ìý

The fact that this rookie class of quarterbacks is tells you all you need to know about the 2024 class.

With J.J. McCarthy out for the season and Michael Penix Jr. and Drake Maye backing up veterans, the draft’s top two picks — Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels — join Bo Nix (incidentally, the first Broncos rookie QB to open a season since top ’83 pick John Elway) as rookie-starting QBs this season.

History says all of these young signal callers won’t succeed. But which?

Can the Chiefs 3-peat?

Of the eight teams to win back-to-back Super Bowls, none returned to the big game the following year and three failed to reach the playoffs altogether.

But then again, Patrick Mahomes routinely does the inconceivable so there’s a decent chance this is just one more of the impossible feats with which he takes our breath away.

OK, folks. Dig in.

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PlayoffsÌý|ÌýAwards

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Eagles 11-6

You’ve heard it every year for nearly two full decades: NFC East champions don’t repeat.

That’s bad news for Dallas and an opportunity for everyone else, namely Philadelphia.

The NFL Draft’s historic run of offense to open the first round allowed the Eagles to shore up its weakest position by landing perhaps the top corner in the draft, Quinyon Mitchell, in the first round, and a draft-day trade with Washington landed them Cooper DeJean in the second round.

The addition of Saquon Barkley makes the Eagles’ skill positions players among the league’s most talented but Philadelphia is trying to rebound from last year’s collapse from 10-1 conference leaders to wild-card losers, but .

New offensive coordinatorÌýKellen Moore may or may not be an improvement over Brian Johnson, defensive coordinator than to another Super Bowl and without locker room stalwarts like Jason Kelce, this team could look more like the one that steadily regressed to end the season with a whimper.

As is usually the case, the truth lies somewhere in the middle — and Philly will win just enough to return to the top of the division.

Commanders 10-7

Whether , the Washington Commanders are a new and improved team.

Only 57% of the roster returns from last year’s 4-13 disaster, the lowest percentage of returning players in the league. The additions of Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu and rookie Mike Sainristil (pegged by Nick Saban as “pound for pound the best player in the 2024 draft) should give the unit instant credibility and improvement to a defense that ranked last in points (30.5), touchdown passes (39), passing yards allowed (262.2) and opponent quarterback rating (105.7) last season. If nothing else, head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. will put a stop to that madness.

But the 2024 season in Washington starts and ends with the development of Jayden Daniels.

In addition to being the eighth different Week 1 starting quarterback in as many seasons, Daniels is pegged by many to be the next big NFL star — perhaps outshining D.C.-area native and No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.

The Commanders will need him to live up to that hype. The trade of Jahan Dotson leaves the No. 2 wide receiver role in question and with little excitement beyond Terry McLaurin. The offensive line should be improved with center Tyler Biadasz (the best of the collection of former Cowboys to a degree we’ve not seen in Washington since the days of Norv Turner).

In addition to the good vibes in Ashburn, here’s a reason to believe in a quick Commanders turnaround: Washington is the least-traveled team in the NFL this season (10,550 miles), so the schedule could provide more breaks than challenges.

That said, the big wild card is the kicking situation. After the ill-fated Brandon McManus signing, Cade York is the third different kicker to try and nail down the gig. If he settles that position well, the Commanders can be strong in close games. If theyÌý, 7-10 would feel generous.

It just feels like one of those years where the rest of the NFC East falls down and Washington climbs over them to win the division. Given the 20-year run without a repeat champion, it’s a very distinct possibility.

Cowboys 8-9

As good as the vibes are in Washington, the feeling is “off” in Dallas.

The contract standoff with CeeDee Lamb was addressed but Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons remain in quasi-limbo — all in a lame-duck season for coach Mike McCarthy, who has yet to lead the Cowboys past the divisional round of the playoffs after three straight 12-5 seasons.

After Dan Quinn’s departure to Washington, Dallas went back to the future with Mike Zimmer as defensive coordinator in a move that feels a lot like the Commanders’ addition of Eric Bieniemy last season: a guy who would be a logical in-season replacement should the lame-duck head coach flame out spectacularly.

Oh, did I mention the running back room is headlined by Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook? That’s a Pro Bowl depth chart if this is still 2019. In 2024, it’s organizational malpractice for an overhyped team that misses the playoffs.

Giants 6-11

The 100th season of New York Giants football will be as ugly as these throwback uniforms.

These Giants throwbacks make Daniel Jones look like the quarterback in a 1960s Disney movie called “The Spectre at Wideout” where his leading receiver is a ghost.

— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais)

Big Blue made some big moves to shore up their defense, most notably trading for Brian Burns to bolster their pass rush. But Daniel Jones isn’t the long-term answer at quarterback, and while sixth overall pick Malik Nabers should be a fine player.

The Giants will regret passing on a QB in this year’s draft.

NFC North

Lions 12-5

For the first time in 30 years, the D is a defending division champion. Dan Campbell gave and the Lions look poised to keep the motor running to the Big Easy for their first trip to the Super Bowl.

Bears 11-6

To say the bar is low in Chicago is an understatement. The Bears have never had a season with a 4,000-yard passer. The franchise’s career receiving record is a paltry 5,059 yards. So Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze were drafted in the top 10 to change that.

I don’t see Shane Waldron’s offense putting up record-breaking numbers but it will be a much-improved unit that helps the Bears hold their own in a competitive division. Though I wouldn’t be surprised to see Chicago miss the playoffs for the 15th time in 18 seasons, I expect them to grab a wild-card spot in the NFC.

Packers 11-6

From Week 11 of last season, Jordan Love had a 21-to-one TD-to-interception ratio and a league-best 79 QBR — all while Green Bay went 7-2 to advance to the divisional round of the playoffs and within a score of beating the 49ers in San Francisco. I expect the defense to have a learning curve under new coordinator Jeff Hafley but if Love is the real deal, this is a lowball prediction.

Vikings 6-11

Few have had a worse summer than the Minnesota Vikings.

Vikings:

-Rookie CB dies
-Starting WR gets a DUI
-Starting CB tears ACL first day of practice
-Other starting CB gets hurt second day of practice
-First round rookie QB tears meniscus

This is just the last five weeks …

— Mateo (@MJNDesigner)

Not to mention tight end T.J. Hockenson is out the first four games to recover from last year’s ACL tear. This is too good a division for the likes of Sam Darnold to lead the Vikings to the playoffs so expect a down year in Minnesota.

NFC South

Falcons 12-5

The biggest story coming out of the 2024 NFL Draft was the inexplicable decision to draft Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall weeks after spending nine figures on Kirk Cousins.

But that won’t matter in 2024.

Cousins, assuming the 36-year-old has fully healed from the Achilles tear that ended his 2023 season, will take advantage of one of the league’s most versatile and explosive units at the skill positions, while the late veteran additions on defense (Justin Simmons and Matt Judon) will help lead Raheem Morris to a great start to his second stint in Atlanta.

Bucs 8-9

Behind an improved, Ìýand Todd Bowles’ defense, Tampa will hover around .500 but just miss out on the playoffs.

Panthers 3-14

Ìýand I’m not sure new coach Dave Canales can fix it in just one season — not with the lack of weapons on offense.

And definitely not with David Tepper, the worst owner in the league now that Dan Snyder is gone, presiding over all of it. This is another lost season in Carolina.

Saints 2-15

Is there a more uninspiring coach in the NFL than Dennis Allen? The Saints finished outside of the playoffs despite playing one of the easiest schedules in the league in 2023, and there should have been a reset — especially with a Super Bowl coming to town. New Orleans will regret delaying the inevitable.

NFC West

49ers 11-6

Trent Williams and Brandon Aiyuk ended their contract disputes, as San Francisco returns all 11 offensive starters from a group that finished first in offensive points per game (28.4), offensive efficiency (76.02) and offensive expected points added (148.06) and second in yards per game (398.4) in 2023.

Ìýbut San Fran overcame the worst rest differential in 2023,Ìýadvancing to the Super Bowl following a 12-5 regular season. They could do it again — but I expect some new blood to play in New Orleans.

Rams 9-8

Fittingly, Jared Verse was their first first-round selection since Aaron Donald — and he’ll be .

The tread on 36-year-old Matthew Stafford’s tires is balding but he’s got enough to keep Sean McVay’s offense running smoothly in Los Angeles, and the Rams in wild card contention.

Seahawks 8-9

Seattle goes from the oldest coach in the NFL to the youngest coach, to enthusiastically add 36-year-old Mike Macdonald —

I expect glimpses of hope and playoff contention that won’t yet come to fruition.

Cardinals 4-13

Marvin Harrison Jr. will fast learn Kyler Murray’s not nearly as good as the guy Marvin Harrison Sr. had in Indianapolis.

AFC previewÌý

Playoff predictions

Award predictions

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