2025 NFL Predictions Revisited: Seahawks' Super Bowl Triumph Blindsides Experts
In a stunning turn of events, the Seattle Seahawks clinched the NFC West crown and followed it up with a Super Bowl victory, defying most preseason forecasts. Our 2025 NFL predictions, which initially focused on stars like Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, missed this outcome entirely, though we correctly anticipated the New York Jets' ongoing struggles.
Preseason Assumptions Versus Harsh Realities
Our early September headline, "Will it be Mahomes, Jackson or Allen in the Super Bowl?", proved to be a misguided hedge. The reality included Mike Vrabel's dramatic turnaround of the New England Patriots, Ben Johnson leading the Chicago Bears from worst-to-first in the NFC North, and the unexpected MVP contention of Drake Maye. While we foresaw the Jets' annual disaster, our crystal balls largely failed, mirroring widespread industry missteps.
Division-by-Division Analysis of Predictions
AFC East: We unanimously picked the Buffalo Bills as division locks, citing their dominance, but the Patriots snatched the title with a 14-3 record after a 4-13 campaign in 2024. Buffalo earned a wildcard berth despite defensive gaps, while the Jets made history by not collecting a single interception all season.
AFC North: We swept in favor of the Baltimore Ravens, calling Lamar Jackson the best player and their roster the most stacked. However, the Ravens missed the playoffs due to Jackson's injuries and defensive disappointments, with the Pittsburgh Steelers taking the division at 10-7.
AFC South: Unanimously, we chose the Houston Texans for their top-five defense, but the Jacksonville Jaguars, under first-year coach Liam Coen, emerged as division champions. Trevor Lawrence's progression and a standout defense propelled them to postseason success.
AFC West: Only three of us picked the Kansas City Chiefs, with two opting for the Denver Broncos. Denver's defense, with 68 sacks, and Bo Nix's fit in Sean Payton's system ended the Chiefs' nine-year division rule, as Mahomes tore his ACL in Week 15.
NFC East: We swept for the Philadelphia Eagles, questioning if any roster was more foolproof. They easily took the division at 11-6, though their offense finished 21st in points per game, while Washington struggled at 5-12.
NFC North: Another unanimous vote went to the Green Bay Packers, but the Chicago Bears, under Ben Johnson, claimed the title as Caleb Williams became a clutch star. The Vikings and Lions narrowly missed the postseason at 9-8.
NFC South: We mostly favored the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for their well-rounded roster, but the Carolina Panthers took the division at 8-9, despite scoring fewer points than all but one NFC team.
NFC West: We made cases for all four teams, but the Seahawks dominated at 14-3, earning the No. 1 seed. The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers both finished 12-5, with Stafford winning MVP.
Super Bowl and Key Takeaways
The Super Bowl matchup between the Seahawks and Patriots was entirely unpredicted. Seattle's smothering defense, Sam Darnold's peak performance in the NFC championship, and Kenneth Walker III's impact led to a 29-13 victory in Super Bowl LX. This outcome highlights the unpredictability of the NFL, where even the best forecasts can fall short, yet some patterns, like the Jets' failures, remain consistent.
