Final Grades for Every AFC Team for the 2025 Season

Jump to a team

Baltimore Ravens: F
Buffalo Bills: C-
Cincinnati Bengals: D+
Cleveland Browns: D-
Denver Broncos: A+
Houston Texans: B
Indianapolis Colts: C-
Jacksonville Jaguars: A
Kansas City Chiefs: F
Las Vegas Raiders: F-
Los Angeles Chargers: B-
Miami Dolphins: C
New England Patriots: A+
New York Jets: F
Pittsburgh Steelers: D
Tennessee Titans: D-

The NFL season is over. In the AFC, a few of the nine nonplayoff teams were stunners. So was the team that ended up in the Super Bowl.

After a decade of postseason dominance, including five Super Bowl appearances and three titles, the dynastic Chiefs were at home for the playoffs. In Baltimore, the Ravens were also wondering where it all went wrong, although one could start with Lamar Jackson being out for five games for the third time in his career.

Then there are the Bengals, who many thought might bounce back after retaining edge rusher Trey Hendrickson and drafting fellow defensive lineman Shemar Stewart in the first round. Instead, Cincinnati never threatened with Joe Burrow missing nine weeks in the middle of the season.

Below, we survey what happened and what’s next for each AFC team, beginning in Baltimore.

Baltimore Ravens: F

Record: 8–9, missed playoffs

Team MVP: Derrick Henry, RB

Henry is the obvious choice. Yes, Kyle Hamilton and Roquan Smith are Hall of Fame–caliber defenders, but Henry was far more productive. While Hamilton and Smith combined for one takeaway and one sack, Henry was a top-five back once more, rushing for 1,595 yards and 16 touchdowns in a lost season.

Despite turning 32 years old this month, Henry’s contract looks like a bargain for Baltimore. He’s signed through 2027 for cap hits of $5.5 million and $16.2 million, keeping him with the Ravens for a few more bites at the championship apple.

Best moment: Five-game midseason winning streak

At 1–5, the Ravens looked dead and buried. The defense ranked near the bottom in many categories while Jackson was missing for a month due to a hamstring pull sustained in Week 4 during a loss at Kansas City.

But then the Ravens caught fire. Baltimore beat the Bears at home with Tyler Huntley at the helm before ripping off four consecutive wins with Jackson under center, including a prime-time return against the Dolphins in which he threw four touchdowns. Eventually, the Ravens found themselves at 6–5 and in the AFC North catbird seat, only to lose critical games against the Bengals and Steelers to blunt their momentum.

Worst moment: Losing twice to the hated Steelers

We could talk about their Week 1 meltdown against the Bills in which the Ravens blew a three-score, fourth-quarter lead to set the stage for this season. We could talk about the multiple injuries for Jackson and how they essentially scuttled any real hope.

But losing to the Steelers on a missed 44-yard field goal as time expired with the division on the line are easily the toughest seconds of the year. Baltimore also had a chance to separate from a very beatable Pittsburgh team a month prior with the game at M&T Bank Stadium. Had they won, the Ravens would have improved to 7–6 and had a real shot of hosting a playoff game in the weak AFC.

Instead, Baltimore lost 27–22 due to poor play (one turnover and 7-of-18 on third down) while having one of the most controversial calls of the year going against it when Isaiah Likely’s apparent go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter was ruled incomplete.

Offseason outlook: Change might be coming in a big way

If the Ravens want to make a bold move, it’s likely going to be with moving on from coach John Harbaugh.

Harbaugh has been in Baltimore since 2008 and overseen a Super Bowl victory, along with six division titles and 12 playoff appearances. However, the Ravens have been underachievers in the Jackson era. Since Jackson took over in the middle of his 2018 rookie season, Baltimore has been the No. 1 seed twice and has had just three total postseason wins.

Looking at the roster, there are paths to upgrade, but the first step is addressing their own key free agents, including center Tyler Linderbaum and tight end Likely, while also projecting to have $34.6 million in cap space. General manager Eric DeCosta should consider adding a receiver to pair with Zay Flowers after watching Rashod Bateman catch only 19 passes for 224 yards, and perhaps an edge rusher to replace the aging Kyle Van Noy and departed Odafe Oweh.

Buffalo Bills: C-

Record: 12–5, lost in divisional round

Team MVP: Josh Allen, QB

Allen didn’t have a repeat performance of his MVP campaign in 2024 when he notched 4,262 total yards with 40 touchdowns and just six interceptions, but he was still excellent despite a lackluster group of pass catchers.

For the seventh consecutive year, Allen led the Bills to the playoffs. There, he outdueled Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars in the wild-card round, amassing 306 yards and three touchdowns in a 27–24 win. During the regular season, Allen threw for 25 touchdowns, the sixth consecutive year he’s hit that benchmark.

If there was any black mark on his season, it came in Denver in the divisional round. In that game, Allen committed four turnovers, including a pair of interceptions in a 33–30 overtime loss to the Broncos.

Best moment: A Week 1 miracle against the Ravens

There were definitely some 2025 highlights for the Bills, including a 21-point comeback against the Patriots in December and a fifth-consecutive regular-season victory over the Chiefs at midseason.

But nothing was quite as crazy as what we saw in the season opener, when the Bills scored 22 fourth-quarter points while Allen threw for 394 yards and scored four total touchdowns. Along with the Rams-Seahawks bout in Week 16, it was the game of the year with Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and Allen all having lead roles, including Henry’s key fumble in the final moments.

The game was a portent of things to come for both teams. The Ravens missed the playoffs, while the Bills went on to 12 wins and another postseason berth.

Worst moment: Losing to Denver in the playoffs

There’s no sugarcoating the opportunity lost for Buffalo. In four of the previous five years, the Bills had been eliminated from the AFC playoffs by Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. In 2025, the road was clear with Kansas City home for the postseason, along with the Ravens and Bengals.

Instead of taking advantage, Buffalo came into the playoffs as a wild-card team and after beating the Jaguars in the opening round, fell to the Broncos in Denver amidst five turnovers including four from Allen. Despite all those errors, the Bills had a chance to win the game in overtime with a field goal, but lost when a controversial call turned a Brandin Cooks reception into a Ja'Quan McMillian interception deep in Denver territory.

With Allen turning 30 in May, the clock is beginning to tick louder for Buffalo in its quest to win with its star quarterback at the helm.

Offseason outlook: Plenty of work to do for Mr. Beane

This isn’t going to be an easy fix for Buffalo.

On one hand, the Bills are in good shape. They have the league’s leading rusher in James Cook III and a perennial MVP candidate under center in Allen. They also have one of the NFL’s top tackle tandems in Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown. However, they are currently projected to be over the salary cap and have a slew of contributors hitting free agency.

General manager Brandon Beane must pick and choose who to retain from a group including guard David Edwards, center Connor McGovern, edge rushers Joey Bosa and A.J. Epenesa, receiver Brandin Cooks, linebacker Matt Milano, defensive tackle DaQuan Jones, corner Tre’Davious White and others.

If the Bills are going to be much-improved in 2026, it’ll be because Beane nails the draft and potentially swings a big trade for a star on his rookie deal.

Cincinnati Bengals: D+

Record: 6–11, missed playoffs

Team MVP: Ja’Marr Chase, WR

Chase is a top-five receiver in the league. Although he obviously didn’t replicate his triple crown season of 2024, Chase still posted elite numbers with 125 receptions, 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns despite Burrow playing less than half of the season due to a toe injury.

Unfortunately for Chase and the Bengals, that wasn’t nearly enough to get Cincinnati into the playoffs. Finishing third in the AFC North once again, the Bengals were undone by one of the worst defenses we’ve seen in years, ranking 31st in yards (380.9) and 30th in points (28.9) per game against.

Still, Chase provided some highlights for fans in the Queen City and should for some time, as he’s signed through the 2029 season.

Best moment: Smoking the Ravens on Thanksgiving night

One could argue the best moment for the 2025 Bengals was starting 2–0, but that’s hard to be excited about when Burrow is already injured. Instead, we look at Cincinnati’s prime time demolition of Baltimore, feasting off five turnovers.

Despite the 32–14 win only giving Cincinnati its fourth victory of the year, it was a signature moment, halting Baltimore’s five-game winning streak. Burrow threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns while Chase posted 110 receiving yards. The beleaguered defense picked off Jackson while limiting him to 17-of-32 for 246 yards in a blowout.

In a year where not much went right for the Bengals, Thanksgiving night was a beacon in the darkness.

Worst moment: Burrow losing his season in Week 2

The Bengals have historically started very slowly under coach Zac Taylor. In fact, going into 2025, Taylor was 1–11 throughout his career in the first two weeks of the regular season.

This year, Cincinnati opened with a win over the Browns in Cleveland before coming home and taking down the Jaguars in a 31–27 thriller. The problem was Burrow injuring his toe, an ailment which would cost him the next nine games. In those contests, Cincinnati won just once. Although the offense managed to average 22.2 points in Burrow’s absence, the campaign was undone by a defense allowing 35.2 points per game during that span.

For Burrow, it’s the third major injury of his career. As a rookie in 2020, Burrow shredded his ACL and MCL in Week 11. In ’23, Burrow hurt his wrist in Baltimore and was limited to 10 games before hurting his toe in September, costing him another year of title contention.

Offseason outlook: Finally spend some money in free agency?

Despite having a combined cap hit of $100.8 million for Burrow, Chase and fellow wideout Tee Higgins, the Bengals have an estimated $69.5 million in cap space this offseason.

Owner Mike Brown has been notoriously cheap for decades, almost never spending on outside talent. In the history of the Bengals, the biggest contract Brown has ever signed such a player to is $60 million for Hendrickson.

If the Bengals are going to get back to the playoffs, they need to find talent at all three levels of the defense. Cincinnati should also be looking to upgrade the offensive line with Lucas Patrick, Dalton Risner and Cordell Volson all hitting unrestricted free agency.

If Cincinnati doesn’t utilize its cap space, there’s no reason to believe the Bengals will be a contender in 2026.

Myles Garrett set a new NFL single-season sack record in Week 18. | Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Cleveland Browns: D-

Record: 5–12, missed playoffs

Team MVP: Myles Garrett, edge

Garrett is the defensive version of Joe Thomas in Cleveland history. Thomas was a perennial Pro Bowler and All-Pro, a first-ballot Hall of Famer and a generational talent. He also never competed for a Super Bowl, stuck on lousy teams in lousy weather with lousy quarterback play sinking his hopes.

A decade later, Garrett is in the same situation. The Browns have at least won a playoff game with their superstar edge rusher under their employ, but it’s nowhere near enough to feel fulfilled. After winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2024, Garrett had one of the best years any pass rusher has ever had, totaling 23 sacks to set an NFL record.

At 30 years old, Garrett has a chance to challenge the all-time sack mark of 200 set by Bruce Smith, who played until he was 40.

Best moment: Beating the Steelers in Week 17

It was another long year for the Browns, who won five games and none of which made Cleveland relevant in 2025. Still, there’s no bigger rivalry for the Browns than playing against Pittsburgh, with the two teams playing against each other dating back to the 1950s.

With the Steelers trying to win the AFC North, Cleveland rose up and held Pittsburgh to six points in a 13–6 win. Shedeur Sanders got the second win of his young career while throwing for 186 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions, including a 28-yard scoring strike to rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr.

While the Browns had to endure another horrendous, lost season, they got to put a huge defeat on Pittsburgh. It’s not a Super Bowl, but in Cleveland? It’s as close as it gets.

Worst moment: Somehow managing to lose to the Jets in Week 10

There aren’t many teams that the Browns losing to would be considered a surprise. But at MetLife Stadium, that was the case with Cleveland when it allowed two non-offensive touchdowns in a 27–20 loss to the Jets.

Dillon Gabriel got the start for the Browns and threw for 167 yards and two touchdowns, but was also sacked six times. Cleveland ran for 158 yards as well, but managed to lose because the special teams permitted a pair of first-quarter touchdowns while Jets running back Breece Hall notched 125 total yards and a score.

Cleveland held Justin Fields to only six completions and 54 passing yards with an interception, but still fell to New York for its second win of the year.

Offseason outlook: Forget free agency, the draft is the key

The Browns' cap sheet is a fireable offense for general manager Andrew Berry. They’re paying an obscene $80.7 million against the cap for Deshaun Watson while having nine void years on the books for 2026.

Everything adds up to Cleveland being over the projected salary cap while also having a litany of roster holes. To fix the mess, the Browns have the draft and a bevy of picks to utilize. After trading back in the first round with the Jaguars, Cleveland has a pair of first-round selections to go with three fifth-rounders, including ones previously owned by the Raiders and Bengals.

The big question is whether the Browns believe they have their quarterback in Sanders. If so, they can continue building around him while feeling good about their other rookies, including linebacker Carson Schwesinger, running back Quinshon Judkins and Fannin Jr. Otherwise, Cleveland needs to consider making a bold move for a signal-caller in the draft.

Denver Broncos: A+

Record: 14–3, lost in AFC championship game

Team MVP: Nik Bonitto, edge

The Broncos topped the league with 68 sacks, and Bonitto led the team with 14. After emerging as a star talent in 2024 when he racked up 13.5 sacks on the way to second-team All-Pro honors, Bonitto didn’t disappoint in the final year of his initial rookie deal.

Bonitto, 26, had a career-high 28 quarterback hits while posting 14 tackles for loss, his third consecutive season posting double digits in that department. He also had two forced fumbles, helping the Broncos win their first division title since 2015 while coming within a game of Super Bowl LX.

Best moment: Beating the Bills in an overtime thriller

In a year that felt so improbable with a record 12 comeback wins, the Broncos saved their best for last in a divisional round classic against the Bills.

Facing reigning MVP Josh Allen, Denver ran out to a 23–10 lead in the third quarter at home before giving up consecutive touchdowns. However, between the defense forcing four turnovers in regulation and a clutch Bo Nix touchdown drive in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, the Broncos forced overtime.

Tied at 30, the Bills had the ball but were intercepted by Ja’Quan McMillian on the biggest play of the year. Instead of Buffalo being in position for a likely game-winning field goal, Nix had another chance and put the Broncos in range for a game-winning kick of their own, courtesy of Wil Lutz. For Denver, it was validation of a great year, and its first postseason win since Super Bowl 50.

Worst moment: Bo Nix breaking his ankle

The best day of the season unfortunately turned out to be the worst as well.

On the final drive of their win over the Bills, the Broncos were dealt a crushing blow when, on a designed quarterback run, Nix fractured his ankle. The injury wasn’t discovered until after the game, at which point coach Sean Payton went to the podium and informed everyone of the situation.

With Nix out, the Broncos turned to backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham in the AFC title game against the Patriots. Despite taking an early 7–0 lead on a Stidham touchdown toss to Courtland Sutton, Denver fell 10–7 with Stidham going 17-of-31 for 133 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Offseason outlook: Finding a way to get more offensive explosion

The good news for Denver is it doesn’t have many free agents to worry about, and it has a projected $27.4 million in cap space. The bad news? The Broncos have to find multiple weapons.

Defensively, the only key free agents are linebacker Alex Singleton and defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, as the 29-year-old amassed 7.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hits. Otherwise, all the key contributors are coming back. Offensively, Denver must put some better weapons around Nix and Sutton, giving the offense some balance. This season, the second-leading receiver was Troy Franklin, who had 709 yards on 104 targets.

If general manager George Paton can find another receiver and perhaps an upgrade at tight end over Evan Engram, the Broncos will be in terrific shape.

Houston Texans: B

Record: 12–5, lost in divisional round

Team MVP: Danielle Hunter, edge

Hunter joined the Texans prior to the 2023 season, going into his age-30 campaign. Even after posting 27 sacks and a pair of Pro Bowl berths over his final two years with the Vikings, a drop-off was expected.

Instead, Hunter has teamed up with Will Anderson Jr. to become the best edge tandem in the league. This season, Hunter was a Pro Bowl snub but earned second-team All-Pro honors with 15 sacks and 22 quarterback hits, helping Houston win 12 games and reach the divisional round for the third consecutive year.

With 114.5 career sacks, Hunter ranks 27th on the all-time list, tied with former Texans great J.J. Watt. With 12 more sacks next season, he’d break the top 20. Whenever Hunter decides to retire, he’ll have a case for the Hall of Fame, having made at least two All-Pro teams and five Pro Bowls.

Best moment: A wild Week 10 comeback over the Jaguars

After starting 0–3, it appeared the Texans were going to be one of the league’s disappointments alongside the Ravens and Chiefs.. Instead, they came roaring back, not only making the playoffs but also threatening to win the AFC South until the final weekend.

No win was more important, though, than their Week 10 triumph over the Jaguars. In front of a restless NRG Stadium crowd, Houston fell behind 29–10 entering the fourth quarter with backup quarterback Davis Mills at the helm. Instead of folding, the Texans rose up and amassed 26 unanswered points on a defensive score and touchdown drives of 65, 51 and 93 yards.

The win gave Houston a 4–5 record, keeping it alive both in the AFC South and the conference’s playoff race. The victory was the beginning of a nine-game winning streak to finish out the regular season before going to Pittsburgh and claiming a 30–6 win in the wild-card round.

Worst moment: Another loss in the divisional round

When DeMeco Ryans was a first-year coach in 2023, he was taking over a franchise that had won 11 combined games over the previous three years. Those days, thankfully, are long gone.

However, the Texans have seemingly stalled out. Over Ryans’s three seasons at the helm, Houston has reached the divisional round with wild-card wins over the Browns, Chargers, and Steelers, only to fall horribly short the next weekend. In three divisional losses, the Texans have been beaten by an aggregate score of 85–40.

This year, the Texans had a real chance to win the Super Bowl. Unlike the past two seasons, when they faced top-seeded foes with future Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Baltimore and Kansas City, Houston got to play the wobbly Steelers before taking on the youthful Patriots. Had the Texans won that game, they’d have visited the Jarrett Stidham-led Broncos with a ticket to Super Bowl LX on the line.

At some point, Houston has to take the next step to be a true contender.

Offseason outlook: Time to fix the offense

The good news for general manager Nick Caserio? There’s no reason to do anything other than retain the defensive personnel. The offense? Well, that’s the bad news.

Houston should be getting speedy receiver Tank Dell back after he missed all of 2025 with a knee injury, but the Texans still need to invest on that side of the ball. Woody Marks was an effective rookie back with 706 rushing yards, albeit on 3.7 yards per carry. But Caserio should still look for a nice compliment in the backfield to replace Nick Chubb.

At receiver, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel will be entering their second years, and the potential return of Dell should provide ample depth behind star wideout Nico Collins.

All that leads to the offensive line, which still needs significant help. While the group was far better than in 2024, when it allowed 54 sacks, there are upgrades to be made at center and perhaps at tackle, depending on how Tytus Howard is viewed in the building. In 2025, Howard graded 58th out of 89 tackles, according to Pro Football Focus. Howard is also a free agent after ’26.

Indianapolis Colts: C-

Record: 8–9, missed playoffs

Team MVP: Jonathan Taylor, RB

Taylor was phenomenal for the Colts. Even when Daniel Jones was turning heads during the first half of the season, Taylor was the offense’s engine.

In 2025, Taylor notched five 100-yard efforts, including a season-high 244 yards and three touchdowns in Germany against the Falcons. Ultimately, the 26-year-old scored 20 touchdowns while amassing 1,963 yards from scrimmage, only outdone by Christian McCaffrey and Bijan Robinson.

Down the stretch, Taylor slowed along with the rest of the offense as defenses focused more on him, and the offense had to throw aggressively with fewer leads. Starting in Week 12, Taylor never again cracked the 100-yard threshold or scored multiple touchdowns after achieving that feat five times.

Best moment: Blowing out the Chargers at SoFi Stadium

The Colts were 5–1 to start the season. They were long on results but short on believers.

Then, Indianapolis set sail for the West Coast and took on the Chargers, a team leading the AFC West early on, with talent on both sides of the ball. Instead of wilting, the Colts landed one haymaker after another in a 38–24 win with Jones throwing for 288 yards while Taylor ran for 94 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries. The defense also sacked Justin Herbert three times and intercepted him twice.

The victory gave the Colts a 6–1 record and had them looking like a legitimate contender in the wide-open AFC. In a year when Indianapolis sent out some early shockwaves, this was the biggest.

Worst moment: Daniel Jones tearing his Achilles tendon in Jacksonville

It’s arguably the worst moment of the NFL season. Early on, Jones was the league’s best story, coming over to the Colts on a one-year deal before winning the starting job and playing MVP-level football for the first two-thirds of the season.

Then the Colts began to falter, losing three of four before heading to Jacksonville for a key divisional game against the Jaguars in Week 14. Already playing with a fractured fibula, Jones dropped back and went down without contact before slamming his helmet into the soggy turf in frustration.

Jones eventually had an Achilles rupture confirmed, putting him out for the remainder of the year and potentially some of 2026 as well.

Offseason outlook: Questions, questions and more questions

General manager Chris Ballard faces a ton of variables.. For starters, he’s without his first-round pick in 2026 and ’27 after sending them to the Jets for star corner Sauce Gardner. Knowing his draft classes will be compromised, Ballard has to be a maestro elsewhere.

Everything begins with Jones and how to handle his future. By sending away the aforementioned draft capital, Ballard staked his future on Jones being the man. Unfortunately, with his Achilles tear, it’s unclear whether Jones, who is slated for free agency, is going to be ready for the start of 2026.

To that end, the best bet for Indianapolis might be tagging Jones at approximately $46 million, giving Ballard and the Colts more time to evaluate. The problem? A tag would effectively wipe out Indy’s cap space.

Long story short, it’ll be tough to improve without nailing some mid- and late-round picks.

Jacksonville Jaguars: A

Record: 13–4, lost in wild-card round

Team MVP: Travis Etienne Jr., RB

Etienne was the engine of a much-improved offense. The do-it-all back notched 1,399 total yards and 13 touchdowns, helping Jacksonville stun the NFL with an AFC South title.

While Trevor Lawrence ended the season with 4,007 yards and 29 touchdowns, he struggled in the first part of the year. With the passing game in the mud, Etienne and fellow running back Bhayshul Tuten kept the playoff push going, with Etienne amassing five games with at least 100 yards from scrimmage.

Scheduled to hit free agency, Etienne will be a priority for either the Jaguars or any running back-needy team around the league.

Best moment: Beating the Broncos in Denver

The Jaguars had many quality wins this season. They beat the Texans, 49ers, Chiefs, Chargers and Colts, but none of them were the statement we saw in Week 16 when Jacksonville visited the Mile High City.

With the Jaguars still doubted in some corners, Jacksonville went to Denver and ended the Broncos’ 11-game winning streak with style. Parker Washington had an enormous day, catching six passes for 145 yards and a touchdown while Lawrence threw three touchdowns and ran for another in a 34–20 upset.

While the victory didn’t seal the AFC South, it put the Jaguars in a terrific position in the divisional race. From there, Jacksonville only needed to beat the Philip Rivers–led Colts and the three-win Titans to earn first place, something the Jaguars hadn’t done since 2022.

Worst moment: Blowing a 19-point, fourth-quarter lead to Houston

There weren’t many bad moments in Jacksonville’s season, including its eventual season-ending loss in the wild-card round to the Bills. But the Week 10 defeat to the Texans was especially embarrassing.

Without quarterback C.J. Stroud, the Texans only mustered 10 points through three quarters at home against Liam Coen’s squad. Leading 29–10, Jacksonville seemed to go into a shell across the final 15 minutes, resulting in nine plays for a total of one yard. Meanwhile, the defense surrendered three consecutive touchdowns in the final period while Houston racked up 209 yards behind Davis Mills.

While the loss ultimately didn’t cost the Jaguars the AFC South, it did hurt their chances at a better seed in the AFC.

Offseason outlook: Keeping some of their own

The Jaguars are in a terrific position. However, they do have some free agents in need of new contracts and some extension candidates.

Jacksonville would be wise to keep Etienne in the fold beyond his rookie contract, giving Coen a nice backfield combo with Etienne and Tuten. The defense would also be taking a huge hit should linebacker Devin Lloyd leave after he earned second-team All-Pro honors with 10 quarterback hits, six tackles for loss, five interceptions and 1.5 sacks.

Finally, Jacksonville general manager James Gladstone should consider extensions for Washington and tight end Brenton Strange, who took off in 2025 with 46 receptions and 540 yards in 12 games.

Patrick Mahomes incurred a season-ending injury in a December game against the Chargers. | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Kansas City Chiefs: F

Record: 6–11, missed playoffs

Team MVP: Patrick Mahomes, QB

Even missing the final three games of the season, Mahomes is the clear choice. After having a few statistically subpar years by his standards, Mahomes was largely excellent in 2025 despite injuries and a Rashee Rice suspension hampering his supporting cast.

Mahomes threw for 3,587 yards and 22 touchdowns while rushing for 422 yards and another five scores, keeping Kansas City’s offense afloat. At one point, the Chiefs were 5–3 and Mahomes was the favorite in most books to win NFL MVP before Kansas City completely caved in, losing five of its next six games before Mahomes was shelved in a Week 15 loss to the Chargers with a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee.

Best moment: Beating the Colts in a wild comeback at Arrowhead Stadium

The Chiefs were 5–3 before losing to the Bills and Broncos to even their record. Kansas City then hosted the two-loss Colts, coming off their bye, in a must-win game.

Trailing 20–9 in the fourth quarter at home, the Chiefs rallied one more time. Kansas City put together four consecutive three-and-outs on defense while the offense scored a touchdown with a two-point conversion, a game-tying field goal and a Harrison Butker winner in overtime for a 23–20 victory.

Mahomes threw for a season-high 352 yards while Rice notched 141 receiving yards in the win. For the Chiefs, it felt like the moment that would launch them towards the playoffs and perhaps a deep run. Instead, it became their final positive moment of the year.

Worst moment: Mahomes tearing multiple knee ligaments

There’s no question that there were a ton of tough losses, including eight by one score. But nothing compares to Mahomes tearing his ACL and LCL in the final minutes of an eliminating Week 15 loss to the Chargers.

While it’s unclear whether Mahomes will be able to return for Week 1 of the 2026 campaign, even the question of his availability raises major queries about how general manager Brett Veach will handle the offseason. Do the Chiefs go for a soft rebuild with an eye on true contention in ’27? Or do they reload to make the team a fortress of sorts around Mahomes and contend immediately?

Offseason outlook: It’s time to re-imagine the roster

Don’t be surprised if we see some fireworks out of Kansas City this offseason. The Chiefs are likely going to clear somewhere close to $80 million in cap space with the potential releases of right tackle Jawaan Taylor, linebacker Drue Tranquill, edge rusher Mike Danna and corner Kristian Fulton alongside a restructure of Mahomes’s deal.

That said, the biggest noise could be a pair of unforeseen departures, including All-Pro corner Trent McDuffie and/or receiver Rice. Both are entering the final year of their rookie deals and will command a premium. If the Chiefs move off of them, they’ll net serious draft capital, clear long-term cap space and set up a second run with Mahomes.

Kansas City might also move on from some offensive assistants, including much-maligned coordinator Matt Nagy, who has coached under Andy Reid for 14 years and played college football at Delaware with Veach. Nagy doesn’t have a contract for 2026, and it’s tough to see the reason for re-signing him after ranking 15th, 15th and 21st over the past three seasons.

Las Vegas Raiders: F-

Record: 3–14, missed playoffs

Team MVP: Maxx Crosby, edge

Considering Brock Bowers played only 12 games this season, Crosby is the only impact player who was on the field for the Raiders most weeks.

Crosby, 28, is one of the best players in the sport and continued to look like it this season, racking up 10 sacks and 20 quarterback hits on his way to a fifth consecutive Pro Bowl berth. Despite having almost no help around him, Crosby continued to beat blockers, giving Las Vegas a piece to either build around or trade for a bushel of draft picks this offseason.

With 69.5 career sacks, Crosby has a good chance to cross the century mark at some point down the line. For fans of the Silver and Black, the big question is whether he’ll be in the right uniform when the day comes.

Best moment: Beating the Patriots on Opening Day

This season couldn’t have gone worse for the Raiders, who entered the campaign with a ton of hope after hiring Pete Carroll as coach, trading for quarterback Geno Smith and selecting running back Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 pick.

In Week 1, Las Vegas traveled to New England and looked the part of a playoff team. The Raiders beat the Patriots, 20–13, with Smith throwing for 362 yards and a touchdown while Jeanty scored his first NFL touchdown.

Unfortunately, that was the high-water mark of the year. Afterwards, the Raiders had only one more win over their final 16 contests, putting real questions at the forefront, including whether Crosby will be placed on the trading block this winter.

Worst moment: Getting shut out by the Chiefs at Arrowhead in Week 7

It’s one thing to be bad. It’s another to be embarrassing. The Raiders were both, but never more so in Week 7 against the Chiefs.

Facing Kansas City, the Raiders put forth one of the worst offensive performances in the past few decades. Las Vegas managed a meager 95 total yards and only three first downs, something that hadn’t happened in the previous 15 years. Defensively, the Raiders allowed 31 points on the Chiefs’ first five offensive drives before Kansas City benched Patrick Mahomes in the third quarter.

How complete was the disaster? Kansas City was kneeling on the ball before the two-minute warning.

Offseason outlook: Another Las Vegas rebuild

If the Raiders are being honest with themselves, what is there to build off?

Crosby is a perennial All-Pro candidate, but he’s also getting closer to his age-30 season. It’s time to think about moving Crosby for the best offer. Then there’s the question about whether Fernando Mendoza, the Indiana quarterback many believe will go No. 1, is the kind of prospect who can elevate a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2002.

Additionally, who will replace Caroll after the Raiders fired him? Bottom line: Las Vegas has to make substantial changes and, for once, get them right.

Los Angeles Chargers: B-

Record: 11–6, lost in wild-card round

Team MVP: Justin Herbert, QB

Herbert isn’t the perfect quarterback, but he’s comfortably in the top 10 league-wide. The Chargers lost star left tackle Rashawn Slater in the summer to a torn patellar tendon before seeing right tackle Joe Alt sidelined for the season in November with ankle surgery.

Still, Herbert was able to play 16 games (he sat in a meaningless Week 18 game against Denver) and threw for 3,727 yards and 26 touchdowns with 13 interceptions while adding a career-high 498 yards on the ground.

Without Herbert’s talent, the Chargers would have been a middling team nowhere near the playoffs. Instead, they ended up reaching the postseason for the third time in four campaigns.

Best moment: Starting the season with three divisional wins

The Chargers have long been trying to climb back into the AFC West penthouse, not having won the division since 2009. Early in the season, it appeared they might be the class of the group.

In Week 1, Los Angeles traveled to Brazil and beat the three-time defending AFC champs, the Chiefs. The following week saw a Monday night home matchup against the Raiders, with the Chargers handing Las Vegas its first loss of the year. Finally, Week 3 brought the Broncos to town six days later, with Los Angeles rallying to win 23–20.

While the Chargers ended up settling for another wild-card berth as Denver won the division, the start to 2025 showed Los Angeles had the chops to compete for the crown.

Worst moment: Losing another ugly playoff game

There’s no way to sugarcoat what happened to the Chargers up in Foxborough. Heading into the wild-card round against the Patriots, there was hope for Los Angeles to win its first playoff game in the Herbert era.

Instead, the Chargers went away with a whimper, scoring just three points in a 16–3 loss. Herbert was sacked six times and missed multiple open throws when he was upright, finishing the night with 159 passing yards and a QBR of 25.0.

For Herbert, it was another hideous showing when the lights were brightest. In 2022, the Chargers led the Jaguars 27–0 in the wild-card round, only to lose 31–30 in one of the biggest collapses in NFL history. Last year, Houston beat Los Angeles 32–12 as Herbert tossed four interceptions. Then, this season, it ended with another poor performance.

Offseason outlook: Time to spend that cap space

The Chargers are actually in very good shape despite Herbert’s $46.3 million cap hit. Los Angeles is projected to have a league-high $103.5 million in cap space, giving general manager Joe Hortiz all kinds of flexibility.

Los Angeles should be thinking about adding multiple starting offensive linemen while also trying to improve its cornerbacks. If the Chargers want, they could bring back veterans Khalil Mack and Keenan Allen on one-year deals, or try to replace them with younger free agents or draft picks.

The Chargers have every avenue available to them for improvement, but Hortiz has to find the right pieces to place around Herbert.

Miami Dolphins: C

Record: 7–10, missed playoffs

Team MVP: Jordyn Brooks, LB

Brooks came over as a free agent before the 2024 season and has proved to be a terrific addition to the middle of the Miami defense. The 28-year-old from Texas Tech led the NFL with 183 total tackles, including 99 solo, while notching 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

Brooks has also proven to be durable. He’s missed only two games over the past five seasons and in those years has never failed to record at least 111 tackles, all while amassing 11 sacks over the past three campaigns.

While the Dolphins have to find difference-makers all over their defense, Brooks gives whoever the new general manager is someone to build around. Signed through the 2026 season with a cap hit of $10.8 million, it would be wise for the Dolphins to extend Brooks and make him one of the highest-paid inside linebackers in the game.

Best moment: Beating the Bills with plenty to spare

Coming off a 28–6 loss to the Ravens and with a 2–7 record, there was a thought that Miami could fire coach Mike McDaniel. Instead, the season turned, starting with a Week 10 victory over the Bills.

Despite coming into the game as a 9.5-point underdog, the Dolphins dominated Buffalo from the start. Miami won 30–13 while forcing three turnovers, including a red-zone interception of Josh Allen. De’Von Achane also had an enormous day with 174 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

The win launched a four-game winning streak for the Dolphins, giving Miami some respectability after a dismal start.

Worst moment: Getting blown out by the Browns in Cleveland

The Dolphins had a lot of tough Sundays in 2025. They were blown out by the Colts in Week 1. The Patriots beat them in their home opener. They were slammed by the Ravens in their Week 9 loss.

But nothing compares to the hideous showing put forth in Week 7 against Dillon Gabriel and the Browns. On that day, Miami lost 31–6 while Tua Tagovailoa threw three interceptions, going 12-of-23 for 100 yards. Rookie running back Quinshon Judkin also ran wild, scoring three times.

Many believed that loss would be the end of McDaniel with the Dolphins, but he held onto his job and ultimately saw things turn to an extent.

Offseason outlook: What is going on with Tua?

The Dolphins are slated to be roughly $15.6 million over the projected cap, but they can create $23.6 million with the expected release of former All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill.

However, don’t expect much movement in free agency. Instead, the biggest splash coming out of South Florida could well be where, if anyplace, Tagovailoa is traded. Miami benched Tagovailoa for the final three games of the season after watching him throw 15 interceptions, second only to Geno Smith.

Tagovailoa is signed through 2028 and has cap hits of $39 million, $31 million and $41.4 million over the next three years for an acquiring team with zero guaranteed money. Additionally, $20 million in ’27 becomes guaranteed on the third day of the ’26 league year, which comes on March 13.

Whenever the Dolphins hire a new general manager, his first job will be figuring out Tagovailoa’s future.

New England Patriots: A+

Record: 14–3, lost Super Bowl

Team MVP: Drake Maye, QB

Maye was not only the Patriots’ MVP, but he was also one vote away from earning NFL MVP honors. In his second season, Maye added second-team All-Pro on his résumé after throwing for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns while leading New England to 14 wins.

Of course, there will be some conversation around Maye and how good he truly is after struggling in the postseason. Facing a quartet of excellent defenses in the Chargers, Texans, Broncos and Seahawks, Maye committed eight turnovers while completing only 58.3% of his attempts.

Next season, the schedule gets much tougher. New England’s road slate is one of the league’s hardest, including games against the Bills, Chiefs, Seahawks, Jaguars, Chargers, Bears and Lions.

Best moment: Beating the Bills in Week 5 on prime-time TV

Coming into Week 5, the Patriots were a 2–2 team that had promise but not much else. Then, suddenly, things changed.

New England went into Buffalo to take on the unbeaten Bills on Sunday Night Football and sent a message. The Patriots won 23–20 while Maye threw for 273 yards and the defense forced three turnovers, including an interception and lost fumble from reigning MVP quarterback Josh Allen.

New England went on to win 12 of its final 13 games, capturing its first AFC East title since 2019, the last year Bill Belichick and Tom Brady worked at Patriot Place.

Worst moment: Getting throttled in the Super Bowl

It’s an amazing accomplishment to reach the Super Bowl, largely because it’s such a difficult mountain to climb. Which is why losing, and losing badly, is all the more painful.

New England was plastered 29–13 by Seattle in a game that wasn’t even that close. Maye didn’t hit 100 passing yards until the fourth quarter. The Patriots were also shut out until the final frame and trailed by 19 points. The offensive line permitted six sacks and 11 quarterback hits.

For a season that went so well in so many ways, the Patriots had to figure one more win wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. Instead, New England was reminded of just how far it still has to go to become a champion.

Offseason outlook: Time to keep building around Maye

If New England is going to return to the Super Bowl in the next year or two, it must keep adding.

The Patriots have a robust $42.7 million in cap space, and Maye is on a rookie deal for the next three years, giving general manager Eliot Wolf considerable runway to make more moves. New England also doesn’t have a slew of important free agents, giving Wolf even more reason to be aggressive should he choose to be.

Last offseason, the Patriots led the league in cap space. They spent lavishly on right tackle Morgan Moses, defensive tackle Milton Williams, linebacker Robert Spillane, corner Carlton Davis III, receivers Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins, and others. Wolf can’t have that level of spending spree, but he should be looking to add playmakers and a new center.

There weren’t many inspiring moments in Aaron Glenn’s first season as head coach of the Jets. | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

New York Jets: F

Record: 3–14, missed playoffs

Team MVP: Breece Hall, RB

This season was a tire fire in northern New Jersey, with the Jets losing their first seven games and never playing a meaningful one under new coach Aaron Glenn, who could be one-and-done for the worst franchise in football.

Still, the team has a few stars, none of whom shone brighter than Breece Hall in 2025. Despite having no quarterback or passing game worth speaking about, Hall terrorized defenses, rushing for 1,065 yards and four touchdowns while also catching 36 passes for an additional 350 yards.

Hall is now a free agent and could be looking for a new home after suffering through four years of losing football. If he does, expect him to have a robust market as a 25-year-old, entering free agency for the first time.

Best moment: Sweeping the state of Ohio

There weren’t many magical moments to choose from this year for the Jets, but they managed to win two consecutive games against the teams from Ohio.

In Week 8, Glenn earned his first victory as a head coach, beating the Bengals 39–38, as Justin Fields threw for 244 yards and a touchdown, while Hall ran for 133 yards and two scores on only 18 carries.

After its bye week, New York took on Cleveland at home and reveled in a pair of return touchdowns in the first quarter. The Jets eventually won 27–20, giving fans at MetLife Stadium their first home win of the season.

Worst moment: The finishing kick of the season

The Jets were brutal for most of the season, an art they’ve managed to perfect over the better part of the last 15 years. Still, they really fell apart down the stretch.

From Weeks 14 to 17, New York was outscored 153–46, giving up at least 29 points in each of the four defeats. The worst may have come in Week 17 to the Patriots, who came into soggy New Jersey and had a 35–3 lead at halftime. The game was so out of hand that coach Mike Vrabel was able to sit quarterback Drake Maye in the third quarter.

Over that stretch, the Jets and first-year general manager Darren Mougey got a stark reminder of how far away the team is from contending but from being competitive.

Offseason outlook: Find a quarterback and then find everyone else

Nothing matters if the Jets can’t find a quarterback. This should be apparent since New York has been looking for a star under center since Joe Namath left town after the 1976 season.

If Mougey can land one in the draft, whether it be Fernando Mendoza, Dante Moore or otherwise, New York has renewed hope. If the Jets are trotting out Fields or a retread from around the league, forget about competing for anything more than the top pick in 2026.

The other question is whether Mougey will apply the franchise tag to Hall, sign him before free agency or allow him to hit the market. Without him, the only skill-position player worth mentioning is receiver Garrett Wilson.

Pittsburgh Steelers: D

Record: 10–7, lost in wild-card round

Team MVP: DK Metcalf, WR

Metcalf didn’t come cheap. The Steelers not only sent a second-round pick to the Seahawks last spring for the star receiver, but also signed him to a four-year, $120 million extension.

Metcalf wasn’t outstanding, but he also buoyed an offense that was not functioning without him. In 15 games, Metcalf caught 59 of 99 targets for 850 yards and six touchdowns. No other wide receiver could crack 400 yards, showcasing how reliant Aaron Rodgers was on Metcalf.

All that said, Metcalf’s year ended on the sourest of notes. He was suspended for the final two games of the regular season for striking a fan in Detroit, keeping him out against the Browns and Ravens as Pittsburgh was trying to clinch the AFC North.

Best moment: Beating the Ravens in an all-time classic in Week 18

After winning three consecutive games in December to take the AFC North lead, the Steelers opened the door for Baltimore by losing to the Browns in Week 17.

However, Pittsburgh didn’t allow the division crown to slip away. In a game impossible to overstate the drama of, the Steelers beat the Ravens 26–24 with Ravens rookie kicker Tyler Loop missing a game-winning 44-yard field goal as time expired. In that game, Rodgers threw for 294 yards even without the suspended Metcalf, leading Pittsburgh to a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

Of all the great regular-season games between the Ravens and Steelers over the years, this had a strong case as the best.

Worst moment: Getting hammered by the Texans in another postseason debacle

How could it not be another disastrous defeat in the playoffs?

After the aforementioned win over the Ravens, there was reason to believe this trip to the playoffs would be different than the previous five occasions in which the Steelers lost their first postseason game.

Instead, Pittsburgh was crushed by the Texans, who won 30–6 behind a defense that scored two touchdowns and allowed zero in a dominating performance. For Rodgers, if that turns out to be his final game, it was one of the more demoralizing performances of his career, capped by a 50-yard pick-six courtesy of Calen Bullock.

Offseason outlook: Another year of figuring out the offense

It’s all about getting things right under center. Whether that’s Rodgers is the main question.

Rodgers came over from the Jets and had a decent year, throwing for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns against seven interceptions. That said, most of the season was spent watching Rodgers dink and dunk down the field, as he averaged 3.7 completed air yards per attempt, the league’s lowest total among qualified quarterbacks.

If Rodgers doesn’t come back, who is his replacement? As usual, the Steelers are picking in the middle of the rounds. Additionally, this isn’t a strong class of quarterbacks. If Pittsburgh goes to free agency, the best realistic option might be Kirk Cousins. The Steelers could also attempt to swing a trade for Malik Willis, Kyler Murray or Tua Tagovailoa. Essentially, choose your fighter.

Tennessee Titans: D-

Record: 3–14, missed playoffs

Team MVP: Jeffery Simmons, DT

Simmons has unfortunately played much of his career away from the limelight, and 2025 might have been his best season.

In his seventh NFL campaign, Simmons notched 11 sacks and earned Pro Bowl honors for the fourth time. It’s also likely that the two-time second-team All-Pro finally cracks the first team, an honor he richly deserves after posting double-digit sacks for the first time.

At 28 years old and signed long-term, Simmons is the kind of player general manager Mike Borgonzi can build his defense around.

Best moment: Beating the Chiefs for their only home win of 2025

The 2025 season was a long one in Nashville, as the Titans managed only three wins. Surprisingly, two of them came on the road, with one happening in front of the home crowd. However, the Chiefs were the victims, as Borgonzi’s old team came into Tennessee, eliminated from playoff contention, and looked the part, with the Titans winning 26–9.

Rookie quarterback Cam Ward threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns on 21-of-28 passing while the defense sacked Kansas City signal-caller Chris Oladokun four times. All told, the unit limited the Chiefs to 133 yards and nine first downs while the Titans racked up 376 yards in the blowout win.

Worst moment: Being shut out by Houston in Week 4

There are a lot of lowlights for the Titans, but there’s nothing more humiliating than being shut out.

In Week 4, Tennessee traveled to Houston to play the winless Texans. The Titans hung tough, trailing 6–0 to start the fourth quarter. However, the defense finally caved in, allowing 20 points over the final 15 minutes, giving Houston a 26–10 win to start its march toward the playoffs.

Facing the top-ranked Texans defense, Ward completed only 10-of-26 passes for 108 yards and an interception. He was also sacked twice and hit seven times, three of which came from edge rusher Danielle Hunter.

Of Tennessee’s 14 losses, it was the only shutout.

Offseason outlook: Building around Cam Ward takes priority

While the season was tough, the offseason could be a wonderland for Borgonzi and Titans fans.

Heading into the winter, Tennessee has a league-high $105.8 million in projected cap space, with its ascending quarterback on a rookie deal for the next four seasons. Additionally, Borgonzi could free up more space by releasing veteran receiver Calvin Ridley for $13.7 million.

Going into free agency, the Titans must be aggressive in adding multiple receivers for Ward, along with finding a dynamic back to either replace or pair with Tony Pollard. Defensively, Tennessee can add at all three levels before the draft, along with a pair of top-40 picks to replenish the roster.

Jump to a team

Baltimore Ravens: F

Buffalo Bills: C-

Cincinnati Bengals: D+

Cleveland Browns: D-

Denver Broncos: A+

Houston Texans: B

Indianapolis Colts: C-

Jacksonville Jaguars: A

Kansas City Chiefs: F

Las Vegas Raiders: F-

Los Angeles Chargers: B-

Miami Dolphins: C

New England Patriots: A+

New York Jets: F

Pittsburgh Steelers: D

Tennessee Titans: D-

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