Super Bowl LIX saw a record 127.7 million viewers. Many fans will return to their televisions to watch their favorite team dominate, do as expected or crack under the pressure.But, with the season only beginning, what can fans expect out of the 2025-26 NFL season?
Starting with the returning Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles expect to continue their reign with another dominating lineup. The Eagles extended superstar running back Saquon Barkley with a two year, $41.2 million contract. Head Coach Nick Sirianni and General Manager Howie Roseman chose Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Campbell was cited as an excellent run defender and hard hitter during the NFL Combine, so fans can expect to see him get a good amount of playing time this season. With Super Bowl LIX MVP Jalen Hurts leading the squad as the star quarterback, NFL analysts expect the Philadelphia Eagles to end the regular season with a 13-4 record.
Moving on to the team that came up short in Super Bowl LIX, the Kansas City Chiefs hope to make their sixth Super Bowl appearance in the last seven seasons. With the team keeping a majority of their 53-man roster, they hope to continue to improve with the tools they already have. Superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes enters his ninth season with the organization, and can be expected to take full advantage of his strong offenses and defenses. If offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and head coach Andy Reid can strengthen their offensive line, NFL analysts expect the Kansas City Chiefs to end the regular season with a 13-4 record.
Looking at teams who did a complete overhaul in the offseason, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Chicago Bears hope to see a much better year than they did last season. Starting with the Jaguars, owner Shad Khan decided to start fresh and fired head coach Doug Pedersen, general manager Trent Baalke, as well as both the offensive and defensive coordinators. This comes after a disappointing 4-12 season in 2024. The new general manager James Gladstone decided to make an immediate impact at the 2025 NFL Draft, trading up for the second overall pick and selecting Colorado star wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. The Jaguars will see their record-setting wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. returning with a healthy quarterback Trevor Lawrence right behind him. Lawrence saw a breakout season in 2022 when he helped pioneer the Jaguars’ underdog postseason run to the divisional round. NFL analysts expect to see the Jacksonville Jaguars immensely improve their regular season record to 9-8.
The Chicago Bears also saw a large overhaul of their front office, including the firings of head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Two interim offensive coordinators and the defensive coordinator were also fired in the offseason. The Bears drafted Michigan tight end Colston Loveland in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft in hopes to improve their passing and receiving game. With numerous offensive line trades like Jonah Jackson from the Los Angeles Rams, the new front office of the Bears hopes to better protect their starting quarterback Caleb Williams. NFL analysts expect to see the Chicago Bears improve from their 2024 5-12 record to a 2025 8-9 record to end their regular season.
A team that could struggle this season is the Miami Dolphins. In 2024, the team saw a fall from their 2023 11-6 record, finishing the regular season at 8-9 and failing to make the playoffs. In just the second game of 2024, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered his third concussion in two years, raising concerns about his health and the risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). At the same time, head coach Mike McDaniel has been under fire for inconsistent game management, offensive struggle and the lack of player responsibility. These issues have many fans calling for his firing by the front office. NFL analysts expect to see the Miami Dolphins end their regular season with a 6-11 record.
With the NFL season in full swing, how will your favorite team play this year?
