We’re 4 weeks into the 2025 NFL season, which suggests we’re a few quarter of the way in which by. It is exhausting to imagine, on condition that it feels just like the season simply began, however that is the place we’re proper now.
And after 4 weeks, we have seen sufficient to — largely — begin declaring which groups are good and dangerous. There’s clearly loads of soccer left to play, however all 32 groups have additionally put fairly a bit on tape already. And we all know with some extent of conviction which groups are positively good and dangerous. There is a squishy center of the league that’s extra sophisticated to type out, however we will a minimum of make some educated guesses on which groups are in all probability good or dangerous.
That is what we’re right here to do at present: We’re sorting all 32 of the league’s groups into 5 distinct tiers based mostly on the place they’re proper now and can probably go sooner or later. These embody components like their schedules, circumstances of rosters and extra.
Tier 5: See you on the draft
These groups are going nowhere quick.
The Panthers have appeared pretty embarrassing in three of their 4 video games, they usually someway blew out the Falcons 30-0 within the different. We’re betting that the three losses are extra consultant than the one win. The identical goes for the Browns, who someway had their protection steal a recreation towards the Packers in Week 3 however have in any other case not appeared good and are making a quarterback change.
The Saints, Jets and Titans are all 0-4, they usually look various levels of horrible. The Jets have in all probability appeared the “greatest” of the three groups, they usually do not look good in any respect. They may have gained that Week 1 recreation towards the Steelers and nearly stole Week 3 on the Bucs, however they’ve gone down massive in three of their 4 video games thus far. The Saints have typically hung round and appeared run-of-the-mill dangerous quite than atrocious of their video games, however they’re simply not a proficient workforce. Tennessee might be on the verge of firing its coach, and quarterback Cam Ward put it greatest when he mentioned of the Titans, “We ass.”
It is likely to be aggressive to place the Bengals right here, however they’ve misplaced two straight in pathetic trend with out Joe Burrow and their subsequent three video games are towards the Lions, Packers and Steelers. They’re going to probably be 2-5 earlier than we now have an opportunity to blink.
Tier 4: Most likely dangerous
The Raiders have misplaced three in a row, together with one recreation to a backup quarterback, and their offense simply has not been capable of get a lot going to this point as a result of Geno Smith cannot cease throwing interceptions and Brock Bowers would not appear like himself. The protection additionally just isn’t almost ok to hold the workforce, because it’s in all probability nonetheless the weaker unit.
Miami has appeared vaguely competent in two of its 4 video games however been capable of defeat solely the decrepit Jets, and the Dolphins simply misplaced Tyreek Hill for the season. Undermanned on each offense and protection now, they’re more likely to slide even additional again from the pack over the remainder of the season. (They do have the nice fortune of enjoying video games towards the Panthers, Browns, Saints and Jets once more, although.)
The Giants pulled off Sunday’s stunning upset of the Chargers and Jaxson Dart acquitted himself pretty effectively in his first begin, however this workforce that might do nothing offensively with Russell Wilson underneath middle simply misplaced prime playmaker Malik Nabers for the yr to a torn ACL. Until the line of defense completely dominates prefer it did in Week 4, it is in all probability nonetheless going to be a protracted season.
Tier 3: Presumably frisky
- Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Commanders
That is the biggest group of groups, and that is sensible as a result of we’re nonetheless fairly early within the season and do not actually know sufficient about anyone to attract that many definitive conclusions simply but. So we’re lumping all the center class of the NFL into one tier, deemed presumably frisky, till we all know extra.
Arizona beat two dangerous groups and misplaced to 2 good ones. The Falcons have proven a low flooring with out but displaying the kind of ceiling that we need to see from workforce. The Ravens have plenty of expertise, however their protection is decimated and now Lamar Jackson may miss time. The Bears appear to have rebounded from their tough begin however did so towards two weak defenses.
The Cowboys have proven that they’ll transfer the ball and put up factors, however their protection is atrocious. The Broncos simply stomped the Bengals, however their offense hasn’t totally gotten untracked simply but. The Texans are right here largely as a result of the AFC South is not nice and we all know that they’ve a very good protection.
The Colts are off to a stunning begin to the season however required a large comeback for one in all their wins and simply misplaced to the primary elite workforce they performed. The Jags are 3-1 however misplaced to the Bengals, and there is no means that they’ll maintain forcing turnovers on the fee they must date. The Vikings have a ferocious protection, however we now have but to see the offense get totally untracked.
The Patriots have had their solely two wins towards the dregs of the league, and have appeared abnormal of their two losses, one in all which noticed them flip it over 5 occasions. Pittsburgh may simply be 1-3 as an alternative of 3-1 if the ball had bounced otherwise in video games towards the Jets and Pats. And we do not but know what Washington will appear like when Jayden Daniels comes again.
All of those groups have their strengths, clearly. However once more, we in all probability do not know sufficient about them to make a dedication on whether or not they’re in all probability dangerous or good. So we’re sticking them right here and punting on that dedication some time longer.
Tier 2: Most likely good
These are groups that we all know are proficient and have gotten off to various levels of excellent begins (they’re all 3-1 apart from the Chiefs) but additionally know have actual flaws on one facet of the ball or one other, for one purpose or one other.
The Chiefs lastly appeared like themselves offensively towards the Ravens, however that protection has been torn to shreds by each opponent. We have to see that kind of efficiency extra constantly, and the identical goes for the protection. The Chargers simply misplaced to the Giants and now should play with out each of their beginning tackles for some time, however the protection remains to be terrific (two of New York’s scoring drives began deep in L.A. territory) and Justin Herbert was enjoying at an especially excessive stage.
The 49ers are coping with accidents just about all over the place on each offense and protection. Brock Purdy, Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, Nick Bosa — mainly everybody besides Christian McCaffrey is ailing for the time being. The Seahawks have one of many NFL’s greatest defenses, if not the only greatest, and that can maintain them aggressive in nearly each recreation. We’ve to see what the offense seems like when it will get into trailing mode to have extra confidence that the 49ers can contend.
The Bucs are additionally 3-1 and coping with a ton of accidents. Mike Evans and all the proper facet of the offensive line are out. Jalen McMillan will not be again till after the bye. The run recreation has not appeared the identical because it did final yr and Bucky Irving is now coping with an harm. We nearly must be in wait-and-see mode right here.
Tier 1: Internal circle (for now)
The Eagles and Payments are 4-0. They had been inner-circle contenders final yr and simply maintain profitable. There have been some matches and begins for Philadelphia’s offense, however we all know how proficient a workforce that’s, and we have seen that the Eagles can win video games regardless of not enjoying at their greatest. Buffalo has given us no purpose to doubt that it is without doubt one of the league’s greatest groups, with a rollicking comeback over the Ravens in Week 1 and double-digit wins over dregs within the different three video games.
Separating the Lions, Packers and Rams from the remainder of the groups close to the highest is a little more tough, however largely comes all the way down to ceiling. The Lions have proven that their offense remains to be a machine, even when that machine obtained taken offline for some time in Week 1 towards Inexperienced Bay. The Packers have proven that their protection, which did simply get torched by Dak Prescott, has the flexibility to be such a monster that it’s nearly unimaginable to maneuver the ball. And the Rams have proven that they’ll compete with anybody on either side of the ball. Their solely loss got here on a blocked kick in Philadelphia, in a recreation they largely managed.
