The 2024-25 NFL season has been an exhilarating year, with some of the most competitive and unpredictable football we have ever seen. Heading into the offseason, there were a handful of teams prepared to start from scratch or attempt at a final Super Bowl push. With teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens acquiring Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry, fans were hopeful for substantial playoff success. On the other end of the spectrum, fans of the New England Patriots and Washington Commanders were prepared for a complete franchise rebuild following a disappointing year with top draft prospects Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels taking the podium as starting quarterback.
With the offseason transactions setting the stage for an exciting year, this NFL season quickly revealed how unexpected this year would be. Right off the bat, the New Orleans Saints shocked the NFL with a dominant first 2 weeks averaging 405.5 yards per game with a +62 point differential. Despite their remarkable start to the season, all hopes for a playoff push were immediately crushed with a 7-loss streak alongside a -84 point differential. Week 10 produced one of the year’s most exciting games with the Cincinnati Bengals taking on their divisional rival Baltimore Ravens. The match was a pure offensive shootout with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson scoring 4 passing touchdowns and Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow throwing for over 400 yards. In a miraculous turn of events, the Bengals muffed the game-winning field goal leading to a Ravens win in overtime with a final score of 35-34. Shifting focus to the other conference, the NFC had several surprising twists with the Minnesota Vikings closing a dominant season off with a 10-2 record heading into December despite 10th overall pick J.J. McCarthy’s season-ending meniscus tear.
Similarly, the Detroit Lions dominated the league earning 1st place in the NFC North with Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown proving to be the future superstars of the franchise. Despite an exciting season thus far, once again, tragic injuries have ruined playoff hopes for several teams. With the Dallas Cowboys losing their star quarterback Dak Prescott and last year’s Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey missing the first 8 weeks of the season just to injure his MCL on week 13, previously star-studded teams are now faced with the ill-fated injury report. As the season comes to a close, NFL fans are eager for the annual awards ceremony. In the current MVP standings, Lamar Jackson is projected to win his 3rd MVP with Josh Allen close behind the running. Saquon Barkley proved to be the most impactful offseason settlement, leading the league in rushing yards and landing 1st in the running for Offensive Player of the Year. On the other side of the ball, TJ Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers has proven to be the most lethal defensive end in the league with a staggering 28 solo tackles and 7.5 sacks as of week 13. As the playoffs draw near, fans around the country are on the edge of their seats with nearly every team in contention for a playoff spot hoping for a miracle Super Bowl run.