On Sunday, I posted the teams I think will have a turnaround season. But this time around, we're looking at the opposite - teams who could be destined for a brutal season following a solid 2024.
And if you haven't yet, be sure to look at our following prediction articles for the season:
10 bold predictions that will undoubtedly happen
10 players who need to prove everyone wrong
15 rookies to watch out for this season
Now, let's get into it!
Minnesota Vikings
Last season's 14-3 campaign with a resurgence of Sam Darnold felt like the Vikings captured lightning in a bottle. It was one of the biggest storylines of 2024 and rightfully so. However, if you look at the Vikings' track record over the past 15 years, they always have a fall-off from a peak.
Let me break this down. It started in 2009 when the Vikings went 12-4. The following year (2010), they went 6-10. This happened five more times. In 2012, they went 10-6, followed by a 5-10-1 record in 2013. Then again in 2015 (11-5) and 2016 (8-8). A third time in 2017 (13-3) and 2018 (8-7-1). Yet again in 2019 (10-6) and 2020 (7-9). And one more time in 2022 (13-4) and 2023 (7-10).
And with a two-year quarterback in J.J. McCarthy, who was out his entire rookie season after just one preseason appearance in 2024 (video below), the season is undoubtedly set for history to repeat itself. It's a huge reason why McCarthy is on my list of players who need to prove everything wrong this season because everything can go right for Minnesota this year just as it could go completely wrong.
Having the seventh hardest schedule this season isn't going to make this journey any easier. While bringing back Adam Thielen was an understandable pickup until Jordan Addison returns from his suspension (read more here), they have questions with their offensive line.
They lost long-time center Garrett Bradbury and replaced him with veteran Ryan Kelly, who is more or less at the same level of talent at center with slightly better pass blocking. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw is returning from knee surgery that ended his 2024 season after he was on pace to be one of the best young tackles. Left guard Blake Brandel is now on the bench after losing the starting spot to rookie Donovan Jackson.
However, they brought in right guard Will Fries, who was with Kelly on the Indianapolis Colts, and he was rated the fourth-best guard in all of football last season in the five games he played, a massive upgrade over Ed Ingram, who was ranked 101st. This leaves two-time Pro Bowler Brian O'Neill as the only starter from last season who played the entire year.
Their entire defensive line, which led the way to having the second-best run defence last season, has been replaced by new starters, while the starting linebacker core remained, as did most of the secondary, bringing in Stephon Gillmore as the new CB2 and Joshua Metellus as the new free safety.
I had the Vikings as my bold prediction to win the Super Bowl, but in this article, we're thinking a bit more realistically.
Ultimately, I see the Vikings' ceiling at 11-6 and the floor at 6-11 for the 2025 season.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Remember when a 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers joined the New York Jets and made them title contenders? Neither do I, because we don't live in that reality. Moving on from both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, who actually had solid seasons for the Steelers, just to bring in a quarterback who's now slower than Tom Brady with ankle weights was a bold decision.
The Steelers went 10-7 last season and everyone who watched them knew it was a struggle to get to that point - the playoff meltdown against the Baltimore Ravens was proof of that. So Rodgers is going to miraculously change that? Well, the Jets sure didn't have the defense the Steelers did...or did they?
The New York Jets' defence gave up the third-fewest yards per game last season, while the Steelers' ranked 12th. That being said, the latter gave up the eighth-fewest points per game to the former's 20th. Pittsburgh traded for cornerback Jalen Ramsey, but sent Minkah Fitzpatrick to Miami as part of the deal, and brought in another veteran in Darius Slay to improve the secondary, which they did - no point in arguing it. Plus, they practically kept their front seven intact.
But it's not the defence that's the problem - Pittsburgh will always bring a solid defence practically every season - it's the offence.
Rodgers will be under center Zach Frazier, one of the best in the league. But the line is one of the youngest in all of football, with an average age of 25 years and six months. The saving grace is that four of the five are returning from last year - downside is they ranked 27th last season, and their standout, James Daniels, is no longer on the team.
They had the opportunity to have one of the most threatening wide receiver duos in D.K. Metcalf and George Pickens, but traded the latter away. Now they have Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, Scotty Miller, and Ben Skowronek to fill out the rest of the wide receiver depth chart - not necessarily a WR core that strikes fear into opposing secondaries.
Sure, Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, and the Eiffel Tower in Darnell Washington is quite a nice tight end trio. But is that how they plan to take down opposing defences through the air? Yet another bold move by the Steelers if that holds true.
They just signed running back Jaylen Warren to an extension and I'd argue he's the most explosive player on the team outright. They made opposing defences second-guess on who'd be getting the ball between him and Fields last season. Now, it seems like Warren should be the guy defences contain over an arthritis-ridden Rodgers.
I know it'd be foolish to count out Mike Tomlin, and it is. He's one of the greatest coaches in NFL history. Tomlin could find a way to build a house out of wet cardboard. But this isn't a Steelers team I picture doing better than 10-7.
When it's said and done, I see the Steelers with a 9-8 ceiling but a 6-11 floor.
Atlanta Falcons
It's hard to imagine a team coming off a losing season (8-9) in 2024 can have a fall-off this year, but I think it'll happen with the Falcons. Sorry, Atlanta fans. As much as I would love to say every player is going to be great and their teams will prove everyone wrong during every down of every game in every season, that's just not happening. There are winners and losers - and the Falcons could be heading into a 2025 season where they are the latter.
The offence has practically the same exact unit - only two differences. The first is that they lost the NFL's fourth-best center Drew Dalman, replacing him with Ryan Neuzil, who had had eight starts last year. Then they replaced right tackle Kaleb McGrary, who ranked 29th out of 140 tackles, with Mike Jerrell, who will be entering his second year in the league following a rookie season where he finished 123rd out of 140 tackles. In short, their offensive line got worse.
Their offence had no problem putting up stats (sixth in total offence, 13th in points), but the majority of that came with Kirk Cousins as the starting quarterback. Now, Michael Penix Jr. is in the same questionable boat as McCarthy is for the Vikings. Is he going to stand out and or is Cousins going to reclaim his place as the starter? It's never good to have that kind of question before going into a season.
Rookie Xavier Watts replaced veteran Justin Simmons III at free safety, who had a rough year with Atlanta. So Watts could definitely be an upgrade in the secondary. A.J. Terrell Jr. and Mike Hughes are still the CB1 and CB2 heading into 2025 for the Falcons, neither of which ranked in the top 30 last season.
They did ultimately upgrade their front seven as well by drafting Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. while also signing free agent Leonard Floyd, which drastically improves their pass rush that ranked second-to-last in 2024 with just 31 sacks. However, both Zach Harrison and Ruke Orhorhoro were backup defensive linemen last year for the Falcons and didn't produce much - now they're starters this year.
Just a lot of questions with the Falcons and not many drastic improvements that say they'll do any better. While many anticipate running back Bijon Robinson to have an Offensive Player of the Year caliber season, if Penix Jr. doesn't show out, then it's not going to mean anything - again.
For the Falcons, I think their ceiling is 7-10 this year with a 4-13 floor.
Indianapolis Colts
Indy is heading into yet another season with no concrete answer at quarterback. They lost both starting center Ryan Kelly and right guard Fries, mentioned under the Vikings, replacing both of them with two-year guys in Tanor Bortolini at center and Matt Gonclaves at right guard. Meanwhile, Braden Smith (52nd ranked) returns at right tackle, as do Quenton Nelson (LG) and Bernhard Raimann (LT).
And they kept most of their offensive weapons there with Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, and Adonai Mitchell at wide receiver and Jonathan Taylor at running back. But their big offseason acquisition was drafting standout rookie tight end Tyler Warren, who has surged as a favorite target for starting quarterback Daniel Jones.
Sure, they recently signed veteran cornerback Xavien Howard to help with their secondary. But Howard is nowhere near his prime anymore. Cam Bynum is the new starting free safety but, like Howard, again, doesn't necessarily boost their secondary in any way. The defensive line is practically the same as last year's as well.
As for the linebackers, team captain Zaire Franklin will now have 2024 backups Cameron McGrone (IND) and Joe Bachie (CIN) on his sides, so it's tough to say the front seven necessarily improved as well.
Indy ranked 29th in total defence (24th in points) and it looks like they're heading in that direction yet again this season. Maybe new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo can do something with them - but I wouldn't hold my breath considering he was the Benagls' DC the past six years, five of which they ranked in the bottom half of the league. Last season, the Bengals D ranked 25th in both yards and points given up per game.
And of course, the controversy around Jones and Anthony Richardson, wondering who will be the starter, will undoubtedly be the team's headline each week, unfortunately.
Nothing about this team makes me think they'll have a better year. They went 8-9 last year and 9-8 back in 2023 under head coach Shane Steichen and are practically rolling out a team darn-near the same.
The Colts' floor this season is 4-13 with a 6-11 ceiling.