Conference Kings? 2025 Preseason NFL Conference Picks

AFC & NFC Logo

It’s August, and you know what that means — the countdown to football season is officially on. Once the NBA Finals wrap, there’s always that awkward dead zone in the sports calendar where ESPN feels more like background noise than must-see TV. But not for long. The 2025–26 NFL season is right around the corner, and the buzz is already electric. So, while teams gear up for kickoff, I’m breaking down my picks for this year’s conference champions — and exactly why I think they’ve got what it takes. NFC: East - Eagles Fresh off their Super Bowl win over the Chiefs, the Eagles not only managed to keep much of last season’s core intact but also added talent through the draft. As it stands, the NFC East is Philly’s division to lose.

West - Rams The NFC West feels wide open this season, and there are plenty of question marks across the division. Sam Darnold steps into a new role in Seattle, while Arizona is quietly stacking young talent — the big question remains whether Kyler Murray is really their long-term answer. In San Francisco, the return of Christian McCaffrey is exciting, but with Deebo Samuel gone and Brandon Aiyuk sidelined to start the year, it’s hard to see where the offensive firepower comes from. Then there are the Rams. They gave Philly all they could handle in the playoffs, and with Matthew Stafford still slinging it, I like their chances to come out on top of the division in 2025.

North - Packers The NFC North is shaping up to be one of the league’s most intriguing divisions, largely because of its youth under center. Jared Goff is suddenly the elder statesman of the group, which might give the Lions a slight edge in terms of experience. Still, don’t sleep on Green Bay. With a balanced roster on both sides of the ball and the addition of standout rookie receiver Matthew Golden, the Packers look ready to push Detroit for the crown. The Bears are the real wild card here — Caleb Williams is a star in the making, but expecting an 6-win leap in just his second season might be a stretch. Then again, I’d love nothing more than for Chicago to prove me wrong.

South - Buccaneers

Let’s be real: this feels like the Buccaneers’ division to lose. No disrespect to the Saints, Falcons, or Panthers, but Tampa looks like the most complete team in the NFC South. Atlanta’s offense might be loaded with playmakers, but that defense still screams liability. Carolina had a flashy offseason and there’s no doubt their youth movement is exciting — but asking a bunch of young guys to step in and immediately lead a playoff push is a tall order. At the end of the day, the Bucs just feel like the most reliable bet to take this division.

AFC: East - Patriots

Since the Brady era ended, the Bills have clearly owned the AFC East. But this offseason, I think the Patriots quietly built a squad that could actually give them problems. With Vrabel at the helm and additions like Milton Williams, Stefon Diggs, and Charlton Davis, New England suddenly looks a lot more dangerous. Call it one of my bolder predictions, but I expect the Pats to punch above their weight and challenge Buffalo head-on in their divisional matchups this year.

West - Broncos After falling short in the championship game, I don’t see the Chiefs matching last season’s dominance. The younger teams in the division are starting to make real noise — and none louder than the Denver Broncos. Coming off a playoff berth, Denver looks like one of the NFL’s true up-and-coming squads. Their defense, which I’d put in the top five across the league, is exactly the kind of unit you need if you’re going to slow down Patrick Mahomes. If last year’s Super Bowl taught us anything, it’s that the only way to beat the Chiefs is with elite defense — and the Broncos have it. The question now is whether they can back it up and finally push Kansas City off the top of the AFC West.

North - Ravens This one feels too easy. Sure, the Bengals have the firepower to challenge, but their defense is full of question marks right now. The Browns and Steelers will scrap, but neither looks ready to truly take the crown. Which leaves us with Baltimore. If the Ravens don’t win this division comfortably, it’s not because someone else took it from them — it’s because they let the milk spoil on their own shelf.

South - Houston

The AFC South doesn’t exactly keep casual fans glued to the TV. But within the noise, one team has clearly risen above the rest: the Houston Texans. DeMeco Ryans has his defense flying around, and CJ Stroud paired with Nico Collins is quickly becoming one of the league’s most dangerous young duos.

Indy can’t seem to solve its quarterback puzzle, Jacksonville flashes potential with talents like T. Hunter and BTJ but still feels a step away, and Tennessee… well, the Titans are just getting started on their rebuild. Bottom line: until further notice, this division belongs to Houston. Let me know your picks down below.