5 Sneaky Super Bowl Contenders in 2025 - NFL Season Outlook and Predictions

July 5, 2025

Aidin Ebrahimi looks at five sneaky NFL teams who could end up playing in Super Bowl LX. Don't be surprised if these teams have strong seasons in 2025.

It feels like yesterday when we saw the Philadelphia Eagles humiliate the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, but time has gone by so quickly since then. Somehow, we're less than two months away from the start of the 2025 NFL season.

Of course, as the old saying goes, everyone is a contender in the preseason. But with the dominance of the Eagles and the playoff experience of the Chiefs, a third Eagles/Chiefs Super Bowl matchup in four years is the most likely outcome for Super Bowl LX.

However, other teams shouldn't lose hope. These five teams have been underrated by ESPN's Super Bowl betting odds, but they have the talent to shake things up and make the Super Bowl this year. Without further ado, let's look at five sneaky Super Bowl contenders in 2025.

Los Angeles Chargers (11-6 in 2024)

Trusting the L.A. Chargers to win a trophy is the equivalent of trusting Tottenham Hotspur to lift some silverware, but even they managed to win a trophy last season, so why can't the Chargers do the same?

Most passing yards in a quarterbacks first:

5 seasons – Justin Herbert
4 seasons – Justin Herbert
3 seasons – Justin Herbert
2 seasons – Justin Herbert

LeBron type dominance. pic.twitter.com/xYtFAjUYnq

— ًBoltUpYo (@BoltUpYo) June 20, 2025

While still an elite quarterback, it's quite fair to say that Justin Herbert has regressed following his incredible first two seasons in the NFL. He still holds the record for the most passing yards and touchdowns by a player in their first two years, but he has failed to throw for more than 25 touchdowns in each of the following three years.

He was on track to reach those heights again in 2023, but suffered an untimely injury. Then, in 2024, new HC Jim Harbaugh essentially turned him into a glorified game manager.

Herbert averaged 29.6 throws per game in 2024, significantly less than his career 39.1 average up to that point. But still, the Chargers went back to winning ways due to their defense, as they allowed 20 points or fewer in 13 of their 17 games.

Unfortunately, they collapsed in the playoffs once again, but Harbaugh isn't a stranger to getting his teams to the Super Bowl in his second season.

Now that he's more acquainted with Harbaugh's system, Herbert will likely play similarly to how he played in the last three games of the year. In those games, Herbert completed 77 of his 105 throws (73.3 completion percentage) for 911 yards, seven touchdowns, and just one pick.

The Chargers will also have a better running game in 2025, with exceptional rookie RB Omarion Hampton and new signing Najee Harris. Young wideouts Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston now also have the chance to learn from Chargers fan favorite Mike Williams, who looks set to play his first game for the team since September 2023.

Houston Texans (10-7 in 2024)

The Chargers' 2024 season ended in shock and horror after an embarrassing loss to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round. In that game, the Texans proved that despite C.J. Stroud's regression and the many injuries to their receiving corps, they are still a force to be reckoned with.

While Tank Dell will unfortunately miss most, if not all, of the 2025 season due to injury, Nico Collins will be there to help Stroud rediscover his form.

In the first four games of the season with a healthy Collins, Stroud threw for 1,054 yards and six touchdowns with an elite 98.4 passer rating. Outside of that, veteran Christian Kirk will try to replace Stefon Diggs, while young wideouts Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, and John Metchie III will attempt to fill the void caused by Dell's injury.

On defense, the addition of C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who's fresh off a Super Bowl win, will help the team massively. But the biggest potential game-changer for the Texans in 2025 will be Nick Chubb.

Chubb had a rough comeback in 2024 following a devastating injury the season prior, but let's not forget that he ran for 5,345 yards and 40 touchdowns from 2019 to 2022.

If Chubb can form an effective duo with Joe Mixon, and the young wide receivers can prove themselves to be a solid replacement for Dell, this team has the chance to go far in 2025.

Los Angeles Rams (10-7 in 2024)

Many people thought the Rams' championship window was over after their terrible title defense in the 2022 season, but despite injuries and the retirement of Aaron Donald, the Rams are still contenders and are chasing another Super Bowl ring.

pic.twitter.com/zjYrMbZkVp

— Sleeper (@SleeperHQ) June 25, 2025

Their smart drafting and the brilliance of Sean McVay have led to their seamless transition from Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald to Puka Nacua and Jared Verse. However, it seems like they've always been a step behind the true contenders, such as the Eagles and Lions.

The Rams decided to address this issue in the offseason by adding superstar wideout Davante Adams. Despite his lack of team success in recent seasons, the future Hall of Famer has put up 3,723 yards and 30 touchdowns in the last three seasons, showing that he's still more than capable of being a game-changer.

Matthew Stafford and McVay know how to win a ring together, and if young players such as Byron Young, Braden Fiske, Blake Corum, and rookie Terrance Ferguson can take the next step in 2025, the Rams could become one of the most dangerous teams in the league come playoff time.

Miami Dolphins (8-9 in 2024)

The Dolphins just made a huge trade, as they parted ways with Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith to bring superstar safety Minkah Fitzpatrick back to Miami. They also addressed Smith's departure by trading for Darren Waller and bringing him out of retirement.

2024 was a down year for Fitzpatrick, but he has shown the ability to bounce back from down years, like how he rebounded from a poor 2021 to become an All-Pro in 2022.

Fitzpatrick and the returning Bradley Chubb could turn the Dolphins into a good defensive unit, capable of slowing down the NFL's elite offenses in the playoffs. But as we all know, this team will be defined by its offense in 2025.

Tua Tagovailoa, De'Von Achane, Jaylen Waddle, and Tyreek Hill were a scary quartet in 2023, but injuries slowed them down in 2024. Tagovailoa has the stats of an elite quarterback, but he needs to win in the playoffs to be regarded as one of the game's elites.

Tagovailoa needs to stay healthy to achieve this goal, and that's a huge concern. But a lot of people have forgotten how good he is when healthy. The Dolphins have won 61% of their games with Tua under center since 2022.

But they need to take the next step and show more grit, and players like Nick Westbrook-Ikhine will help them with that. Sophomore Jaylen Wright needs to break out to replace Raheem Mostert, while rookies Kenneth Grant and Jonah Savaiinaea will be crucial if the team wants to take the next step.

Dallas Cowboys (7-10 in 2024)

In 2023, the Cowboys were one of the most dominant teams in the regular season. But ever since their shocking loss to the Packers in the Wild Card round, it seems like nothing has gone right for "America's Team."

Dak Prescott is so underrated and i’m tired of acting like he’s not

— 🎠 (@PlutoCooked) June 29, 2025

Injuries decimated the Cowboys in 2024, as stars such as Zack Martin, DaRon Bland, Trevon Diggs, DeMarvion Overshown, and Dak Prescott all suffered injuries that ruined their season. Martin has since retired, but the Cowboys found his perfect replacement in the draft.

Tyler Booker can become a star if he puts it all together, and will likely be the final piece in the Cowboys' O-line puzzle. Despite the appointment of run-heavy coach Brian Schottenheimer as their new head coach, the Cowboys will be a pass-first team in 2025, so their weakness at RB will likely be masked.

The Cowboys decided to bring in George Pickens in the offseason, who will form a deadly partnership with CeeDee Lamb. With a healthy Prescott and good receivers around him, Jake Ferguson will likely return to his 2023 form following a down season.

Yes, the Cowboys are the only NFC team that has not reached a conference championship game in this millennium, but all streaks will eventually end. The Lions and Commanders snapped their long NFC Championship Game droughts in the past two seasons, so who's to say that the Cowboys can't do the same thing in 2025?