Who Stepped Up Last Season, and Who Has to Keep Climbing?

NFL: Contenders, Surprises, and Offseason Shake-Ups

The NFL season is just beginning, which means everyone is talking about contenders and which teams have changed the most since last year. Looking back on last season, there were definitely some surprises—teams that nobody thought would go far suddenly became big players, while others fell apart even with high expectations.

Obviously, the Philadelphia Eagles deserve to be mentioned first. They finished the season on top, winning the Super Bowl with Jalen Hurts leading the way. Hurts was incredible, using his passing ability and his running game to keep defenses on their toes. Their defense was also lights-out, forcing turnovers and shutting down opponents when it mattered most. With that championship experience and a roster that’s still stacked, they head into this year as one of the top contenders.

Another big story was the Washington Commanders. No one really expected them to be such a threat, but they shocked people by making it all the way to the NFC Championship Game. With rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, throwing for over 3,800 yards and rushing for another 500. His dual-threat ability gave defenses nightmares. The Commanders may not have made it to the Super Bowl, but their run showed how much they’ve grown in the past few seasons. And then, in the offseason, they doubled down—bringing in wide receiver Deebo Samuel and left tackle Laremy Tunsil to give Daniels even more support. That’s huge growth from a team that used to be considered an afterthought.

On the AFC side, the Kansas City Chiefs were still the Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes led them deep into the playoffs again, although they fell short in the Super Bowl, they remain a constant contender. It honestly feels like as long as Mahomes is around, Kansas City is never really out of the picture. 

The Baltimore Ravens also took a big step forward. Lamar Jackson was healthy and electric, winning games both through the air and on the ground. Baltimore gave him more options that turned into offensive weapons last season, and it showed—rookie Zay Flowers in particular became a star. In the offseason, they focused on keeping that momentum going by adding depth at receiver and solidifying their defense.

And then there are the Detroit Lions. For years they were seen as a rebuilding project, but last season they finally won their division and made it into the playoffs. Jared Goff was consistent, Amon-Ra St. Brown became one of the most exciting receivers in the league, and their defense played with real grit. After so many years of losing, it felt like Detroit was finally turning into a real contender.

Looking ahead, the Eagles are still the team to beat, but the Commanders, Ravens, and Lions all proved they can be dangerous. The offseason has made some teams even stronger, and that’s what makes the start of this new season so exciting. Last year’s surprises showed us anything can happen, and this year feels just as unpredictable.

Emerson Gardner ‘28