NFL analyst predicts Panthers will win the NFC South in 2025
As he's done in years past, Rank predicted the outcome of every single game for the upcoming campaign. And in what may be a shocker to many, he has the Panthers going 9-8 and knocking off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the NFC South crown.
Here's how Rank sorted each of Carolina's contests . . .
Week 1 (at Jacksonville Jaguars): Loss
Week 2 (at Arizona Cardinals): Win
Week 3 (vs. Atlanta Falcons): Win
Week 4 (at New England Patriots): Loss
Week 5 (vs. Miami Dolphins): Win
Week 6 (vs. Dallas Cowboys): Win
Week 7 (at New York Jets): Loss
Week 8 (vs. Buffalo Bills): Loss
Week 9 (at Green Bay Packers): Loss
Week 10 (vs. New Orleans Saints): Win
Week 11 (at Atlanta Falcons): Loss
Week 12 (at San Francisco 49ers): Loss
Week 13 (vs. Los Angeles Rams): Win
Week 15 (at New Orleans Saints): Win
Week 16 (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers): Win
Week 17 (vs. Seattle Seahawks): Win
Week 18 (at Tampa Bay Buccaneers): Loss
If Rank's forecast comes true, then the Panthers would clinch their first winning season since 2017 and their first division title since 2015. They'd also break a seven-year playoff drought, which currently stands as the longest such streak in franchise history.
Each of those seven seasons has come under owner David Tepper, who purchased the team back in 2018. Carolina has gone a combined 36-80 over that span.
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Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers As Jim Harbaugh transforms the Chargers into a title contender, the pressure is mounting on Herbert to perform like a top-five quarterback in premier games. Despite passing for the most yards by a quarterback in NFL history through five seasons, the Chargers' ball-control attack prioritizes efficiency over high-volume production. As the team breaks in a young collection of pass catchers (Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and Tre Harris) around Herbert, the new and improved run game could alleviate some of the pressure on Herbert to carry the team into the championship rounds. If Jesse Minter's defense continues to perform at an elite level, the Chargers' title hopes will hinge on their QB1's performance in the playoffs. 3. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders The 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year nearly carried the Commanders to a Super Bowl with a limited roster. 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Although Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox are a formidable quartet, the addition of Josh Palmer should enable Allen to pick apart opponents with a "dink-and-dunk" approach that stretches the defense from sideline to sideline. Moreover, defensive coordinators struggle defending a mobile playmaker who runs from the pocket or on the perimeter as a rugged runner with a nose for the goal line. 1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens It is "now or never" time for the two-time MVP. Jackson steps into 2025 with the best roster in football, including a former NFL rushing champion (Derrick Henry) and a prolific pass catcher (DeAndre Hopkins) with exceptional hands and ball skills. Throw in a handful of emerging offensive playmakers (Zay Flowers, Isaiah Likely and Rashod Bateman), and the Ravens are loaded with enough firepower to set the NFL ablaze. If the defense continues to progress under second-year coordinator Zach Orr, the Ravens should make an early RSVP to the Super Bowl with a QB1 boasting a .744 winning percentage and an electric game. Bucky Brooks is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports. He also breaks down the game for NFL Network and as a cohost of the "Moving the Sticks" podcast. Follow him on Twitter @BuckyBrooks.
