As the 2025 NFL regular season barrels toward its conclusion, a handful of teams are left staring at the wreckage of what was supposed to be a promising year. Injuries, underperformance, and missed opportunities have defined the campaigns of several franchises that entered the season with high hopes and, in some cases, championship expectations. Let’s break down five teams that have fallen short in a big way this year - and why their seasons unraveled.
Kansas City Chiefs: A Dynasty in Distress
Coming off their third straight Super Bowl appearance, the Chiefs entered 2025 with the weight of a potential dynasty on their shoulders. But the cracks that showed last season - dropped passes, inconsistent wide receiver play, and a reliance on late-game heroics - widened into full-blown issues this year.
The receiver room, already thin in 2024, has become a glaring weakness. Kansas City’s offense has struggled to find rhythm, and the margin for error has vanished.
Patrick Mahomes, as brilliant as ever when healthy, could only do so much behind an offense that hasn’t given him enough help. And now, with Mahomes sidelined by a torn ACL, the Chiefs are not only fighting to stay competitive in the final weeks - they're also staring down a long offseason of uncertainty.
For a team that’s been the NFL’s gold standard over the past half-decade, this season feels like a hard reset. The question now isn’t just about how they finish 2025 - it’s how they rebuild around Mahomes for 2026 and beyond.
Cincinnati Bengals: Another Year, Another Letdown
The Bengals entered the season with Super Bowl buzz - again. And once more, they’ve failed to live up to it.
Joe Burrow’s injury woes struck early, derailing Cincinnati’s offense before it could get going. And while there was hope that the Bengals could rally like they did in 2024, this year’s team never found its footing. A 24-0 loss to the Ravens in Week 15 sealed their fate, officially eliminating them from playoff contention and dropping them to 4-10.
It wasn’t just the offense that sputtered. The defense - which had been a strength in recent years - has been one of the league’s worst in 2025. Whether it’s missed tackles, blown coverages, or an inability to generate pressure, the unit has failed to complement an offense that desperately needed support.
Two straight seasons of early injuries and late collapses have left Bengals fans wondering if this core can ever put it all together. The talent is there.
But the execution? Not even close.
Baltimore Ravens: A Season of Missed Chances
This was supposed to be the year for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. Instead, it’s been a frustrating rollercoaster.
Baltimore opened the season 1-5, immediately putting themselves in a deep hole. To their credit, they clawed their way back into the playoff picture - but a 27-22 loss to the Steelers on December 7 may have been the gut punch that ends their comeback bid.
There’s still a path to the postseason, but it runs directly through Pittsburgh in a rematch that now feels like a must-win. And with Mahomes and Burrow both sidelined from the playoff race, the door was wide open for Jackson to take center stage. That makes this season feel like a missed opportunity - not just for the Ravens, but for their star quarterback’s legacy.
Baltimore has the pieces. But for yet another year, the timing hasn’t lined up.
Minnesota Vikings: Quarterback Questions and a Steep Drop
After a 14-3 campaign in 2024, the Vikings looked like a team on the rise. But heading into Week 16 of 2025, they’re sitting at 6-8 - and the reasons are clear.
The difference? Quarterback play.
Last season, Sam Darnold delivered a Pro Bowl-caliber performance that helped Minnesota punch above its weight. This year, the Vikings handed the keys to rookie J.J.
McCarthy, and while the young QB has flashed potential, the growing pains have been real.
McCarthy’s inexperience has shown up in critical moments, and the offense has struggled to find consistency. Meanwhile, Darnold - now in Seattle - has the Seahawks cruising at 11-3, adding salt to the wound for Vikings fans.
The long-term bet on McCarthy might still pay off, but in the short term, Minnesota went from contender to afterthought.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: From Hot Start to Cold Reality
Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers came out swinging in 2025, riding a hot start that had fans believing in another playoff push. But the wheels have come off in a big way.
Tampa Bay has dropped five of its last six games, and the offense has regressed sharply during that stretch. Mayfield, who threw just two interceptions over the first nine games, has thrown five during the Bucs’ recent 1-5 skid. The mistakes have piled up, and the margin for error has disappeared.
Now, the Buccaneers are clinging to playoff hopes by a thread. The early-season promise is still there in flashes, but the recent slide has exposed the team’s lack of consistency - and raised questions about whether Mayfield can lead this group back to the postseason.
Final Word
Every NFL season has its surprises - both good and bad. For these five teams, 2025 has been a harsh reminder that talent alone doesn’t guarantee success. Injuries, regression, and missed chances have defined their seasons, and now the focus shifts to what comes next.
In a league where windows open and close quickly, the offseason can't come soon enough for these franchises.