The reigning Super Bowl LIX champions enter the 2025 season with a target on their backs. Following their dominant 40-22 victory over Kansas City, the Philadelphia Eagles face the classic challenge of repeating as champions. NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks recently identified three NFC contenders poised to challenge Philadelphia for conference supremacy, but his analysis is missing a big name.
Brooks’ top pick, the Los Angeles Rams, makes sense experientially. They pushed the Eagles to their limit during Philadelphia’s championship run, trailing just 28-22 at Lincoln Financial Field with under a minute remaining. That divisional-round battle represents the closest any team came to derailing the Eagles’ Super Bowl express. The addition of Davante Adams alongside Puka Nacua gives Sean McVay a devastating receiver duo, while Matthew Stafford’s veteran leadership and the Rams’ improved defense create a formidable opponent. The McVay-Stafford partnership has already proven it can win championships.
The Washington Commanders present an intriguing rising threat. Jayden Daniels’ remarkable rookie campaign carried Washington to the NFC Championship Game, and the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year now has additional weapons with Deebo Samuel’s arrival and Laremy Tunsil protecting his blind side. If the defense improves with veterans Von Miller and Deatrich Wise joining a core featuring Bobby Wagner and Marshon Lattimore, Washington could leapfrog their division rivals. However, the Terry McLaurin contract dispute threatens to destabilize an offense built around his playmaking ability.
The Green Bay Packers round out Brooks’ top three. A healthy Jordan Love transforms Green Bay into a legitimate contender, with their deep receiving corps featuring multiple interchangeable threats. Josh Jacobs anchors the ground game, while Jeff Hafley’s defensive scheme has confused sophisticated offenses. Love’s availability will determine whether Green Bay can sustain championship-level performance.
Here’s where Brooks’ analysis falls short. The Detroit Lions posted a spectacular 15-2 record yet didn’t crack his top three. This oversight is puzzling considering Detroit tied for the best NFC record and became the first team in franchise history to go undefeated on the road (8-0). The Lions averaged 33.2 points per game, ranking first in the NFL, while allowing just 20.1 points per game.
Despite losing both coordinators, Ben Johnson to Chicago and Aaron Glenn to the New York Jets, head coach Dan Campbell has built a culture that transcends individual departures. The core talent remains intact, from Jared Goff’s precision passing to the dynamic duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Detroit dominated its division at 6-0 and captured a second consecutive NFC North title.
Other NFC teams also deserve consideration. The San Francisco 49ers remain loaded with talent despite their inconsistencies. The Minnesota Vikings finished 14-3 and pushed Detroit during the regular season. Even the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have championship-caliber pieces in place.
The real threat to Philadelphia’s championship defense may be in Detroit, where Campbell’s Lions are ready to prove their success was just the beginning. Eagles fans should watch more than just the three teams NFL.com highlighted. In a conference loaded with talent, the most dangerous threats sometimes hide in plain sight.
