5 NFL teams under the most pressure in 2025
Which teams need to get it right in 2025?
Under pressure is one of the hardest places to live in the NFL, both on and off the field. Pressure forces teams and players to act irrationally in hopes to ease the pressure, leading to disasters on the field like sacks and interceptions--and more questions to be answered off the field. This year, there are a lot of teams under pressure to win right away, or repeat the success they had last year. Whether it be to save a big swing at the QB spot, or the constant growth of the team leading to what should be a playoff appearance. Pressure can make diamonds, or burst pipes--which teams are under the most pressure in 2025?
Indianapolis Colts
If you want a look into the story pitching process, I pitched this story with the Colts in mind. I don’t think there’s a hotter seat than the one GM Chris Ballard and HC Shane Steichen sit in, and the pressure is on to finally take the reins in a division that resembles Fury Road more than true competitiveness. The Anthony Richardson era is on its’ last legs, and the answer for competition is...Daniel Jones. Yeah that’s really inspiring. On top of that, the offensive line is going through some changes and the receiver room (while talented) can never put together consecutive games of good play.
The AFC South is right there for grabs, but it feels like the Colts are slipping further and further behind, even with the Texans revamping their offensive line and Jaguars undergoing another regime change. The Colts should have the talent defensively and playcalling to become a factor, but if this doesn’t work out, it could spell the end for Ballard, Richardson and Steichen in Indy.
Buffalo Bills/Baltimore Ravens
I’m including both teams here because the question is simple: if not now, when? The window is open with both teams having elite QBs, but this could be the most vulnerable Chiefs team we’ve seen in a long time. With Buffalo and Baltimore being as strong as they are, they go into the season as two of the favorites to win the whole thing. However, for reasons unknown to man, they get to the playoffs against Kansas City (and each other) and forget how to play football. The Ravens have an argument for the best roster in football and the continuity of keeping both coordinators, and the Bills aren’t far behind. With two of the best QBs in football, the time should be now for them to make a Super Bowl. If they don’t, the questions will only get louder.
Arizona Cardinals
One of the other teams I thought about when pitching this story, the Cardinals are on the precipice of being great. They finished the 2024 season in the top ten of defensive EPA per play and continued to add to that side of the ball, and have stars at the important skill positions on offense. However, the biggest question lies at signal caller. Kyler Murray is incredibly talented, but can he work in this offense and WR Marvin Harrison Jr? Last season, Murray and Harrison Jr. looked far too out of sync to make an impact, missing on fade routes and communication being completely off. For a team that hopes to make the playoffs for the first time since 2019, Murray and the Cardinals are under immense pressure to get it right this year.
Pittsburgh Steelers
I mean, we can’t write this without having the Steelers on here. This team is built to make it to the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs, and I think that’s what they’d consider a successful season. The Steelers are under a lot of pressure this season because this version of the Steelers might not be around for much longer. Rodgers has insinuated that this would be his last year, Cam Heyward is on his last legs and this team isn’t exactly built for the future. Yet, Steelers fans have wanted more than just to bow out in the Wild Card. If the Steelers succumb to the same fate, would this season be considered a failure? What happens to GM Omar Khan in that situation? The pressure is on in Pittsburgh to do something of consequence in the playoffs, but the question is if they’re built to do that.