2025 NFL Thrills and Chills, Part 1

By Andrew Livingston

Here’s a brief summary of the highlights and lowlights of Strat-O-Matic’s new football ratings:

ARIZONA

Offense:

Oh Yeah!  Tough season for the Arizona offense, with bright spot TE McBride leading the way once again at TE (YAC B), and Rec 2-TMD catches across the board. Hopefully you can make the most out of HB Demercado 44 carries (7.1 AVG), with SG on 7 wrong LB/OT.

Oh No!   Anytime your franchise QB gets benched for Jacoby Brissett you know it’s going to be a long season. OL will be a major issue as only 1 7 on the line in pass protection, and 2 0’s run blocking.

Defense:

Oh Yeah! Turns out Josh Sweat is the only Cardinal breaking a sweat on defense. He is a 12 (*5) Pass rush and a 45 at ROLB.

 Oh No! Pick your poison, Average to poor with SGs over the card against the run, and Poor against the pass. Good luck stopping teams consistently with this porous defense.

Special Teams:

Oh Yeah PK Ryland 2-12 from XP, 2-7,12 from 40. PR Dorch has +20 on 6

Oh No!    Blocked punt for P Haak on 12.  Pedestrian return game with no explosives.

ATLANTA

Offense:

Oh Yeah! HB Bijan Robinson is a cheat code. The Falcons don’t ride first class, they ride Bijan. Pound the rock, or dump it off (YAC A) and watch him cook, this is an explosive card (93 and a dot) top to bottom. Short gains across the board on 4 to boot, you’ll be entertained playing with him. OL Pass blocking is top notch (5,5,5,7,7).

Oh No! While Bijan is excellent, it will be tough to move the ball through the air consistently. With Cousins/Penix you have two low completion % QBs and it will be hard to create big plays on offense if teams lock in on Bijan.

Defense:

Oh Yeah! A lot of different ways to rush the passer with 8 different defenders having a 5+ Pass rush rating. 3 5’s in the secondary is solid for this avg to good Defense.

Oh No!   Low fumbles, and SGs on 7 on ER,LB, and OT. Will be tough to stop teams in short yardage with this defense.

Special Teams:

Oh Yeah! PK Zane Gonzalez 2-8 from 38, solid punt coverage yards.

Oh No!     Missed XP on 11, LG on kickoff coverage, and no explosive returns.

CAROLINA

Offense

Oh Yeah!  HB Dowdle can run (4.6 AVG) and catches Flat/Short/Long which gives QB Young some flexibility out of the backfield. Dowdle also has SG on 7 wrong OT/ER as well as SGs on 11 right and wrong across the card. QB Young has his first usable card in his young career, though the INT % is a tad high.  Two 7’s on the OL in Pass pro, and 2 5’s and a 6 in Run blocking.

Oh No! QB/WR Fumble 1-4 is a killer, and will linger in the back of everyone’s mind. LT Ekwonu 2 Pass block will hurt against big time pass rushers.

Defense:

Oh Yeah! Average to Good Pass D with solid INTs (2-8 1 man in LP). Both Starting CBs are 6’s.

Oh No!         Extremely low fumble chances. Run Defense is poor, and will give up chunks of yards. 3 0’s in the starting lineup (LE,LILB,SS)

Special Teams:

Oh Yeah! PK Fitzgerald 2-12 XP, 2-10 from 32 and 2-6,11,12 from 40. Excellent kickoff coverage ( +14,+11,+22)

Oh No!    +16 longest punt return, LG on punt coverage.      

CHICAGO

Offense:

Oh Yeah!     The Cardiac Bears led by QB Caleb Williams are loaded with weapons (HB Swift, TE Loveland, WR’s Odunze, Burden, and Moore). The Bears also didn’t turn the ball over much at all with low INTs, and low fumbles on the running back cards, and no QB/WR fumble. In Pass pro, they have 3 7’s and in Run blocking they have 3 6’s.

Oh No! QB Caleb Williams has a 58.1%, and there are a lot of blanks on his card. Trying to complete a flat pass will be a challenge.

Defense:

Oh Yeah! Very good INT chances on SP and LP. FS Kevin Byard III 6-6.

Oh No! LG on 4 with 3 men hurts. Run D only slightly better than poor pass defense, where teams can pick up chunks of yardage.

Special Teams:

Oh Yeah! PK Santos 2-12 XP, 2-7,11,12 from 37.

Oh No! LG on Kickoff coverage

DALLAS

Offense:

Oh Yeah!  Steady QB Dak Prescott card will always keep you in games.  3 7’s in Pass protection will also help keep Dak upright. HB Williams finally provided Dallas with a solid run game to keep defenses honest.  SE Pickens (YAC B) is a great weapon for Dak with catches all over the card including double teamed.

Oh No! TEs who can’t catch long limits the offense. QB/WR 1-3 fumbles.

Defense:        

Oh Yeah! Not much to write home about on this defense other than Trade deadline acquisition RDT Williams being a 6.

Oh No! How ’bout them… mediocrity?'” Low fumbles, and Low INTs. Pass D is very poor, yards all over the place, and teams will move the ball at will. 3 0’s and 7 4’s as starters.

Special Teams:

Oh Yeah! PK Aubrey is excellent, capped off with 2-7,11,12 from 47!  Punt and Kick coverage= very solid. P Anger is steady. Turpin 84 yard Kickoff return on #2.

Oh No!    Missed XP on 12.

DETROIT

Offense:

Oh Yeah!    QB Goff had a very solid season passing for 4500 yards and 34 TDs. This is a card that is very good across FP/SP/LP with a low INT as well.  In Pass Pro, you have 7’s at RT and LT.  HB Gibbs is once again supersonic with big runs littered all over the card. LG’s and 40+ on LB/OT/ER Wrong. Gibbs (YAC A), SE Jameson Williams, FL St Brown give QB Goff a litany of options and makes it hard to stop this offense.

Oh No!    Not many issues with this elite offense, but the TEs not catching long is one negative. C Glasgow being a 3/0 will hurt as well.      

Defense:

Oh Yeah!    LE Hutchinson 6 with a 12 (*4) is elite per usual. DE Muhammad 12 (*1) is enjoyable for flexibility as well.  Run D is good with no short gains on the card.

Oh No ! Pass D is poor and will be hard to stop teams even with a man in long.  Starting LCB 0, and RCB 4 make it even tougher to stop teams who want to air it out.

Special Teams:

Oh Yeah! PR Raymond TD on +2.  P Fox 52+ on +6 or higher is excellent. Punt coverage (+5,+7,+4) is sturdy as well.

Oh No! Missed XP for PK Bates on 12

GREEN BAY

Offense:

Oh Yeah You can certainly win with Love at QB. Low INT, solid across FP/SP/LP, there is a lot to admire here. RT Tom 7/6. HB Jacobs will keep the chains moving with SG on 10 right and wrong and low fumbles. When he was healthy TE Kraft (YAC B) was elite and his card shows that as well with a lot of chunk yardage for a TE. 

Oh No!  4 run blocking 4’s on the OL. Don’t expect your RB’s to break a run longer than 40.

Defense:

Oh Yeah!       When on the field RE Parsons 6, 12 (*2) was the elite game wrecking force we know. McKinney 5/6 at FS is another versatile piece on defense.

Oh No! Low Fumbles, Low INTS. Pass D is swiss cheese even with 4 man in SP teams will complete it on 5 and 6.

Special Teams:

Oh Yeah! P Whealan was fantastic, with a 7 roll being 57 yards, and 2-5 61+. No missed XP for PK McManus and 2-7 from 44 .

Oh No! 2-7 from 23-32 will infuriate coaches late in the game.

LOS ANGELES- NFC

Offense:

Oh Yeah!     MVP QB Stafford will be picking defenses apart with his SP/LP, and has a low INT as well. Rams OL is excellent with 3 7’s in Pass pro making sure the MVP stays upright.   Even though HB Kyren long is 34, he does a great job of picking up 5+ to keep you ahead of the sticks. He also can catch long which is great to keep defenses honest.  HB Corum is a great backup (5.1 AVG) who picks up chunk yardage at will and has SG on 8 right and wrong across the card. FL Puka (YAC B) seems to get better every season and 1715 yards later he has an exceptional card.

Oh No!        Don’t expect to dump it off to these HBs as Corum (YAC D) and Kyren (YAC D) won’t be making people miss.

Defense:

Oh Yeah!   No 0’s in this starting unit. Entire DL is a 5. Good run D will make teams pass and play into Rams hands with two 10+ pass rushers in Young and Verse. They should wreak havoc on opposing teams.

Oh No! All 4 LB’s are a 4 against the pass. Both starting CBs are 4’s as well.

Special Teams:

Oh Yeah!    Kickoff coverage is excellent (+10,+11, +12).

Oh No!   PK Mervis misses an XP on 11. Long Gain on a 12 roll on punt coverage.  2-9,12 from 1-2 and 3-12 yard line is brutal there are no gimmes with Mervis.

MINNESOTA

Offense:

Oh Yeah! FL Jefferson (YAC B)  is always a reliable target . HB Jones (YAC B) can catch long. QB McCarthy has a solid ER wrong with SG on 6,7,8. If you can beg someone to call pass HB Mason has a very good OT wrong card.

Oh No! OL Pass pro is atrocious  (3,0,2,2,3), that is if you wanted to pass with QB Wentz and McCarthy.  Shocking for a KOC run offense to be this inept.

Defense:

Oh Yeah! This Brian Flores led D can GET after the passer. Wilson and Van Ginkel are both 12’s and overall 8 guys are 6+. Pass D is good to excellent with not much on the card at all.

Oh No!  NT 4 isn’t ideal. LILB, RILB, ROLB all a 0 against the pass will be tough to hide as teams will for sure try to exploit that.

Special Teams:

Oh Yeah! 2-12 XP for PK Reichard. 2-10 to the 32 is very solid. Punt coverage is very good all under 10 yards.

Oh No! 2 or 12 from 33-45 will have teams elect to punt instead of going for the deep FG.           

NEW ORLEANS

Offense:

Oh Yeah!  QB Shough finally able to provide stability for the Saints at QB. High completion %, Low INT% all good signs and make his card very usable. 4 5’s in Pass Pro. SE Olave steady and reliable with 2-tmd catches.

Oh No!         QB/WR 1-4 fumble. HBs do not help this young QB out at all. 2 0’s run blocking.

Defense:

Oh Yeah! ROLB 4-4 Young has found his ROY magic with a 12 (*5) Pass rush. On the other side you have star vet Jordan 12 (*6).

Oh No!        RCB Riley 0 will be picked apart. Entire starting DL is a 4.

Special Teams:

Oh Yeah!        PK Smyth 2-12 XP. 2-7 from 40.

Oh No!        Blocked Punt for P Kroeger. Kickoff coverage all 30+, and a long gain on punt coverage.

NEW YORK- NFC

Offense:

Oh Yeah! After years of a stale offense  NYG finally has some excitement with rookie QB/RB duo Dart/ Skattebo. QB Dart ER wrong and MR will keep defenses honest. Skattebo does a good job of getting the hard yards. SE/FL Nabers got hurt early in the season but his card is electric. LG on short 10 wrong as a highlight. FL Robinson became a reliable target for the Giants.

Oh No! LG Runyan (2,0), C JMS 0 pass block are brutal in the interior.

Defense:

Oh Yeah! Elite season from LOLB 5/4 Burns 12 (*11).

Oh No! Low fumbles, Low INTs. SGs on 7 across the board. The pass d is very poor with 2 0’s in the secondary and completions everywhere.

Special Teams:

Oh Yeah!  PK Koo 2-12 XP

Oh No!    LG on punt coverage, Punt Gillan yardage is underwhelming       

PHILADELPHIA

Offense:

Oh Yeah!  Tons of weapons for QB Hurts in  SE Brown, FL Smith, TE Goedert, HB Barkley. Not Hurts best season but can still win with this card. HB Barkley very low fumble and SG across the card on 4. Tush Push (Linebuck) on right 2-10 +1.

Oh No! 1-3 QB/WR fumble. Even though the offense is solid, just like IRL can see how this team has games where they struggle. No real YAC threat.

Defense:

Oh Yeah!        Carter RE 6, Mitchell RCB 6, DeJean CB 6, and Baun LILB 6/5 are the 4 studs on this defense.  Good pass defense with not much on the cards.

Oh No!     LCB and FS 0. SG on LB and OT 7.       

Special Teams:

Oh Yeah!      PK Elliott 2-6,11,12 from 41.

Oh No!       Missed XP on 12.  No big returns.

SAN FRANCISCO

Offense:

Oh Yeah! HB CMC (YAC A) 100+ receptions, and a weapon out of the backfield.  Dominant OL 3 7’s in pass pro and 3 6’s run blocking. QB Mac Jones one of if not the best backup QB in the NFL last season. Always dependable Kittle with 2-tmd catches.

Oh No!    QB Purdy was reckless with the ball and has a very high INT. HB CMC is a workhorse but don’t expect many explosives.

Defense:

Oh Yeah! Run D is good with decent fumbles, but not the SF D of recent years.

Oh No! Nonexistent pass rush (nobody higher than a 5), no defender rated higher than a 5 with 8/11 4’s. Very low INTs.

Special Teams:

Oh Yeah!  PK Pineiro 2-12 XP   2-9,12 from 42 is really good. PR Moore has a +98, and +66 on KR.

Oh No!    LG on punt coverage        

SEATTLE

Offense:

Oh Yeah!  Can see why this team won the SB. LT/RT  7 Pass blocking.  HB Walker has SG across on 3, and excellent right yardage and just an all around good card for the SB MVP.  SE JSN (YAC B) proving why is the best WR in the NFL with catches all over the card ( 2-TMD, LG). TE AJ Barner was a really reliable option for Darnold  and can catch long nicely for a TE.

Oh No!   QB Darnold can turn it over with a LP INT on 9 and a 2.9 INT %.

Defense:

Oh Yeah!      Excellent against the run (No short gains), Good to excellent against the pass (High INT) this SB winning defense flew all over the field.  3 6’s in the starting lineup (LE, DLT, SS).  

Oh No!      Low(ish) fumbles, No pass rush above 7.

Special Teams:

Oh Yeah! Meyers 2-12 XP, and 2-8,12 from 40 yard line. P Dickson excellent yardage. Horton PR TD on 2 and +23 on 6.

Oh No!     Punt coverage is awful (+23, +14, LG).

TAMPA BAY

Offense:

Oh Yeah!    QB Mayfield will sling it to keep you in games.   SE Egbuka with a very solid rookie season.  Low fumbles for the HBs. HB Irving can catch FP/SP/LP.

Oh No!   Both starting Guards are run block 0’s.    No cannons being shot off in that RB room. 1-3 QB/WR fumble.

Defense:

Oh Yeah! 6/6 FS Winfield Jr. Good to excellent run defense with very solid takeaways.

Oh No! 3 of the 4 starting LB are 0’s against the pass. Average to poor pass defense. No pass rusher above a 9.

Special Teams

Oh Yeah!     PR Johnson +54 on 2. PK McLaughlin 2-8, 11,12 from 48

Oh No!  PK McLaughlin missed XP on 12.  P Dixon blocked punt.

WASHINGTON

Offense:

Oh Yeah!  2025 was a tough season for WSH as injuries took their toll and dominated their season. HB Rodriguez has a nice card with SGs across on 9 (OT/ER). HB Croskey-Merritt (AKA Bill) had a nice rookie campaign with SG across the card on 9 right and wrong, with a LG on OT 12 and +72 on ER 12. Tunsil 7/5 at LT.

Oh No! Injuries hit the QB room hard as reigning ROY QB Daniels had multiple injuries. QB Mariotta stepped in and did an admirable job but he had his fair share of injuries as well. He also has an INT across the board on 10 which makes it hard to sustain drives.

Defense:

Oh Yeah!    One can say OLB Von Miller as a 12 sub pass rusher, or MLB Wagner 6 against the run, but the 2025 WSH defense deserves 0 accolades.

Oh No!       No fumbles, low INT. Very poor against the pass, poor against the run. The only way you don’t move the ball against this D is if you use the 2025 Jets offense.

Special Teams:

Oh Yeah! PR Lane TD on 3. Nice KR yardage for McCaffrey.

Oh No!  PK Moody 2-11 on XP. 2-9,12 from 1-2 yard line.