Gearing up for the 2025-26 NFL Season, we collected analysis from RotoWire.com experts and opinions fans across Reddit.com to see which NFL teams are most likely to disappoint. For the fan analysis, we asked fans across each NFL subreddit to see which teams they think are set to disappoint this upcoming season.
For up-to-the-minute updates on injuries, news and everything going on around the NFL, head to RotoWire's NFL Fantasy Football News Today or follow @RotoWireNFL on X.
RotoWire Analysis: Teams That Will Disappoint
Team | Percentage of Votes |
Minnesota Vikings | 25% |
Denver Broncos | 25% |
Detroit Lions | 25% |
Chicago Bears | 25% |
Expert Opinions On NFL Disappointments
Christopher Boan: Minnesota Vikings - "I think J.J. McCarthy will prove to be a bit of a bust at QB and I'm not convinced that Kevin O'Connell can simply plug in a QB and have overnight success at that position long term. I think an 8-9 or 7-10 season is on the horizon for the Vikings."
Steve Bittenbender: Denver Broncos -" Denver went 4-0 against the NFC South last season, a big reason the Broncos earned a wild card spot (aside from the fact they played KC's second stringers in a must win Week 17 contest). This year, they'll play the NFC East. It also doesn't help matters that the Raiders may be more improved."
Jim Coventry: Detroit Lions - "Turnover on the interior offensive line, loss of both their offensive and defensive coordinators, and QB Jared Goff will regress as a result."
Kevin O'Brien: Chicago Bears - "Did I think Caleb Williams was destined for a Mahomes-level career during his Heisman season? Yes. Am I a biased Packers fan? Perhaps. But I haven't seen the same Williams since, and it's the same story year after year with the Bears. I need to see it until I believe it, and until then I'll always expect them to fall short of expectations."
Visit our NFL betting section for the latest NFL odds from multiple sportsbooks, featuring moneyline data, point spreads, point totals, futures, player props and more.
Fan Analysis: What NFL Teams Will Disappoint This Season?
Rank | Team | Percentage of Votes |
1 | Washington Commanders | 18.9% |
2 | Kansas City Chiefs | 13.4% |
T3 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 8.4% |
T3 | Detroit Lions | 8.4% |
5 | Cincinnati Bengals | 6.3% |
6 | Dallas Cowboys | 5.9% |
T7 | San Francisco 49ers | 4.2% |
T7 | Minnesota Vikings | 4.2% |
T9 | Baltimore Ravens | 2.9% |
T9 | Buffalo Bills | 2.9% |
T11 | Chicago Bears | 2.5% |
T11 | Cleveland Browns | 2.5% |
T11 | Houston Texans | 2.5% |
T11 | Denver Broncos | 2.5% |
T15 | New Orleans Saints | 2.1% |
T15 | Los Angeles Chargers | 2.1% |
T17 | Arizona Cardinals | 1.7% |
T17 | Indianapolis Colts | 1.7% |
T17 | Los Angeles Rams | 1.7% |
T20 | New York Jets | 1.3% |
T20 | Philadelphia Eagles | 1.3% |
22 | Miami Dolphins | 0.8% |
T23 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 0.4% |
T23 | Las Vegas Raiders | 0.4% |
T23 | Seattle Seahawks | 0.4% |
T23 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0.4% |
On the heels of the club's first NFC Championship Game berth since 1991, it appears that the newfound glory for the Washington Commanders won't last long. That's the summation from NFL fans that responded to our survey, at least, as the NFC East stalwarts in the Nation's Capital finished with the highest percentage of votes when it came to teams that were expected to disappoint in 2025, coming in at 18.9%.
While Jayden Daniels and the Commanders enter 2025 with the ninth best playoff odds in the 32-team NFL, per the team at DraftKings Sportsbook (at -155), the franchise's newfound confidence is not shared by football fans at large, with Washington finishing ahead of other NFL postseason stalwarts like the reigning AFC-champion Kansas City Chiefs (13.4%) on our 2025 disappointing teams list, while the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions each got 8.4% of the total vote to finish in a tie for third and the Cincinnati Bengals placed fifth at 6.3%.
Of the top five disappointing teams, the Chiefs have the best postseason odds on the New York-based sportsbook, ranking fourth leaguewide at -380, while the Lions (-185), Commanders and Bengals (-150) are next in line. Of the top five, only the Bengals missed the postseason a year ago, with Joe Burrow and company going 9-8 for a second straight season and finding themselves on the outside looking at the field for the second year in a row.
This fall, it seems like NFL fans are betting on Burrow and company to face more sorrow come postseason time, as the Bengals join a few of the league's highest achieving teams from 2024 on this year's list of franchises that are expected to disappoint the most come the 2025 season.
New to NFL betting? Check out the best sportsbook promos to find the sportsbook that's right for you, featuring the top sign-up bonuses.
