With its gift-giving, family gatherings, and holiday traditions, December is often thought of as a time of joy, but this could not be more different in the football world, as the month marks a stressful time where the race to the playoffs tightens and just one game can make or break a team’s season. Below, I discuss some of the biggest surprises this NFL season, including the Colts’ breakout year, the Patriots’ return to the top, and the Chiefs’ downfall.
The most interesting team this NFL season is the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have been famously mediocre (with a record of 75-78-1) since losing Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning in 2012. Current Colts quarterback Daniel Jones–who had a lackluster start to his NFL journey with the Giants and was cut mid-season in November 2024 only to be picked up by the Vikings practice squad a week later–has totally revitalized his career and the Colt’s offense; he’s now fifth in the league in passing yards (3,041) and seventh in passing touchdowns (19). Complementing Jones’s above-average play, the Colts boast the best running back in the league in Jonathan Taylor, who has had a breakout year, tallying 17 total touchdowns (15 rushing, 2 receiving) and 1,586 all-purpose yards. This also takes pressure off of Jones, as defenses have to worry about both ground and air games, which has contributed to their 8-5 record and second place in the AFC. Unfortunately, during this week’s game (12/14), Jones suffered a devastating Achilles injury that will likely set the Colts back despite an extremely successful season overall. Now the Colts are looking to try and finesse their way into the playoffs with veteran quarterback Philip Rivers, who has returned to the NFL after a five-year absence. With this news, I believe that the Colts still have a shot at the playoffs and are set up for overall success in the coming years, even with Jones out the rest of the season.
Another equally surprising rise to stardom this NFL season is the number-one-seeded New England Patriots. A lot of their success in 2025 has to do with sophomore quarterback Drake Maye, who has been an MVP candidate for much
of the year and truly gone from a rookie QB who was seen as a “project” quarterback to a solidified top-five quarterback in the league. Another major factor in the Patriots’ success is the addition of former Patriot Mike Vrabel, who coached the Titans to a number-one seed in 2022; under his leadership, a young roster has matured into a playoff-caliber team. Finally, New England made some key offseason moves, including drafting offensive tackle Will Campbell fourth overall and signing former All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs. With a veteran coaching staff and stout defense, along with Maye at the helm, the Patriots look destined to return to their old form–the kind that can win their division 17 times in 20 years–and the type of success they haven’t enjoyed since 2019 when they took home their most recent Super Bowl title.
In sharp contrast to the Patriots’ surprising success story, the Kansas City Chiefs have disappointed their fans but let the rest of the league sigh with relief after seeming unbeatable for so long. The Chiefs have run the league in recent years, making the playoffs every season since 2018 and winning three Super Bowls (2023, 2024, 2025) and eight consecutive AFC West championships. This year is different, though. As of midseason, the Chiefs have had many lackluster performances, giving them a dismal record of 6-7. Last year, persevering through close games was the highlight of the Chiefs’ season as they went 11-0 in games decided by 8 points or fewer, but this year has been the complete opposite, as they are 0-6 in this same category, proving that they often fall short at the last minute when fans are hoping for an exciting finish. This disappointment at the end of games is largely due to numerous offensive woes, including being in the top 5 in drops. It’s doubtful things will improve since Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL in their last game (12/14) against division rival the Los Angeles Chargers. This crushing loss leaves Kansas City’s fate up in the air, though we do know the team is out of playoff contention.
This NFL season has undoubtedly been one of the craziest in a long time. Even as the season closes, there is really no team that pulls away from the rest, so more surprises may be on the way. This season should serve as a reminder to some teams that what they think is a championship-caliber roster can fall apart, while also being a beacon of hope to some struggling teams that a couple of offseason moves can shift the trajectory of their franchise.
