Grant Bodendorf The 2025 NFL season seemed like something out of a fever dream. We saw teams go from last in the division last year to being the second seed in the NFC. We also saw teams like the Commanders go from an NFC championship appearance to being eliminated from the playoffs by week 15. This year, there isn’t a clear favorite to win the Super Bowl. Both the NFC and AFC are wide open, and every team in the playoffs has a chance of making it to the Super Bowl.
One of the most interesting teams this season has been the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers were one of the most entertaining teams to watch this year. In 2024, they finished with a record of 5-12, and the only glimpse of hope in Carolina was Bryce Young, who was still an unproven QB. But in 2025, it all changed somehow. Bryce Young would finally have the breakout year everyone was waiting for, and he led the Panthers to an 8-9 record and a playoff appearance.
Embed from Getty ImagesBryce Young wasn’t the only reason for the Panthers success, though. The rookie WR Tet McMillian had a great season and was the perfect weapon for a developing QB like Young. Tet finished with 1K yards, and he’s already looking like one of the best contested catchers in the league. It didn’t look too good for Carolina at the beginning of the season, but they managed two massive upset wins over Green Bay and the LA Rams.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhen it was time for the playoffs, the Panthers didn’t disappoint. They played against the Rams in the first wild-card game of the year. It was a spectacular game, and the Panthers did the best they could, but they couldn’t stop Matthew Stafford from driving down the field with a game-winning TD drive. Even though they lost in the wild card, the future looks bright for the Panthers, and they could be a real threat next season.
Then there’s the biggest underdog story of the year. The Chicago Bears essentially underwent a mini-rebuild over the offseason. They completely revamped the offensive line and hired Ben Johnson, widely considered the NFL’s greatest offensive-minded coach. The Bears also drafted Caleb Williams with more weapons, but to many fans and most of the league, the Bears still didn’t look scary. The Bears and their fans always seem to have a great offseason, but they always underperform. But that would not be the case this year. Ben Johnson would create a whole new atmosphere and culture in Chicago.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe first couple of games for the Bears would be shaky, but as the season goes on, the Bears would begin to win big games in magical ways. On black Friday, the Bears would play the defending champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. Everyone expected the Eagles to win this game, as the Bears would still not be taken seriously. However, the Bears would go into Philly and beat the Eagles easily. After this win, the Bears would have the whole NFL on notice. Even after this win, people still had some doubts. So when the Bears beat the Packers in week 17, the Bears would have no one doubting them, and they would win the division.
Embed from Getty ImagesGoing into the playoffs, they would play none other than the Green Bay Packers again. The game would be in Chicago as the Bears would be looking to deliver Chicago’s first playoff win in 16 years. However, Green Bay had other plans. The Packers would go up 21-3, and all hopes Bears fans had would go down the drain. Jordan Love and the Packers would have their way with Chicago’s defense in the first two quarters and a half. The Bears started to show some signs of life in the late third, but they were still down multiple scores heading into the 4th. But somehow and some way, the Bears would end up winning that game. To most Bears fans, this is the best win they’ve ever seen their team have.
Grant Bodendorf is a junior member of the Multimedia Journalism class.
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