With the way the Philadelphia Eagles dominated the league in 2024, all 31 other teams know that if they want to win the Super Bowl, those hopes and aspirations will have to go through the defending champs first.
If last year was any indication, though, there aren't many teams who will be able to keep pace with the Eagles moving forward.
But ...
The Washington Commanders may have something to say about that.
Washington split the series in the regular season last year, but lost by 32 points in the NFC title game just a few months later. Despite the clear gap shown in the playoffs, the Commanders made plenty of additions in the offseason to get closer in talent level of their division rival.
That's why NFL.com analyst Jeffri Chadiha named the Commanders as one of six teams that could dethrone the Eagles as Super Bowl champions this year.
"Washington was the feel-good story of 2024, which amounts to good and bad news," Chadiha said. "The good news is that head coach Dan Quinn immediately established a winning culture within a franchise that had been languishing for years and found a burgeoning superstar in quarterback Jayden Daniels, last year's Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The bad news is that the Commanders won't be sneaking up on anybody any longer."
With Jayden Daniels at quarterback, the Commanders might never be out of a single game this year. That's what happens when you have a franchise signal-caller on the roster.
With the additions like Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil added to the roster, they believe they have enough to finally get past their rivals in the conference.
Will it be enough to get past the Eagles? Only time will tell in that regard.