Four weeks into the 2025 NFL season, and the chasm between the league’s Super Bowl contenders and its also-rans is apparent to even the most biased supporters. On one end of the spectrum, the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles command the spotlight, with both teams remaining undefeated and unrelenting.
At Orchard Park, Josh Allen orchestrates the league’s most explosive offense, with the Bills lighting up opposition defenses for over 30 points per game as he looks to lead his side to the top of the mountain for the first time. Meanwhile, the reigning champions keep grinding out results on the back of a defense giving up a league-low 52 points through four weeks. Together, these two heavyweights have set a tone of utter authority, and it comes as no surprise that online NFL betting sites make them the teams to beat in the hunt for the Lombardi.
The latest NFL betting at Bovada odds unsurprisingly make the two unbeaten contenders the two frontrunners for Super Bowl glory this term. Allen’s Bills are currently the +450 outright favorites to leave Levi’s Stadium as champions next February, with Jalen Hurts’ Eagles just behind at +600. But what about the opposite end of the spectrum?
As these two modern giants chart a course for postseason glory, the league’s shadows lengthen over a handful of others. Misfires, chronic inefficiency, and locker room tension have gripped teams that—just weeks ago—dared to hope. With a third of the season’s opening chapter complete, the verdict on two franchises is loud, clear, and damning: fade, fade, and fade again.
Cincinnati Bengals
Heading into 2025, the Cincinnati Bengals were considered a dark horse for the Lombardi. Joe Burrow headed into the new season after a record-breaking year in 2024, topping the league in all throwing metrics. His primary targets, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, were both tied down to new contracts, while sack leader Trey Hendrickson also confirmed he will remain at Paycor till next year at the very least. What a difference a month makes.
Things started going wrong as early as week two, with superstar Burrow downed with yet another injury, his third potential season-ender throughout the first six years of his career. He went into the treatment tent midway through a week two win over Jacksonville, and he may not return at all this season. Backup Jake Browning has since taken over under center, and while he managed to somehow steer Cincy to a win in that clash against the Jaguars, things have gone horribly wrong in the two weeks since.
The Bengals were blown out by the Vikings in week three, with the 48-10 defeat the worst in franchise history. Then, a week later, they were thumped 28-3 by the Broncos in primetime, managing a paltry 159 yards of total offense in the process. Now sitting at 2-2, they’re gasping for air, and the impending visit of the rampant Detroit Lions certainly isn’t something to look forward to.
The Bengals might be cooked 😬
— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) September 21, 2025
Without Burrow at the helm, a playbook once defined by creativity and aggression has all but evaporated. The numbers tell the story: Cincinnati ranks 29th in points per game and has plummeted to bottom-five marks in yards per play and third-down conversions. To make matters worse, the ground game is virtually non-existent, with sub-90-yard outputs each week and a paltry average of 3.3 yards per carry. Most concerning, the offensive line has turned into a liability, already surrendering 12 sacks and leaving whoever lines up under center in constant peril.
There is no guarantee that Burrow will be back before the end of the season. Even so, the front office refuses to pull the trigger on a replacement, even though the likes of Jameis Winston, Kirk Cousins, and Shedeur Sanders could be available. Facing the AFC North’s hellish lineup in the coming weeks, the Bengals’ chances of turning this ship around before Burrow’s healthy return seem remote at best.
Carolina Panthers
A coaching change. A first-overall-pick quarterback. Yet the nightmare endures in Charlotte. At 1-3, the Panthers’ flaws remain glaring and remarkably consistent with last year’s disaster. Defensively, Carolina is hemorrhaging points at a 27.4-per-game clip and ranks 31st against the run—a staggering 153.5 yards allowed each week. Open-field tackling remains a lost art, and the secondary’s penchant for surrendering game-breaking passes is as predictable as the sunrise.
Bryce Young’s NFL apprenticeship has been bruising. His 15 sacks (an NFL high) are as much an indictment of the offensive line as they are a cautionary tale in franchise management. The 2023 number one overall pick is under siege from the snap and forced into checkdowns—62% of his throws travel less than five yards in the air, a damning stat for a franchise QB. The rushing “attack” is a misnomer: Chuba Hubbard is both lifeline and liability, with ball security haunting a unit lacking rhythm or confidence.
What about their lone win? Their stunning 30-0 shutout of the Atlanta Falcons certainly seems impressive on paper, but this was a case of the Georgians beating themselves. Three turnovers and going for 3/16 on third and fourth down conversions is a surefire way to lose a game. The Panthers duly took advantage, but they won’t be handed any more victories on a silver platter quite like that one.
