Hello readers! The wait is almost over as less than a week away will be the National Football League's Opening Night as the Detroit Lions go out to Arrowhead to take on the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. The season will be intense and no doubt produce some shockers and disappointments. It will be interesting year for Pick 'Ems as I will go with Cardinal Viking (my former roommate) for the seventh season! Alright enough talk! Let's get to the predictions!
NFL 2023 Regular Season Predictions
Before we get to the predictions I feel a disclaimer is in order. I do not work for the NFL, or for its TV partners, I do not get paid to do these predictions, this is all for fun. If I get most of these wrong, oh well, if I get it right, then oh well. Anyway let's totally make my future self proud with these come the week after this year's Super Bowl! Let's get to the picks!
Let's start with the NFC...
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys (1st in NFC East): Big D did alright last year and they could pull away with the division. It's a make-or-break year for Dak Prescott. The loss of a big back like Ezekiel Elliot will be tough to swallow but they do have a younger back in Tony Pollard. With additions of Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore to the two sides of the ball, I think the 'Boys can overtake the division. It's tough to call but I think they'll pull it off.
Philadelphia Eagles (2nd in NFC East): The defending NFC champions made some big progress in 2022 but the balance of nature in the NFL is that the Super Bowl loser fails to make it back to the big game the following year. Still, they have most of their starters back and they have stayed healthy through the duration of last year. I think they will regress a bit.
New York Giants (3rd in NFC East): Big Blue made some heads turn in 2022. With a playoff win for the first time since 2011, the G Men have some questions going into 2023. Can Daniel Jones take the next step? Will the defense improve overall? Can Saquon Barkley be the stud that the Giants need him to be? I doubt it but they could make the playoffs if the circumstances fit them.
Washington Commanders (4th in NFC East): Washington made some big news in the offseason with the ownership change from Dan Snyder to the ownership group with Magic Johnson. The new regime's first stint will be a trying one as they do have some good pieces with running back and a good defense. The questions loom largely in quarterback and offensive line. It could be still a rebuilding year for the Hogs.
The NFC East sent three teams to the playoffs last year compared to the at least two playoff teams that I had thought would happen in 2022. This division is a head scratcher as no team has yet to repeat winning it. This season seems like its a Eagles vs Cowboys showdown.
NFC North
Detroit Lions (1st in NFC North): Oh boy, did I ever think that I would pick the Lions to win the North? Jokes aside, the Motor City team has a lot of good pieces to them. Jared Goff has matured into a solid quarterback with a good offense and a defense that can pound people. It's a risky move putting these guys to win the division but I think the Lions can do it.
Minnesota Vikings (2nd in NFC North): The Purple Gang had a rough offseason with a lot of cap shedding. Such losses include Adam Thielen, Dalvin Cook and Eric Kendricks will be felt throughout the team. Vikings fans can look forward to seeing the best passing attack in the league as well as Brian Flores molding a defensive unit into improved status. Unfortunately the rest of the team is lacking. I think they should take a chance at a playoff spot.
Green Bay Packers (3rd in NFC North): Aaron Rodgers out, Jordan Love in as a new era begins in Green Bay. The jury is still out on Love who has had a mixed bag of success so far in the league. It's safe to say that the floor for the Packers is five or six wins. For success to happen the defense will have to step up and play ball after so many years of regressing during the Rodgers years.
Chicago Bears (4th in NFC North): Every time I try to think about this team, the worse my head hurts as I am not sure what they are. They didn't really improve on offense and defense. I think they could make a three win jump but that's the ceiling. It seems that the question mark is on Justin Fields and an offense that lacks any justification of being good. It could be a tough year in Chicago.
The NFC North will be a shaky division at best. They just don't have a team that screams out a winner. Detroit could win it but past is the past and they can only prove it on the field to make people change their minds. It's a wide open division.
NFC South
New Orleans Saints (1st in NFC South): Derek Carr made a career change and went from Las Vegas to New Orleans. The quarterback is still a solid option and they have good pieces on offense to put the ball in motion. It could be a good season in the Big Easy as they finally get past the shadow of Tom Brady's hold on the division.
Atlanta Falcons (2nd in NFC South): Desmond Ridder is still a question mark in the quarterback spot but the Falcons could be a good option for predictors for the NFC South winner. The defense should be alright but the offense that Ridder will command will be solid. It seems that the South is a division that is wide open. It could be a playoff spot for the Falcons in the future but I question how good the team can be.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3rd in NFC South): The Bucs winning the division last year in a squeaker just showed that Tom Brady was just one of the many reasons why the Buccaneers will regress in 2023. Both sides of the ball just don't look as good as they were in 2020 or 2021. Still they do have Baker Mayfield as an option at quarterback but I don't know if he is the answer to their problems. Might have to pop in that 2020 championship video Bucs fans, it could be a rough one.
Carolina Panthers (4th in NFC South): Carolina had a rough season last year but did manage to rebound a bit to make it a 7-10 campaign. With a new head coach in Frank Reich and Bryce Young out of Alabama as a rookie quarterback, it could be some growing pains in Panthers Country. They should see some offensive improvements from 2022. With the rest of the teams in this division, the NFC South is wide open. I could see the Panthers making a jump.
The NFC South is kind of a mess at the moment but then again it has been that way for a while. Sure Tom Brady did make it relevant again. The NFC South of today is reverting back to Pre-2020 and in more of a wide-open kind of way. I think the Saints could win but you could make a case for the Falcons and Panthers to win it.
NFC West
San Francisco 49ers (1st in NFC West): The Niners fell one game short of going to the Super Bowl. Despite the loss, the Red and Gold look like the preseason favorite to represent the NFC in Las Vegas in February. With both sides of the ball sound and a defense that can be physical. The only real issue with the Niners is staying healthy as they really fell apart during the midway point of last year and limped their way to the NFC Championship.
Los Angeles Rams (2nd in NFC West): The repeat campaign fell short by a long shot. The Rams are an intriguing team that could possibly swing in to 2nd or 3rd depending on if the stars Matthew Stafford and Aaron Donald can stay healthy. With a rebuilt defense the Rams could make some noise but they also are in a better NFC West.
Seattle Seahawks (3rd in NFC West): Seattle had a shocker of a season with Geno Smith. They fell short of a playoff spot but you can't complain all that much with the success that they had. They could do some damage in the division with an improved defense. Smith just has to be a consistent quarterback as he fell off a bit late last year.
Arizona Cardinals (4th in NFC West): The Cards had a rough offseason and this season doesn't look like much will come of it. Letting go of DeAndre Hopkins will only prove that this team has no direction. Along with Kyler Murray's fractured relationship with the front office, it could be a long year for the Cardinals.
It seems that the NFC West is going to be the 49ers and whoever else can fight for that elusive 2nd place in the division. It's a war that the Seahawks and Rams will take on but the Cardinals will see themselves in the basement.
Overall, the NFC seems a bit weaker than last year. The 49ers seem to be the legit team that all the rest of the conference will try to overtake. The Eagles, Cowboys and Saints look like the other teams that could be in contention.
Let's go to the AFC...
AFC East
Buffalo Bills (1st in AFC East): The Bills campaign to win a Super Bowl last year fell short in the Divisional playoff. Despite the step back the Bills still pose to be the class in the division, until proven otherwise. With a revamped Jets and Dolphins, the Bills will have some trouble this year but I still think they can pull off winning the division again.
Miami Dolphins (2nd in AFC East): The Dolphins made it to the playoffs despite all the quarterback issues that they had last year. A lot of the issues that they had were on the offensive side of the ball as Tua Tagovailoa dealt with concussions left and right. If the Dolphins can keep him upright and not cause more harm to his brain he can be a strong team that can make some noise.
New England Patriots (3rd in AFC East): After the Matt Patricia as offensive coordinator experiment failed, the Pats got Bill O'Brien at the helm of an offense that underperformed. It is a big year for Mac Jones to prove to himself and Bill Belichick that he is worth the money that Robert Kraft is willing to give. The defense should be sound as usual. The Patriots could be a real dark horse candidate if they can get their offense back to a time when a guy named Tom Brady was at the helm.
New York Jets (4th in AFC East): The circus is in town and Aaron Rodgers and Dalvin Cook is partially the reason for it. The subsequent New York media will bring in the rest. The Jets in 2023 seem look decent on paper but Rodgers had a letdown of a season in Green Bay. He might have a rebound season with Garrett Wilson but that has yet to be seen.
The AFC East looks like an interesting division in 2023. Buffalo seems to be the class of the division but the Dolphins could be the team that could over take them. New England and New York could push their luck.
AFC North
Cincinnati Bengals (1st in AFC North): The Bengals got a prize in free agency in Orlando Brown. The prize will help out with keeping their other prized asset Joe Burrow upright. With the rest of the division getting a little better, the Bengals will have to keep it up.
Pittsburgh Steelers (2nd in AFC North): The sophomore campaign of Kenny Pickett will prove either he will regress and make the next step. The Steelers defense will still be solid but the offense remains to be in question. If Kenny Pickett moves forth, the Steelers could make it back to the postseason.
Baltimore Ravens (3rd in AFC North): Lamar Jackson finally got the contract he wanted and he has to prove it to the rest of his team and the league. The Ravens still have some pieces that can be a good team but the injury bug has plagued them. I don't trust them to stay healthy this year than they were last year.
Cleveland Browns (4th in AFC North): Cleveland is Cleveland and they will finally have a full season for DeShaun Watson this year. Hopefully his past of sexual assault is behind him. The Browns have a defense with Myles Garrett and Nick Chubb at running back. Maybe it could be a good year for the Brownies but I don't really see it happening.
The AFC North is a division that seems that the Bengals control or dominate. The Steelers or Ravens or even the Browns could bring up the 2nd place in the division. I just don't see anyone other than the Bengals to fall off the cliff.
AFC South
Jacksonville Jaguars (1st in AFC South): The sophomore campaign of Trevor Lawrence brought forth a lot of exciting times for the Jaguars faithful. A lot of the pieces that helped them get a playoff win are still there and with an offense that can put up points like an arcade. It could be a breakout season for the Jags.
Tennessee Titans (2nd in AFC South): The Titans finally got the replacement for AJ Brown in DeAndre Hopkins. The real question is whether or not he can help the Titans. The key to success for the Titans will be whether or not if Derrick Henry will have to carry the Titans one-dimensional offense. If Ryan Tannehill can help get that weight off of the shoulders they have a shot to do some stuff in 2023.
Houston Texans (3rd in AFC South): Houston earned the honor of being the worst team last year. They might not likely do much in 2023 but the additions of C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson via draft could help both sides of the ball for Houston.
Indianapolis Colts (4th in AFC South): With Dan Snyder out at Washington, it could be possible that Jim Irsay is earning the worst NFL owner spot. The drama of Jonathan Taylor is one example of it. The Colts had some hope to do something in 2022 but the four wins last year really put a sting in their hopes of 2023.
The AFC South being not good is nothing new. The Jaguars being a surprise team in 2022 was. The Jaguars are good enough to win the division but the rest of the division is kind of a mess.
AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs (1st in AFC West): The defending champs quest to repeat is kind to be a challenge. A part of their offense is gone via free agency. Their defense could take a step back. The one thing that keeps the Chiefs together is Patrick Mahomes. It could be an interesting title defense for the Chiefs.
Los Angeles Chargers (2nd in AFC West): The seat for Brandon Staley is currently red hot if his team can't figure out the defense on their end. The offense got a boost with Kellen Moore coming from Dallas as offensive coordinator. The hire should make the offense stellar. If the defense can figure it out, they got a good shot to do some damage in 2023.
Denver Broncos (3rd in AFC West): Nathaniel Hackett out and Sean Payton in. The drama between the two will peak in week five when the Jets travel to Denver. Drama aside, the Russell Wilson era started off poorly last year to the point where "Broncos Country, Let's Ride" became a meme. This year is going to be a big year for Wilson if he wants to get back to the level he was at in Seattle.
Las Vegas Raiders (4th in AFC West): Derek Carr out and Jimmy Garoppolo in. The guy has the confidence of a sky high mountain but his health is another question. Garoppolo has failed to mostly stay healthy in a full season. The rest of the offense could be good but their defense was a bit of a trying one to master. It could be a season where the Raiders would be watching the Super Bowl rather than playing in it.
The AFC West could be a solid division where all four teams beat up on each other. Still, the Chiefs should be able to beat the rest of the division and win it for the 8th straight year. The Chargers should be better. The Broncos and Raiders look like teams that could fight for a winning season.
For the AFC, the conference looks like all teams will fight each other as it is stacked. The playoffs could see two wild card teams from the AFC West and East. As far as the NFC and AFC, I think the AFC got a little bit better with Aaron Rodgers at the helm. With Denver getting a better head coach and the Patriots getting a competent offensive coordinator.
NFL Playoff Predictions
With the regular season finishing up the playoff field could be a very diverse one. Here's who I think can make it out of the NFC:
1st seed: San Francisco 49ers
2nd seed: Dallas Cowboys
3rd seed: New Orleans Saints
4th seed: Detroit Lions
5th seed: Philadelphia Eagles
6th seed: Minnesota Vikings
7th seed: Atlanta Falcons
Wild Card Round:
Dallas over Atlanta
Minnesota over New Orleans
Philadelphia over Detroit
Divisional:
San Francisco over Minnesota
Dallas over Philadelphia
Conference Championship:
San Francisco over Dallas
Let's go to the AFC:
1st seed: Cincinnati Bengals
2nd seed: Kansas City Chiefs
3rd seed: Buffalo Bills
4th seed: Jacksonville Jaguars
5th seed: Miami Dolphins
6th seed: Los Angeles Chargers
7th seed: Pittsburgh Steelers
Wild Card Round:
Kansas City over Pittsburgh
Los Angeles over Buffalo
Jacksonville over Miami
Divisional:
Cincinnati over Los Angeles
Jacksonville over Kansas City
Conference Championship:
Cincinnati over Jacksonville
Super Bowl LVIII:
Cincinnati over San Francisco
So overall I am placing a lot of faith on the Bengals to go far. They have a solid offense and defense. I am also placing a lot of faith in San Francisco who can be hit with the injury bug a lot. Anything can happen in the NFL.
NFL Awards Predictions
NFL MVP: Joe Burrow
Offensive Player of the Year: Ja'Marr Chase
Defensive Player of the Year: Micah Parsons
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Anthony Richardson
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Will Anderson Jr
Comeback Player of the Year: Damar Hamlin
Coach of the Year: Dan Campbell, Lions
Bold Predictions:
TJ Watt will get 23 sacks, Trevor Lawrence will throw for 4,500 yards, and Derrick Henry will get the rushing title.
With the predictions post done, expect the Week 1 Picks post sometime on Tuesday. The NFL season is soon upon us!
-Tom
No comments:
Post a Comment