Predictions for the 2023 NFL Season
Predictions for the 2023 NFL Season
Bookmark to laugh at me later!
This is always a fun thing to come back and look at when the season is over. The NFL usually changes a ton every few weeks so a full season provides an extreme level of change.
I’ve always felt like it is easier to get awards correct than divisions and certainly how the playoffs will play out. It’s never stopped me from taking a swing though!
Let’s get into it.
AFC Predictions
Chiefs
Ravens
Bills
Jaguars
Bengals
Dolphins
Chargers
The Chiefs seem to always make it work and they have the best quarterback. Sure an injury or two might derail them from the top spot but that is every team. As long as Mahomes is healthy they’re a threat for the top spot. Lamar Jackson and the new-look Ravens offense is something I am buying. I was so down on Lamar after his rookie year and maybe I have been too high on him in recent years, but I believe he’s going to be an offensive force this year.
The Bills have one of the toughest divisions in all of the NFL. I trust Josh Allen but there’s some uncertainty for the team. Jacksonville should dominate their AFC South and NFC South opponents giving them a nice base. Doug Pederson is fantastic and there’s a chance Lawrence is ready to move up another level.
Joe Burrow’s health scares me enough and I just like the Ravens more overall. I feel strongly the Dolphins will be tough to beat when Tua Tagovailoa is healthy but I can’t sit here and tell you I am worried about Burrow’s health and not mention Tua’s issues. I selected the Chargers over the Jets simply based on the offensive line. I believe the Chargers will protect Justin Herbert better than the Jets will protect Aaron Rodgers.
NFC Predictions
49ers
Cowboys
Saints
Vikings
Eagles
Lions
Seahawks
The 49ers are the best team in their division, two of their division opponents are down, and they’ve had a whole offseason to gameplan with their quarterback and running back. They’re nasty until otherwise noted. I probably am foolishly high on the Dallas Cowboys. Micah Parsons is one of the best players in football and will likely be one of the highest-paid a year from now. The offense added a reliable second pass catcher behind CeeDee Lamb. The division is tough, but I see it with Dallas.
The Saints, with a little argument, have the quarterback advantage in 13 of the 17 games they play. Their defense is older but still solid. The rest of the division is meh. The Vikings have lost plenty of talent but I don’t trust Jordan Love and Justin Fields. I like Kevin O'Connell more than Dan Campbell and I like Kirk Cousins more than Jared Goff. That’s why those teams are there. Eagles have suffered a little drain in the building so they take a small enough step back the Cowboys sneak by. I have zero belief in the Giants so they’re out.
Awards
MVP: Lamar Jackson
Lamar is healthy, paid, and ready to unleash hell.
OPoY: Christian McCaffrey
He’s so damn good and one of the best offensive minds in football has had a whole offseason to integrate him more.
DPoY: Micah Parsons
He will win this then break Nick Bosa’s contract record.
ORoY: Bijan Robinson
I don’t believe any of the quarterbacks will be good enough to beat him. He’s a special talent.
DRoY: Will Anderson
He’s been the favorite since he was drafted and I believe he will carry it wire-to-wire. I predict he has at least 10 sacks and makes the Pro Bowl.
Comeback Player of the Year: Demar Hamlin
There are not many contenders who are even in the same hemisphere as Hamlin for this award.
Coach of the Year: John Harbaugh
They won’t give it to Andy Reid every year, but they probably should. I wanted to say Reid but I will say Harbaugh.
More Predictions
The Arizona Cardinals will be the worst team in football and fire Jonathan Gannon at the end of the season.
The Tennessee Titans will be the worst team in the AFC.
The leading receiver in the NFL will be Tyreek Hill. He will not get his 2,000 yards though.
The Pittsburgh Steelers finally have a losing record under Mike Tomlin. Kenny Pickett plays poorly enough to create serious doubt about his viability as an NFL starter.
The Green Bay Packers are terrible. I don’t believe in Jordan Love or the rest of this roster. They will be better than the Bears, but only slightly.
The Aaron Rodgers and Jets honeymoon is over quickly when the team starts the season with four straight losses.
The Cleveland Browns fire Kevin Stefanski. Jim Schwartz takes over. Not much changes.
The Las Vegas Raiders are chaos and trade multiple players at the trade deadline.
Sean Payton gets two more wins out of Russell Wilson getting the Broncos to seven on the season.
The Indianapolis Colts are one win better than the Titans.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers try to race the Cardinals to the bottom, but they just miss.
The Washington Commanders will change their name, and their head coach in the offseason.
Bryce Young has a tough time getting comfortable with a shaky offensive line and oft-injured wideout room. He still leads rookie quarterbacks in passing touchdowns.
Arthur Smith and the offense of the Falcons keep them in a lot of games but don’t win Atlanta a lot of games.
Super Bowl Pick
NFC Championship: San Francisco 49ers over the Dallas Cowboys
AFC Championship: Baltimore Ravens over the Kansas City Chiefs
San Francisco 49ers over the Baltimore Ravens
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