The NFL is unique in that its short schedule and relatively short careers allow for parity each season. That gives us the confidence to say that in some universe, any team can win if everything goes right.
The NFL is unique in that it only takes one hot streak to win a Super Bowl. Other sports can get hot at the right time and win it all, but they have to make the playoffs after an 82 or 162-game schedule first. Teams can become surprise Super Bowl contenders at any moment. A 17-game schedule with teams making the playoffs just over .500 means anything can happen.
While last year's Super Bowl matchup (Eagles vs. Chiefs) was pretty chalk, some years a complete surprise makes a run. Cincinnati did it just two years ago, arriving on the scene scorching hot and leaving a trail of dust through the AFC before a Super Bowl loss to the Los Angeles Rams. A few years prior, Nick Foles led the Philadelphia Eagles to its first Super Bowl win.
There are examples throughout history. One thing every team has now is hope. Just last season, everyone expected Geno Smith to lead the Seattle Seahawks to the number-one overall pick. Instead, he made the playoffs. The New York Giants got the best possible Daniel Jones, and they even won a playoff game. Jacksonville not only fully bounced back under Doug Pederson, but they made a historic comeback to beat the Chargers. It was the Jaguars' first playoff win in their 2017 run to the AFC Championship.
How do we assess each and every team with the ultimate goal in mind? We'll go division by division (just so we don't have to start with the Arizona Cardinals).
NFL Predictions 2023: One reason every team can win the Super Bowl
Buffalo Bills – Stars and Experience
The Buffalo Bills should be one of the favorites to win it all. They've won 37 games over the past three seasons. Josh Allen is one of the top quarterbacks in football, and he has a plethora of weapons surrounding him. This high-powered offense keeps the Bills in games all year long.
The Bills haven't been able to get over the hump in the postseason. Two years in a row, they've lost against another top AFC team in the Divisional Round. Last season, it was the Bengals. The year before, it was the Chiefs. Ironically, both those teams lost in the AFC Championship Game, but that's for another list.
That experience will help the Bills get over the hump. Stefon Diggs has a ton of playoff experience now (six seasons worth of playoff games), Von Miller is a Super Bowl champion, and the rest of the Bills stars now know what they need to win. It's been a game of inches for the Bills, and if just one inch goes the other way, this team could easily win the Super Bowl.
Miami Dolphins – Talent Over Everything
The Miami Dolphins can absolutely win the Super Bowl. If you looked at the team position by position, not many stand up to what Miami has all over the field. They have a top-three receiving core. Their secondary has a few stars, even with Jalen Ramsey missing most of the season. He will be back for the playoffs, and that's all that matters. From a talent standpoint, not many teams can touch the Dolphins.
Even at the quarterback position, Tua Tagovailoa has just as much talent as Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts and the other top players in the league. When healthy, Tagovailoa has been a superstar. He adjusted his game to fit Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle's skillsets. We saw what he was in college. If he didn't break his hip, he would have caused the most interesting 1-2 at the top of the NFL Draft with Joe Burrow.
That's the issue with the Dolphins. The "if" with Tua Tagovailoa comes up A LOT. First, it was that major hip injury. Now, it's even scarier with his history of concussions. He had two recorded concussions last season, but it might be three.
However, we're talking about a best-case scenario, and the Dolphins absolutely can win it all in a "best-case scenario" situation. It's because of the talent. Star will win the day, especially on offense.
New England Patriots – One Last Hurrah for Bill Belichick
This one is a weird one, but if the New England Patriots are going to win the franchise's seventh Super Bowl title, it will be thanks to the wizardry of Bill Belichick. The Patriots head coach has done some amazing things since Tom Brady left (mostly with the defense), and some puzzling things (Matt Patricia being an offensive coordinator will forever be a top-five worth decision). However, there is no denying that Belichick is one of the top coaching minds of this generation.
The Patriots head coach is getting up there in age, and we're not sure how much longer he can do this at this level. However, wouldn't it make sense if he had one more insane run in him?
The AFC East is a gauntlet this season, with Aaron Rodgers joining the Jets and the previously mentioned Dolphins and Bills. On top of that, the Patriots have the NFC East and AFC West to battle (meaning both Super Bowl participants are on the schedule). They have a rough start, with the Eagles, Dolphins, Jets, and Cowboys right out of the gate. If Belichick even pulls off a playoff appearance, it might be one of his best works yet.
Belichick is also kind of on the hot seat. Robert Kraft has been vocal about his thoughts on the team, and Belichick hasn't been winning enough to deal with his method of coaching. With Bill O'Brien taking over the offense, Belichick can focus completely on shutting down his opponent. The Patriots have a ton of talent, so they can get to the championship if Mac Jones can step up.
New York Jets – Aaron Rodgers Really Was the Final Piece
The New York Jets will have a lot of people in their corner. Their current run on HBO's "Hard Knocks" will build new fans for the franchise. They added one of the game's biggest stars in Aaron Rodgers. Say what you will about Rodgers as a player. He's one of the most recognizable names in the game.
The move wasn't just for star power. The Jets have done that in the past (Tim Tebow, bringing back Darrelle Revis, and Santonio Holmes come to mind), but this is different. Rodgers came to New Jersey to fill that missing piece. The Jets were stacked at every position but quarterback. Breece Hall could become a top running back. Garrett Wilson is already one of the best young receivers in a league full of them. The defense has stars on all units. However, that doesn't work with Zach Wilson and Mike White leading the charge.
Rodgers had a rough season last year, but he was literally MVP the two seasons before that. He was trying to make chicken salad out of… well you know. Now that he's out of Green Bay, he wants to win another Super Bowl.
Rodgers sneakily only has one Super Bowl win in his career. It was the only time he's even appeared in the Super Bowl, and that was more than a decade ago. He was 27 years old back then. If he wants to truly be considered an all-time great, he needs another Super Bowl. Everything could fall into place.
Baltimore Ravens – A Healthy Team… Finally
The Baltimore Ravens have been fighting the injury bug since Lamar Jackson won MVP in the 2019 season. That feels like forever ago (likely because it happened before the pandemic). Since then, the Ravens players haven't been able to stay on the field. Jackson himself missed five games and their playoff game last season.
This year, the Ravens are healthy across the board. Jackson has his health and a brand new contract. J.K. Dobbins is healthy. The newly-signed Odell Beckham Jr. is healthy.
Oh, yeah, the Ravens also completely reloaded on offense. They still have Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews from last year. They added Zay Flowers in the NFL Draft, signed Nelson Agholor, and added Beckham after he took a year off following his torn ACL. This offense went from feeble to stacked overnight.
We talk about the behemoths in the AFC like the Chiefs, Bengals, or Bills, but the Ravens could easily be in that conversation by Week 8. If Jackson comes back to his MVP-level self, then the Ravens just have to keep everyone on the field long enough to win in the playoffs. If this team is healthy as is and they win the AFC North, they might be favorites come playoff time. They just need to finally win their first playoff game with this core, and the rest could snowball.
Cincinnati Bengals – Joe Burrow and His Receivers
Joe Burrow scared the heck out of all of us when he went down with a calf injury early in training camp. He will likely skip everything until Week 1 to hopefully be ready then. Even if Burrow isn't ready right away, nobody should be worried.
The Bengals are going to be very careful with this injury. Trevor Siemian is the current backup, so that likely doesn't help the Bengals win much in the time Burrow is out (if he misses anything). None of that matters for this article. Burrow needs to be healthy in the postseason, and so does his ridiculous trio of wide receivers.
Ja'Marr Chase is fighting Justin Jefferson for the best wide receiver in the world. Tee Higgins might be the best second receiver out there. He would be number one in many different cities. Having Tyler Boyd as a number three is just insane. This trio could help a terrible quarterback win games (which they might have to do early in the season). With Burrow, they can easily win all of the games.
The Bengals have come as close as any team on this list without winning the big one. They made it to the final four the last two seasons. Usually, a team can finally get over the hump. With this offense still intact, they are one of the favorites to win it all.
Cleveland Browns – It's All On Deshaun Watson
This one is pretty obvious. The Cleveland Browns built a roster with talent at many different positions. They have a top running back in Nick Chubb, a defense that could compete with anyone, and its own interesting trio of wide receivers (Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore, and Donovan Peoples-Jones). Like the Jets, the Browns' success comes down to the quarterback. Unlike the Jets, the Browns are facing a lot of questions with Deshaun Watson.
Watson joined the Browns with a ton of controversy. There are few players across the league that are as hated as Watson. He's faced sexual assault allegations during his time in Houston, and the Browns still gave up a haul for him then signed him to a ridiculous fully guaranteed contract. They are all in on Watson. If he doesn't work out, this is going to be yet another failed era of Browns football.
This is where things get very nervous for Browns fans. Watson was pretty terrible last season. Blame rust, the headlines getting to him, or joining a new offense, but Watson looked like a bottom-ten starting QB. That's why the Browns have him starting in Week 1 of the preseason. He still needs to shake off the rust.
Can Watson still be a superstar? He was a top-five quarterback before this all went down. He's only 27 years old. We've never seen a player just "lose it" as they entered their prime. At least, not one that's this good. If he can find it again, watch out for the Browns.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Offensive Talent Meets Offensive Production
On paper, the Pittsburgh Steelers shouldn't be anywhere near the Super Bowl conversation. The stars are too young. They shouldn't be ready to take a step toward immortality just yet. Maybe in the future, but we haven't seen enough from this squad to call this a contender. However, remember this exercise. A majority of these teams need a best-case scenario to get into contention.
The Steelers are no different. Everything has to go right just for the Steelers to get into the playoffs and make noise against the top teams in the NFL. Weirdly, the Steelers are built for everything to go right. Kenny Pickett is going to grow from Year 1 to Year 2. George Pickens has the tools to make the next step. Diontae Johnson can't have a worse season. The same goes for Najee Harris. These players are too talented. They will make moves on the field.
On defense, this team is stacked. Especially in the front seven, few teams have as much talent. T.J. Watt might be the best pass rusher in football. He tied the sacks record without playing a full season. He has to stay healthy, but as long as the Steelers make the playoffs and he's there, he will be a game-changer. The secondary could have some issues, but let's see if the coaching staff can plan around that.
Speaking of coaching staff, is there any better coach at getting the most out of talent? There's a reason Mike Tomlin never had a losing season. He knows exactly what his team needs to win, and that won't change this season. He's also looking for his second Super Bowl, and it's been a while for him, but if anyone can win with this group, it's Tomlin.
Houston Texans – DeMeco Ryans
This is where the arguments border on impossible. Yet, there is a lot to like about the Houston Texans. They are adding more young talent on offense. The defense is decent. Most importantly of all, they hired one of the best defensive coaches in the league to lead this team. Demeco Ryans left the San Francisco 49ers to sign a massive deal in Houston.
Ryans comes in with a lot on the line. In a move that had many scratching their heads, the Texans took C.J. Stroud in the NFL Draft with the second-overall pick, and then they sent a future pick to the Arizona Cardinals so they could trade up to draft Will Anderson Jr. They got their quarterback and a superstar defensive end, but it could come at a hefty cost.
That gives this team all possible motivation to win this year. Losing provides them nothing. Any first-round picks they obtain will come from other teams. With the two star players in Stroud and Anderson, the Texans have the foundation for a winner. With a coach like Ryans, he could build on that foundation.
Nobody expects him to do it this year, but is it that crazy? The AFC South is still bad, so the Texans could figure out what team they are early in the season and still make the playoffs. Once they get in, nothing matters. They can be a seven-win team, but if that's enough to win the South, then they just have to win playoff games. It's a tall task, but a coach like Ryans seems like the right guy to do the impossible.
Indianapolis Colts – Anthony Richardson
The Indianapolis Colts spent years trying to find the answer at the QB position. Since Andrew Luck shocked the world and retired in the preseason, the Colts have tried Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger, and even Nick Foles as starting QB. It's honestly unfathomable how bad it's gone. The Colts finally just pulled the trigger and took Anthony Richardson out of the University of Florida with the fourth-overall pick.
Since the pick, Richardson has looked amazing. He has more hype than Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud combined. His throws are crisp, and he seems to know when to use his legs. People are making insane comparisons, but it seems Richardson has the right composite of skills to succeed in the NFL right away.
The Colts made all those moves for QB because they thought they had enough talent elsewhere. The thought was "only a QB away." It's probably more complicated than that, but what if it's true? What if the Colts just needed a QB?
Jonathan Taylor (as long as he returns) will take an immense load off of Richardson in Year 1. There are few runners like him, and knowing he can get you a first down takes a lot of pressure off a QB. He also will be there for check-downs, another great trait for a young QB. Without Taylor, this team has an even smaller chance to win it all. Right now, Richardson might be just what this Colts team needed to compete with the rest of the AFC.
Jacksonville Jaguars – Trevor Lawrence Takes the Next Step
This one can get very interesting. Trevor Lawrence was expected to be a can't-miss NFL prospect. As a quarterback coming out of Clemson, Lawrence was expected to be Patrick Mahomes on Day 1. He wasn't, but we're starting to understand that was likely Urban Meyer's fault. We've seen some bad college-to-NFL transitions, but none is as bad as Meyer.
With Doug Pederson at the helm, Lawrence found his shine. It started terribly, and there was even chatter Pederson's seat was getting a little warm in season one, but he turned the ship around, won the division, and he even performed a miracle in the playoffs. That experience will do wonderful things for Lawrence.
Lawrence will build on that experience. Ignore the obvious additions the Jaguars made (Calvin Ridley off suspension, re-signing Evan Engram, adding Tank Bigsby and D'Ernest Johnson to the running back room), but the season lies on the shoulders of Lawrence. If he does move into that next level of QB play, the Jaguars will be lifted alongside him.
Many are already putting Lawrence in that second tier of QB behind Mahomes, Allen, and Burrow. He has one successful season, but the reason for that success is why there's optimism in north Florida. Can they win a Super Bowl? Like a lot of the middle-of-the-pack teams on this list, it just takes a little luck and the right players stepping up. No player on this entire list is as important as Trevor Lawrence.
Tennessee Titans – Hopkins Was the Missing Piece
The Tennessee Titans are a team that many have given up on. That seems incredibly premature. They were contenders just a couple of years ago. In the 2021-22 season, the Titans were the number-one seed in the AFC. They lost immediately, but that can't be taken away from them.
There are a lot of questions surrounding the Titans this season. Mike Vrabel has his hands full, that's for sure. His number-one priority is putting the QB position in the best spot to succeed. They have Ryan Tannehill, Malik Willis, and rookie Will Levis on the roster. For this to work, Tannehill has to win that battle and play some of his best football.
To do that, he needs weapons. In comes DeAndre Hopkins. The star wide receiver took a long time to pick his next home after he was cut by the Cardinals. He surprised many when he chose to wear the Titans blue this season. The contract pays him well, so that might have something to do with it. Although, being the number-one receiving option on an interesting offense isn't too bad.
The Titans have Derrick Henry, who is still a top running back. They have former first-round pick Treylon Burks, and they have breakout candidate tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo. Still, Hopkins needs to be a beast if the Titans are going to be legitimate contenders. He needs to help them win the division, get a good seed so they can avoid the deadly teams in the first playoff game, and he needs to be the best skill player on the field when the playoffs do hit.
Denver Broncos – Sean Payton
This one is pretty simple. The Denver Broncos hired Sean Payton to save what was quickly looking like a sunk cost. Russell Wilson was AWFUL last season. We cannot emphasize it enough. It's been a long time since we've seen a drop in production like that. Now, Wilson is looking to bounce back, but for Denver to compete, it is more than that. Payton needs to have his touch on this entire organization.
Payton joined the Broncos in a surprise move this offseason. It was a surprise for one because the Broncos traded their only first-round pick to get him. It was also a surprise because many thought Payton would go for a team that felt closer to a championship. The Broncos don't feel close, but maybe Payton disagrees.
We did consider this Broncos team a contender before last season. If Payton can get a really good season out of Wilson, can't this team make the playoffs? Then, anything can happen. The Broncos could contend with Payton getting the most out of this team.
Payton hasn't been great at avoiding bad headlines this season, getting into a weird cross-country argument with Aaron Rodgers about the previous regime. Now, he has to end those distractions. Maybe they were by design. It got us talking about what really went wrong in Denver last season. Is Payton enough of a change that he can bring this team from five wins to a playoff team? Seems unlikely, but it's definitely not impossible.
Kansas City Chiefs – Patrick Mahomes (duh)
There is no weapon in the NFL as lethal as Patrick Mahomes. There is no player who can change a game by himself like Mahomes. He lost Tyreek Hill, probably the most skilled weapon in football, and he won the Super Bowl the very next season. Mahomes is coming into this exercise as the defending Super Bowl champion, and he has all the tools to accomplish this again.
Mahomes is capable of anything. Can he throw for 6,000 yards? Sure, why not. Would 70 touchdown passes happen with Mahomes? It definitely could. Can the Chiefs go undefeated in the regular season and playoffs? It's only been done once, but we've never seen a player like Mahomes.
There are obviously a lot of moving parts in Kansas City. The receiver room has a lot of upside with Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney leading the way. Marquez Valdes-Scantling is holding down the veteran role. This isn't exactly Joe Burrow-level of help from his receivers, but everyone is confident Mahomes will make this work.
There's not much else to say about Mahomes that hasn't already been said. He is not only a constant Super Bowl contender, but he is likely going to be considered the best ever once it is all said and done. There are bigger goals at play, but for now, we'll settle for another Super Bowl parade in KC.
Las Vegas Raiders – Davante Adams Goes Beast Mode
The Raiders are another team that's expected to see the bottom of the barrel in terms of competition this season, but there are a few things going in this franchise's direction. They have a few stars, including Maxx Crosby, who might take another step forward as a pass rusher. Jimmy Garoppolo signed to be their starting QB after they moved on from Derek Carr.
However, no impact on the Raiders has more value to wins and losses than Davante Adams. He can turn a game in his team's favor by himself. Even last season, with the Raiders basically in the dumpster all season, he still raked.
For the Raiders to be true Super Bowl contenders, Adams needs to have his best season ever. We are talking close to Calvin Johnson's receiving record and 15 touchdowns. We are talking about a historic season from Adams, who again, will have Jimmy G at quarterback. If anyone can make this work, it's Adams.
We've seen historic seasons before from receivers, and they usually lose their magic in the playoffs. After Johnson's record-breaking season, he missed the playoffs. But the year before, he had more than 1,600 yards in the regular season. Then he had 211 yards and two touchdowns in his playoff game. He still lost. Adams can't do it alone, but hopefully for Raiders fans, he can do it as their leader.
Los Angeles Chargers – Austin Ekeler Becomes Marshall Faulk 2.0
Of course, the Los Angeles Chargers need a superstar season from Justin Herbert to be a true contender in the AFC. They've fallen short in every year he's been under center despite superstar additions at other positions. If Herbert isn't one of the best in the NFL, the Chargers aren't taking the next step. That's a given. Something besides that must happen for the Chargers to win its first Super Bowl in franchise history.
It all comes down to Austin Ekeler. The Chargers running back is one of many who were looking for a raise this offseason and left with disappointment. He will have a chip on his shoulder, and he has the talent and opportunity to put together historic numbers.
The St. Louis Rams won a Super Bowl with the "Greatest Show on Turf." It was a collective effort to use offense to destroy teams. However, Marshall Faulk was the key to that offense. His ability to rush and receive made him a threat unlike any in the NFL at that time. Ekeler has to repeat that type of performance if the Chargers have a chance to make it past the gauntlet that is the AFC.
The Chargers need a lot to go right if they are going to win the Super Bowl. Herbert has to be great. Those stars on defense they spent big bucks on must step up. Joey Bosa has to stay healthy. Above all else, they need the best possible season out of Austin Ekeler.
Dallas Cowboys – Insane Playmakers Do Insane Things
Honestly, it feels bad even talking about a Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl. This is a team that is talked about like they've been contenders as long as the Patriots, but they haven't even been to the Super Bowl since the 90s. The Cowboys do have one thing going for them. They have star power that is almost equal to those 90s teams.
Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs, Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Tony Pollard, and Zach Martin would be amazing on any team. The fact they all play together should make them favorites in the NFC. We didn't even mention DeMarcus Lawrence, Brandin Cooks, Stephon Gilmore, and Jabril Cox who could all have amazing seasons.
This is an incredible collection of talent. They should be a top team in the league. The one question surrounding the Cowboys is the coaching staff. Mike McCarthy has to have the hottest seat in the NFL. He just let offensive coordinator Kellen Moore go to the Chargers. This is year three in Dallas. He has two 12-win seasons but just one playoff win.
For the Cowboys to get all the way to the Super Bowl, McCarthy's playmakers must make the most plays. Seems a little too simple, but McCarthy has as much talent as anyone. He needs Dak Prescott to be a top-five QB. He needs every defensive star to stay healthy and play at the top of their games. CeeDee Lamb breaks out further in this scenario. Pollard can carry the load left behind by Ezekiel Elliott. It all comes down to McCarthy getting the most out of his talent.
New York Giants – Daniel Jones Becomes A Star
Like their roommates the New York Jets, the Giants have a decently stacked roster. They're missing the star wide receiver, but they have a top running back who acts like a receiver in Saquon Barkley. The defense on paper looks stacked. Now, it's all down to Daniel Jones.
Unlike the Jets, the Giants were able to stick with their starting QB. In a make-or-break year, Jones stepped up big time. He wasn't given a fifth year, and the Giants challenged him to force their hand. He went out and threw for 3,200 yards, 15 touchdowns, and just 5 interceptions.
Those numbers are quite good, but they aren't great. Jones still has work to do if he wants to live up to his new $160 million contract. Approaching 4,000 yards is a start. Putting up 20+ touchdown passes while keeping his interception percentage low keeps him on the right track. Jones already has a playoff win, taking down Kirk Cousins last season in the Wild Card round.
The Giants can't win the Super Bowl without Jones doing amazing things under center. The Giants know what it's like to win a Super Bowl despite being the underdog. Can they find magic with Daniel Jones like they did with Eli Manning?
Philadelphia Eagles – Stay Healthy
For the first time in a long time, we cannot see a Super Bowl loser hangover happening. The Philadelphia Eagles are way too good to fall off. They lost a few players this offseason, as any Super Bowl team does, but they found ways to replace them with arguably better players.
Saying goodbye to Javon Hargrave in free agency? They drafted Jalen Carter to bolster the defensive line. No more Miles Sanders behind Jalen Hurts? Let's add Rashaad Penny and D'Andre Swift to the mix. Losing T.J. Edwards might hurt at first, but Nakobe Dean is right there to take his place, and Myles Jack provides depth at the Mike.
The Eagles are STACKED. Not only do they have stars at every level of the offense and defense, but they have multiple stars in some positions. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are two of the most dynamic receivers in football. Darius Slay and James Bradberry can both cover just about anyone. Just look at this defense line. Look at it. Carter, Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, and Josh Sweat are a scary foursome.
If the Eagles avoid catastrophic injuries, then they are the favorites to get to the Super Bowl again. It's that simple. Don't let Hurts tear up his knee. Keep Brown from the dreaded hamstring injury. Nothing serious for anyone at corner (even though they have insane depth there right now). Stay healthy, and this team stays scary.
Washington Commanders – New Motivation Under New Ownership
This one might feel like a stretch, but this is so different than any other ownership change. So many franchises had new owners come in, spend a stupid amount of money on players, try to revitalize the franchise overnight, and it usually doesn't work. Josh Harris and his ownership team aren't doing it that way. With the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, they let it happen naturally. Sure, that led to extensive rebuilds for both franchises, but at least now both are championship contenders in their respective sports.
For the Washington Commanders, just knowing they could be looking at a new era where Dan Snyder is no longer involved might motivate the team. Do we think any player is thinking of Harris on third down? No, but the overall motivation will change.
The Commanders are in a strange spot, relying on Sam Howell to win games. The former North Carolina product has an uphill climb to prosperity, but Ron Rivera might be the right coach to take him there. They have really good players on both sides of the ball, and we haven't even seen the best out of players like Brian Robinson, Chase Young, Montez Sweat, and Jahan Dotson yet.
The Commanders are in much better hands now than they were at this time last season. This team has the right minds at the top for the first time this millennium. Will that lead to success this season? History says no, but history is wrong all the time.
Chicago Bears – Justin Fields Learns How To Throw
This one is simple enough. Justin Fields needs to become a true dual threat at QB. He might be considered a dual threat because he's technically a quarterback, but really he's a threat as a runner and just exists as a thrower. At least, that's what he was last season. He had struggles with accuracy and time.
This season, the Bears did a better job of building around him. After seeing a pretty round wide receiver room, D.J. Moore joins Chase Claypool and Darnell Mooney to make a surprisingly decent position group. Add in Cole Kmet and Khalil Herbert, and this is at least an interesting offense.
The offensive line is an important position to upgrade. They drafted Darnell Wright in the first round and added Nate Davis in free agency. If those moves work and Fields gains time in the pocket, he can show us if he can become a thrower. He didn't really have a chance last season. While he can outrun the defense, that isn't winning the Chicago Bears a Super Bowl.
Everything is falling into place for Fields to show what he can really do as a quarterback. He has a cannon. If he can use it to make big plays along with the big plays he makes with his legs, it could actually lead to wins. Can he keep winning all the way to the Big Game? With a weak NFC North, we suppose it's possible.
Detroit Lions – Easy Schedule Builds Early Confidence
Don't let the Detroit Lions get confident. Seriously. This is a team that is already irrationally confident in its abilities. If they actually have wins to back that up? This becomes a scary team in the NFC. The media is very much behind the Lions, who have a boisterous head coach and talent across the depth chart. It's a recipe for headlines, but is it a recipe for success?
Well, the schedule makers threw the Lions a bone, and now they can build confidence even if they play average football. After starting the season on Thursday night against the defending Super Bowl Champion Chiefs, they have extra rest to prepare for the Seattle Seahawks. The Hawks start the season at 4:25, but they play the Lions at 1 p.m. ET in Week 2 on normal rest.
After that, the Lions play the Falcons, Packers, Panthers, and Bucs. Would anyone be surprised if the Lions are 4-2 or 5-1 to start the year? They also have two games against the Bears on the schedule, plus the Broncos and Saints, who could go either way. They don't play the Vikings until Christmas Eve; they might have the division wrapped by then.
If the Lions get to 11 or 12 wins, they will go into the playoffs thinking they are great. While that would cause lesser teams to take their foot off the gas, it will give this team what now becomes rational confidence.
Green Bay Packers – Coaching Overcomes Rodgers's Departure
So… this one might be as difficult an argument as any on this list. While it doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility the Packers could make the playoffs, taking it a step further and calling this team a contender seems out of line. The Packers just traded Aaron Rodgers, their MVP-level QB, and will now give the reigns to Jordan Love.
This team is very young. They are expected to go into the season with four players over 30 years old, and one of them is the punter. Football is becoming a young man's game, with careers getting shorter and teams prioritizing rookie contracts. Still, teams devoid of veteran talent usually have trouble winning.
That's where the coaching comes in. Arguably, coaching is more important to the Packers than any team in the league. There are too many impressionable talents across the roster. The offense could be pretty good with Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon sticking around. The receiver room has talent, and Love is a former first-round pick for a reason.
Matt LaFleur will be the catalyst to finding the right note with this roster. If the Packers can win the Super Bowl (which would be so sweet one year after letting Rodgers walk), it will come from the most masterful coaching job we've ever seen.
Minnesota Vikings – Cousins-Jefferson Find Yet Another Level
The Minnesota Vikings have had a lot of unlikely happenings in the Kirk Cousins era. He's won a lot of games, but he only has two playoff wins, and they are both against the New Orleans Saints in wild fashion. Now, he's trying to figure out how to take another step. Of course, this comes in a contract year. We all know how Cousins performs in his contract years. He's at his best because there is money on the line.
Meanwhile, Justin Jefferson quickly became the best player at his position. He beats teams in many different ways. He can catch a ton of balls close to the line of scrimmage until one breaks. He can beat a defense over the top. Jefferson can run slants all game and still break 150 yards.
Yet, Jefferson and Cousins failed to make any game-changing plays against the Giants in the playoffs. JJ finished the game with 47 yards receiving and -2 yards rushing. It was his second-worst performance of the season. That cannot happen in the playoffs if the Vikings are going to do anything.
In fact, if the Vikings are going to truly contend, the Cousins-Jefferson connection has to find yet another level. They cannot rest on their laurels. Jefferson has to be the best player in the playoffs at any position. He might need 200 yards per game and at least a touchdown, but more likely two. It's a long shot, but if anyone can do it, it's Jefferson.
Atlanta Falcons – Offensive Weapons to Die for
Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, and Cordarrelle Patterson make up just a ridiculous set of weapons. The quarterback is Desmond Ridder. This reminds us of when The Fast and the Furious came out, and it inspired a whole generation of young drivers to buy a Ford Focus and upgrade the engine, add neons, and put in NOS. At the end of the day, it's still a Ford Focus, and this is still an offense led by a below-average quarterback.
Let's say everything goes well. Ridder finds a way to be an average QB. He hits the open targets, and he avoids mistakes. Maybe that's what Taylor Heinicke does. Either way, the best-case scenario here involves all these insane offense weapons to put up insane numbers. London finds consistency and averages 90 yards per game. Pitts is the unfair weapon we once saw with Rob Gronkowski. The rushing attack records 200 yards in its biggest games.
What is going the Falcons' way is this division is awful. Anyone can win the NFC South, and seven wins might do it. We've said it before. Getting in is the first step. Once a team is in, anything can happen.
We suppose there was one other way the Falcons can win it all. A trade. What if the Falcons make the first major midseason QB trade in years? What if they get Trey Lance and he's exactly the player they hoped for? That would be wild, and the Falcons should seriously consider it.
Carolina Panthers – Innovative Offense From Coach to QB
This Carolina Panthers coaching staff went from completely disjointed under Matt Rhule to a fun-loving group under Frank Reich. It's honestly not what we were expecting. There are a lot of positive headlines coming from this coaching staff. Thomas Brown brings a young perspective as offensive coordinator. Josh McCown has always been one of the league's favorite personalities. DeAngelo Hall returns to football to coach his former rival. There's a lot of fun here.
Speaking of fun, let's talk about the number-one overall pick. Bryce Young has fallen under the radar this summer. Analysts are talking about Richardson in Indy, but Young hasn't taken too many headlines outside of the Carolinas. That's perfect. Let them talk about Richardson, Stroud, or whoever else. Young can quietly build his brand on the field.
If the Panthers are going to take a massive step forward this season, they need to be innovative. Young has the skill set to do more with this offense. He can make plays with his legs, but it has to be more than that. We're not saying go full Wildcat, but the Panthers need to find the right formula to surprise defenses on a weekly basis.
Young isn't coming into an offense with a ton of weapons. Adam Theilen is listed as the number-one receiver. Miles Sanders is the running back, but he's already hurt. There are veterans here, but they are closer to the end than the beginning. Young will make the plays that can get this team wins.
New Orleans Saints – A Healthy Roster… For Once
We've written off the New Orleans Saints because of a few rough seasons, but this roster has been dealing with serious cap issues and a laundry list of injuries. They lost more than 150 games to injured reserve last season. It was 130 the season before. This season, the Saints are coming into the year healthy. Seems like it's been forever, but it's true. Heck, even Michael Thomas is healthy.
The Saints had one of the most interesting offseasons we aren't talking about. They added Derek Carr under center. He's going to have a chip the size of Mardi Gras all season located directly on his shoulder. He can throw to Thomas, Chris Olave, and four tight ends in Foster Moreau, Taysom Hill, Juwan Johnson, and… Jimmy Graham??? Say what you will about the names; it's definitely a number of weapons that gives the Saints a level of creativity.
The Saints might not have been great even with a healthy roster last season, but it's hard to deny they would have been better. They lost players at basically every position. Now, they hope to avoid that completely.
Of course, Dennis Allen is still the head coach here. His seat is red hot, and it's up to him to prove he can be a head coach in this league. The Saints decided to let Payton go to Denver after his hiatus, officially signing up for Allen's brand of coaching. Let's see what he can do now that his roster is healthy.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Baker Doesn't Throw It All Away
It's almost strange how little faith analysts have in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This is still largely the roster that won the Super Bowl a few years ago. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are still really, really good. The defense has stars everywhere. Devin White, Vita Vea, and Lavonte David are some of the best at their positions. Todd Bowles knows how to coach a defense. Yet, the Bucs are an afterthought.
That's because the quarterback battle is breeding exactly zero confidence. Baker Mayfield looked terrible in Carolina last season. Kyle Trask isn't the prospect many thought was coming with that second-round pick. Still, both of these talents can figure something out in this offense.
Mayfield is the likely option if the Bucs are becoming a Super Bowl contender. He was at least above average during his peak with the Cleveland Browns. If Mayfield can be a top-16 QB with the Bucs, this team could win the division and more.
It's asking a lot. Mayfield just hasn't looked that good in years. This is why the Browns made the move for Watson in the first place. Mayfield lost it. He's a former first-overall pick, but sometime between his commercials and accolades, Mayfield stopped being a good QB. He's just 28 years old, so it's hard to understand why he lost it during his prime. We have to believe he can get it back.
Arizona Cardinals – Kyler Murray with a Chip on his Shoulder
The Cardinals are the most likely team to win the number-one overall pick. They might lose every game. Seriously. Their over/under win total is 4.5. On paper, that seems generous. Colt McCoy or someone named Clayton Tune could be the starting QB. There's not much else to say beyond that.
There is one thing that can save the Cardinals season, and that's Kyler Murray. The superstar QB is coming into the season hurt, but just about everyone expects the Cardinals to bottom out and draft USC quarterback Caleb Williams. It would be ironic that a bottom-out leads to the Cards replacing a young former first-rounder with a first-overall pick, but that's what Murray is staring at right now.
All this talk has to be getting to Murray. He will either crumble under the pressure (which one can't blame him), or he will rise up like a phoenix and show why he deserved his $230 million contract. He can take over games by himself. He still has a friend in the receiver room in Hollywood Brown. They will build on their chemistry.
Listen, we had to try to sell it. Murray is the key to any Cardinals success. With the Texans' first-round pick in their back pocket, they could push to win and still might be able to draft Williams. It's likely going to go bad in Arizona, but if it doesn't, it's because Murray came back from his ACL tear with a vengeance.
Los Angeles Rams – Stafford, Kupp, Donald Have Magic Last Seasons Together
The Los Angeles Rams had one of the worst Super Bowl hangovers we've ever seen. Matthew Stafford never got healthy from his offseason elbow injury. The injuries continued from there. Cooper Kupp was knocked out and never played after the middle of November. Hopefully, this is enough time for both to return fully healthy this season.
A lot of the major players from the Los Angeles Rams Super Bowl run are gone. However, the three most important pieces are still there. Kupp, Stafford, and Aaron Donald are returning for 2023, despite two possibly retiring at any time.
This is probably the last chance this trio can compete at the highest level. Analysts gave up on the Rams this season after a dreadful 2022. That's probably for the best. Let these stars and head coach Sean McVay fly under the radar, and then they can surprise everyone in the playoffs.
Real talk, would anyone be that surprised if this team is fully healthy and ends up in the NFC Championship Game? The NFC isn't as stacked as the AFC, and the Rams have the top-level players that lead to wins. If it's feasible to make it to the final four, they need just a little bit of luck to win it all.
San Francisco 49ers – This Brock Purdy Thing Works Out
The San Francisco 49ers would be a Super Bowl contender every year if they just could find the right quarterback. Every year, they deal with injuries at an insane level at the worst times. Last year during the NFC Championship Game, they lost both QBs, which led to Brock Purdy trying to win the game with literally one arm. He could not throw the ball. It was so bad, the 49ers were going to sign Philip Rivers if they won.
This offseason, they hope to have three viable options under center. Trey Lance is the one who has the pedigree. He was the third-overall draft pick that the 49ers spent a multitude of picks to trade up for. Injuries derailed his career, and now he's looking up at Brock Purdy. The Niners also signed Sam Darnold for depth.
Purdy will be the starter once the NFL season starts. He was really good in the short time that he was the starter. We'll never know if he could have beaten the Eagles and taken the Niners to the Super Bowl. If the 49ers have a chance to finally win the Super Bowl, Purdy has to keep his game above water.
The 49ers don't need him to be a star. They just need him to be a top-20 QB. The rest of the team is so good, that would be enough to win it all. Stars across the depth chart can carry the offense, defense, and special teams. Purdy needs to do Daniel Jones-type numbers and this team could be Super Bowl bound.
Seattle Seahawks – Depth Players Turn Into Stars
What are the Seattle Seahawks going to do this season? They shocked the world last season by becoming a playoff team with Geno Smith as the team quarterback. Most expected them to have Bryce Young or Anthony Richardson at this point. Instead, they went all in on Smith, building more offensive pieces into the roster.
If they are going to take the next step and be true contenders, what would it take? Obviously, Smith has to at least be consistent. He can't fall off even an inch. He really should be better, but in an ideal world, he can match his full season from 2022. The rest of the team would need to take an insane step forward.
Let's start with the offense. DK Metcalf would be in the conversation of Chase and Jefferson. He can get there. Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba would have to give the Seahawks a top-three receiving trio. Add in Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet at running back, and this offense can turn into something special. Everyone mentioned needs to exceed expectations for this to be a true contender.
The defense also has to emulate the Legion of Boom days. They did bring Bobby Wagner back, but do they have the other pieces to accomplish that? They'd need a lot of lower draft picks to play way above their expectations. It's possible, but we wouldn't recommend betting on it.
