With less than a month to go in the 2023 NFL regular season, the biggest concerns and issues centering around all 32 teams are shaping focus. While some of these problems figure to only be temporary, other clubs face an issue that could set them back for years to come.
As we head into the final quarter of the regular season, let’s analyze every NFL team’s biggest cause for concern right now.
Arizona Cardinals: The Kyler Murray Decision
Murray has looked like his Pro Bowl self since returning to the Cardinals — leaving the team with a potential franchise-changing decision.
Do they keep Murray and continue to build around him? Or do they rebuild from scratch entirely, knowing this roster is extremely flawed and requires plenty of reinforcements?
Murray’s strong play leaves the organization with a tough call. Whatever the decision is, it oughta be the right one. The future of the Cardinals depends on it.
Atlanta Falcons: The Quarterback Room
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The Falcons are the front-runners to win the NFC South…even though they’ve had lackluster QB play all season long.
The question is, can Desmond Ridder and/or Taylor Heinicke do just enough to help Atlanta win the division and potentially win a playoff game…? The rest of the team looks good…
Baltimore Ravens: Health On Offense
When Lamar Jackson is healthy, the Ravens are a bonafide championship contender. But having missed 11 total games over the last two years, you can’t help but naturally remain worried about his well-being.
Baltimore already lost star tight end Mark Andrews and running back JK Dobbins to season-ending injuries. Odell Beckham Jr. is very injury-prone, too.
If the Ravens’ offense can stay healthy, they’re in the mix for the title. That’s a big “IF”, though.
Buffalo Bills: Coaching
As evidenced by all of Buffalo’s gut-wrenching one-score losses, head coach Sean McDermott is losing his grip on in-game management and late-game decision making. He already made a midseason change at OC, but maybe McDermott is the real problem?
It’s playoffs or bust for McDermott — who may or may not be fighting for his job over the final month.
Carolina Panthers: The Entire Offense
It doesn’t reflect well on Carolina when their only productive offensive players are 33-year-old wide receiver Adam Thielen and No. 2 RB Chuba Hubbard.
Bryce Young was playing so bad that David Tepper fired Frank Reich before he even made it to a full year. The o-line is in shambles and Young is completely devoid of weapons to help him grow at the NFL level.
Chicago Bears: To Keep Or Not To Keep Justin Fields?
Like Arizona, the Bears have a tough decision to make with their young starting QB. Do they build around third-year signal-caller Justin Fields — who’s shown tremendous improvement this year — or do they take Caleb Williams or Drake Maye?
Chicago is a lock for a top-two pick thanks to Carolina. If they want Williams or Maye, they have to build a proper team around him ASAP — something they haven’t done with Fields.
Cincinnati Bengals: What’s Wrong With The Defense?
The Bengals can clearly compete with Jake Browning, who guided his team to a stunning upset win in Jacksonville in Week 13. But Joe Burrow’s absence isn’t the main concern at this stage — it’s Lou Anarumo’s defense.
Through Week 13, Cincy was 22nd in scoring D and ranked dead-last in yards allowed per game. How can the Bengals possibly squeak into the playoffs if Lou Anarumo’s D is going to continuously underperform this year?
Cleveland Browns: QB Conundrum
Losing Deshaun Watson for the year suddenly has the Browns’ playoff hopes on life support. PJ Walker wasn’t it, Dorian Thompson-Robinson is a rookie fifth-round pick and Joe Flacco just landed his new gig in late November for a reason.
Cleveland has a top-10 defense and enough offensive weapons to get by. But can they get by with this current QB room?
Dallas Cowboys: The 49ers' Roadblock
Steve Young’s 49ers needed three cracks at the Cowboys in the NFC Championship Game in the ‘90s to finally break through. The ‘94 NFC title game win over Dallas led the 49ers to the franchise’s fifth Super Bowl.
This time, Dak Prescott is playing the role of Young. His last two playoff losses have come at the hands of the 49ers. If the Cowboys meet San Fran in the postseason, will three times prove to be a charm for Dak and company?
If so, Lombardi Trophy No. 6 will be very much within reach.
Denver Broncos: The Defense
The Denver offense has improved drastically under Sean Payton and has thus given Denver life in the postseason race. That said, they won’t complete the miraculous in-season turnaround unless the D gets some kleenexes and stops some nosebleeds. For once.
Through their first 12 games, the Broncos allowed the most rushing yards per game, the fourth-most points per game and ranked 24th against the pass. This Patrick Surtain-led unit has to get going.
Detroit Lions: Lack Of Big-Game Experience
Detroit lost to three other playoff contenders in Seattle, Baltimore and Green Bay. Their lone win against a top-tier team came against the Travis Kelce-less and Chris Jones-less Chiefs in Week 1.
Are the sloppy and mistake-prone Lions capable of beating a more battle-tested team like the 49ers or Eagles come January? That’s’ the No. 1 issue facing Dan Campbell’s group right now.
Green Bay Packers: The Run Defense
The Jordan-Love led Packer offense has slowly-but-surely figured things out — and the Cheeseheads suddenly control their own destiny for a postseason berth.
That said, a talented Green Bay D that’s allowing more than 130 rushing yards per contest is certainly cause for tremendous concern. If Joe Barry’s unit can’t learn to stop the run and get off the field in timely matters, their playoff hopes will be in jeopardy.
Houston Texans: The Secondary
If there’s one thing that might hold this team back from January football…it’s the passing defense.
The Texans are a borderline bottom-five team against the pass, even struggling against mediocre QBs like Gardner Minshew and Baker Mayfield.
It’s time for the Derek Stingley-led secondary to hold up its end of the bargain now.
Indianapolis Colts: Must. Stop. The. Run.
Indy’s high-powered offense has this team in contention for a wild card spot. Incredible without Jonathan Taylor and Anthony Richardson for most of the year.
But the Colts’ main Achilles heel is a real scary-bad one: That run D has been a mess all season long, allowing over 130 yards on the ground per game.
That’s bound to catch up to Shane Steichen’s group if it’s not resolved ASAP. Even folk hero Gardner Minshew II won’t be able to save them if the run D doesn’t pick it up.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Banged-Up Offense
Trevor Lawrence suffered an ankle sprain in Week 13 against the Bengals, and top wideout Christian Kirk will miss time with a core muscle injury.
When healthy, the Jaguars are a clear-cut Super Bowl contender in the loaded AFC. But without a healthy T-Law and without Kirk, the Jaguars might not even make the postseason. They need their other offensive stars to stay healthy — and for Lawrence to have a speedy recovery.
Kansas City Chiefs: The Receiver Room
After the ageless Travis Kelce and rookie sensation Rashee Rice, Patrick Mahomes has nobody to throw to. Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore can’t get open or seem to always drop the most routine passes from No. 15.
If opposing defenses find a way to limit Kelce, how can the defending champs possibly win with Rice as their only other weapon? The other receivers have to step up if KC is to somehow repeat.
Las Vegas Raiders: Offensive Power Outage
Two coaches. Three QBs. We get it, the 2023 Raiders haven’t been a model of stability at those two pivotal positions.
Still, how can an offense be this bad with superstars Josh Jacobs and Davante Adams Jakobi Meyers, Michael Mayer and Hunter Renfrow? The Raiders offense has underachieved mightily this year, and a scorched-earth overhaul has to be considered for this unit if they don’t show any improvement in the final weeks.
Los Angeles Chargers: Coaching
What more is there to stay? We remain stunned that Brandon Staley is still here despite wasting Justin Herbert’s early prime years and a loaded roster that would be a true title contender with the right coach.
We have no hope for the Chargers until a coaching change is made. Good luck finishing this year on a strong note, boys. Too little too late.
Los Angeles Rams: Can The Offense Stay Healthy?
With Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Kyren Williams returning to health, the Rams have re-emerged as a playoff contender in the not-so-loaded NFC.
When the Rams’ core players on offense are healthy, they’re a playoff team. The key words are “when healthy,” though. The Rams need these three — and rookie superstar Puka Nacua — at or near full health to lock down a playoff berth.
Miami Dolphins: Elite Opponents
Miami was overmatched and utterly dominated by their three toughest opponents in the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs — all losses.
The Dolphins didn’t beat a single team with a winning record through Week 13.
Clearly, the Tua Tagovailoa-Tyreek Hill-led offense can absolutely crush weaker teams. But the postseason doesn’t consist of garbage opponents — so we wish Miami luck in winning three or four games over NFL heavyweights to claim a Super Bowl.
Minnesota Vikings: Quarterback
After winning his first two games with Minny, Josh Dobbs came back to earth and lost his next two games — at Denver and at home against Chicago.
The Vikings boast a top-10 D under Brian Flores and plenty of offensive firepower in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson. The only thing that could hold Minny back from a playoff appearance is the QB play.
New England Patriots: The End Of Bill Belichick?
Maybe the game has passed Belichick by. Or maybe he just needs a fresh start?
Keeping Belichick could further set the Patriots back many years…but firing Belichick and watching him succeed elsewhere is also a dangerous game to play. Good luck making this decision that will make or break the franchise, Mr. Kraft!
New Orleans Saints: Derek Carr
The Saints have a borderline top-10 defense and Chris Olave, Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill headlining a deep set of offensive playmakers. Yet they’re unlikely to win the hapless NFC South — even with an awfully weak schedule up to this point.
Derek Carr’s terrible play, sudden injury concerns and outbursts at teammates have led to a forgettable first year in the Big Easy. If Carr can’t figure it out, this will be another wasted season for a team that should’ve commenced a rebuild two years ago… Just sayin’.
New York Giants: The O-Line
The playoff dream was dead for the G-Men a while ago, and the main objective the rest of the way is to figure out the pass protection group.
2022 first-round pick Evan Neal looks like a bust. Rookie center John Michael Schmitz Jr. looks no better, and 2022 breakout star Andrew Thomas has regressed considerably this year.
Regardless of who starts for the Giants behind center next year, they must figure out what they have in this o-line. They gotta keep Tommy DeVito and/or Tyrod Taylor upright, too, if they’re to play spoiler and finish the year on a high note.
New York Jets: The Entire Offense Minus Garrett Wilson & Breece Hall
No offensive line. Atrocious quarterback play all season long. No secondary playmakers to complement Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall. Yep, this Jets’ offense is a Big Apple-sized disaster.
No way the Jets can run it back with this group for Aaron Rodgers next year. They need a whole new offensive line, a No. 2 receiver, a No. 3 receiver, a capable starting tight end and a new RB2 to help Hall in the backfield.
Philadelphia Eagles: The Secondary
Philly’s pass defense was a strength a year ago, but it’s been the club’s only major weakness this year. They sorely miss CJ Gardner-Johnson and have seen their star CB duo of James Bradberry and Darius Slay significantly regress.
The Eagles’ pass D was exposed against the Bills, 49ers, Vikings, Cowboys and Commanders. Can this team really win it all again if their pass D can’t get it going? That’s the million dollar question in Philly…
Pittsburgh Steelers: The Passing Game
Pittsburgh has an elite defense and a top-tier RB duo in Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. But the passing game has been an issue all year long — and now Kenny Pickett is set to miss time to injury.
Pittsburgh looks like a playoff team, but they’ll be one-and-done if this sluggish passing game doesn’t pick it up. No excuses with Dionate Johnson, George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth there.
San Francisco 49ers: Safety First
The 49ers’ lost All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga for the year with a torn ACL, leaving them with 33-year-old Tashaun Gipson Sr. and rookie Ji’Ayir Brown as their safeties.
The 49ers have a rock-solid D, but that safety unit is a concern against top-flight offenses. Will that be an issue come playoff time? NOT if Gipson and Brown can somehow step their games up…
Seattle Seahawks: The Defense
The offense has been more than fine with DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnett producing plenty.
Unfortunately, the Seahawks may miss the playoffs because their D can’t stop jack. They’re near the bottom in every major category except sacks. They’ve been diced up by top-flight offenses and always play down to mediocre QBs, too. See: Andy Dalton and Sam Howell.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Rushing Offense
Baker Mayfield has been better than expected, and Todd Bowles’ defense is still performing around the stellar level we saw in the Tom Brady days.
But the Bucs have been held back by a non-existent ground game that is in danger of finishing dead-last in rushing for the second straight year. If Rachaad White and company don’t get going soon, the Bucs will be watching the playoffs from home. Pure and simple.
Tennessee Titans: The Passing Game
This was always a rebuilding year for the Titans, but if Will Levis doesn’t show improvement in the final weeks…then what?
Do the Titans look for a new QB in the 2024 draft? Do they focus on improving the supporting cast around Levis? Everything is on the table — but one way or another, the Levis and DeAndre Hopkins-led passing game oughta show a spark.
Washington Commanders: The Defense
New defensive play-caller, same result. Ron Rivera’s D has been just as bad since the firing of Jack Del Rio. It’s incomprehensible given that the unit was a top-10 group a year ago.
Rivera is sure to lose his job by the end of the year, but that’s not the main point. The Commanders D needs to show some damn pride and hope over these final weeks. It can’t be this bad and unwatchable the rest of the way.
What do you think is your favorite NFL team’s biggest cause for concern?
