The 2023 NFL season will be here before anyone knows it and fans have already guessed that their favorite team might run the table this year and win it all. In reality, there are only a select few who are good enough to make it that far, but there will no doubt be a few surprises.
We already knew which opponents each NFL team would face in 2023. Now that the regular-season schedule has officially been released, we know exactly when each matchup will take place.
Colin Cowherd of The Herd decided to make his predictions early before the season begins and predicted what he thought the standings would look like for all teams and divisions overall.
AFC East
- Miami Dolphins
- Buffalo Bills
- New York Jets
- New England Patriots
Colin on the Dolphins winning the division: “First, this whole Stefon Diggs, cancel minicamp thing is a bigger story than people are letting on. That is WEIRD. Secondly, Vic Fangio’s defense— the people I trust in the league say he’s the best acquisition Miami made, NOT Jalen Ramsey.”
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AFC Central
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Baltimore Ravens
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Cleveland Browns
Colin on the Bengals winning the division: “I think the Ravens are great but they don’t have Joe Burrow. Also, Baltimore worries me a little. Baltimore concerns me because most of their top offensive players, except Mark Andrews, have an injury history.”
AFC South
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Tennessee Titans
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
Colin on the Jaguars winning the division: “I think the Jaguars can be the number one seed in the AFC. Fairly easy schedule and Trevor Lawrence will fare better with Calvin Ridley.
AFC West
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Denver Broncos
- Las Vegas Raiders
Colin on the Chiefs winning the division: “Kansas City played nine rookies last year and they’re only going to get better. Kansas City will finish as the number two seed in the AFC to Jacksonville.”
NFC East
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
- Washington Commanders
Colin on the Eagles winning the division: “The Eagles have far and away the best offensive coach, o-line, d-line, and excellent momentum.”
NFC North
- Detroit Lions
- Minnesota Vikings
- Green Bay Packers
- Chicago Bears
Colin on the Lions winning the division: “Losing Dalvin Cook is something for Minnesota and I don’t think they’ll win all those one-score games, last year they were 11-0 in those.”
NFC South
- Carolina Panthers
- New Orleans Saints
- Atlanta Falcons
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Colin on the Panthers winning the division: “I don’t like anybody in this division but I think the Panthers and Saints could both make the playoffs because Atlanta and Tampa aren’t very good. I don’t trust the Saints’ coach, I really trust the defense and coaching staff with Carolina, and I think Bryce Young is more than capable of being inserted in and winning the division.”
NFC West
- San Francisco 49ers
- Los Angeles Rams
- Seattle Seahawks
- Arizona Cardinals
Colin on the 49ers winning the division: “The Niners are the best, Cardinals the worst— that’s easy, I think the Rams and Seahawks will be tied at the end of the year, both winning about nine games.”
The 2023 season starts off with a bang as the surging Detroit Lions and defending-champion Kansas City Chiefs will kick off the season Sept. 7.
It’s hard to know exactly which teams will exceed expectations and which will disappoint, but now that the schedule is out, we can likely see which team will have a path to the playoffs.
Teams can’t control who they play, but not every schedule is created equal. The AFC East will face the AFC West and NFC East, which are divisions that sent a combined five teams to the postseason last year. Like every year, previous playoff teams will not return which will make way for others to join the party.
Everybody likes a good underdog as fans were hoping to see the Lions qualify last year with their strong finish. Their final game of the year was a victory over the Green Bay Packers on the road as they would send Aaron Rodgers to a new team this offseason.
The Jets have went from a possible playoff team, to a Super Bowl contender with Rodgers and nothing else will be tolerated with the way this team is currently constructed.
Again, this is all very early as injuries can change everything going forward.
Who knows? Tom Brady might unretire again.
