While defense does win championships in football, you definitely need a prolific and efficient offense more than anything else to win in today’s NFL. You simply can’t expect to contend for Super Bowls if you’re not consistently moving the ball up field and racking up the points.
With the 2023 NFL season drawing closer, let’s see how all 32 NFL offenses stack up against each other — going from worst to first.
32. Arizona Cardinals
Arizona had the No. 21 scoring offense last year. That was with Kyler Murray for 11 games, with DeAndre Hopkins for nine games and AJ Green for 15 games.
Well, Murray will miss the start of the year recovering from a torn ACL. D-Hop is no longer here, and Green decided to call it quits. So…opposing defenses beware of the Colt McCoy-Marquise Brown duo!
31. Indianapolis Colts
Jonathan Taylor, the Colts’ best offensive weapon, decided he didn’t wanna stick around anymore. That means it’s rookie QB Anthony Richardson, wideout Michael Pittman Jr. and not a whole lot else on offense.
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So…who’s Richardson gonna give the ball to other than Pittman?
30. Houston Texans
CJ Stroud has a decent set of weapons here: Second-year running back Dameon Pierce, two potential breakout candidates at wideout in John Metchie and Nico Collins plus veterans Robert Woods, Noah Brown and Dalton Schultz.
But you just never know how a rookie QB will fare, so it’s unfair to put Houston any higher here until we see how Stroud performs.
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Going from the GOAT Tom Brady to Baker Mayfield is…not ideal.
The Bucs have one of the game’s best receiving duos in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin…but they also carry a rushing game that finished dead-last a year ago. The shaky o-line lost Shaq Mason and isn’t likely to improve after a woeful showing last year.
28. Washington Commanders
The Commanders have a borderline top-10 wideout in Terry McLaurin plus two other potential 1K receivers in Curtis Samuel and Jahan Dotson. On top of that, both Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson Jr. can both push for 1,000 yards rushing.
It’s a nice set of weapons…but the Commanders’ starting QB is Sam Howell…a 2022 fifth-round pick with 19 career pass attempts on his resume.
27. Carolina Panthers
You never know how a QB will fare as a rookie. Peyton Manning and John Elway had rough rookie years but turned into legends. Then you had guys like Russell Wilson, Dak Prescott, Ben Roethlisberger and Andrew Luck who lit it up as rookies.
We’re confident Bryce Young will, ahem, be better than any QB Carolina has used since 2018. Newcomer Miles Sanders should rush for 1,000 yards in Frank Reich’s offense. Former 1,000-yard wideouts DJ Chark and Adam Thielen could do damage with Young throwing the ball, but they’re both major wild cards here.
26. Green Bay Packers
2020 first-rounder Jordan Loves assumes the offense with Aaron Rodgers out of town. Love is the great unknown, but he does have arguably football’s best rushing duo in Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon and two potential breakout candidates at wideout in Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson.
Even if Love doesn’t “wow” observers himself, you gotta think the playmakers around him will prevent this offense from being, well, unwatchable.
25. Chicago Bears
Justin Fields struggled as a passer in year two but racked up 1,143 rushing yards – the second-most ever for a QB in one year. He’s also got two potential 1K rushing RBs in Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman, who rushed for a career-high 914 yards last year in Carolina.
The arrival of DJ Moore could take this offense to a whole new level. What if Chase Claypool finally breaks out after three up-and-down seasons? The potential is high, but this is also the Bears…which means we can’t be surprised if the unit flops entirely again.
24. Denver Broncos
So uhh…Russell Wilson can’t possibly be as bad as he was last year? Right? Right?! He’s a future Hall of Famer now working alongside a fellow future Canton member and new head coach Sean Payton! It can’t be that bad now can it?
Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton will both push for 1,000 yards receiving, and a healthy Javonte Williams could emerge as a top-10 RB in 2023. The pieces are there, at least.
23. Los Angeles Rams
This is the great unknown of NFL offenses for 2023. A Sean McVay-coached offense is always scary. If Matt Stafford and Cooper Kupp play all 17 games in 2023, this could again be a top-five group.
But the Rams lack a proven No. 2 pass-catcher behind Kupp. The o-line is loaded with question marks and the running back depth chart, led by Cam Akers, isn’t exactly keeping opposing defenses up at night.
22. Tennessee Titans
There is potential here. A healthy Ryan Tannehill could do damage with newcomer and five-time Pro Bowler DeAndre Hopkins as his lead receiver, with 2022 first-rounder Treylon Burks serving as the No. 2 pass-catcher.
Derrick Henry remains a top-three running back in the game. The main question is if all three ageing commodities in Tannehill, D-Hop and Henry can stay healthy.
21. New York Giants
Daniel Jones turned in a career year and led the G-Men to a stunning “elite eight” appearance. We still think the best of Danny Dimes is yet to come, with the Giants adding Darren Waller, Jalin Hyatt and Parris Campbell to the offense.
Saquon Barkley will remain the focal point of this offense. But if Jones can evolve as a passer, this New York offense could be a juggernaut.
20. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders have the reigning rushing champ in Josh Jacobs, a top-three NFL wideout in Davante Adams plus crafty slot receivers Hunter Renfrow and Jakobi Meyers. On paper, this unit should be prolific…right?
Maybe not. The Raiders dumped Derek Carr and replaced him with an inferior option in Jimmy Garoppolo, who can’t at all be trusted to stay healthy. We just don’t see how Jimmy G elevates this offense to a level that Carr never could…
19. Pittsburgh Steelers
We’re very high on Kenny Pickett as a second-year QB. Even if he doesn’t take that next step forward, there’s too much to like about this Pittsburgh offensive arsenal.
Najee Harris has turned in back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Diontae Johnson and breakout candidate George Pickens will both push for 1K receiving, too.. The pieces are there for Pickett to succeed. Now he just has to put the entire puzzle together.
18. New England Patriots
The offense sucked last year with Joe Judge and Matt Patricia splitting play-calling duties. Surely, it can’t be that bad again now that Bill O’Brien — an actually qualified OC — is calling the shots…right?
Gotta think the switch will benefit Mac Jones, whose confidence was shot entirely last year. You just know Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott will be a prolific rushing duo, plus Jones has enough play-making pass-catchers in JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Mike Gesicki and Hunter Henry…
17. Atlanta Falcons
Desmond Ridder is a giant question mark at QB, but look at the pieces around him: Kyle Pitts, Drake London, Cordarrelle Patterson, Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. In other words, five players who could all put up over 1,000 yards of offense.
Allgeier and Robinson could be the league’s best rushing duo next year. Pitts may finally make the jump to a top-five tight end, and London can easily build off a superb rookie year. Now, if Ridder can just provide stellar-QB play…
16. Cleveland Browns
Gotta think Deshaun Watson will bounce back after spending nearly two years away from football. He was suspended the first 11 games of 2022 and stunk it up in the six contests he played in.
Watson has a consistent rushing crown contender in Nick Chubb, a Pro Bowl wideout in Amari Cooper plus two other 1K receiving threats in Donovan Peoples-Jones and tight end David Njoku. Rookie Cedric Tillman and newcomer Elijah Moore could make some plays, too.
15. Minnesota Vikings
Feels odd putting Minny this low considering they were the No. 8 scoring offense last year. Kirk Cousins has put up consistent numbers in The Gopher State, and Justin Jefferson is the league’s No. 1 receiver.
But releasing four-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook was a curious move. Is Alexander Mattison able to fill that void? And who’s the No. 2 receiver with Adam Thielen gone? Rookie Jordan Addison better be ready to fill those big shoes.
14. New Orleans Saints
Newcomer Derek Carr can only be an upgrade over Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton at QB. If Michael Thomas stays healthy for the first time in four years, who knows how far this offense can go?
Even if Thomas can’t stay on the field, Carr has a 1,000-yard receiver in Chris Olave and two prolific running backs in Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams to help him. Not to mention veteran tight end Juwan Johnson, who foreshadowed a future breakout season with seven receiving TDs last year…
13. New York Jets
Aaron Rodgers takes over an offense that has straight-up stunk for over a decade now. But with Garrett Wilson, Dalvin Cook, Breece Hall and old pals Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb there…the unit should be borderline elite…we think?
The main concerns are the o-line — particularly at tackle with 38-year-old Duane Brown and the oft-injured Mekhi Becton. Also, we don’t know if Rodgers’ transition to a new offense will be super smooth…especially in a tough division.
Not buying the Jets’ as a top-five offense, but there’s too much talent here for it to be anything less than a top-15 group.
12. Detroit Lions
Detroit finished fifth in scoring offense last year, so why the low-ish ranking? Well, keep in mind many of last year’s points came in garbage time with several Lions’ contests already out of reach.
Secondly, Jared Goff won’t have Jameson Williams for the first six games because of suspension. So, how will he fare with Amon-Ra St. Brown as his only legitimate playmaking pass-catcher? To be determined.
That said, the new super-RB duo of David Montgomery and rookie Jahmyr Gibbs should keep this offense intact.
11. Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert is a superstar. Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are arguably a top-five receiving duo in the game. Austin Ekeler is good for over 1,500 yards of offense each year. Rookie Quentin Johnston should make an impact, too.
Now, Herbert can sling it as well as any other QB, but the Bolts need to figure out the pass protection and get a more balanced offense going if they’re to reach the level of “elite” in 2023.
10. Baltimore Ravens
When Lamar Jackson is on the field, this Baltimore offense can hang in there with just about any other. Here’s hoping he’ll stay healthy after missing 11 games — postseason included — over the last two years.
The Ravens reshaped the pass-catching corps by signing Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor before using a first-round pick on Zay Flowers. Not to mention Mark Andrews is a top-3 tight end, and Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins headline a dynamic rushing game that finishes near the top of the leaderboard every year.
9. Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa missed four games but still had the best quarterback rating last year. If he’s healthy, this offense could easily be a top-five unit.
Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are the league’s best receiving duo. No question about it. That’s all Tua needs to flourish…although Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. are nice complements in the backfield.
8. Seattle Seahawks
Immense potential here. Geno Smith is the reigning Comeback Player of the Year. Kenneth Walker, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett all put up over 1,000 yards of offense last year…and this unit used its second first-round pick on explosive Ohio State wideout Jaxon-Smith Njigba.
Can’t wait to see how the entire unit gels together in 2023…
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
Doug Pederson unlocked Trevor Lawrence and made him a star in year two. And to think Lawrence is only going to get better…
Calvin Ridley arrives in Duval County after being suspended all of last year. He joins an offensive arsenal consisting of Christian Kirk, Travis Etienne Jr., Zay Jones and Evan Engram. All five of those guys, by the way, could all threaten for 1,000 yards of offense.
6. San Francisco 49ers
If Brock Purdy proves that his rookie year was no fluke, then the 49ers could challenge for the No. 1 offense. Christian McCaffrey is football’s best running back.
George Kittle is a top-five tight end. Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk are both gonna push for 1,500 yards of offense. Trent Williams is the best offensive tackle in the game. Kyle Shanahan is one of the brightest and most innovative offensive-minded coaches that can win with any QB.
Did we miss anything? No? Okay, good.
5. Dallas Cowboys
Dallas had the No. 1 scoring offense in 2021 and finished No. 4 there in 2022 despite Dak Prescott missing five games in 2022. With Prescott healthy, and with consistent 1,000-yard receiver Brandin Cooks now in the fold, the Cowboys’ offense could be as scary as ever under Mike McCarthy.
As if CeeDee Lamb and Tony Pollard weren’t already too much for opposing defenses
4. Cincinnati Bengals
If it’s not Josh Allen, Joe Burrow is the second-best QB in the game behind Patrick Mahomes. Burrow is blessed with the league’s best receiving trio in Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd — plus a consistent 1K rushing threat in Joe Mixon.
With free agent signing and Pro Bowl offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. bolstering the o-line, there’s no telling how much scarier the offense could be with Burrow slinging it left, right and center.
3. Buffalo Bills
Buffalo has fielded a top-three scoring offense in three consecutive years. Why should it slow down? Josh Allen is a top-three QB in the game. Stefon Diggs is a top-five wideout.
Gabe Davis, Dawson Knox, rookie Dalton Kincaid and James Cook and Damien Harris supply Allen with enough secondary weaponry. No reason to think this unit won’t be a juggernaut again in 2023.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts is officially a top-five QB in football after falling just short of both MVP honors and a Super Bowl ring. DeVonta Smith and AJ Brown are the league’s second-best receiving duo behind Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddle. The offensive line is easily the best in football.
Dallas Goedert could make the jump to top-five tight end. Both D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny can rush for 1,000 yards in Nick Sirianni’s offense. Need we say more? No? Good.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are the reigning Super Bowl champs. They have the reigning league MVP and the reigning No. 1 offense. Travis Kelce is the game’s best tight end. And Andy Reid is the best coach in football right now.
Do we have to say anything else? Didn’t think so.
Who do you think will have the NFL’s No. 1 offense in 2023?
