(WGR 550) – Football is finally back!
The 2023 NFL season officially kicks off Thursday night in Kansas City when the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs host the Detroit Lions at Arrowhead Stadium for an 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff.
What's in store for the upcoming season of football across the NFL landscape? Which teams and players will rise above expectations? And on the flip side, who is bound to disappoint national pundits?
Here are some bold, or in some cases, not-so-bold predictions heading into the 2023 campaign:
1.) Cardinals become fifth team in Super Bowl era to finish with a winless season (0-17)
I mean, have we ever seen a tank prepare for a tank better?
Joshua Dobbs is about to be the Arizona Cardinals' starting quarterback for Week 1 against the Washington Commanders, as Kyler Murray will miss much of, if not the entire season with his recovery from a torn ACL.
Even with Murray, this team was spiraling last year, which utimately led to the firing of head coach Kliff Kingsbury after four seasons (28-37-1). Now the Cardinals will be led by former Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, and even that was not without controversy.
Gannon interviewed for the job following the Eagles winning the NFC Championship, which was not allowed due to new league rules and was considered tampering. The teams elected to settle the matter by swapping third-round picks in this year's draft, while the Cardinals also got the Eagles' fifth-round pick in 2024.
Ultimately, I don’t see enough solid players, let alone star power, and Gannon has not made himself out to be the kind of coach that will get the absolute most out of his players.
It could be a long season for fans in Arizona, and it may not even end with star prospect quarterback Caleb Williams hinting at the possibility of returning to USC in 2024 if the team with the first overall pick is not a good situation for him.
2.) Kirk Cousins becomes 10th quarterback to throw for 5,000 yards
Even after watching "Quarterback" on Netflix, I still don’t understand Kirk Cousins.
The 35-year-old veteran comes off as a great leader and someone you could understandably hitch your franchise too, but also comes off as deeply uncool and someone that could be hard to take seriously in the locker room.
What I do know about Cousins is this man throws for yards, and has flirted with 5,000 yards before (coming closest in 2017 with 4,917 passing yards with Washington). Heading into 2023, he may have his most talented cast of characters on offense yet.
We all know how good wide receiver Justin Jefferson is (4,825 yards and 25 touchdowns in just three seasons). Then the Minnesota Vikings added rookie Jordan Addison in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft, and former University at Buffalo product K.J. Osborn emerged into a formidable threat in the passing game.
The Vikings may have the best wide receivers room in the entire NFC.
Not to mention the presence of tight end T.J. Hockenson, who enjoyed his best season last year with the Detroit Lions and Vikings, combining for 86 catches, 914 yards and six touchdowns.
In reality, I see this happening, because the Vikings are set for a regression. Minnesota won all 11 games last season by one score, while having a minus-3 point differential. In addition, a number of key defensive players have moved on from the team this offseason.
The Vikings will likely have to win a number of games in shootout fashion, but in a still relatively weak NFC, they still could have a successful season.
It all rides on the arm of Cousins.
3.) Titans hold off rebuild another year and win AFC South
I almost feel gross doing this.
The Tennessee Titans spit in the face of everything modern teams do to win a Super Bowl, and yet, they always seem to be there like that awkward guy at the party that no one knows who invited him.
Last year saw the Titans drop to 7-10 after three-straight seasons in the playoffs. However, they clearly aren’t ready to give up just yet, especially after adding the jewel of the offseason in wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
With Hopkins, the Titans already have second-year wide receiver Treylon Burks, who only played 11 games last season as he battled turf toe but has the physical traits that could be similar to A.J. Brown, who the Titans traded to the Eagles.
This is more of a prediction that the Jacksonville Jaguars will disappoint this upcoming season. As much as I’ve been on that train all offseason, there is just something I don’t trust about them.
With that, I don’t even see the Titans being a threat this year. They will just be the team who takes advantage of two AFC South teams with starting rookie quarterbacks under center with a bad roster surrounding them, and a Jaguars team that doesn’t reach this year's expectations.
4.) Bijan Robinson wins Offensive Rookie of the Year and helps lead Atlanta back to the playoffs
I am a Texas Longhorns fan, I will not hide that fact. (Hook 'em!)
Robinson is a legitimate special talent at the running back position. With Arthur Smith leading the Atlanta Falcons, I can see the 21-year-old having a special rookie season.
I’m talking about a season that mirrors Saquon Barkley's 2022 season with more than 1,300 yards rushing and 700 yards receiving. That's also with a better supporting cast on offense than Barkley had in his rookie season in 2018.
Robinson will also be able to take advantage of not being the only threat on that Falcons offense. Kyle Pitts is already a record-breaking tight end, and wide receiver Drake London has all the potential to be a real problem in the NFC.
It all really comes down to second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder, at this point. However, with Robinson being at running back, Ridder won't have as much pressure to take that significant second-year step.
Atlanta is also in a similar position to the Titans, as I see them taking advantage of a bad NFC South division. The only team that really potentially stands in the Falcons' way are the New Orleans Saints.
With Robinson having a massive rookie year, it will be enough for Atlanta to get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
5.) Dalton Kincaid has a record-breaking season, helping Buffalo win a fourth-straight AFC East title
Is he a tight end or a wide receiver? This has been the question we’ve all been asking most of the offseason.
While I think it’s a bit of both, one thing is certain: Kincaid looks to be a special talent to pair with quarterback Josh Allen.
The 23-year-old still has to work on blocking to be a complete tight end, but his receiving abilities have had most draft experts thinking he will be an immediate contributor for the Bills. I agree with that sentiment.
I think Kincaid finishes second in receptions for the Bills only behind Stefon Diggs.
Last year saw fellow tight end Dawson Knox and wideout Gabe Davis reel in 48 passes, which was second on the Bills roster behind Diggs with 108 catches.
With Kincaid taking on the Cole Beasley role from a few years ago, I see him finishing with 85 receptions (breaking Keith Jackson’s record of 81) and going over 1,000 yards, falling behind Mike Ditka and Kyle Pitts in the record books.
The Bills really missed the easy, short throws last year. Kincaid comes in ready-made, and a physical presence to take advantage of one of the few needs on the Bills offense.
Kincaid will also be benefited by the fact that while the wide receivers room may be deeper this year, neither Trent Sherfield or Deonte Harty will demand targets with their past output. In addition, Davis or Knox have never been high volume guys.
And while the Bills seem to want to throw to the running backs more, until I see it, I'm not going to bank on it.
The Bills desperately need a young talent to take the reins and be a clear-cut No. 2 target for Allen. Kincaid will be that guy.
6.) Lions win the NFC North and go on a playoff run
The Detroit Lions are, undoubtedly, the loveable losers of the NFL. Every few years, the Lions have lofty expectations of potentially being something, only to falter when the season starts.
I say that trend ends this year.
With quarterback Jared Goff having his best year since 2018, Amon-Ra St. Brown emerging into one of the best young wide receivers in the game, Jahmyr Gibbs being a do-it-all running back behind a very good offensive line, and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson not leaving for a head coaching position, it will have that offense firing on all cylinders, even with a number of suspension in the wide receivers room.
The defense is also primed to announce itself to the world. With pass rusher Adian Hutchinson having 9.5 sacks in his rookie year, along with the addition of veterans like defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson, the Lions defense should absolutely take a step forward and help take some of the load off the offense.
The NFC North is also full of question marks.
While I see the Vikings not completely falling off a cliff, they rode the knife's edge too much last year to not fall off a bit. I want to believe in Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers, but we just haven’t seen enough yet to feel comfortable. As for the Chicago Bears, they are getting better, but that offensive line is a crime that will hold the team back.
7.) Lamar Jackson will win his second MVP and help lead Baltimore to the No. 1 seed in the AFC
I feel as though people have forgotten just how electric of a quarterback Jackson can be. I place most of that blame on former offensive coordinator Greg Roman.
Roman has finally been shown the door, while former Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monkin has taken his place, which will be the major difference for that unit.
Jackson has already spoken about the new-look Ravens offense throwing more, and not being so reliant on running or just throwing to tight end Mark Andrews. With the additions of Zay Flowers in the draft and Odell Beckham Jr. in free agency, it feels like the Ravens have a solid, if not good wide receivers room.
The Ravens defense is absolutely questionable, but it may not matter with everyone just trying to keep up offensively.
The Ravens were a near impossible team to beat with an out-of-touch offensive coordinator, and a quarterback performing magic. Now with a better wide receivers room, an offensive coordinator with a modern look at the game of football and Jackson not having to worry about being paid (five-year, $260 million, how do you do?), I see Jackson reintroducing himself to the sports world.
8.) Eagles defeat Lions in the NFC Championship Game
You’re damn right I have the Lions in the NFC Championship Game, but I'm not that insane to have them going to the Super Bowl.
The NFC is exceptionally top-heavy, and I see the Lions breaking into the top-four of Philadelphia, Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. Ultimately, it'll be the quarterback play from Goff getting them to the championship game, but the Eagles just feel a class above the rest of the conference.
Jalen Hurts taking another step almost feels inevitable, as he’s done this every year since his junior year of high school.
However, the Eagles will have to deal with a much more daunting schedule during the 2023 season (hosting Buffalo, at Kansas City, just to name a few). Even if Dallas takes the NFC East, the Eagles would then just be the most ridiculous Wild Card team in the conference.
As for the Cowboys, they still emply Mike McCarthy as head coach. That will always be a net negative. And while I like Dak Prescott, that doesn’t mean I think he’s the guy who will elevate a solid Cowboys roster into a very good team.
Meanwhile, the 49ers are at their ceiling with Brock Purdy under center. He got very hot in the second half of the 2022 season, but he still has plenty to prove in San Francisco.
And while I think the 49ers can be very good this year, I don’t think they will just walk to an NFC West title.
The Seattle Seahawks are a very dangerous team who, with the addition of Jaxon Smith-Njigba at wide receiver, have maybe the best wide receivers room in the NFC. I also don’t see Geno Smith taking a step back this year.
9.) Bills defeat Ravens in the AFC Championship Game
Call me a homer all you want, that's fine, I understand.
This Bills team won 13 games in a year where seemingly the Gods, themselves, wanted them to fail. A brutal offseason that saw tragedies in the Buffalo community and in the locker room, a season that saw major injuries at key positions, a number of extreme winter weather events that saw a game moved. Not to mention the team seeing a friend and teammate, Damar Hamlin, going into cardiac arrest on the field in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals that was ultimately abandoned.
The Bills ran out of gas. There is no shame in it.
This team in 2023 is deeper now with additions of Sherfield and Harty at wide receiver, Leonard Floyd and Poona Ford on the defensive line, and Connor McGovern and O’Cyrus Torrence to help the offensive line. Oh yeah, and that Kincaid guy too.
Give me the Bills to take all the negative noise they heard this offseason and come out swinging.
As for the Ravens, an MVP season from Jackson can help Baltimore to its first AFC title game since 2012.
I feel like the time has come for Kansas City to finally not make it to the AFC Championship Game (Patrick Mahomes playing a road playoff game would be nice for once), and eventually the Los Angeles Chargers have to actually meet expectations. With Kellen Moore coming in as offensive coordinator, this might be the year to do it.
For Cincinnati, it comes down to a loaded AFC North. The Bengals won't be able to overcome an improved Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns squad, as well as Baltimore in the division.
10.) Bills defeat Eagles in Super Bowl LVIII
The Bills might have one of the deepest rosters in the NFL.
With much of the team getting healthier and Von Miller re-entering the fold around Week 5 or 6, the Bills will be able to hit their stride at the right time as they head into the playoffs.
Allen has shown in the past when healthy, he is a demon in the playoffs that can carry a team on a long playoff run. There's a good chance he can help carry this Buffalo roster to Las Vegas come February.
The Eagles are a very good team with, maybe, the only young great quarterback, but ultimately, I see them falling just short again on the big stage.
The dominance of the AFC becomes clear with some of the other great quarterbacks in the conference starting to accumulate Super Bowl rings, and not leaving it all to Mahomes and the Chiefs.
