The wait is over; kickoff is upon us!
As the campaign begins tonight in Kansas City with the defending champion Chiefs taking on the Detroit Lions, brace yourself for my outlook on what is sure to be a memorable year for National Football League fans worldwide. THIS is the official Every Yard Matters Script for the 2023 NFL Season!
THE AFC:
As I expect the Lions to have what some may say their most successful season in over three decades; Going up against the man I have winning back to back MVP’s on opening night will pose them too much of a challenge. I have the champs securing another Number 1 seed, and a 15-2 record which would be the best in franchise history. If you think that means the competition around the league is scarce however, you have another thing coming. While the Chiefs may be the only team in my record predictions to sweep their division, the rest of the confrence is no joke. Right on Kansas City’s heels; Led by an offensive player of the year campaign from Quarterback Lamar Jackson, I have the Baltimore Ravens in the number 2 spot winning the north at 14-3. Even in a new system, I believe with the abundance of weapons the front office finally decided to put around #8, we will see him return to MVP form and I believe be even better than that. With a two way tie at a ridiculous 13-4 record, the Bills get the nod over the Jets in the east with the superior 5-1 division record to New York’s predicted 3-3. Lastly for division crown winners, I’ll take the Jaguars in the South at 12-5. I fully expect Trevor Lawrence to take another step in his development, in what any fan could realistically call his second full professional season under Doug Pederson. He will only be better with the addition of All Pro receiver Calvin Ridley, whom I have winning comeback player of the year honors. In addition to New York in the AFC wild card spots, I have the Steelers returning to the playoffs under another winning season with Head Coach Mike Tomlin at 11-6. I wholeheartedly believe the AFC North is the best division in football at this point, but what will set the Steelers apart is the performance of what I believe to be soon TWO TIME Defensive player of the year, TJ Watt. Last but certainly not least, my pick to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl; The Cincinnati Bengals. Anybody who was riding with me here at Every Yard Matters last year and can recall my season predictions know I was all in on the Bengals, selecting Burrow as my MVP and believing his team to beat Tampa Bay and Brady in the bowl as a passing of the torch moment. However, it is well documented that Joe Burrow & Patrick Mahomes find someway to matchup in the playoffs. I believe they will do so for a third straight season this year, and Burrow being able to get his lick back, returns to his second super bowl in three years.
THE NFC:
Getting back to Detroit, I believe they’ll win the division for the first time since 1993 with a record of 10-7 which will place them at fourth in the conference. There is a ton of expectation for this roster, however led by “knee-cap biting” Head Coach Dan Campbell, I believe all the recent hardships of coming up short have taught them necessary lessons. Those lessons elevating the squad to their first double digit win season since 2014, and hot take; their first playoff win since 1991! Another new face returning to the playoffs in my mind has to be the New Orleans Saints. Along with the acquisition of new QB Derek Carr and what I believe to be one of the most forgotten about defensive units in the game, the Saints have a very friendly schedule which I believe will propel them to a record of 12-5. Good enough for second in the conference, along with securing honors for Dennis Allen to win Coach of the Year. Possibly my first bold prediction for division winners, I have the Seattle Seahawks returning to the top spot in the NFC West, one game ahead of San Fransisco at 11-6. This unit showed last year, even in Football that age is just a number and tape is everything. You add numerous difference making players back to this unit across injuries, free agency, and the draft and there’s only room to get better. That includes names such as my pick for offensive rookie of the year Jaxson Smith-Njigba & All Pro Safety Jamal Adams. While I am very much aware the 49ers still retain arguably the best defense in football along with one of the most talented offenses assembled, it still all starts under center and I need to be made a believer by Brock Purdy in year two. I have the Niners in the wild card slot at number six at 10-7, along with the Giants (5) and Cowboys (7) representing the NFC’s best division. At the head of the table however, taking that number one spot in the conference from the East is the Philadelphia Eagles. While their record may reflect taking a step back, I believe they will once again represent their conference in the Super Bowl – as we will see a rematch of the 2019 College Football Playoff (at least at QB) between Jalen Hurts & Joe Burrow in the league’s fifty eighth super bowl.
Taking the crown, returning to a glory they were oh so close to in February; I have the Eagles winning the Super Bowl this season. A now paid, yet even more determined Jalen Hurts expected to only further his game, this team is set to be a powerhouse for many years to come. What puts them over the top however, has to be this defense. They did not perform as I believed they would in Super Bowl 57, but you can’t knock any defense that has to deal with Patrick Mahomes on the biggest stage. With the addition of arguably the most talented defensive player in this year’s draft and my pick to win defensive rookie of the year Jalen Carter, I think this unit has a chance to run over offensive lines all year in route to the single season sack record (which they only fell short of by two last year) and a Lombardi Trophy.
We are in store for a fascinating season, and I’m excited to give my analysis day by day, week by week here at Every Yard Matters. You can only can’t write a script this good, or maybe you can! What’s your 2023 NFL Season script look like?
