Now that I have thoroughly analyzed the upcoming college football season, it is time for me to publish my fourth annual NFL preseason football guide. Much like my college preview, I have gone through and analyzed every NFL team’s regular season and postseason, as well as selected my disappointment and surprise teams and upsets to watch out for.

The records below include all regular season games but do not include playoff games, which will be analyzed in a later entry. The teams marked in bold font are the ones predicted to make the 2023 NFL playoffs. Without further ado, here are my AFC regular season predictions, with analysis, for my fourth annual NFL preview guide.

NFC East

1	Dallas (12-5)

Positional Strength: Wide Receiver

Positional Weakness: Linebackers

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. Philadelphia (December 10)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Washington (January 7)

Bottom Line: The Cowboys are always one of the most overhyped teams in the league, so it would be fitting that the one season where they are being slightly overlooked would be year in which they finally return to the Super Bowl.  That is what I am predicting happens in 2023, as the Cowboys have enough talent on both sides of the ball to bypass the Eagles and win this putrid conference, which has become substantially weaker than the AFC. 

2	Philadelphia (12-5)

Positional Strength: Quarterback

Positional Weakness: Linebackers

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. Buffalo (November 26)- this might be the best pro football game during Thanksgiving weekend

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Washington (October 29)- these divisional games are always tricky, especially on the road, as the Skins split with the Eagles last season.  

Bottom Line: The Eagles had a magical season in 2022 that almost ended in a surprise Super Bowl championship.  Philly will be really good again this season, but I don’t think they will be able to replicate the +8 turnover margin and 7-1 record in one score games that they rode to the NFC championship last year. 

3	NY Giants (7-10)

Positional Strength: Running Back

Positional Weakness: Wide Receiver

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. Philadelphia (January7)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Arizona (September 17)

Bottom Line: The Giants were a surprise playoff team last year, as Daniel Jones finally lived up to his much anticipated potential.  Now, I think G-men take a step back to mediocrity in 2022 as they lack playmakers at receiver and have major concerns on the offensive line  and in the defensive backfield.

4	Washington (5-12)

Positional Strength: Defensive Line

Positional Weakness: Quarterback

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. Philadelphia (October 29)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at LA Rams (December 17)

Bottom Line: The Skins/Commanders always seem like they have one of the best defenses in the league but lack the quarterback play and offensive playmakers to make it worthwhile.  I expect more of the same from this squad in 2023, as Sam Howell and Brian Robinson are probably the worst QB/RB duo in the league. 

NFC North

1	Chicago (10-7)

Positional Strength: Linebackers

Positional Weakness: Running Back

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: at LA Chargers (October 29)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Washington (October 5)

Bottom Line: My # 1 surprise team in the NFL this season is none other than the Chicago Bears!  I think this squad will be this year’s Jacksonville Jaguars, as Justin Fields leads them from the basement of the league all the way to a division title.  The Bears benefit from an easy schedule in a lackluster division and have also brought in a star receiver to bolster the league’s worst passing attack from a year ago.  Watch out for the Bears in 2023!

2	Green Bay (8-9)

Positional Strength: Running Back

Positional Weakness: Wide Receiver

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. Kansas City (December 3)-  big trap game for the Chiefs, as they have to go to Lambeau the week before a blockbuster matchup against Buffalo.

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Carolina (December 24)- if Bryce Young can stay healthy, the Panthers may be a halfway decent team by season’s end. 

 Bottom Line: The Packers may not be as talented as they have been in year’s past with the loss of Aaron Rodgers, but they should be a more cohesive unit now that they don’t have to deal with the drama that surrounded him the past few seasons.  Again, this is a very bad division in a pretty bad conference, so I think the Pack can do the unthinkable and make the playoffs as a wildcard team in the NFC, despite having a losing record!

3	Minnesota (7-10)

Positional Strength: Offensive Line

Positional Weakness: Linebackers

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. Kansas City (October 8)- The Chiefs always lose a game or two they shouldn’t on the road each year.  

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: vs. Tampa Bay (September 10)- Baker always seems to start strong wherever he takes over as QB and then kinda flounders from there.

Bottom Line: The Vikings had a magical regular season run last year, as they were an astounding 11-0 in one score games prior to the playoffs.  Unfortunately, Minnesota’s first one score loss of the playoffs came in the opening weekend against the Giants.  There is no way this team can replicate the success they had in close games last year, and with the losses of Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen, and Patrick Peterson, I think this squad takes a major step back in 2023.

3	Detroit (7-10)

Positional Strength: Running Back

Positional Weakness: Defensive Backfield

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. Minnesota (January 7)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Tampa Bay (October 15)

Bottom Line: Whenever a team who is not used to winning starts having expectations placed upon them, the result is usually bad.  I think that is exactly what we’ll see this season in Detroit, as the Lions were able to catch the league by surprise in 2022 and won’t have the same luxury this year.  Also, this defense was really bad in 2023, and I don’t see anything that makes me think it will be much better this season. 

NFC South

1	New Orleans (9-8)

Positional Strength: Defensive Backfield

Positional Weakness: Wide Receiver

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. Jacksonville (October 19)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Indianapolis (October 29)

Bottom Line: There is no division in football more wide open than the NFC South just given how bad all four teams are.  With that being said, I feel like a lot of the hype here is being given to the Panthers and Falcons, while the Saints are being overlooked for some reason.  New Orleans is the only team in this bunch who has an experienced NFL starting quarterback, and they are the only squad in the division who boasted both a top 10 defense in both points and yards last season.  Expect the Saints to take the NFC South title in 2023.

2	Atlanta (7-10)

Positional Strength: Offensive Line

Positional Weakness: Quarterback

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. Green Bay (September 17)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Arizona (November 12)

Bottom Line: The Falcons have won exactly 7 games in four of the past five seasons, and I think that’s exactly where they will end up again in 2023.  I watched Desmond Ridder play in person while he was at Cincinnati, and while he was a good leader of a really good football team, he didn’t strike me as a starting NFL quarterback.  I just don’t feel that a team with a first year starting quarterback, a rookie running back, and a marginal defense, is a good pick to win a division title, even in this horrid NFC South.  

3	Tampa Bay (6-11)

Positional Strength: Linebackers

Positional Weakness: Offensive Line

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: at Minnesota (September 10)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Houston (November 5)

Bottom Line: Obviously, the Bucs are going to take a step back in 2023 due to the losses of Brady, Fournette, and three of their top six receivers.  Nevertheless, this team still has two elite wide receivers in Godwin and Evans and a good defense, so I don’t think they are going to fall all the way to the bottom of the league like some are calling for. 

3	Carolina (6-11)

Positional Strength: Linebackers

Positional Weakness: Quarterback

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. Green Bay (December 24)- Reich will give Panthers fans a nice gift with this upset victory on Christmas Eve

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Tampa Bay (December 3)

Bottom Line: A few people have called for the Panthers to contend, or possibly even win this division, but I just don’t see it.  They have been bad for the past five seasons, and now they lose their only elite playmaker in D.J. Moore and will be starting a diminutive rookie quarterback in Bryce Young.  Their defense was also in the bottom half of the NFL last year, so it is not like they can hang their hat on that unit either. Frank Reich is a good enough coach to guide this team to some wins in 2023, but this team is a long way away from earning a playoff berth. 

NFC West

1	Seattle (10-7)

Positional Strength: Wide Receiver

Positional Weakness: Offensive Line

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: at Cincinnati (October 15)- an early bye week allows this team enough time to get ready for this road time and spring the upset.

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at LA Rams (November 19)

Bottom Line: The Seahawks were one of the feel good stories of the year last year, as Geno Smith resurrected his floundering career by this leading this team on a surprise run to the playoffs.  They aren’t going to sneak up on anyone in 2023, but they also play in a weak division and have added another weapon on the outside in the form of Jaxon Smith-Njiba.  They also strengthened their already strout running back room by drafting Zach Charbonnet who should serve as a perfect running mate for Kenneth Walker.  Ultimately, I think Seattle builds on the momentum they created last year and wins this division.

2	San Francisco (9-8)

Positional Strength: Running Back

Positional Weakness: Quarterback

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: at Philadelphia (December 3)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Arizona (December 7)- the games against divisional opposition are always tricky, especially on the road.

Bottom Line: The 49ers are going to be good again, but they will still have below average quarterback play with Brock Purdy at the helm and major concerns at cornerback.  As a result, I think San Francisco takes a slight step back this season but still wins enough to earn a wildcard berth to the playoffs. 

3	LA Rams (7-10)

Positional Strength: Quarterback

Positional Weakness: Defensive Backfield

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. San Francisco (September 17)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Arizona (November 26)

Bottom Line: Some people are calling for the Cardinals and the Rams to be two of the worst teams in the league this year, but I don’t think either will be that day.  The Rams still have Stafford at quarterback, Aaron Donald on the defensive line, and Sean McVay on the sidelines, and if they can stay healthy, this squad can compete with most teams on their schedule.  Still, the stars on this roster are almost all past their prime, which is why I can’t call for them to return to the playoffs. 

4	Arizona (5-12)

Positional Strength: Defensive Backfield.

Positional Weakness: Offensive Line

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. Baltimore (October 29)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Houston (November 19)

Bottom Line: This team is in total rebuild mode in 2023, but I still think they have enough talent to win more games than a lot of people think.  If Kyler Murray can get  healthy and stay healthy, then the Cardinals will have dynamic playmakers at the quarterback, running back, and receiver positions.  Also, they play in a weak enough division where they should be able to beat some of their NFC West rivals at home.