FAVORITE TEAMS

With the NFL season back and the preseason just days away, I wanted to kick thing off with some information on teams projected to finish last place in their division, and what their chances are of being a playoff team. A few could surprise this season while others are inevitably bad in 2023 for sure. I have plenty of NFL stuff I’ll post later on this month, so stay tuned for more info.

NFC WEST

ARIZONA CARDINALS

There’s no way, shape or form, that the Arizona Cardinals will battle for the division and play for a playoff spot. They likely finish last and the Caleb Williams/Drake Maye draft pick debate begins (or probably use the overall pick as leverage to help Kyler Murray in 2024). I doubt Colt McCoy carries the team for all 17 games. It’ll be up to their defense and run game to make them at least competitive.

NFC EAST

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

With all the Eagles, Cowboys, and Giants talk, no one’s mentioning the Washington Commanders. Apparently, no one watched Sam Howell fully in college and what potential he has. Brian Robinson may be the gem the team needed and could be a Derrick Henry-ish back the team will value alongside Antonio Gibson. Most importantly, Chase Young returns fully healthy on a defensive line that could actually be one of the best in the NFL while healthy. Their schedule gives them the opportunity to prove how well their roster progressed and what they could bring to the table with Howell. They defeated the Eagles, challenged the Giants to the very end twice, and could threaten the Cowboys with a healthy Chase Young. Outside the whole Daniel Snyder mess, the Commanders could be one of the surprises in 2023.

NFC NORTH

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Questions surround Jordan Love replacing Aaron Rodgers as the unanimous starter. Criticism surrounds defensive coordinator Joe Barry after talking with a few Packer fans and reading more on other Packer fans’ opinions of him. Also, Minnesota could decline this season. Chicago is a question mark on overall team improvement and Justin Fields leading the team. Detroit is favored to win, but their defense must improve to believe it’ll happen. Green Bay has the defense if Barry gets his crap together with play calling. The offense should be fine, and Love could silence doubters. Watch out for Green Bay this season.

CHICAGO BEARS

The Bears did a great job in the offseason and the draft. They’re the unanimous winners of the 2023 offseason. However, can they put those pieces together to compete for the NFC North…or at least a playoff spot? Justin Fields can get it done, but they need him to play quarterback with the pieces he has around him, including DJ Moore. With the division wide open, the Bears could be one of the biggest surprises in the NFL if they put it all together.

NFC SOUTH

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Everyone wrote off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers immediately after Tom Brady retired. I had them wrote off too, but Baker Mayfield’s appearance makes me wonder how much a factor he’ll play into this still built (but dented) roster. Baker has a lot of NFL starting experience and was a winner at one point. He still took a Browns team that went 0-16 prior to his arrival and led them to the playoffs, won a game, and nearly made a comeback to defeat the Chiefs in Kansas City. Baker will be on the spotlight, and it’ll determine if he can get the job done and put Tampa in playoff talks in a weak NFC South. Despite Brady’s retirement, the roster on both sides is still good as long as they’re healthy. Like the 49ers, the Bucs need a quarterback. Is Baker the answer or will Kyle Trask test his luck?

AFC WEST

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

Should I call them the Las Vegas Patriots??? Let’s be real, there’s plenty of former Patriot players and Patriot staff members, including Tom Brady with minority ownership of the Raiders. Anyway, the Patriots have been very intriguing to me all offseason. I’m trying to make sense of everything from acquiring Jimmy Garoppolo to trading away Darren Waller to the Giants, and not to mention playing in the AFC West. However, the Raiders lost eight one-possession games, Josh McDaniels is in Year 2 and has his quarterback that he previously coached in New England, and the team has the majority of their roster back. I took a second look at their schedule, and some games are winnable. Jimmy G. could put his team in winning position as long as he stays healthy and maintains consistency.

AFC EAST

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

The Patriots offense was anything but good last season and Mac Jones was put in a bad spot with an offensive coordinator who’s didn’t know how to coordinate an offense at all. It was so bad that Mac Jones was nearly kicked off the team and traded for asking for advice from someone other than Bill about what to do. Fortunately, the Patriots hired Bill O’Brien to address the issues. However, there’s too much unknown what the offense will look like outside of Rhamondre Stevenson. The Patriots defense and special teams will be called upon again to keep the team afloat until O’Brien, Mac Jones, and Stevenson can get the offense motoring again like the old days…even though those old days had a lot of Tom Brady and his true leadership. Can Mac replicate that?

AFC NORTH

CLEVELAND BROWNS

I can’t be sold on the Browns if it meant our livelihoods came down to them. Yes, Deshaun Watson is a gamer and has elite level status potential, but I can’t be sold on the Browns as a whole. Yes, they have defense. Yes, they have weapons on offense. Yes, they have an offensive line. And yes, they have Deshaun Watson. Their schedule is also…doable. However, quarterbacks in Cleveland have had a long, struggling history. When they play there, their career usually goes to shambles. Baker Mayfield was the last quarterback in decades to break their curse “temporarily”. If Deshaun Watson revives his career with Cleveland in Year 2, the rest of the AFC must look out for Cleveland. They could be a major threat as Super Bowl contenders.

AFC SOUTH

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

The Colts are excited about Anthony Richardson as the future of Indianapolis, and they have every right to be. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet. He needs time to learn the offense. He has potential, but 2023 isn’t the year to say he can lead the Colts just yet. They do have a roster to compete in 2023 and the schedule is fair enough to chase for the AFC South title. Unfortunately, the offense could hinder their success and put them potentially in last place. What’s worse is that Jonathan Taylor wants to be traded out of Indianapolis.

HOUSTON TEXANS

The Texans could surprise people. Whether or not they make the playoffs remains to be seen. It’s way too early to assume anything being such a young roster. DeMeco Ryans should do a great job with his new team and the young roster should improve. Defense will be the focal point of this squad until CJ Stroud and the offense are up to speed. Houston should win more than 3 games this season. They won’t be a playoff team this season, but they should at least get a peek of a playoff opportunity in a weak AFC South division.