2023 NFC Preview and Predictions

Cover photo taken from Sports Illustrated.

NFC East

1st: Philadelphia Eagles (13-4)

We begin with the defending conference champions, who most keen observers had being a great team last year, but not many had in the Super Bowl. I thought they lacked the experience to be a contender, but they were simply so dominant across the board that it didn’t matter. A lot of people have pointed to their subpar schedule of opposing QBs in 2022 — which included Josh Johnson after Brock Purdy was knocked out of the NFC Championship Game against the 49ers — but we all know the Eagles were still the class of the conference. After giving Jalen Hurts the extremely well-deserved bag and once again nailing the offseason, the Birds appear to be in prime position to make amends and chase after that elusive second Lombardi Trophy.

The offense, which was top three in yards and scoring a year ago, is somehow even better thanks to the addition of D’Andre Swift from Detroit via a draft day trade. All of the key skill position players are back, and the offensive line is once again ready to be one of the best in football. The only “key” loss was Miles Sanders to Carolina, but the offensive scheme in Philly should be able to make Swift just as effective as Sanders was out of the backfield. OC Shane Steichen departed for Indianapolis, but his replacement Brian Johnson knows this offense in and out. They will still be just as efficient and prolific as they were a year ago when Jalen Hurts nearly won MVP and A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith each caught 80+ passes for 1,100+ yards.

I expect the Eagles defense to take a step back defensively with the loss of DC Jonathan Gannon combined with a first-place schedule. But there’s still ballers all over the place that will make this an elite unit. First round DT Jalen Carter — who many believed was the best player in the class, but fell to the No. 9 selection due to off-the-field issues at Georgia — joins an already loaded defensive front which feasted all year long in 2022. Last year’s third round steal Nakobe Dean will take over for Kyzir White and T.J. Edwards in the middle and should feast. The secondary got a lift by bringing back James Bradberry, but other than him and Darius Slay, there isn’t a lot to like in the defensive backfield. I think Kelee Ringo and Eli Ricks could develop into stars, but they don’t figure to see. the field much in their rookie seasons. They showed just how much they struggled against real QBs in the Super Bowl when Patrick Mahomes diced them up. After all, it was a defensive holding on Bradberry –which was 100% the right call — that lost them the game. Against much tougher opposition, I think that unit could hold the Birds back a bit in 2023.

Still, the Eagles have the talent across the board and the culture under Nick Sirianni to thrive. Hurts is continuing to blossom into one of the premier quarterbacks in the NFL, both sides of the ball are stacked, and we know what they are capable of. They’re a surefire contender.

2nd: Dallas Cowboys (11-6)

It’s very difficult for me to say this, but the Cowboys might be the best team in the entire NFC… and even the entire league. They had a great offseason coming off another solid regular season that ended in a disappointing playoff loss to the 49ers. Some might say that this is just a repeat of last year which doesn’t inspire much confidence in a team that hasn’t done so in damn near three decades. And that’s totally fair. But I just get the feeling that this is the year it comes together for the Cowboys.

I’ve been a Dak Prescott pessimist — even a hater — for a long time now. He led the league in interceptions last year with 15 despite missing five games. That’s pretty impressive. But he’s still a capable starter. And if he doesn’t make it work with this offense, then I just don’t know what to do with him. Brandin Cooks joins CeeDee Lamb — one of my favorite players in football — and Michael Gallup to form one of the best WR trios in the sport. Ezekiel Elliott is finally gone and Tony Pollard is now the RB1, where he can thrive as one of the premier pass-catching backs in football. And of course the offensive line needs no introduction. I worry about the tight end position after Dalton Schultz hopped across the state to join the Texans, but the young guys like Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker figure to fill his role very well. They were drafted high by a typically good drafting organization for a reason.

But it’ll be the defense that takes Dallas to the next level in 2023. They selected Michigan DT Mazi Smith to beef up their interior alongside Osa Odighizuwa while Demarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons wreak havoc off the edges. The middle of the defense is questionable, but the secondary is now loaded thanks to the acquisition of Stephon Gilmore from Indianapolis. I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from Trevon Diggs lately as he learns to actually be a corner and not just a ballhawk. Combine those two with guys like Jourdan Lewis and Malik Hooker, and this defense will do what it does best — force turnovers. In a division and a conference with some pretty solid passing offenses, that can and will put them over the top.

But the problem with Dallas is and always has been Mike McCarthy. He’s just such an inept in-game coach, which goes disastrously when combined with Dak’s in-game ineptitude that usually rears its ugly head when the going gets tough. I think those two will always be what holds this team back in its biggest moments.

3rd: Washington Commanders (7-10)

To put it simply, the Commanders will never be anything more than a 7 to 8-win team under Ron Rivera. I said the same thing last season when I also predicted a 7-10 record, and they went 8-8-1. Under Rivera, Washington has won 7, 7, and 8 games, and I don’t see much to assuage me of the notion that nothing is going to change. We are never going to be good enough to contend, and we are never going to be bad enough to get a franchise-changing player in the draft. We will just be… mid. And this purgartory-esque cycle will only continue as long as Rivera is the head coach.

Let’s get the obvious stuff out of the way. The energy around this team has never been higher thanks to the new ownership, which I’m very thankful for. I think it will be truly awesome to see the fanbase show up and show out this season as we enter a new era of football in the District.

We all know how great this defense is, and I think the selection of CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr. in the first round was a tremendous pick as he gives the secondary a playmaker that was previously lacking. Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne will continue to be the best defensive interior duo in football while Montez Sweat and Chase Young figure to ball out off the edges in contract seasons — we’ll see how healthy Chase stays. The linebacking core is… not great, which has been the case for Rivera’s entire tenure. You’d think a former linebacker would figure this out by now. Unless Jamin Davis finally develops into the guy this staff saw in him when they selected him in the first round, he and Cody Barton figure to hold the unit as a whole back. But there’s only so much they can or can’t do. Every other unit is stacked, and this should be an elite defense once again.

Then there’s the issue of the offense, which figures to take a leap under new OC Eric Bieniemy — a two-time Super Bowl champion with Kansas City. The wide receiver trio is well-respected with Terry McLaurin being the guy and finally getting the bag this offseason, Jahan Dotson being a widely-recognized stud who is only going to get better, and Curtis Samuel continuing to be a Swiss Army knife. The backs are also solid with Brian Robinson Jr. being the workhorse and Antonio Gibson catching passes out of the backfield. The offensive line is rather terrible and a massive concern that has rather suspiciously not been remotely addressed in recent years. Acquiring Andrew Wylie — who was one of the worst right tackles in all of football in 2022 — is not exactly a marquee move. But all eyes are on the man under center. Sam Howell enters the fray at QB after a wild ride since his sophomore year at North Carolina. We all know he’s had a great camp and preseason, but I really still need to see it to believe it. It’s one thing to make plays in practice and against backups. It’s another thing to do it in the regular season against stout competition. I have faith in Sam, and I really hope he works out. But with a certain USC QB looming in the 2024 draft, I also wouldn’t mind if this offense led us down the gutter.

4th: New York Giants (6-11)

The 2023 New York Football Giants are like James Harden at the top of the key — guaranteed to take a step back.

I do want to proceed with caution here. I picked the Giants to go 2-15 and finish with the No. 1 overall pick in 2022. They ended up with a 9-7-1 record en route winning a road playoff game against a 13-4 Vikings team. Brian Daboll’s first season was a resounding success and he was named AP Coach of the Year. But I’m here to tell you that I do not care.

For starters, I still don’t buy Daniel Jones. Yes, he had a good season last year. But how good do we really think he is? He threw 15 touchdowns in 16 games. Yes, he was tremendous on the ground, but I have a feeling that defenses will actually know how to stop him this year. It definitely helps to have Saquon Barkley back, but can the running ability of a QB and RB make up for the complete lack of weapons at WR? Because something about a receiving trio of Darius Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins, and Parris Campbell doesn’t move me. Hodgins had a very nice year in 2022, but Campbell is too injury-prone and Slayton is too inconsistent for me to be impressed. Unless rookie Jalin Hyatt learns that there’s more to the position than running fast in a straight line, I don’t see this passing offense being threatening. And I think the run game could definitely hit some snags, especially if Barkley can’t stay healthy like he was able to last year.

The good news for New York is that the defense is still really good. The front seven is absolutely loaded with guys like Leonard Williams, Dexter Lawrence, Azeez Ojulari, Bobby Okereke, and Kayvon Thibodeaux. That unit alone will carry them to the top half of all defenses in football. But man, I have some reservations about this secondary. Xavier McKinney had a nice 2022 and Adoree Jackson saw a mini-resurgence, but the Giants will be inserting two rookies at corner with first rounder Deonte Banks — who I loved out of Maryland — and sixth rounder Tre Hawkins. I just can’t get behind these guys.

Maybe they prove me wrong again. Maybe Daboll coaches his ass off yet again and the Giants sneak in once more. But I think the rest of the NFC should be much improved, and I think this team is simply going to take a very natural step back.

NFC North

1st: Green Bay Packers (12-5)

Have I learned my lesson? Absolutely not. Do I care? Absolutely not. The Packers are coming back in 2023, and they’re coming with a vengeance.

My love for Jordan Love is well-documented, and I believe he’s going to lead Green Bay back to where they want to be. I genuinely believe this team has upgraded at QB by getting rid of Aaron Rodgers and finally handing the keys to the franchise to the young star. He’s had three years to sit and learn and should absolutely thrive in this offense. He has the talent to make every throw, and I believe he will do just that. It helps that the offensive skill position players are young and talented as well. When your veteran in that regard is Aaron Jones, you’re in a good spot. Jones will be able to do his usual work and then some thanks to the emergence of young WRs like Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs along rookies like Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks. I wish they took Jordan Addison or Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the draft, but they decided to spread the wealth by spending three later picks on pass-catchers, including TE Luke Musgrave out of Iowa, who could also prove to be a huge receiving threat. The Packers have finally invested in the WR group, and I think it’s going to pay dividends for them.

I still think this defense is great. I absolutely despise DC Joe Barry, but this unit had times last year where they reminded you what they’re capable of. There are simply playmakers all across the board from Kenny Clark to De’Vondre Campbell to Rashan Gary to Jaire Alexander. If the young guys like Devonte Wyatt and Quay Walker can splash, this can be one of the best front sevens in football. I do worry about the secondary outside of Alexander, but I feel good about every other area of this team.

With an easier schedule than last year and everything seemingly trending upwards, I think Love is going to prove himself in a huge way and lead the Packers back to the playoffs, where they can certainly do more damage.

2nd: Minnesota Vikings (9-8)

The 2023 Vikings can be summarized in four succinct words: regression to the mean.

In 2022, Minnesota went 11-0 in one-score games. That’s unheard of. They won every game decided by eight points or less while going 2-4 in games decided by more than eight points. The former is simply not sustainable. That’s a once-in-a-lifetime statistic. By subtracting less than half of those one-score wins, I arrived at this record. There’s a chance they’re even worse than this.

So why am I still picking them to finish second — above the fan-favorite Lions — and sneak into the playoffs? Well, I think they can win shootouts against almost any other team in the league. And they’ll probably be in a lot of shootouts, because their offense is fantastic whereas their defense is anything but. While the offense boasts the eternally-underrated Kirk Cousins, arguably the best WR in football in Justin Jefferson, a rookie bound to break out in Jordan Addison, and a new RB1 in Alexander Mattison, the defense isn’t much to look at. There are some solid players — Harrison Phillips, Danielle Hunter, Marcus Davenport, Harrison Smith, and Byron Murphy to name a few. But those don’t exactly equate to an elite defense. Everyone is expecting this bottom-five defense from 2022 to be great all of a sudden because the Vikings hired Brian Flores as their DC. I’d be shocked if he can even turn them into a top-15 defense. That’s a tall task for anyone, even a supposed defensive genius like him.

Combine the defensive shortcomings with a first-place schedule — the sixth-hardest in the league by SOS — and the Vikings are simply a fringe wild card team. But they could just be straight up bad. They could be terrible.

3rd: Detroit Lions (7-10)

I’m not going to apologize for this. I’m not going to fall head-over-heels for this team that hasn’t accomplished anything yet. I understand this division isn’t the strongest on paper. I understand the Lions ended last season on a tear. I understand their culture is one of the best in the league. I genuinely hope the Lions have a great season — they deserve it more than any other team in football.

The one guarantee I have for this Detroit team is that their offense will continue to be prolific. D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams might be gone, but Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery are very solid replacements. Gibbs could end up being the the next Alvin Kamara if he turns into the player the Lions had in mind when selecting him with the No. 12 pick. They seemingly have their T.J. Hockenson in Sam LaPorta who was selected in the second round out of Iowa — Hockenson’s alma mater. The offensive line is arguably the best in football. They have one of the best and most dependable receivers in the league in Amon-Ra St. Brown, who is only getting better with every passing season. And once speedster Jameson Williams returns from a gambling suspension, they figure to form one of the better duos in football. As long as QB Jared Goff doesn’t turn into a pumpkin — which I don’t think will happen, but he tends to do when the going gets tough or when he has to play outside — this will once again be one of the top offenses in football.

But this defense is still just one giant question mark. The front seven only really has Aidan Hutchinson, Charles Harris, and Alex Anzalone. Jack Campbell was a really weird selection in the first round when the secondary should’ve been addressed instead. Detroit did rework that area by adding Emmanuel Moseley, Cameron Sutton, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the fold and drafting Brian Branch in the second round, which I thought was a great pick. But it just feels like a weird amalgamation of pieces that are going to take too long to gel.

We could see a situation similar to 2022 where the Lions struggle for a bit — especially defensively — before turning it up down the stretch. To me, that’s not good enough to make the playoffs.

4th: Chicago Bears (6-11)

I think I’m being a bit generous to the Bears here. Six wins would be a huge accomplishment with a roster this terrible.

The biggest problem remains the offensive line, which was somewhat addressed through the draft where Chicago selected Darnell Wright in the first round to be their franchise right tackle. But that means Justin Fields’ blindside is still in a bad spot, as is the rest of the line. I love Justin and always have, but he’ll still be running for his life. That obviously isn’t always a bad thing, as he had one of the most prolific rushing seasons of all time last year. But it will hinder the passing game. The Bears did finally get him a proper WR1 by trading for D.J. Moore, who will definitely help elevate him as a passer. But the rest of the offense is just so… meh. I feel like Justin can only carry them for so long before the wheels fall off

The defense is also still terrible, but the Bears placed a heavy emphasis on it by selecting five defenders in the draft, including four to fill the box. They also beefed up at linebacker by signing T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds — necessary additions after trading away Roquan Smith. But the secondary still leaves a lot to be desired, even if the safety combination of Eddie Jackson and Jaquan Brisker is a good one.

This is still an ongoing rebuild, and I think this team is taking the right steps. But it’ll be a while longer until they get where they want to go. The important thing is continuing to develop Justin Fields and protect him by surrounding him with weapons and a competent offensive line. They still have some work to do there.

NFC South

1st: New Orleans Saints (9-8)

In a division full of mid, the Saints stand out as the best team. But this was not an easy choice by any means. They have given me plenty of reasons to believe they won’t even be good.

For starters, I still think their coaching staff is absolutely dreadful. Dennis Allen is simply not a real head coach in my eyes, and Pete Carmichael is one of the worst offensive coordinators in the league. It does help that the offense has the talent to be good. The addition of Derek Carr at QB is an interesting one given his recent declines, but perhaps he sees a mini-revival in the Big Easy. But Chris Olave has proven to be worth the trade-up, and the RB room should stay afloat while Alvin Kamara serves his suspension with the additions of Jamaal Williams in free agency and Kendre Miller in the draft. If — and this is the biggest if in the world at this point — Michael Thomas is healthy, they can be a great offense. But all signs point towards them being middle of the pack.

The good news for the Saints is that the defense should still be great. Jordan Cameron and Demario Davis are still kicking it up front, and I really like their secondary. I think in a division filled with very mediocre offenses, this defense can help separate them from the rest of the pack. That’ll be good enough to win this division, but almost certainly not good enough to do much else.

2nd: Atlanta Falcons (6-11)

The Falcons are the trendy pick to win this division, and that’s warranted. They are finally free from the shackles of Marcus Mariota, selected one of the most dynamic RB prospects in recent memory in Bijan Robinson with the No. 7 pick, and have all the pieces they need to see a breakout on both sides of the ball.

This was one of the top rushing offenses in the league last year — a natural result of running the ball more than any other team in football with one of the best offensive lines in the league — and now they boast a stacked running back room that is guaranteed to do a ton of damage. But I don’t buy into any passing attack in Atlanta. I don’t believe in Desmond Ridder at all, and even if he ends up being good, he’s only throwing to Drake London and Kyle Pitts. Seriously, name me who the WR2 is on this team. Mack Hollins? Khadarel Hodge? It doesn’t matter. This will be another run-heavy season for the Falcons, which took them nowhere last year. Even with someone as talented as Bijan Robinson, that figures to happen once again in 2023.

I will say I like what the Falcons are building on defense. I liked the acquisitions of Jeff Okudah and Jessie Bates to continue building a solid secondary around A.J. Terrell. And they’ve bolstered the defensive line with guys like Calais Campbell, David Onyemata, and Bud Dupree. But the linebacking core might be the worst in the league, and I have a feeling that this defense will get gashed up the middle.

Even though the Falcons have the easiest strength of schedule in the league, this team simply isn’t going to the playoffs, no matter how many narratives are pushed in the media.

3rd: Carolina Panthers (6-11)

The Panthers rebuild has gotten the biggest possible boost thanks to the team trading all the way up to the No. 1 pick in the draft and selecting Bryce Young to be their franchise QB.

I think they might have given up a bit too much considering they are rebuilding, but there’s no doubt that Young is a fantastic centerpiece for any franchise to have. He’s going to be a great player in this league for many years to come. Carolina has done a good job of surrounding their new franchise player with solid talent by adding Adam Thielen, DJ Chark, Hayden Hurst, and Miles Sanders in free agency while selecting Jonathan Mingo in the second round. The offensive line is still iffy, but there’s time for Ikem Ekwonu to develop into their rock at left tackle. With Frank Reich at the helm, I’m confident that this offense will be good, and could be great in a few years.

The Panthers also made some solid additions on defense by adding Justin Houston and Frankie Luvu at linebacker as well as Vonn Bell and Xavier Woods at safety. They have a bonafide CB1 in Jaycee Horn, star LB in Brian Burns, and very good DT in Derrick Brown. And Shaq Thompson is still doing his thing up there too. This defense was one of the worst in football last year. If their newcomers can splash, then I think they can turn it around.

So, with seemingly so much positivity, why the poor record? Well, it’s still early for all of these pieces to come together, and although Bryce Young is fantastic, he’s just a rookie. I think it’ll still be a year or two before this team contends for a division championship. But I see them as the new Jaguars of the last couple years. With a star top-overall selection at QB and a resurging culture, they’ll be just fine.

4th: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-12)

The Bucs are starting Baker Mayfield at quarterback, so this really doesn’t need much of an explanation. You’re not going anywhere if that guy is lining up under center. It’s that simple. 

But there’s plenty else to dislike with the Buccaneers. The wheels absolutely fell off down the stretch last year thanks to injuries, so maybe they return to being average across the board. But I just don’t buy into this team — and certainly not this coaching staff — with Tom Brady gone. The offensive line is dreadful even if Tristan Wirfs is one of the best tackles in the league. Mike Evans should still produce, but Chris Godwin can’t stay healthy, and their WR3 is… who exactly? And while I like Rachaad White, I’m not sure how much I like their run game. Even last year with Leonard Fournette, it was absolutely putrid — the worst in the league. This offense will likely be terrible. 

While the defense still boasts a ton of talent, it feels like their best days are behind them. The front seven has key guys like Vita Vea, Shaq Barrett, and Devin White, and I think Calijah Kancey and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka could develop into solid edge rushers. But the secondary still leaves a lot to be desired. When your CB1 is Jamel Dean, you’re probably not a good unit. Even if it’ll be hard to run on the Bucs, teams will definitely be able to throw all over them, and I think that’ll be their undoing in close games. 

Tampa is diving head-first into a rebuild and it shows. Their best bet is to just tank this season and pray you get a top QB in April’s draft. 

NFC West

1st: San Francisco 49ers (14-3)

It’s not a hot take to say that the 49ers are the best team in the NFC, nor is it to say they’re the best team in the league. This is the best roster in the NFL from top to bottom and it’s probably not close. Last season ended so unceremoniously that you’d have to imagine these guys come out with a vengeance and light up the regular season from start to finish.

I don’t really want to talk about Trey Lance — especially considering how things went the last time I did — so I’ll keep the QB situation brief. The Niners are trusting Brock Purdy to continue to be the guy despite only starting a few games last year and having his UCL obliterated in the NFC Championship Game. I think it’s fair considering he has never lost a game, but this better work. To give up what they did for Lance just to ship him away after four starts is just insane. Luckily for them, I think Purdy is more than capable of being a competent starter, which is all this team needs to go places. The rest of the offense is an embarrassment of riches that need no introduction. The best tackle in football (maybe ever?) in Trent Williams, the ultimate Swiss Army knives of Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel, a fantastic WR2 in Brandon Aiyuk, and one of the premier tight ends of the last several years in George Kittle pretty much ensure that this offense is going to thrive no matter who lines up under center. 

Then there’s the defense, which was the best in football last year and obviously will be once again. It helps when you have the best defensive player in the sport in Nick Bosa. Surely they figure out how to give him a blank check, right? They beefed up the interior by adding Javon Hargrave from Philly. They have the best LB in the league in Fred Warner and a very solid player in Dre Greenlaw beside him. I definitely have my concerns about the secondary outside of Talanoa Hufanga, who has blossomed into one of the league’s best safeties, and it doesn’t help that Demeco Ryans isn’t here anymore to make up for any shortcomings. But I loved the Steve Wilks hire, and I don’t think this defense will take a step back under him.

This is the best team in the NFL on paper and anything short of a Super Bowl berth should be considered a failure. If they can avoid the injury bug — especially at QB — they will be playing a football game in Las Vegas on February 11th, 2024.

2nd: Seattle Seahawks (10-7)

I never thought I’d say this, but I think I’m being a bit too mean to the Seahawks. This is one of my favorite teams in football this year. You have no idea how much it pains me to say that. 

After trading away Russell Wilson, Seattle’s front office proved that they pulled the ultimate fleece as Russ turned into a pumpkin and the Seahawks soared into the playoffs thanks to a resurgent Geno Smith — who won Comeback Player of the Year — and young playmakers all over the place on both sides of the ball. Now, those young guys have more experience, and Geno is back on a huge deal. The offense could be even better now that Jaxon Smith-Njigba — who I thought was the best non-QB in the draft — completes perhaps the best WR trio in football alongside DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Zach Charbonnet was selected with their second round pick to form a thumping one-two punch at RB alongside Kenneth Walker. 

On the other side of the ball, it’s clear what the Seahawks are doing: rebuilding the Legion of Boom. Riq Woolen (still getting used to that name change) and Coby Bryant were absolute studs as rookies — which anyone who saw them play in college saw from a mile away. Quandre Diggs continues to be the most underrated safety in the league. And who knows, maybe Jamal Adams remembers how to play football. On top of all this, they add the No. 5 overall pick Devon Witherspoon — who was selected with the pick so generously provided to them by the Broncos — to the mix, who is a freakish, long corner that complements Woolen perfectly. The front seven isn’t as good, but guys like Jordyn Brooks and Boye Mafe have come along brilliantly, and they added Dre’mont Jones for a pass rushing lift in free agency. I think this defense has a chance to not just be one of the best in the NFC, but the entire league. Of course, it’ll be hard to top their NFC West counterparts above them in this prediction, but they have all the potential in the world.

The combination of the youth movement with Geno Smith — who has truly overcome the odds and proven himself as a high-quality starting QB — and the incredible coaching of Pete Carroll has me very excited for what this Seahawks team can do. It’s a fairly easy schedule, and even though perhaps the best team in the league is in their division, this will be a playoff team. And no one will want to see them once they get there.

3rd: Arizona Cardinals (4-13)

This is where the NFC West goes from amazing to absolutely unwatchable garbage that I don’t want any part of. 

You might be shocked to see me put the Cardinals anywhere but last, but I have a good reason for it. Signs are pointing towards Kyler Murray returning for the end of the season, and with Jonathan Gannon trying to build a new culture in Arizona, this team is going to fight down the stretch to throw away a generational QB prospect just like the Jets did in 2021. I honestly think that’s a perfect comparison. They’ll suck for the entire season then go on a meaningless run at the death to watch Caleb Williams fall into another team’s hands (more on that later).

But that’s the whole story of this Cardinals team. We’re only watching to see how bad they can be. Will they have the first overall pick? The first two picks in the draft courtesy of the Houston Texans? Is this the end of Kyler Murray in a Cardinals uniform? These are all in the realm of possibility. But it’s too predictable. The team that finishes with the worst record in the league is hardly ever the one we think it’s going to be. Plus, I think the Cards have enough good players to not be the worst team in the league. They’ll be basement dwellers for sure, but they still have guys like James Conner, Hollywood Brown, and Zach Ertz. The offensive line is… kind of starting to come together with the addition of Paris Johnson Jr. No one has any idea what they’re going to do at QB until Kyler returns, but like I said, it won’t matter. Once he gets back, this team will play themselves squarely out of the opportunity to save their franchise with Caleb Williams. And honestly? It’ll be really funny.

4th: Los Angeles Rams (3-14)

Here it is. Perhaps my boldest take of the season. The Los Angeles Rams — who are one season removed from a Super Bowl victory and boast one of the best QBs of our generation, one of the best WRs in the league, and perhaps the best defensive player of all time — are going to finish with the worst record in the NFL. And none of those three players will be in Los Angeles this time next year.

Just hear me out. Last year, the Rams were dreadful for a plethora of reasons. The injury bug bit them all over as Matt Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and countless others went down due to injury. They had one of the worst offensive lines in the league, an anemic offense, and a defense severely lacking in anything other than playmaking ability from Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey. Here we are at the start of the 2023 season and Matt Stafford is still nagged by his elbow, Cooper Kupp has hamstring issues, the offensive line wasn’t addressed in any way other than taking a guard in the draft, Aaron Donald wants to stop playing the sport, and Jalen Ramsey is gone. On top of all this, the Rams didn’t improve in any areas — they made no splashes in free agency and their draft was really puzzling. Therefore, I’m going to assume that the exact issues that plagued them last year will rear their ugly heads again in 2023, but it’ll be so much worse. And that puts them squarely in the running for the No. 1 pick in the draft.

Sean McVay is a smart guy who needs a reason to keep coaching this team. He knows that if he gets Caleb Williams, it could be curtains for the league. And what’s a better story than the Heisman winner staying in Hollywood and bringing the Rams back to relevance? I think it makes too much sense, and I’m shocked more people aren’t thinking like me.

Then there’s the issue of those aforementioned three key players leaving. I think Matt Stafford is almost done in this league. I think the injuries are starting to catch up to him, and even if he can play, there’s no way he stays in LA in this scenario. He’s not going to be a backup. He’ll go somewhere to die like Matt Ryan in Indianapolis or Philip Rivers in Indianapolis… is Matt Stafford going to Indianapolis? Probably not. Cooper Kupp is undoubtedly a commodity at WR and one of the game’s best playmakers, but if the Rams want to acquire the draft capital necessary to get this rebuild going, they’re going to deal him. They can get a very good return for him, even with the injury problems. And with Aaron Donald, I simply don’t see a world where he ends this season on the Rams. He’ll either be traded or retire. Take it to the bank.

All of this culminates in the Rams going from the absolute pinnacle of the sport to its dumpster. But luckily for them, Caleb Williams will drag them out with swiftness. Could you imagine winning the Super Bowl and landing that caliber of a QB in a two-year span? I’m jealous.

Playoff Picture

1 – San Francisco 49ers (14-3)

2 – Philadelphia Eagles (13-4)

3 – Green Bay Packers (12-5)

4 – New Orleans Saints (9-8)

5 – Dallas Cowboys (11-6)

6 – Seattle Seahawks (10-7)

7 – Minnesota Vikings (9-8)

Wild Card Weekend

Eagles over Vikings: As I said above, the Vikings are going to sneak into the playoffs by the skin of their teeth and get immediately blasted. This trip to Philly in January could end in a very, very embarrassing loss for them as they likely move on from Kirk Cousins and try to move into a new era that, hopefully for them, is more fruitful than this one was.

Seahawks over Packers: This is really hard for me. I really love what both of these teams are doing. I think the Packers have a very bright future with Jordan Love, but this might be too tall of a task in his first playoff game, even at home. Lambeau has ironically been Green Bay’s house of horrors in the playoffs lately. I think the Seahawks win a thriller to move on.

Cowboys over Saints: Yeah, this one won’t be close. Next!

Divisional Round

49ers over Seahawks: This would truly be a hell of a game. I think the Seahawks can match up with their division rivals, and we’ve seen time and time again how the three-match in the playoffs can be so close. But we saw this matchup in the Wild Card last year, and San Francisco dominated. With the Niners coming off a bye here, it’s just impossible to pick against them, no matter how much I like the Seahawks.

Eagles over Cowboys: I really do think this is a tossup. Last year showed that the Cowboys match up so well with the Eagles, and I think Dallas had a better offseason. It’s just too difficult for me to place my faith in them in the playoffs, especially considering how the last two have gone for them. It would admittedly be very funny if Mike McCarthy shenanigans get them eliminated for the third straight year.

NFC Championship Game

49ers over Eagles: Revenge. It’s that simple. The 49ers are going to be out for blood in 2023 after how their season ended in Philadelphia in January, and there’s nobody who they want to beat more than the Eagles themselves. Despite the fact that the Birds can go toe-to-toe with the Niners, I think winning this game in the Bay just isn’t happening for them. The 49ers have been waiting for so long to finally win another Super Bowl, and I get the feeling that this team has the best chance of any in the last several years. They get their revenge against the Eagles and get to Las Vegas, where a certain unstoppable force will await them on the biggest stage yet again. But I’ll get into that tomorrow.

All stats taken from ESPN.