In the middle of April, before the NFL draft, there’s a long way to go before the start of the NFL’s training camp, let alone the regular season. We still don’t know where Aaron Rodgers and Lamar Jackson, two former league MVPs, will play next year. We also don’t know where Ezekiel Elliott will end up. We also don’t know if Brock Purdy will be healthy enough to start the season for San Francisco, despite many people picking them to win the NFC. Even so, it’s time to start making some predictions to get the NFL betting juices flowing, so take a look at a thought we have for each team.
NFL News: Way-Too-Early Predictions for Each Team
NFC West
Arizona has a new head coach in Jonathan Gannon, who has gained respect for his genuine personality and his energy. The problem that Kyler Murray’s leadership issues represent for the team, though, will be hard to drive away. I see the Cardinals missing the playoffs.
The Rams will have Cooper Kupp back, and they need a second receiving option to take the secondary’s attention away from their star. They spent 2022 in Super Bowl hangover mode, but they should bounce back to push the 49ers hard.
San Francisco has advanced to the NFC Championship two years in a row, only to fall short. Two years ago, it was an issue of execution, as the 49ers dropped a late interception that would have salted away the win. This past season, it was a health issue as the 49ers did not have a healthy quarterback after the first quarter.
Seattle extended Geno Smith at quarterback, which gives the position stability. However, the aging talent around Smith will make it extremely difficult to get to the postseason.
NFC North
Chicago should win at least eight games this season, as the team has Chase Claypool, Darnell Mooney and Cole Kmet running routes. Justin Fields ran for 1,143 yards last season, averaging 7.1 yards per carry. With better talent running routes, he shouldn’t have to run for his life as much.
Detroit makes the playoffs behind the exciting play of such youngsters as Jameson Williams, who debuted in Week 13 at wide receiver last year. In Week 14, he burned Minnesota for a 41-yard touchdown, and with a rejuvenated Jared Goff running the offense, he should do even more damage this year.
Green Bay shouldn’t see a lot of dropoff from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love. Aaron Jones is still the leader of a ferocious tailback group. The defense remains underrated. But with the Bears and the Lions stronger, the Packers will struggle to make the playoffs.
Minnesota will ship Kirk Cousins to San Francisco for Trey Lance. Why? Because Cousins is the kind of bus driver who can run a potent offense, but he’s not the type of quarterback who can put a team on his back. The 49ers have the personnel around him.
NFC South
Atlanta will benefit from Desmond Ridder at quarterback, and Drake London will have a breakout season. In his last six games of 2022, London averaged 8.6 targets and 76.2 receiving yards per game.
New Orleans wins at least 10 games and gets to the wild card with Derek Carr coming to town to lead the offense. He is not quite as mistake-prone as Jameis Winston was, and with the Saints’ defense, he won’t have to produce 40 points a game to win.
Tampa Bay wins the division as Baker Mayfield has a standout season – his best since guiding Cleveland to the divisional playoff, and an almost-win in Kansas City. The receiving group is solid, the defense can stop the run, so all the Bucs need to add is a tailback.
NFC East
Dallas won’t get to the NFC Championship, but they might win the NFC East. They added cornerback Stephon Gilmore and showed Ezekiel Elliott the door, giving Tony Pollard a well-deserved chance as the starter. But can Dak Prescott stop throwing interceptions?
The Giants gave Daniel Jones a bunch of guaranteed money on the basis of one turnover-free season, but they still haven’t extended Saquon Barkley, and he’s likely to hold out. A Giants offense that relies on Jones is one that will win maybe six games.
Philadelphia will have a tougher 2023 schedule as a division winner, but Jalen Hurts has shown that he can dominate all comers.I like the Eagles to win the division and get back to the NFC title game.
Washington will struggle to win five or six games thanks to that pu pu platter they have at quarterback (Sam Howell, Jake Fromm and Jacoby Brissett). The good news is that Daniel Snyder seems to be on the way out.
AFC West
Denver should benefit from the arrival of Sean Payton at quarterback. Russell Wilson seems to be on board, showing up for Phase 1 of offseason training before sunrise. The Broncos should do better on offense this season, but that is a low, low bar.
Kansas City has to be the favorite until someone else wins the division. The defending Super Bowl champions always seem to be hungry, and they almost always win their divisional games.
Las Vegas will win at least 10 games and get to the playoffs. Jimmy Garoppolo reunites with Josh McDaniels, his offensive coordinator in New England. Remember when Jimmy G was torching teams while Tom Brady was injured? Expect that to continue.
The Chargers have tantalized fans and sports bettors for several years now, thanks to transcendent talent Justin Herbert. The lack of execution on defense, and the bizarre gambling that Brandon Staley brings to each crucial game situation, combine to keep this team from the next level.
AFC North
Baltimore will find a way to get Lamar Jackson back on the field, but given the improvements from all the other teams, the Ravens miss out on the postseason.
Cincinnati finally wins a Super Bowl. Joe Burrow has one of the top receiver groups and has played at an elite level in each of his three seasons. He also has multiple wins over Patrick Mahomes.
Cleveland gets a more prepared Deshaun Watson and continues to thrive in a run-first offense. Their defense, though, keeps them from winning enough games to get into the postseason.
Pittsburgh benefits from the experience Kenny Pickett got in his rookie campaign and the talent of wide receiver George Pickett (who had 801 receiving yards as a rookie) to get a wild card.
AFC South
Houston fires their third coach in as many seasons. The Texans have made a habit of signing a roster on the cheap and then hanging the consequences for the dreadful results around the neck of their head coach. I don’t see anyone exciting heading to Houston this off-season.
Indianapolis currently has Nick Foles, Sam Ehlinger and Gardner Minshew on the roster at quarterback. You can just hear Jonathan Taylor’s Super Bowl window creaking shut at this point, as the Colts might not even make the playoffs.
Jacksonville made it to the divisional playoff this past season, and Trevor Lawrence will come into 2023 with even more confidence. Could Calvin Ridley come back to give the team more depth?
Tennessee hands the offense to Malik Willis as Ryan Tannehill starts to show more and more signs of decline. Also, Derrick Henry continues to play as just a shadow of his dominant self.
AFC East
Buffalo loses to Cincinnati in the playoffs again – this time in the AFC Championship. The Bills are stacked on both sides of the ball, but Joe Burrow has their number.
Miami just added Mike White to the quarterback room, but the biggest question for the Dolphins is whether Tua Tagovailoa will ever play a down as an effective quarterback again. I see Tagovailoa struggling to get his confidence back and the Dolphins struggling for at least the first half of the season as a result.
New England misses the playoffs, as the rift that started between Bill Belichick and Mac Jones when Jones reached out to his former coaches at Alabama for help on offense widens. Bailey Zappe becomes the starter by mid-season, but the lack of offensive talent around him dooms the Pats.
The Jets learn that Aaron Rodgers has reached the downward side of his career. Injuries to the O-line cause Rodgers to have to run for his life, and while the Jets are in a lot of games, they don’t win enough to get to the postseason.
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