Favourites

Kansas City Chiefs (6/1)

No surprise at who’s most likely to win the next Superbowl. The Chiefs, having just come off a championship victory, should always be in this position as long as Patrick Mahomes is their quarterback.

Since his first start in 2018, the Chiefs have never failed to make the divisional championship game, making the Superbowl on three occasions, winning twice. You’d be a fool to doubt them.

Philadelphia Eagles (8/1)

The other clear favourite just happens to be the other team in the Superbowl last year. Turns out, the best teams happen to be good. But with the Eagles, it’s earned. They had the strongest roster in the NFL last year and as long as Howie Roseman is their GM, this will continue.

Worst to First

Denver Broncos

But wait, isn’t Russel Wilson now terrible and the worst QB ever? I mean, maybe. He is 34 and has lost the athleticism that made him special. But he’s still a hall of fame talent, and in a league where Quarterbacks are playing well into their late 30’s, he should have plenty of years left.

The Broncos were considered a strong team last year, having a win total over/under of 9.5. What people didn’t know at the time was how much rookie head coach Nathaniel Hackett would struggle. But now they’ve brought in Sean Peyton, one of the best coaches over the past 20 years. This team will be fine, and I predict, will challenge the Chiefs for the AFC West.

Atlanta Falcons

Last season's Atlanta Falcons got hit with the disrespectful win total of 4.5, which they unsurprisingly surpassed. These Falcons are building something, investing heavily in offensive weapons in the past few drafts. Even if I consider the Bijan Robinson pick in the 2023 draft a bad move long term, he will make the team stronger this year.

Their win total has jumped up to 8.5, which means that everyone else has caught on. They’re in the weak NFC. They’re in the weaker NFC South. As long as sophomore QB Desmond Ridder is solid, they should make a statement in the conference.

Flatter to Deceive

Detroit Lions

There’s too much excitement around the Lions for true fans of the team to not get worried. Their win total of 9.5 is the highest it's been since 2012. They’re favourites for the NFC North (11/8), and Dan Campbell is the favourite for Coach of the Year (17/2). It’s all going to go wrong isn’t it?

The 2022 offence benefitted from a great play caller in Ben Johnson, a very strong offensive line and Dan Campbell's willingness to go for it on 4th down.

But they benefited from some good fortune. Goff was given plaudits for only throwing 7 interceptions last year, but according to PFF, he accounted for 24 turnover worthy plays.

You also don’t know if Ben Johnson's scheme will hold up going into his second full year as a play caller. Nothing adapts faster than an NFL defensive coordinator, so it’ll be up to Johnson to stay one step ahead.

New York Jets

Much like the Lions, the Jets can’t have nice things. Their playoff drought is currently the longest in the league, with 2011 being the last year they made the postseason.

Despite this, they’re 6th most likely to win the Superbowl at 14/1. And this isn’t because they’ve got a strong head coach in Robert Saleh, or because their GM Joue Douglas has been putting together a strong team. It’s because they traded for one of the most talented QB’s ever, in Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers however, could be their poison chalice. What’s meant to be their salvation may actually bring the team down from the inside. Despite his hall of fame credentials, Rodgers will turn 40 during the season and he’s coming off the worst year of his career.

Now he’s going to a new environment, and leaving a weak NFC, for the much stronger AFC, where he may not even be a top 5 quarterback going forward.

Bottom Dwellers

Arizona Cardinals

Introducing now, the dregs of the NFL. But unlike in most sports, this isn’t a bad thing. The Cardinals are setting themselves up for the future by tanking for the year.

They underwent an entire regime change, and their quarterback Kyler Murray will miss a hefty portion of the next season with an ACL injury. Like it or not, it would be beneficial for the Cardinals not to win this year.

Their over/under is only 4.5 and their superbowl odds are at a staggering 125/1. They will not become interesting until next year's offseason, where they will become one of the major players in the 2024 draft.

Break Out Players

Aidan Hutchinson

Around about the halfway point last year, the defensive end began showing why the Lions took him number 2 overall in the 2022 draft. He displayed playmaking ability that saw him make a late push for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

For a player that’s gotten better every year of his college career, another offseason could see Hutchinson vault himself into the league elite. This, along with being tied to the Lions narrative of; everyone's favourite second team, may see him in consideration for defensive player of the year (25/1) come awards season.

Daniel Jones

One of the most disrespected players in the league, purely because he looks like a school prefect. But this vanilla ice cream of a personality is also one of the league's most athletic quarterbacks.

It only took one year of competent coaching for him to win the Giants their first playoff game in over a decade. This was despite him having a bottom tier receiving core and offensive line. Just imagine what he could do with above average talent around him.

Take the overs on everything available for him this season (16.5 o/u passing Td’s. 3,200.5 o/u passing yards).

Another year of improvement and he’ll comfortably be a top QB in football.