NFL 2023 Season Preview: What to Expect from the Teams and the New Recruits

The NFL season is about to start, and we have all the information you need to get ready for the action. Who are the favorites, who are the underdogs, and who are the rookies to watch? Read on to find out.

The NFL is back, and it's going to be a wild ride. The 2023 season promises to be full of excitement, drama, and surprises, as 32 teams compete for the ultimate prize: the Super Bowl LVIII trophy. The road to Las Vegas, where the big game will be played for the first time in history, will not be easy. There are many contenders, challengers, and dark horses in the mix, and every game will matter.

Let's take a look at some of the main storylines and predictions for the upcoming season.

The Favorites

There are a few teams that stand out as the favorites to win it all this year. These are the teams that have proven themselves in the past, have strong rosters, and have high expectations.

The Kansas City Chiefs are the defending champions, and they have not lost much of their firepower. They still have Patrick Mahomes, arguably the best quarterback in the league, along with a plethora of weapons like Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Their defense is also solid, led by Chris Jones, Tyrann Mathieu, and Frank Clark. The Chiefs are aiming for their third straight Super Bowl appearance, and they have a good chance of achieving it.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the runners-up from last year, and they have not changed much either. They still have Tom Brady, arguably the greatest quarterback of all time, along with a stacked roster that includes Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Rob Gronkowski, Leonard Fournette, Shaquil Barrett, Lavonte David, and Ndamukong Suh. The Buccaneers are hoping to repeat their success from last year, when they won their second Super Bowl title in franchise history.

The San Francisco 49ers are the favorites from the NFC West, and they have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. They have Jimmy Garoppolo back from injury, along with George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Raheem Mostert, Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and Richard Sherman. The 49ers are looking to bounce back from a disappointing season last year, when they were plagued by injuries and finished last in their division. They are hoping to recapture their form from two years ago, when they reached the Super Bowl LIV.

The Buffalo Bills are the favorites from the AFC East, and they have a dynamic offense led by Josh Allen. The young quarterback had a breakout season last year, throwing for over 4,000 yards and 37 touchdowns. He also has a reliable target in Stefon Diggs, who led the league in receptions and receiving yards last year. The Bills also have a solid defense that features Tre'Davious White, Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, and Matt Milano. The Bills are aiming for their first Super Bowl appearance since 1994.

The Underdogs

There are also some teams that are not as favored as the ones above, but still have a chance to make some noise this year. These are the teams that have some question marks or weaknesses but also have some strengths or potential.

The Baltimore Ravens are one of these teams. They have Lamar Jackson, one of the most electrifying players in the league. The former MVP can run and pass with equal skill, and he has some weapons like Marquise Brown, Mark Andrews, and J.K. Dobbins. However, the Ravens also have some concerns. Their passing game is not very consistent, and their defense lost some key players like Matthew Judon, Yannick Ngakoue, and Calais Campbell. The Ravens are hoping to overcome these issues and make a deep playoff run.

The Green Bay Packers are another team that falls into this category. They have Aaron Rodgers, one of the best quarterbacks in history. The reigning MVP can make any throw and any play, and he has some weapons like Davante Adams, Aaron Jones, and Robert Tonyan. However, the Packers also have some problems. Their relationship with Rodgers is strained, and their defense is not very reliable, especially in big games. The Packers are hoping to resolve these problems and win their first Super Bowl since 2011.

The Cleveland Browns are a third team that fits this description. They have Baker Mayfield, a young quarterback who improved a lot last year. He has some weapons like Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb, and Kareem Hunt. He also has a strong offensive line that includes Jack Conklin, Joel Bitonio, JC Tretter, Wyatt Teller, and Jedrick Wills Jr. However, the Browns also have some challenges. Their defense is not very consistent, and their history is not very favorable. The Browns are hoping to overcome these challenges and win their first Super Bowl ever.

The Rookies

There are also some rookies that are worth watching this year. These are the players that were drafted in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and they have a lot of potential and hype.

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Trevor Lawrence with the first overall pick, and he is expected to be the franchise quarterback for the team. Lawrence was a star at Clemson, where he won a national championship and was a Heisman Trophy finalist. He has a rare combination of size, arm strength, accuracy, mobility, and leadership. He will be the face of the Jaguars, who are hoping to turn their fortunes around under new head coach Urban Meyer.

The New York Jets selected Zach Wilson with the second overall pick, and he is expected to be the franchise quarterback for the team. Wilson was a star at BYU, where he had a breakout season last year. He threw for over 3,000 yards and 33 touchdowns, with just three interceptions. He has a strong arm, quick release, good vision, and improvisational skills. He will be the leader of the Jets, who are hoping to rebuild under new head coach Robert Saleh.

The San Francisco 49ers traded up to select Trey Lance with the third overall pick, and he is expected to be the future quarterback for the team. Lance was a star at North Dakota State, where he led his team to an undefeated season and a national championship in 2019. He threw for over 2,000 yards and 28 touchdowns, with no interceptions. He also ran for over 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has a powerful arm, athletic ability, intelligence, and poise. He will be the understudy of Jimmy Garoppolo for now, but he could take over sooner than later.

The Atlanta Falcons selected Kyle Pitts with the fourth overall pick, and he is expected to be a game-changer for the team. Pitts was a star at Florida, where he was a unanimous All-American and a finalist for the John Mackey Award. He caught 43 passes for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns in just eight games last year. He has a rare combination of size, speed, agility, hands, and route-running. He will be a matchup nightmare for defenses, who will have to deal with him and Julio Jones.

The Cincinnati Bengals selected Ja'Marr Chase with the fifth overall pick, and he is expected to be a star for the team. Chase was a star at LSU, where he won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's best receiver in 2019. He caught 84 passes for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns that year, playing alongside Joe Burrow. He opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns. He has elite speed, strength, hands, and body control. He will reunite with Burrow in Cincinnati, where they will form a dynamic duo.

These are just some of the rookies that will make an impact this year. There are many more that will emerge as the season goes on.

What to Anticipate

The NFL season is always full of surprises, twists, and turns. There are always teams that exceed expectations or disappoint fans. There are always players that break out or regress. There are always injuries that affect outcomes or opportunities. There are always controversies that create headlines or distractions.

That's what makes the NFL so exciting and unpredictable. You never know what will happen next.

But one thing is certain: The NFL season is here, and it's going to be awesome.

Are you ready for some football?

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