We haven’t even hit the 2023 NFL Draft yet, but let’s put together some way too early predictions for the 2023 NFC playoff field. I do think the NFC is a weaker conference and should be rather easy to predict the playoff teams.
Last year, the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers were the crop of the conference, and I’m not sure that changes for 2023.
Other teams who made some noise include the Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and Dallas Cowboys. We haven’t even hit the 2023 NFL Draft yet, so these predictions might be way too early, but let’s take a shot and try to guess the seven playoff teams in the NFC, with seeding, for the 2023 season.
Way too early predictions for the NFC playoff picture – Division winners: top 4 seeds
1. San Francisco 49ers
I think the 49ers are going to take off when Brock Purdy returns to the lineup in 2023. He may miss a game or two, but I wonder how many more games they’d have won if Purdy ended up being the week one starter.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
The defending Super Bowl champions pick up right where they left off, win another NFC East title, and secure the second seed in the NFC playoffs. They did bring back most of their starting 22 from the previous season.
3. Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions went 9-8 last year with one of the absolute worst defenses in the NFL. They added a ton of talent to their weak secondary this offseason and have two first-round picks. This is a serious club that is ready to win.
4. Carolina Panthers
I am banking on the excellent coaching staff that Frank Reich has assembled in Carolina. I think they win the division with an 9-8 or 10-7 record, being led by a rookie QB, likely either Bryce Young or CJ Stroud. (See: 2021 New England Patriots).
Way too early NFL predictions for the NFC playoff picture – Wild Card teams
5. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are plenty good enough to win in the NFC, and they just happen to be stuck in a division with the reigning NFC champions. In any other division, they are the runaway champs.
6. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings take a bit of a step back, don’t win as many of their close games, but still qualify for the playoffs. Perhaps they can still eke out 10 wins with Kirk Cousins under center, who may be entering his last year as the Vikings’ starter.
7. Seattle Seahawks
I thought about this last seed in the NFC playoffs for a minute, and I think it could easily go between the Seahawks and the New York Giants, who both won nine games last year, but I like what the Seahawks have done more this offseason and with their two first rounds picks, they should field a much-improved team in 2023.