The 2023 NFL season is going to be a fun one. Let’s make some very early predictions for the divisional winners in the coming season. It’s never too early to make these kinds of predictions. The start of the 2023 NFL season is about three short months away, so hopefully the summertime flies by.
The air gets crisper when September hits and the cool breeze slowly but surely brings football weather. There’s nothing like it. The 2023 season should feature a ton of parity, which is only a good thing, in my opinion.
How many repeat division winners will we see in 2023? Let’s take a look at who I think will win the eight divisions in 2023.
AFC North – Cincinnati Bengals
I think there are three good teams in the AFC North and one great team. The Steelers, Ravens, and Browns all have talent on both sides of the ball and could all make a run at the playoffs in 2023, but I don’t see any of them as being anything more than a good team.
I think the Bengals are a great team, and until an AFC North rival can stop the Joe Burrow-led Bengals, they’ll win the division most years.
AFC South – Jacksonville Jaguars
This might be the easiest pick in 2023. All three of the other teams in the division are sporting quarterbacks taken high in the 2023 NFL Draft and are all rebuilding in some way. The Jaguars should win 10-12 games in the 2023 NFL season and win the AFC South by four or five games.
AFC East – Buffalo Bills
Until a team like the Dolphins or Jets can dethrone the Bills, I’m sticking with them. I don’t trust the Bills and Josh Allen in the playoffs, but I think Buffalo is the king of the division until proven otherwise.
However, I do think you could argue that the Jets and the Dolphins each have stronger rosters than Buffalo.
AFC West – Kansas City Chiefs
The defending Super Bowl champions are going to continue to win the AFC West until another team can prove otherwise. Like the AFC North, I think the Broncos and the Chargers are two good teams, but I don’t think they are at the level of the Chiefs.
I could see three teams from this division making the postseason in 2023, but until another AFC West team dethrones the Chiefs, they’ll again win the division in the 2023 NFL season.
2023 NFL Season: Early picks for division winners – NFC
NFC North – Detroit Lions
Aaron Rodgers is out of the way and the Detroit Lions should jump on this opportunity in front of them. I think they improved in the right areas this offseason by addressing their tight end room and an overhauled secondary is going to have an immediate impact.
I don’t buy the Vikings winning literally every single one of their close games again in 2023, and I think both the Packers and Bears aren’t there yet. This is the Lions’ division to lose.
NFC South – Carolina Panthers
Perhaps my boldest take of the 2023 NFL season; I love the Carolina Panthers. I think Frank Reich built what could quickly become the best coaching staff in the NFL. I also think Carolina has very good talent at the most important positions.
I like the Panthers to take advantage of this weaker division and win it with nine or 10 wins. I think they’re not looking at this year as being a rebuild. Their offseason moves indicate that they think they can win now, and I think they do that in 2023.
Watch out for the Panthers. Trust me.
NFC East – Philadelphia Eagles
The NFC East has not had a repeat champion since 1539, but I think the Eagles are going to do just that in 2023. Even though they lost both of their coordinators from 2022, I liked what they did in the offseason, bringing back their elite defense, adding a ton of talent to it, and really not losing much on offense at all.
Jalen Hurts taking another step in this offense is likely, and I think we see the Birds narrowly beat out the Cowboys in 2023 to earn their second straight NFC East title en route to their defense of the NFC title.
NFC West – San Francisco 49ers
I think we can safely eliminate the Cardinals and Rams from winning the NFC West in the 2023 NFL season. The only challenge for the 49ers in 2023 should be the Seattle Seahawks, but can Geno Smith recreate his shocking 2022 season?
Will the Seahawks’ defense improve? I think Seattle has more questions than answers, and I like the 49ers’ situation a bit better. Brock Purdy returning for week one would be a huge boost to the Niners’ offense.
Their defense is going to pick up right where they left off in 2022 with reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Nick Bosa. This is the Niners’ division for the foreseeable future.