We are still a whopping four months away from the 2023 season, but let’s make some way too early division winner predictions.
I think there are a few divisions in the NFL where the eventual champion is rather easy to pick, but there are some where you could argue that three teams could win. The NFL is seeping with parity, which isn’t like many other sports, and there’s a solid argument for some 25 different teams to make the playoffs in 2023.
We’re still about four months away from the beginning of the 2023 regular season. We do have a while yet to wait, but that won’t stop me from predicting each division winner for the 2023 season.
Predicting each division winner for the 2023 NFL season
AFC North: Cincinnati Bengals
I don’t think this is controversial and I don’t really see a scenario where this doesn’t happen. Sure, the Ravens and Browns could give the Bengals a run for their money, but Joe Burrow is probably the second best QB in football and has been to two straight AFC Championship games and a Super Bowl appearance back in 2021.
They are the champs until they aren’t.
AFC South: Jacksonville Jaguars
Perhaps the easiest division winner to pick, the Jaguars surprised many by winning the AFC South in 2022 and upsetting the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card round. They also gave the Kansas City Chiefs a run for their money in the divisional round.
They are going to put a huge grasp on this division with Trevor Lawrence and Doug Pederson for years to come.
AFC East: Buffalo Bills
This is an interesting one. I could make a case that the Bills, Miami Dolphins, and New York Jets could all win the division, but I’m going to take the safe round and put my chips into the Bills’ hand. They have yet to break free when they get into the playoffs and I think they are a distant third after the Chiefs and Bengals, but to me, this is the AFC East champion until they aren’t.
AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs
I could maybe make an argument that the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers could give the Chiefs a run for their money in 2023, but I can’t do it, honestly.
The Chiefs have won the AFC West every year since 2016 and have a firm grasp and don’t look like they plan on letting go anytime soon. I think as long as Patrick Mahomes is the QB in KC, they’ll either be first or second in the AFC West until he falls off or retires.
They won the Super Bowl in 2022 in what many thought was going to be a down year for them.
Predicting each division winner for the 2023 NFL season
NFC North: Detroit Lions
This is my first frisky pick for the 2023 division champions. The Minnesota Vikings won the NFC North in 2022 but finished with a negative point differential and won nearly every one of their close games.
That isn’t going to happen this year, and the Lions, who have a high-powered offense and won nine games last year, will win the NFC North with that same offense and a much improved defense, featuring a nearly completely new secondary.
NFC South: Carolina Panthers
I love this pick, man. I think the Panthers have done nearly everything perfectly right in the 2023 offseason and field what I believe to be a quite good roster and excellent coaching.
They also get the benefit of playing in what appears to be a weaker division. I think Bryce Young is going to hit the ground running in 2023 along with what’ll be an incredibly disciplined and well-coached team.
NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles
The NFC East has not seen a repeat champion since 1753, and I think this is the year that we see a repeat winner. The Philadelphia Eagles exploded in 2022 and made a run all the way to the Super Bowl.
They also did play well enough to win the SB in my opinion, but did lose both of their coordinators to head coaching jobs. However, their free agency period was great and they seemed to ace the 2023 NFL Draft. I think the Dallas Cowboys can make it interesting, and I don’t think the Eagles will win the division by more than a game, but I don’t see how they don’t repeat.
NFC West: San Francisco 49ers
This could be an interesting division as well. The 49ers went through a total roller coaster of a 2022 season. On their third QB of the season, rookie Mr. Irrelevant pick Brock Purdy helped lead the 49ers to an NFC Championship game in one of the most unexpected events I’ve ever seen in the NFL.
Other NFC West teams in the Cardinals and Rams truly bottomed out, and I don’t think either will be relevant for another couple of years.
The Seattle Seahawks could give the Niners a run for their money, especially if their defense takes a step forward, but I do think that the Niners are the ones to beat, even if Brock Purdy isn’t ready for week one.