Thursday, Sept. 8 marks the first game of the 2022 through 2023 NFL season, as the reigning Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams will face off against the Buffalo Bills. The season brings much anticipation, as fans await the first performances of unproven rookies and soon-to-be-final matches of seasoned veterans (*cough* Tom Brady *cough*). With many questions still unanswered, the season is set to provide us with some of the best action ever (hopefully!). The superstars are set, the rosters are final, and the teams are just ready to flat out slam into each other! The season is upon us!

Ian’s Teams to Watch:

Baltimore Ravens:

While the Bengals seem to be the “sexy” pick to win the AFC North this season, the Ravens have consistently been excellent for years with quarterback Lamar Jackson under center. Flashback to 2019, Jackson won the MVP of the league. Rewind to last season, so many of Jackson’s offensive weapons fell to injuries prior to or during the season, such as J.K. Dobbins, who was on track to be one of the league’s breakout sophomores. Jackson was practically by himself, yet he was still able to lead the Ravens to a decent 8-9 record. Jackson is a man on a mission right now, as he is looking for a massive money contract extension with Baltimore. He has been in discussion for this potential deal for most of the offseason, but nothing has been made official or finalized. Because of that potential monetary value still on the table, Jackson will need to play out of his mind and I believe he does exactly that and more, even without Marquise Brown lining up outside the numbers.     

Philadelphia Eagles: 

THE EAGLES WIN THE NFC EAST!!! Yes, the Eagles defeat the Dallas Cowboys in the heated divisional rival for the coveted NFC East Champion spot. Head coach Nick Sirriani is entering his second season with the Eagles and is looking to improve from an already solid first year with the team. The Eagles will be led by a young, mobile quarterback in Jalen Hurts, who has a new weapon to combine with in receiver A.J. Brown. Brown, who was traded for during the NFL Draft this past offseason, will join a talented receiving group that already consists of Devonta Smith and a beyond capable tight end in Dallas Goedert. Beyond just the excellent offense this team has, this is a defense with a lot of potential. Cornerback Darius Slay reinvigorated his career last season, locking down on elite receivers on a weekly basis and will be a crucial piece; however, Philly was busy in the offseason adding another corner in James Bradberry to solidify that secondary, plus they made fantastic additions in the front seven, obtaining Haason Reddick, who has been proving himself as a formidable pass-rusher in the past couple of seasons. In addition to Reddick, the Eagles drafted nose tackle Jordan Davis as well as another Georgia Bulldog in Nakobe Dean. This should be a very solid and capable playoff team come the start of the season.    

Detroit Lions:

Okay, Jared Goff is not the greatest starting quarterback alive; however, he still is a guy who has been in the Super Bowl. Yes, offensive guru Sean McVay was the head coach when Goff played in that game a few years ago, but still Goff had to be the executor of the plays and I expect him to almost revitalize his career this season. Around Goff, multiple potential potent weapons stand. Running back De’Andre Swift is young, talented and ready to truly breakout this season running behind an excellent offensive line that includes Penei Sewell, Frank Ragnow and Taylor Decker. Continuing with Goff’s weapons, second-year wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown, in my opinion, is set to blast off! The Southern California product jumped on the scene in the latter half of the season thanks to a massive jump in his target share. Prior to week 13, St. Brown had zero games where he was targeted ten-plus times; however, after that, St. Brown finished the season with six games with over ten targets. The Lions also added wide receiver DJ Chark from the Jacksonville Jaguars, who should be a reliable target for Goff, plus T.J. Hockenson is a more than competent tight end that should continue his recent success. While there are many concerns for Detroit’s defense, I believe that head coach Dan Campbell and this team’s offense should make a huge leap, leading to a much improved overall record.        

Las Vegas Raiders:

The Raiders are being completely overshadowed by the rest of the teams in the AFC West. Although the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos are all tough wins, Las Vegas is still good enough to win at least three division wins. With new head coach Josh McDaniels, former offensive coordinator under Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, the Raiders offense should look a bit different, under McDaniels’ new system. Quarterback Derek Carr will be more than capable of executing on McDaniels’ orders and with newly acquired receiver Davante Adams now one Carr’s weapons, the field should really open up for others. Hunter Renfrow should continue to shine and tight end Darren Waller is still the formidable presence on the field. Plus, this defense on paper has a lot of potential. Maxx Crosby accumulated a league-high 101 quarterback pressures, linebacker Denzel Perryman was voted to his first pro bowl last season after a great 2021 campaign and now add Chandler Jones to that front seven. Las Vegas seems like it could wreak havoc on any offensive line unit. This Raiders team should definitely be good enough to compete for a playoff position in the AFC, and I expect them to do exactly that!        

Cabot’s Teams to Watch

Arizona Cardinals: 

I have super high expectations for the Arizona Cardinals this year. They still have receiver A.J. Green for at least this season, a real veteran in the Arizona offense; they were also able to sign quarterback Kyler Murray to a contract extension, not to mention James Conner’s new contract. In my opinion, Conner is the perfect match for the Arizona Cardinals. Defensively, there are only two words I need to say: J.J. Watt. Even having spent a lot of time on the injured reserve in recent years, Watt is still a menace off the defensive line for the Cardinals. As for the secondary, the Cardinals still have the contract of safety Budda Baker, who has shown in recent years that he can be a top safety in the league. This year will be a benchmark for the Cardinals going forward and if they do not perform well, there are going to be some unknowns around Murray and head coach Kliff Kingsbury; around Conner, around tight end Zach Ertz; and around Green. This is a playoff or bust year for the Cardinals, and I believe they will rise to the occasion and make the NFC Championship this season. 

Los Angeles Chargers: 

This year, the Chargers have the making of being a force to be reckoned with in the AFC West. It all starts with their young stud at quarterback. Going into his third year in Los Angeles, Justin Herbert has shown flashes of greatness; however, he has never had a spectacular team around him. This year, the Chargers have arguably the best defense in the league which is supported by a highly efficient offense. Not only did the Chargers keep big defensive end Joey Bosa, and extend safety Derwin James Jr. to the largest safety contract in NFL history, but they also picked up linebacker Khalil Mack to bolster their defense. In addition, the Chargers have been able to keep top talent on offense. While some people may be falling off the Austin Ekeler bandwagon, I am not; he will be back to full strength this year and watch for him to be a superstar out of the backfield in LA. Along with their star running back, they have a wide receiver who is about as good a playmaker as anyone in the league. That’s right, I am talking about Keenan Allen. Allen will be a weapon no matter where he is lined up on the offense. Watch this Chargers team make a huge splash this season en route to a Divisional Round appearance.

Indianapolis Colts:

The Colts likely made the most underrated trade during the offseason — they addressed their quarterback situation, a problem they have had really since Andrew Luck retired. Additionally, on offense, Jonathan Taylor was able, in my opinion, to cement himself as the best running back in the NFL. Coming off of a season where he ran for 1,800 yards and 18 touchdowns, Taylor is almost unstoppable out of the backfield and I do not see that trend falling by the wayside any time soon. Also, the Colts have enough of a wide receiver core for Matt Ryan to be successful. Michael Pittman Jr. is a rising star in the NFL after a very respectable 2021 season, and Parris Campbell is also looking to break through in 2022. Playing tight end for the Colts is a former VCU basketball player: Mo Alie-Cox. While nothing spectacular, Cox is a very athletic and physical option for Ryan to throw to. Defensively, the Colts have really stepped it up the last few years. They have a few studs on the defensive line in DeForest Buckner and Yannick Ngakoue. Furthermore, they have someone who I am really excited to see play this season in Bobby Okereke, who is bound to have a breakout season after last year’s success. With the expectation that Shaquille Leonard will be back for Indianapolis’ week one matchup, this Colts team will be a great contender in the AFC.

Denver Broncos: 

This offseason the Broncos made a trade to bring in one of the most consistent quarterbacks of our generation. That’s right! They brought in Russell Wilson to hopefully pick up the Broncos, who have not made the playoffs since Peyton Manning retired after Super Bowl 50. Paired with Wilson is a very young receiving core who can definitely get it done. Entering his third year in the NFL, receiver Jerry Jeudy will make a huge impact for this team (mark my words!). Another major threat in the receiver core will be Courtland Sutton. He is primed to have a bounceback campaign in 2022 after a mediocre season in 2021. Of course, losing Tim Patrick for the season is not ideal, but I believe that every other receiver will step up in 2022. Discussing the Denver offense would not be complete without mentioning Javonte Williams, the Broncos’ running back of the future. While still splitting carries with Melvin Gordon, Williams is a far better runner, so I see him having a breakout season. Defensively, I think the Broncos may be leaning back to their early to mid 2010s defense with Von Miller, Aquib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. Not only is Patrick Surtain II back for year two, but Bradley Chubb is going to take a step up from last year. Also appearing on the linebacker core is rookie Nik Bonitto out of Oklahoma. I believe he was a very underrated player going at the tail end of the second round. I have very high expectations for this young linebacker, and the Denver Broncos as a whole. This team should be (somewhat) back this year.

Buffalo Bills:

I feel obligated to write about who I think will be this season’s Super Bowl Champion. This Bills team is so good, and it all starts under center with Josh Allen. Not only is Allen a superstar caliber quarterback, he has the receivers to go with it. Stefon Diggs has been playing super well during this stint with the Bills and I do not see him slowing down any time soon. Buffalo also has an up-and-coming star, Gabriel Davis, who showed just how high he can fly in the playoffs last season against the Chiefs when he caught four touchdowns. Keep that up and Davis will be an absolute beast for the Bills. Defensively, the Bills upgraded over the offseason. They were able to add a star linebacker from the Super Bowl winning Rams in Von Miller. Buffalo still has a great secondary with Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde, who is bound to have another great season in 2022. There are plenty of reasons that the Bills are going to win the Super Bowl in February.

AFC Standing and Playoff Predictions

Ian:

AFC East

1. Buffalo Bills (15-2)
2. Miami Dolphins (9-8)
3. New England Patriots (6-11)
4. New York Jets (3-14)

AFC South

1. Indianapolis Colts (12-5)
2. Tennessee Titans (10-7)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-14)
4. Houston Texans (2-15)

AFC North 

1. Baltimore Ravens (13-4)
2. Cincinnati Bengals (12-5) 
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-10)
4. Cleveland Browns (7-10)

AFC West

1. Los Angeles Chargers (14-3)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (13-4)
3. Las Vegas Raiders (11-6)
4. Denver Broncos (8-9)

Wildcard Teams: 

• Kansas City Chiefs
• Cincinnati Bengals
• Las Vegas Raiders

Cabot: 

AFC East 

1. Buffalo Bills (14-3)
2. New England Patriots (8-9)
3. Miami Dolphins (6-11)
4. New York Jets (2-15)

AFC South

1. Tennessee Titans (13-4)
2. Indianapolis Colts (11-6)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13)
4. Houston Texans (2-15)

AFC North

1. Cincinnati Bengals (14-3)
2. Baltimore Ravens (12-5)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-10)
4. Cleveland Browns (5-12)

AFC West

1. Los Angeles Chargers (13-4)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (11-6)
3. Denver Broncos (10-7)
4. Las Vegas Raiders (5-12)

Wildcard Teams: 

• Baltimore Ravens 
• Indianapolis Colts 
• Kansas City Chiefs

NFC Standing and Playoff Predictions 

Ian: 

NFC East

1. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)
2. Dallas Cowboys (10-7)
3. Washington Commanders (6-11)
4. New York Giants (3-14)

NFC South

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4)
2. New Orleans Saints (9-8) 
3. Carolina Panthers (9-8)
4. Atlanta Falcons (1-16) 

NFC North

1. Green Bay Packers (12-5)
2. Minnesota Vikings (9-8)
3. Detroit Lions (8-9)
4. Chicago Bears (3-14)

NFC West

1. Los Angeles Rams (13-4)
2. San Francisco 49ers (9-8)
3. Arizona Cardinals (8-9)
4. Seattle Seahawks (3-14)

Wildcard Teams: 

• Dallas Cowboys
• San Francisco 49ers
• New Orleans Saints 

Cabot:

NFC East

1. Dallas Cowboys (11-6)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (9-8)
3. Washington Commanders (8-9) 
4. New York Giants (7-10)

NFC South

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (16-1)
2. New Orleans Saints (9-8)
3. Carolina Panthers (7-10)
4. Atlanta Falcons (3-14)

NFC North

1. Green Bay Packers (13-4)
2. Minnesota Vikings (8-9)
3. Detroit Lions (6-11)
4. Chicago Bears (2-15)

NFC West

1. Los Angeles Rams (15-2)
2. Arizona Cardinals (11-6)
3. San Francisco 49ers (7-10)
4. Seattle Seahawks (3-14)

Wildcard Teams: 

• Arizona Cardinals 
• Philadelphia Eagles 
• New Orleans Saints

Playoff Predictions

Ian:

AFC Wildcard

(2) Los Angeles Chargers, 34 v. (7) Las Vegas Raiders, 27

(3) Baltimore Ravens, 24 v. (6) Cincinnati Bengals, 21

(4) Indianapolis Colts, 23 v. (5) Kansas City Chiefs, 31

AFC Divisional

(1) Buffalo Bills, 42 v. (5) Kansas City Chiefs, 38

(2) Los Angeles Chargers, 29 v. (3) Baltimore Ravens, 33

AFC Championship

(1) Buffalo Bills, 27 v. (3) Baltimore Ravens, 14

Cabot:

AFC Wildcard

(2) Buffalo Bills, 35 v. (7) Kansas City Chiefs, 28

(3) Tennessee Titans, 17 v. (6) Indianapolis Colts, 23

(4) Los Angeles Chargers, 28 v. (5) Baltimore Ravens, 23

AFC Divisional

(1) Cincinnati Bengals, 38 v. (6) Indianapolis Colts, 24

(2) Buffalo Bills, 42 v. (4) Los Angeles Chargers, 35

AFC Championship 

(1) Cincinnati Bengals, 30 v. (2) Buffalo Bills, 35

Ian:

NFC Wildcard 

(2) Los Angeles Rams, 23 v. (7) New Orleans Saints, 17

(3) Green Bay Packers, 35 v. (6) San Francisco 49ers, 28

(4) Philadelphia Eagles, 26 v. (5) Dallas Cowboys, 21

NFC Divisional

(1) Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 27 v. (4) Philadelphia Eagles, 19

(2) Los Angeles Rams, 34 v. (3) Green Bay Packers, 30

NFC Championship

(1) Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 25 v. (2) Los Angeles Rams, 28

Cabot:

NFC Wildcard

(2) Los Angeles Rams, 28 v. (7) New Orleans Saints, 17

(3) Green Bay Packers, 30 v. (6) Philadelphia Eagles, 20

(4) Dallas Cowboys, 28 v. (5) Arizona Cardinals, 30

NFC Divisional

(1) Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 24 v. (5) Arizona Cardinals, 32

(2) Los Angeles Rams, 42 v. (3) Green Bay Packers, 35

NFC Championship

(5) Arizona Cardinals, 17 v. (2) Los Angeles Rams, 35

Super Bowl XVII Champion Prediction

Ian: Buffalo Bills over Los Angeles Rams

Cabot: Buffalo Bills over Los Angeles Rams