NFL Predictions 2023: Picking each AFC and NFC division winner
By Lior Lampert
We are less than a week from the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game between the Browns and Jets arriving. Training camp is underway and the NFL season is officially around the corner. It is a time of excitement and optimism for all 32 teams in the league.
However, only eight of the 32 teams will be able to call themselves divisional champions. With that being said, now is the time to make predictions on how the season will shake out. Who will end up coming out on top in the AFC/NFC West, East, North and South?
AFC North division winner: Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals have arguably the most talented quarterback, running back, and wide receiver trio in the NFL between Joe Burrow, Joe Mixon, Ja’Marr Chase. Burrow is a consensus top-3 MVP across major sportsbooks and is poised for a big year with a massive contract extension looming. The Bengals have won back-to-back divisional titles while recording 10 or more wins in each of the last two seasons.
The Ravens finally ended what was a long standstill in contract negotiations with Lamar Jackson this offseason. And once they decided to pay Jackson, they made a conscious effort to help him succeed. They replaced long-time offensive coordinator Greg Roman with a more progressive offensive mind in Todd Monken while adding Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers to the receiver room.
However, they still have injury concerns as Beckham didn’t play at all last season while rehabbing a torn ACL and Rashod Bateman played just six games last year due to a foot injury and was recently placed on the PUP list. Additionally, the Ravens just lost former Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters to the Raiders in free agency.
The Browns boast one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, however, the uncertainty surrounding Deshaun Watson’s return to the elite quarterback ranks makes Cleveland a huge question mark. While other teams will be ready to make some noise, look for Cincy to be kings of the AFC North again.
AFC South division winner: Jacksonville Jaguars
There is a case to be made for the AFC South being the weakest division in the NFL. However, the Jaguars are looking to build on the momentum they captured last year when they won six of their last seven games of the season to sneak into the playoffs and pull off a miraculous Wild Card victory over the Chargers before losing a highly-competitive game to last year’s eventual Super Bowl champions in the Divisional Round.
The Colts have a rookie head coach in Shane Steichen and a rookie quarterback in Anthony Richardson who is expected to have bumps in the road as the team’s 2023 starter. The Colts have talented players on both sides of the ball with the likes of Quenton Nelson, Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., Shaquille Leonard, DeForest Buckner, and more.
The Texans are coming off a season where they just finished 3-13-1 and also have a rookie head coach (DeMeco Ryans) and rookie quarterback (C.J. Stroud) under center. Not much else needs to be said about their chances of winning this division.
Even after the signing of DeAndre Hopkins, the Titans still lack playmakers on the offensive end. Who is the second receiver on this offense? Treylon Burks? Nick Ikhine-Westbrook? Kyle Phillips? Mike Vrabel is one of the best coaches in the NFL, but good coaching can only take a talent-depleted roster so far.
With another year under Doug Pederson, Trevor Lawrence and the Jags are prepared to take another step forward as a franchise. Lawrence will continue to prove why he was the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft.