The 2023 National Football League season is due to begin on the 7th of September with the NFL Kickoff Game.
The opening game will feature defending Super Bowl LVII champion Kansas City Chiefs as they host Detroit Lions at the Arrowhead Stadium. This will be the 104th season of the NFL and excitement is building as we approach the start of the campaign. Following the conclusion of the regular season, the playoffs are scheduled to start on the 13th of January 2024, with the Super Bowl on the 11th of February.
The Super Bowl game will be played at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada. The question is, which teams have a chance of reaching the Super Bowl this season and who is going to win the Most Valuable Player award?
The AFC Division Winners
The US is gearing up for the new NFL season with the NFL betting sites offering great odds and promotions ahead of the action. With that in mind, we can look at the teams who could finish top of their division in 2023, beginning with AFC East and Buffalo Bills.
Many onlookers believe Buffalo will go all the way this season, putting their home playoff loss behind them from last season. With Josh Allen, Buffalo have the best quarterback in the division and the addition of rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid is a boost to their chances. Moving to the AFC North and the Cincinnati Bengals look primed to mount another serious challenge this season. Cincinnati have just come short in recent seasons and with Joe Burrow at quarterback, the offense will be hoping they can click at the right time.
The AFC South’s best quarterback is with the Jacksonville Jaguars and that alone gives them the best chance of finishing as division champions. Trevor Lawrence is ready to make the next step in his career and the Jacksonville offense is primed and ready to explode this season. To the AFC West and Kansas City Chiefs are the clear favorites to win the division and progress to another conference title game with Patrick Mahomes at the helm.
The NFC Division Winners
Switching to the NFC and starting with the NFC East, the Philadelphia Eagles have arguably the best combination of offensive and defensive lines in the game.
However, the Dallas Cowboys will be hoping to push them all the way this season. To the NFC South and the New Orleans Saints are fancied by many to enjoy a fantastic 2023 season. There are teams in transition in the NFC North this season but New Orleans are not one of them and that gives them the edge. San Francisco 49ers are expected to finish top of the NFC West thanks to their solid defense and exciting offensive play, with Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams unable to come close.
The NFC North is home to the Detroit Lions, who get the season underway in Kansas City. They have a tough opening game but Detroit came close to the playoffs last season and should do better this term. An improvement in defense would go a long way to producing success for Detroit in 2023.
MVP
There is always a lot of interest surrounding the MVP award ahead of a new season. Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs is the favorite with the bookmakers and it is easy to see why when looking back over the past five years.
The only real question mark is over fitness because if Mahomes can stay injury free throughout the season, it is difficult to see who is going to outperform the defending NFL MVP. Some fans believe Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals could be the man to upstage Mahomes this season and win the MVP award. Having Ja’Marr Chase as a receiver enhances Burrow’s chances of winning the award having finished in fourth place last season.
Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen both finished above Burrows in 2022 and Allen could be the one to come closest to doing that again in 2023.
Super Bowl
After the huge success of last year’s Super Bowl, we can expect the same again this season.
As with the MVP award, if Mahomes can stay fit, Kansas City must be regarded as the favorites to win the Super Bowl.
There is currently no reason to go against the Chiefs right now and they could become the first back to back champions since the New England Patriots in 2005. The Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals, and San Francisco 49ers will each start the season believing they have a chance to go all the way. They are all capable of reaching the Super Bowl game but whichever team succeeds in getting to the final game of the season, they are either going to have to beat the Chiefs on route or face them in the Super Bowl.
