5 daring predictions for 2023 NFL season: Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence wins MVP; Saints earn No. 1 seed in NFC

Guess what? You made it. YOU FREAKING MADE IT! At present, there’s a significant NFL sport that you’ll watch and that motion is simply going to proceed all the best way into February and Tremendous Bowl LVIII. What a time to be alive, am I proper? However, earlier than we watch the Chiefs and Lions get the 2023 common season rolling, it is that point of the 12 months once we make our 5 daring predictions on how sure points of the season will unfold. 

We had some hits final 12 months (Eagles incomes the No. 1 seed), however there have been additionally some duds (Russell Wilson profitable MVP) in our daring predictions. As we flip the web page to 2023, now we have a brand new group unexpectedly sitting atop the NFC when the common season is claimed and finished and an ascending quarterback bursting onto the MVP scene. 

Prepared? cracks knuckles. Let’s get to it! 

1. Saints earn No. 1 seed within the NFC

Yup, we’re going again to the effectively with one other daring prediction that has an surprising membership leaping to the highest of the standings within the NFC. This 12 months, it will be the New Orleans Saints that end with the perfect report within the convention. For the time being, they’re 10/1 to complete with the convention’s greatest report which is tied with the Lions, and are trying up on the Cowboys, 49ers and Eagles.

In fact, there are a mess of things that play into this prediction. The obvious is the improve the Saints made at quarterback this offseason, bringing aboard Derek Carr. I believe this transformation of surroundings will revitalize the previous Raider and he has loads of weapons at his disposal, together with second-year wideout Chris Olave. Pair that anticipated enchancment on offense with a protection that can rival to be a high 10 unit within the league and New Orleans has itself a well-balanced membership. 

The opposite piece to this equation is the schedule. Primarily based on their opponents’ projected win whole, the Saints have the second-easiest schedule in the complete NFL this season. In addition they have a optimistic web relaxation edge, that means that there are extra video games the place they’re going to have the remainder benefit than they do not. Whereas I do not consider the Saints might be in Las Vegas competing for a Lombardi, I do assume that their strong roster and gentle schedule will enable them to pile up wins, whereas the remainder of the convention cannibalizes itself. 

2. Packers win the NFC North

I believe we is likely to be trying on the 2022 Seahawks within the 2023 Packers. Buying and selling away Aaron Rodgers this offseason was a momentous transaction within the franchise’s historical past, however the cabinet is not naked. Jordan Love has flashed this preseason that he could also be an appropriate substitute who can maintain the franchise afloat. Inexperienced Bay has a sturdy offensive line, arguably the perfect 1-2 punch at operating again within the league, and intriguing weapons within the passing sport, together with second-year wideout Christian Watson. Whereas the protection has underachieved in recent times, there’s expertise inside that unit that would present loads of upside if issues click on. 

The division is not as locked in as one could count on both. The Lions have been the offseason darlings, the Bears improved round Justin Fields and the Vikings added one other first-round receiver whereas enhancing on protection, however every a kind of groups nonetheless has loads of query marks heading into the 12 months. Whereas the division might imagine that Inexperienced Bay’s dominance got here to an finish with Rodgers’ departure, they might have one other factor coming to them in 2023. 

Wish to know what’s daring? Predicting one thing that has NEVER occurred earlier than in NFL historical past. For so long as the Offensive Rookie of the 12 months award has been handed out, a good finish has by no means held this honor. Nonetheless, Payments first-round proper finish Dalton Kincaid ought to be checked out as one of many key sleepers for this award, at present sitting at 22/1 to win at Caesars Sportsbook. Why? As a result of I do not consider Kincaid might be used as a standard tight finish inside Buffalo’s offense (that’ll be dealt with by Dawson Knox). As a substitute, the Utah product might be a giant slot receiver for the Payments’ pass-heavy offense, which is an especially advantageous spot to be in and a chance for the rookie to pile up stats. 

This preseason, Kincaid was in route on 71% of Josh Allen’s dropbacks. In the meantime, the Payments let Isaiah McKenzie and his 65 targets from 2022 go this offseason. There is a very lifelike world the place Kincaid adopts most if not all of these targets and presumably even eats into Knox’s 65 targets from final 12 months as effectively. And for those who’re saying that Kincaid goes to be 80-plus targets from top-of-the-line quarterbacks within the NFL, he’ll be arrange for fulfillment on a group that might be within the thick of the playoff hunt. 

4. A.J. Brown leads the NFL in receiving yards

Do not sleep on A.J. Brown this season. The Eagles wideout is coming off a monster season in his first 12 months with Philadelphia, notching profession highs in receptions, receiving yards and tying his profession greatest with 11 landing receptions. The 26-year-old completed fourth within the NFL in receiving yards in 2022 and there is a case to be made that his stellar manufacturing final 12 months was diluted a bit. 

The Eagles had been consistently build up huge leads within the first half, which led to a run-first sport script within the second half and naturally decreased Brown’s manufacturing. Within the first half of video games final season, Brown logged 908 receiving yards on 84 targets. Within the second half, his targets (61) had been reduce by 1 / 4 and his receiving totals (588) practically in half. Once more, plenty of that is because of Philly dominating on each side of the ball final season. 

As we stay up for 2023, there’s a perception that the Eagles protection will take a little bit of a step again, due to new gamers ushering out and in and as a consequence of a more durable schedule than the one they’d a 12 months in the past. If these video games are tighter, that may development for extra passes being thrown by Jalen Hurts and extra alternative for Brown, who averaged 17 yards per reception final 12 months which was third greatest within the NFL. 

Trevor Lawrence is about up superbly as we enter this season. The previous No. 1 total decide rebounded properly in 2022 after a turbulent rookie season and he now enters his second season with Doug Pederson as his head coach. That familiarity inside Pederson’s system ought to arrange Lawrence to take one other leap in his growth. On high of that, Jacksonville gave him one other top-tier weapon after buying and selling for Calvin Ridley, who’s poised to be his No. 1 choice within the passing sport this season. When proper, Ridley was one of many extra proficient receivers within the league, so including him to a gaggle of Christian Kirk, Evan Engram and Zay Jones leaves Lawrence with loads of choices via the air. 

Final 12 months, Lawrence was high 10 within the league in completions, passing yards, passing touchdowns and passer ranking, and his state of affairs solely improved between now and the top of the season. I believe he can rival for a top-three end in these classes in 2023, whereas additionally having Jacksonville within the thick of the No. 1 seed likelihood within the AFC behind a gentle AFC South division. 

For the time being, Lawrence is trying as much as Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts and Justin Herbert within the 2023 MVP odds. I believe he is effectively located to bust onto the scene this 12 months and crash the MVP celebration.