20 things to look forward to in the 2023 NFL season
This is not a complete list, FWIW.
I never imagined I would become a person who wishes summer away, but this unrelenting dry heat wave that I’ve experienced over the last two months has me intensely longing for fall to arrive.
This extreme weather all over the world has bummed me out in general, and the latest NFL discourse — about how running backs are practically powerless in their quest to be fairly compensated — has not helped my mood.
Rather than doom spiral, though, I decided to embrace my desire to fast forward to September. So I started a list of what I’m looking forward to about this coming season. It’s not a complete list, but I decided to stop at 20, a nice even number, because otherwise, I might still be writing.
1. A healthy (hopefully) Tua Tagovailoa
Tua Tagovailoa’s breakout 2022, in which he led the league in passer rating, yards per attempt, and touchdown percentage, was interrupted by the multiple concussions he suffered. His final one ended his season in December, causing him to miss the playoffs and consider retirement. However, after adopting a different kind of training and taking precautions this offseason, including wearing a new helmet, Tua is ready to get the Dolphins back to the playoffs — and beyond, if he can stave off the injuries.
2. A healthy (hopefully) Lamar Jackson with an improved receiving corps
Like the Dolphins, the Ravens earned a wild card bid despite their starting quarterback’s season ending prematurely. And like the Dolphins, the Ravens might’ve beaten their divisional rivals in the Wild Card Round had their QB been healthy.
So let’s see what happens in 2023 with an injury-free (knock on wood) Lamar Jackson, who has a lucrative contract, a new offensive coordinator (Todd Monken), and the strongest WR corps he's ever had. You should still expect Jackson to dazzle us with his legs, but don’t be surprised when he dazzles us with his arm too.
3. Seeing what’s next for Justin Fields
Justin Fields was just 63 yards shy of tying Lamar Jackson’s single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback. Both QBs are elusive runners who can gain huge chunks of yards in the blink of an eye, but their abilities as a passer are underrated, often because they have lacked the supporting cast necessary to make big plays through the air. The Bears, as the Ravens did, bolstered their WR room. Can Fields prove he’s more than just a run-first quarterback? He’s certainly aiming high:
https://twitter.com/NFLonCBS/status/1682010322624708609?s=20
4. Finding out who the surprise MVP candidate will be
As I wrote in a previous newsletter, the 2023 NFL MVP is practically guaranteed to be a quarterback because that’s the only position that has taken home the award in the last decade. Patrick Mahomes is the favorite to claim the award for the third time in his career after his runaway victory last year. Jalen Hurts, who had the same MVP odds as Deshaun Watson a year ago, was the runner-up to Mahomes. So who can be the dark horse this year? I don’t know that I’d call him a dark horse, but I’m a little surprised Trevor Lawrence’s odds aren’t better. And FWIW, Dak Prescott and Justin Fields are both listed at +2500 at Caesars Sportsbook, which is what Hurts’ odds were last July.
5. Finding out who the surprise playoff team(s) will be
The Giants, Seahawks, Jaguars, and, to a lesser extent, the Dolphins were all playoff long shots heading into last season. All four made it to the postseason, though, with the Jags winning the AFC South and the other three earning a wild card spot.
Whoever emerges from the NFC South this year can follow in Jacksonville’s “well someone has to win this division” footsteps. The oddsmakers don’t have much faith in the Giants to replicate their success, and I can’t say I do either. But there are a few intriguing teams — such as the Browns, Bears, and Commanders — who could be in line for one of the final playoff bids if everything goes right for them.
6. The battle for the NFC East crown
It’s been nearly 20 years since the NFC East has had a repeat champion. Then, it was the Eagles. If it happens this year, it’ll once again be the Eagles. They’re the team to beat after coming up just short in the Super Bowl, but Philly did lose both of its coordinators this offseason. And no one in the division is a pushover anymore.
7. Damar Hamlin’s return to the football field
When I found out Damar Hamlin was in stable condition following his terrifying collapse, I breathed a huge sigh of relief and then thought about how I never wanted to see him try to play football again. But the more I’ve learned about his recovery, and the rare circumstances that led to his commotio cordis, I’ve changed my tune, especially because Hamlin has been cleared by specialists who know more about health and medicine than I ever will.
It’s also what Hamlin wants, and as with his ESPYs appearance, I do not expect there to be any dry eyes watching whenever he does take the field for the first time this season.
8. John Metchie III’s return to the football field
In the 2022 draft, the Texans selected Alabama receiver John Metchie III in the second round. Although he was coming off an ACL injury, Metchie was expected to be ready for training camp and to contribute early and often for Houston’s offense. Then, Metchie announced he had been diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia and would miss the 2022 season. A year later, Metchie should be good to go when the Texans’ training camp starts next week, and as long as his recovery continues to go well, he’ll be a fun player, and a heartwarming story, to watch this season.
9. The next chapter in the Bengals-Chiefs rivalry
On New Year’s Eve, the Bengals and Chiefs will meet for the fifth time since January 2022. All four of the previous matchups have been three-point nail-biters. Cincinnati holds a 3-1 edge, but KC currently has bragging rights after winning the AFC Championship and, two weeks later, the Super Bowl. The trash talk from both sides hasn’t stopped since, and likely won’t in 2024 either, especially if the two newish rivals face off again in the postseason.
10. The Bills trying to get over the hump
The Bills have been one of the most consistent regular season teams over the past few years but have struggled in the postseason. That hasn’t stopped bettors from giving them the third-best Super Bowl odds. Still, that Super Bowl window could be closing if they don’t deliver this year. A healthy Josh Allen and Von Miller could be just what Buffalo needs to get to the big game, though I wouldn’t minimize the abrupt departure of defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.
11. The Lions trying to live up to the hype
I think most NFL fans, at least those who aren’t fans of one of the three other NFC North teams, are rooting for the perpetual underdog Lions to make the playoffs and win at least a game there for the first time in more than three decades. Can they build off the promise they showed in the second half of last year? Or will they wilt under the pressure, as is the Lions’ nature?
12. The Steelers trying to keep Mike Tomlin’s non-losing streak alive
Whatever the cities of Detroit and Pittsburgh may have in common — industrial roots, affordable housing, once home of Jerome Bettis — their football franchises couldn’t be further apart in terms of success. The Steelers have six Super Bowl titles; the Lions have none. The Steelers haven’t had a record below .500 in the entire tenure of Mike Tomlin, who has been the head coach since 2007. In 2008, the Lions went 0-16 and have finished with a winning record just five times since.
What if the Lions are the inverse of the Steelers? If the Lions finally break through, will that spell doom for Tomlin’s streak? I don’t think the universe works like that, but I’m still going to keep my eye on how these two teams’ 2023 journeys unfold, just in case their fates are linked.
13. Whatever becomes of the Jets’ drama, good or bad
I don’t find Aaron Rodgers to be a compelling figure, as much as he wishes to be seen that way. Still, I’m interested to see how the Jets’ gamble to land the 39-year-old, along with a couple of his former Packers teammates, works out. Will Rodgers be the missing piece that ends the Jets’ long playoff drought, or will his decline in 2022 be a preview of what’s to come in New York?
14. The Seahawks going back to the 90s
I’m not really on board with Y2K nostalgia — I promise you, the immediate aftermath of 9/11 was not a fun time in the world, and I’m sorry, but the decor was hideous — though I completely understand 90s nostalgia. So count me in as a fan of the Seahawks’ throwbacks uniforms, which they will wear in Week 8. The team chose to make the announcement in a video featuring Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was a natural on camera handling a bunch of 90s memorabilia … despite JSN being born in (gulp) 2002.
15. The “zero” jersey
This offseason, the NFL approved a new set of rules for jersey numbers. The one I’m most excited about is that, for the first time in my life, NFL players can wear the number zero. Not everyone is eligible to do so — sorry, offensive and defensive linemen — but a number of players have already staked their claim to the perfectly round, aesthetically pleasing No. 0.
16. The Commanders’ new offense
It’s a new day for the Washington franchise in a lot of ways — most of all, the merciful end to the Dan Snyder ownership era. I’m happy for the long-suffering fans in DC, who might also have a competent offense to support for the first time in years. Much will depend on how the team adapts to Eric Bieniemy’s offense and how Bieniemy gets along without Patrick Mahomes running his plays. Sam Howell is, understatement alert, no Patrick Mahomes. But if he can bring stability to the Commanders’ quarterback position, then this offense could be, dare I say, kinda fun?
17. The 49ers’ not-so-new defense
I’m morbidly curious to find out what becomes of the 49ers’ QB situation, but it might not matter much who’s under center as long as the defense continues to dominate. Although they lost defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans this offseason, they brought on Steve Wilks — who got a raw deal from Carolina after doing an admirable job as interim head coach — as Ryans’ replacement. Wilks hasn’t made sweeping changes to a defense that brings back most of its best players, led by its elite defensive line. The Niners should have, for the fifth year in a row, a top-10 unit, no matter how many quarterbacks they cycle through.
18. The rookie QBs
I’m optimistic about Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud’s rookie year. I’m sure there will be bumps along the way, but I think the potential is there for both quarterbacks to be good in the NFL. I have no idea what to expect of Anthony Richardson, this year and in the future, or when he’ll first get playing time. I have no idea if any other rookie QBs will even start in 2023. But the potential at the top of the class, and the uncertainty with the rest, makes it one of the most interesting storylines of the year.
19. The first ever Black Friday game
We don’t need another day of the week devoted to football, but I can’t help but be excited whenever a live sporting event airs in an unusual time slot. I’m that person — a night owl through and through — who happily watches random Olympic events and, at the moment, World Cup matches at 2 in the morning.
Even though I don’t think the NFL needs to permanently add Friday games to its calendar, I think doing so every once in a while, or maybe just once a year, is perfectly fine.
20. The Jordan Love era begins
It’s not often that the Packers welcome in a new starting quarterback. At least recently, it’s happened about once every 15 years. We’ve seen flashes from Jordan Love, Green Bay’s first-round pick in 2020. But he hasn’t seen the field enough for anyone to make any definitive judgments about what kind of quarterback he’ll be. Will he become a mainstay for the Packers, until a decade or so from now when they draft his eventual replacement like the NFL’s version of All About Eve? Or will Green Bay be searching for a new quarterback sooner than anticipated?
One thing is for sure: We’ll be hit with so many “Love” puns in headlines this season.