The NFL got under way on Thursday, 7 September, and wasted no time in delivering fans all the drama and excitement they’ve come to expect of the NFL. The defending Super Bowl champions, the New York Giants, started off the season by hosting the Detroit Lions in the primetime kick-off game. The guests caused an upset by beating the Chiefs 21- 20 and caused the champs to lose their NFL odds as favorites to win the Super Bowl. Sunday of Week 1 was a big day for the Dallas Cowboys who demolished the New York Giants 40-0, the type of result the team haven’t achieved against the Giants since 1995, a year they went on to win the Super Bowl and have been trying to do again ever since.
This has only been in Week 1 of the season, of course, so fans can expect even more surprises. Here are some teams who could surprise fans and the rest of the NFL in the 2023 season.
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns finished at the bottom of the AFC North with a record of 10 losses and seven wins. However, it’s been noted that the team has come out swinging in its quest for the Super Bowl. In 2022, the Browns dealt six draft picks to Houston for Deshaun Watson and signed him with an offer of $230 million guaranteed for the next five years. They’re clearly looking for him to be a transformative player, and the fact he doesn’t have to serve a suspension like he did last season could see him really hit his form for the Cleveland side.
The team has a new defense coordinator, which could see them stop the run, although they generally have a good pass defense. Their running back Nick Chubb and wide receiver Amari Cooper are both under-rated. Tight end David Njoku and the offensive line also don’t get the credit they deserve. Underestimating the Browns this season could be a mistake.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers finished second in the NFC South last season, with 10 wins and seven losses, and they missed out narrowly on the playoffs. The heartbreak of being so close yet so far encouraged them to make some major improvements that could see them step onto the postseason field this time. One of the biggest was trading up to the No 1 overall pick to choose Bryce Young, the Alabama quarterback, and they traded some notable assets to make it happen.
Now, the Panthers offense looks well rounded and dangerous. They have veterans Adam Thielen and DJ Chark, tight end Haydn Hurst and running back Miles Sanders. There are some big expectations of Young, but if he can stay fit and healthy, the Carolina team could be the ones top of the NFC South this season.
Chicago Bears
The Bears were a team that should have hung their heads in shame last season, scraping just three wins from their 17 regular season games. However, the development of quarterback Justin Fields is promising and gave the team the courage to trade out from their No 1 overall pick in the draft. They came away with high-end veteran receiver D.J. Moore and offensive tackle Darnell Wright. They also carried out a major upgrade of their defensive unit, by drafting defensive tackles Gordon Dexter and Zacch Pickens, and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.
Through free agency, the Bears have added linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards, guard Nate Davis and defensive end DeMarcus Walker. Fans are going to see a very different Chicago Bears side this season, despite a slow start and recent 38-20 defeat by the Green Bay Packers.
New York Jets
The New York Jets finished at the bottom of the AFC East with 10 losses and seven wins, but their trade for Aaron Rodgers has sent ripples throughout the whole of the NFL. At the start of the season, the sportsbooks had set the team’s NFL odds at around +1600 for winning the Super Bowl. An injury to Aaron Rodgers has shifted the sportsbooks prediction a little less in favor of the team lifting the Lombardi trophy now.
However, one man does not a team make. Mekhi Becton and Duane Brown performed well last season, and the team have added some pass-catching weapons in the form of Mecole Hardman and Allen Lazard. Breakout rookie Breece Hall has returned just in time from an ACL injury and set the stadium on fire with a 26-yard run on the Bears’ first offensive play, followed by an 86-yard one in the team’s series against the Buffalo Bills, tying them at 3-3.
The NFL delivers drama and excitement every season, and 2023 will be no different. Sunday of Week 1 saw some teams surprise fans. Other teams that have made improvements and could surprise the NFL world are the Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans.