The 2023 season has been wild due to injuries, second-string quarterbacks coming out of nowhere and playing beyond their expectations, and underdogs making it to the playoffs.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens need more consistency on defense to work on the number of points they are allowing $1000 loan today. Their secondary has been exceptional at defending passes, but they need to focus on strengthening their defensive line and enhancing their pass rush. Their offense, which had just beat the Miami Dolphins 56-19 and had over 400 yards of total offense, has been shockingly good this year.
The Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins have been struggling with injuries and consistency on defense. To even get a chance to make it to the Super Bowl, the Dolphins will need to focus on execution on defense as well as improve their run-stopping. This past week, the Dolphins lost to Baltimore 56-19 who had 161 rushing yards.
The Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs’s receiver core has been all of the talk lately for the wrong reasons; they haven’t been able to catch the ball very well. Several starting receivers on the team have been demoted to second-string. However, the Chiefs have been slowly improving at the wide receiver position. Rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice has gone 4 straight games with 50-plus receiving yards. Tight end Travis Kelce has been on a decline because Kelce has been getting double teamed, which is when two defensive backs focus on one receiver. This has helped Rice improve because if the Chiefs can get their receivers figured out, that would give them a great chance at making the Super Bowl.
The Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars have been struggling with injuries; however, their defense has been solid this season ,and their offense has been decent. With that being said, Jacksonville’s offensive line needs some improvement, and if quarterback Trevor Lawerence can return from his injury, this team could very well be a threat.
The Indianapolis Colts
The Colts have been struggling on both sides of the ball. Rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson was ruled out for the season earlier in the year, and backup quarterback Gardner Minshew had to step up and take his place.
While Minshew has been semi-decent, their weapons, as well as their offensive line, have been subpar. Defense, on the other hand, has not been struggling as much.
Their inside linebacker core is mediocre, but they can get the job done. Their defensive backs have been below-decent defensive and tend to struggle with tackling.
The Buffalo Bills
The Bills need to improve the consistency on offense. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs has been on a decline lately, their defensive backs have been struggling to defend passes, and their defensive front is struggling with the absence of Von Miller. Overall, Buffalo needs to improve just general consistency and execution; if they can fix that, then they have a real shot at making it this year. With all of this considered, this has been one of the worst seasons that they’ve had in a while.
The Cleveland Browns
Cleveland has been on fire as of late with now-starting quarterback Joe Flacco under center. They have been putting up more points and have been more consistent on offense. They have also clinched themselves a playoff spot. One thing that they need to improve on is their defensive backs. The defensive front has been creating enough pressure for the opposing quarterback, but the execution has not been there. This is something that they are going to need to clean up if they are going to have a shot at winning the Super Bowl, let alone even making it to the competition.
The San Francisco 49ers
Heading into week 18, the 49ers have been named the favorite to win the Super Bowl this year. For that to happen, they need to continue their consistency on offense and defensive side of the ball in the season. The Niners acquired former Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young, and he has been somewhat of a threat being paired up with his former college teammate Nick Bosa. Second-year quarterback Brock Purdy has been looking like the next Peyton Manning with the way Purdy has performed.
The Green Bay Packers
Despite starting the year with the new quarterback under center Jordan Love, the Packers have been exceeding expectations from many ESPN and NFL analysts. Wide receiver Christian Watson and wide receiver Jaden Reed have been performing beyond their expectations and may be the team’s future. Now with that being said, their defense needs some improvement. The defensive line has been up to par this year; however, their defensive acts and their inside linebacker group need to be improved and more consistent.
The Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have been firing on all cylinders offensively with emerging wide receiver Puca Nacua and veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp running back, and emerging top running back Kyren Williams. Both Nacua and Williams were taken in the fifth round back-to-back years, Nacua in 2023 and Williams in 2022; however, their biggest struggle is on defense after the departure of defensive back Jalen Ramsey.The Rams did sign a new defensive back in Akhello Witherspoon in the off-season, and defensive tackle Aaron Donald has been showing his age a little bit and has been on the decline, so this is another team that’s going to have to improve their defense to make the Super Bowl.
The Philadelphia Eagles
With leadership under Jalen Hurts and Nick Sirianni, the Eagles are looking to give the 49ers a run for their money, but a lot of people are scratching their heads after they lost to the Arizona Cardinals, 35-31. Offensively, they’ve been looking amazing, but defensively, they have been lacking consistency. With better play-calling and execution, the Eagles can ensure their run to the Superbowl.
The Dallas Cowboys
This is one of the best teams the Cowboys have had in quite some time. Quarterback Dak Prescott is having probably one of the best seasons of his career, and this should help the Cowboys propel their chances of making the Superbowl. To ensure a Superbowl path, the Cowboys defense needs to keep performing great as well as to stay healthy.
The Detroit Lions
The Lions have been a fun team to watch this past season, and they can go far in the future. As for now though, they just need to keep doing what they’re doing, keeping the mentality grounded in the leadership of quarterback Jared Goff. This past season running back David Montgomery has been blowing expectations out of the water, as well as rookie running back Jamir Gibbs. Their defensive front on the other hand needs a little bit of work. The linebacker unit needs a little bit of improvement. Their secondary has been out performing other teams this season. If the Lions are going to try to make the Super Bowl, they going to have to play the best that they have ever played. They are going to have to focus on improving their execution and their consistency on both offense and defense
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers have been looking sloppy, but they have been getting the job done. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has been having a very good season. He’s putting up similar numbers that he has been putting up when he was in Cleveland, and I would even go as far as to say Mayfield has improved as a quarterback in Tampa Bay, and a lot of that can be attributed to the weapons that he has on offense. Wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin have both been significant this year, but there’s been an unsung hero on this offense- second-year running back Rashaad White. Now the NFC South has not been the best division in quite some time, and Tampa Bay is looking like the clear winner of the NFC south, which is why they are in the playoffs, but quite frankly, all Tampa Bay needs are execution and consistency.
Swonger Super Bowl Predictions
The playoff picture has teams’ Super Bowl dreams boiling down to two factors- execution failures and inconsistency. When it comes down to it, only two teams will make the Superbowl, and the two teams looking the most promising are the Baltimore Ravens and the Detroit Lions with quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens finally getting it done this year.
