To a certain demographic, these aren’t the dog days of summer. Sure, the consistent 90-degree heat every day gets a bit old by late July. Also, there’s nothing good on TV that you can turn your brain off to.
But on the flip side, this is America, and NFL football is back. Suddenly everything feels right with the world. (At least that’s what we tell ourselves). While we’re still more than a month away from meaningful pro football games, next week will mark the opening of the 2023 NFL preseason. And with the preseason almost here, the natural boiling point of offseason optimism has finally (and mercifully) arrived.
The usual suspects in Kansas City, Cincinnati, and Philadelphia have every reason to be excited about what’s to come this year. They’ve established that precedent of excellence. Upstarts who feel legitimate — like, in Detroit or Jacksonville — have something to prove to show they’re more substance over hype. And this being the NFL — you can bet your bottom dollar that an awful team from last season (Chicago? Green Bay? Denver?) will surprise and make noise in mid-January.
MORE: Everyone roasted the Packers after Aaron Rodgers took a paycut for the Jets
Whatever happens this year in the NFL, please hold your applause until the end of its latest iteration: roughly six months from now.
Here are For The Win’s preseason power rankings for the 2023 NFL season:
32
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2022 record and finish: 8-9 (Lost in NFC Wild Card Game)
Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask is not the question Bucs fans should be asking. Caleb Williams or Drake Maye? That’s the ticket. — Christian D’Andrea
31
Arizona Cardinals
2022 record and finish: 4-13 (Missed playoffs)
Kyler Murray will apparently be ready for Week 1 after his ACL tear. This isn’t necessarily a good thing. Not because Murray is awful, but because it’s unclear the inept Cardinals are even trying to win. Despite his tough circumstances, Murray may have to play like a superstar to prevent a tidal wave known as “Top-2 Quarterback Draft Pick” from taking his job. Gulp. — Robert Zeglinski
30
Los Angeles Rams
2022 record and finish: 5-12 (Missed playoffs)
There are two players who started at least 10 games who’ll return to this defense. But hey, Cooper Kupp is healthy again! — CD
29
Houston Texans
2022 record and finish: 3-13-1 (Missed playoffs)
For once, with C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson as the faces of the franchise, Houston’s got something boiling in the pot that doesn’t smell terrible. But this team isn’t competing for anything meaningful until 2024. — RZ
28
Tennessee Titans
2022 record and finish: 7-10 (Missed playoffs)
Sure, DeAndre Hopkins. That’ll solve things. A rebuild is coming, and 2023 looks like it’ll be 18 weeks of treading water in anticipation. — CD
27
Indianapolis Colts
2022 record and finish: 4-12-1 (Missed playoffs)
Jim Irsay has his man under center, Anthony Richardson. And even though there isn’t much optimism for an initial great year in Indy, the presence of a bright talent like him gives the Colts something to build around. — RZ
26
Las Vegas Raiders
2022 record and finish: 6-11 (Missed playoffs)
No one’s quite sure what Jimmy Garoppolo is going to look like, and there’s no guarantee he can even live up to Derek Carr’s standard. And Derek Carr went 6-11 last season. — CD
25
Cleveland Browns
2022 record and finish: 7-10
Deshaun Watson, who once had more than 20 accusations of sexual misconduct in what the NFL would later deem “predatory behavior,” enters his do-over season in Cleveland. If one of the league’s least efficient quarterbacks doesn’t dramatically improve, one of the league’s more top-heavy rosters probably bottoms out. — RZ
24
Washington Commanders
2022 record and finish: 8-8-1 (Missed playoffs)
Prove us wrong, Sam Howell. You’ve got the receiving corps to do so, at least. — CD
23
Carolina Panthers
2022 record and finish: 7-10 (Missed playoffs)
Carolina pushed in all its chips on Bryce Young being That Guy. The problem is that a poor offensive roster will likely limit what Young can accomplish as a rookie. That’s OK. Any flashes of greatness from Young are all that really matter in 2023. — RZ
22
New England Patriots
2022 record and finish: 8-9 (Missed playoffs)
Can Bill O’Brien undo a year of Matt Patricia’s tutelage for Mac Jones? The young quarterback was usefully average as a rookie and more or less unnecessary in Year 2. Now he gets an established play caller backing his offense and … well, the same shaky receiving corps as last season, depending on how JuJu Smith-Schuster acclimates to New England. — CD
21
New Orleans Saints
2022 record and finish: 7-10 (Missed playoffs)
If you’ve ever felt poorly about a lack of ambition, let the Saints be your football balm. Schrodinger’s quarterback, a.k.a. Derek Carr, is in town to help New Orleans earn an NFC South title and, barring a complete surprise, the No. 4 seed in the NFC. Aim for a low ceiling, not the stars, and it’s impossible to be disappointed. — RZ
20
Minnesota Vikings
2022 record and finish: 13-4 (Lost in NFC Wild Card Game)
Maybe this is too harsh. Minnesota managed to go 13-4 last season, amazingly on the back of a -3 point differential. But Kirk Cousins’ efficiency dropped significantly in 2022, and now he’s got to get it back in his age-35 season. With a thin roster, there’s a chance the wheels fall off in Minneapolis this year. — CD
19
Denver Broncos
2022 record and finish: 5-12 (Missed playoffs)
Who was really the problem for the Broncos last fall: Russell Wilson or Nathaniel Hackett? The powers that be in Denver seem to believe it’s the latter, painting Sean Payton as the cure for all that ails. The uncomfortable truth for the Broncos’ future is that a 34-year-old Wilson had as much culpability in Denver’s futility as any coaching did. Payton is the bandage for the Broncos’ issues, not their medicine. — RZ
18
Atlanta Falcons
2022 record and finish: 7-10 (Missed playoffs)
Arthur Smith opted to cut against the grain for a run-heavy offense behind Tyler Allgeier and Bijan Robinson. That’ll make things easier for first-year starting QB Desmond Ridder; so will having Kyle Pitts, Drake London and their absurd catch radii downfield. — CD
17
Chicago Bears
2022 record and finish: 3-14 (Missed playoffs)
Justin Fields enters 2023 with the weight of the world on his shoulders. It is Year 3 of the former first-round pick’s career, meaning the baseline expectation at home will be that of a stratospheric leap into superstardom. Should that ascent happen, a suddenly promising Chicago squad is much more dangerous and will be playing relevant football into the winter. — RZ
16
Green Bay Packers
2022 record and finish: 8-9 (Missed playoffs)
Jordan Love has big shoes to fill. Fortunately, he’ll have … one of the league’s least-experienced receiving corps to lift him up. OK, well, at least the defense looks good — especially if Rashan Gary can reclaim his glory and ascend to All-Pro status. — CD
15
Pittsburgh Steelers
2022 record and finish: 9-8 (Missed playoffs)
No one fills a depth chart with care and patience quite like the Steelers. Even with Kenny “Mitch Trubisky 2.0” Pickett at quarterback, a stacked Pittsburgh roster should reap the benefits of an easy schedule. Mike Tomlin’s brilliant non-losing season streak feels very safe. — RZ
14
New York Giants
2022 record and finish: 9-7-1 (Lost in NFC Divisional Round)
The Giants took advantage of a weak schedule to exceed expectations in Brian Daboll’s debut as head coach. Now they won’t be able to sneak up on anyone — and need proof their investment in Daniel Jones wasn’t an NFT-caliber mistake. If they don’t have Saquon Barkley, executing last year’s low-risk, low-reward offense will be a lot more difficult. — CD
13
New York Jets
2022 record and finish: 7-10 (Missed playoffs)
New York made a bold but entirely plausible proclamation this offseason: Almost all of its past problems were connected to Zach Wilson being a bad quarterback. Aaron Rodgers isn’t the same superstar signal caller of his youth, but he should help elevate Gang Green to true relevance. The question is whether the 39-year-old future Hall of Famer can sustain his play for the entire year. — RZ
12
Los Angeles Chargers
2022 record and finish: 10-7 (Lost AFC Wild Card Game)
The offensive line is healthy. Quentin Johnston has arrived to boost the receiving corps. Is Justin Herbert ready to make the leap and join the league’s elite quarterbacks? Or will 2023 merely be another year of “pretty good” in Los Angeles? — CD
11
Seattle Seahawks
2022 record and finish: 9-8 (Lost NFC Wild Card Game)
Led by a revitalized Geno Smith, Seattle surprised detractors who believed they might be the worst team in football last year. Now, franchise legend Bobby Wagner is back in the mix, and the Seahawks suddenly have one of the game’s more promising skill groups on both sides of the ball. The 12th Man should have another happy year in the Pacific Northwest. — RZ
10
Detroit Lions
2022 record and finish: 9-8 (Missed playoffs)
Can Jared Goff be the quarterback he was last fall? Will Jameson Williams live up to his draft status in his first healthy season when he returns from suspension? Will a beleaguered first-round draft haul pay off? Questions abound, but there’s a clear path to an NFC North title in Detroit. — CD
9
Baltimore Ravens
2022 record and finish: 10-7 (Lost AFC Wild Card Game)
Rest assured, the passive-aggressiveness behind Lamar Jackson’s contract situation is water under the bridge. The Ravens have their $260 million man locked in for the future, and they’ve finally given him appropriate support in the form of first-round draft pick Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr. Quoth the Raven: Baltimore’s three-year playoff win drought looks like it may be nevermore. — RZ
8
Jacksonville Jaguars
2022 record and finish: 9-8 (Lost in AFC Divisional Round)
Jacksonville excelled under low expectations in 2022. Now the Jaguars have to defend a division title and live up to their status as plucky upstart contenders. Fortunately, Trevor Lawrence has a stacked lineup of skill players who can keep his sophomore breakout rolling. — CD
7
Miami Dolphins
2022 record and finish: 9-8 (Lost AFC Wild Card Game)
Mike McDaniel’s Dolphins looked like darlings for most of last fall, as Tua Tagovailoa played like one of the sport’s best QBs. Then, Miami faded down the stretch, losing luster and heat before petering out in a first-round playoff loss. With new names in the fold, the Dolphins project as a sleeping giant if they can establish more consistency. — RZ
6
Dallas Cowboys
2022 record and finish: 12-5 (Lost in NFC Divisional Round)
It all lies on Dak Prescott’s shoulder — especially after slumping through his worst full season since 2017 last fall. A revival from the veteran quarterback will set Dallas up to host a couple of playoff games, the goodwill of which will quickly be squandered by Mike McCarthy’s decision-making. — CD
5
Buffalo Bills
2022 record and finish: 13-3 (Lost in AFC Divisional Round)
Buffalo responded to (rightful) claims that Josh Allen didn’t have enough help by drafting tight end Dalton Kincaid and interior bruising lineman O’Cyrus Torrence. As constituted, the Bills have a path to a fourth straight AFC East title. Whether they achieve anymore is predicated on the impact and rapid development of young players like Kincaid and Torrence. — RZ
4
San Francisco 49ers
2022 record and finish: 13-4 (Lost NFC title game)
Why bother worrying about the quarterback? Kyle Shanahan turned a Mr. Irrelevant into a guy who went undefeated in every game he started and finished in 2022. The defense remains stellar and the offense has enough talent to overcome whatever ails it behind center. — CD
3
Philadelphia Eagles
2022 record and finish: 14-3 (Lost Super Bowl 57)
A season after falling just short in the Super Bowl, the Eagles reloaded. How? They added former Georgia defensive dynamos Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith to what might have already been the NFL’s strongest foundation. Expect Jalen Hurts to build on an MVP-caliber 2022 and keep the Eagles soaring as a legitimate championship contender. Anything short of another appearance in the NFC title game should be viewed as a massive disappointment. — RZ
2
Cincinnati Bengals
2022 record and finish: 12-4 (Lost AFC title game)
A calf-strain scare aside for Joe Burrow, everything remains full steam ahead in Cincinnati. Burrow’s got blockers now, even if the bloom is off Orlando Brown Jr.’s onion a bit. This team has made the AFC title game in each of the last two seasons and looks even better on paper for 2023. — CD
1
Kansas City Chiefs
2022 record and finish: 14-3 (Won Super Bowl 57)
The Chiefs lost various significant veteran contributors and might start 2023 slowly. But they still have Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Andy Reid. As long as that trio remains intact, the defending champions will play like the Big Red Machine they’ve been for over half a decade. — RZ
