4 NFL Teams Who Should Be Contenders In 2023

Outside of the usual suspects in the NFL, a handful of teams could surprise the rest of the league in 2023. The teams locked into the postseason are more than likely the ones who will return to the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a few teams shaking them up:

The Detroit Lions

The Lions have been historically bad in recent memory, but don’t count them out. The past few seasons haven’t shown just how much they’ve become outside favorites to unseat the rest of the division. At one point they were the best offense in football last season. They finished 9-8 but that doesn’t tell the whole story. The Lions were competitive for the first time in forever, but also Dan Campbell is making an impact in Detroit. Change of culture is an understatement with the Lions as Campbell has them keeping games close, and winning games that are closer. If they make a leap this year, there’s no doubt they could take that division.

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The Miami Dolphins

Yes, the Dolphins were in the playoffs last season, but with an asterisk. Their hot start gave them a solid head start on the rest of the conference, but they limped into the playoffs figuratively and literally. They’d go into their matchup with the Buffalo Bills having to start their 3rd string QB and somehow were still in the game. Tua Tagovailoa lit up defenses when health and Miami added some key positions and coaches in the offseason. Don’t look for them to go away quietly.

The Los Angeles Rams

Last year’s Rams weren’t the same as the Super Bowl championship Rams and it had nothing to do with Odell Beckham Jr. Losing Cooper Kupp to an injury hurt way more than losing OBJ alone. Being down two star receivers in any offense is a recipe for disaster and losing two superstar receivers is even worse. When a team lacks the explosiveness that the Rams were missing out of, its not a stretch to understand why they weren’t the same team. If Kupp comes back and the Rams return to form, they’ll be back on top.

The New York Jets

The Jets had the worst-kept secret in the NFL when they were going after Aaron Rodgers. Even when it was just a rumor, fans were already saving up to buy the jersey. Rodgers gives the Jets something they haven’t had in a long time, an explosive playmaker under center. Like it or not, like him or not, Aaron Rodgers is still something to fear when it comes to great QBs. If he can overcome the rest of that division, there’s a good chance the Jets have an outside shot at a championship.

One thing is for certain, the NFL will be extra competitive in 2023. With plenty of players finding new homes, and even more with a lot to prove, it’ll be interesting to see which team makes post-season headlines.