2023-09-07 14:32:00
Rafael Zamorano Sep 7, 2023, 10:32 am ETLread: 9 min.
The campaign that is about to begin will not lack excitement, surprises, drama or disappointments from kickoff to Super Bowl LVIII
Season No. 104 begins in the history of the NFLone that will culminate on February 11 with the Super Bowl LVIII in it Allegiant Stadium of Las Vegas to crown a new champion.
The road until then will be long: 17 regular season games spread over 18 days, followed by the Wild Card Rounds, Divisionales and the Conference Championship Gamesbefore arriving at the Super Bowl. A lot can happen in between, including all kinds of surprises, injuries and disappointments.
We take a look at the 10 plots to follow throughout the next campaign, as we walk the path that leads us to the new champion of the NFL:
The storylines to follow in the regular season will keep us glued to the NFL until Super Bowl LVIII and beyond.ESPN
1. Can Aaron Rodgers make the Jets fly?
No transfer enjoyed more drama or created greater expectations in recent months than the exchange of Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets. The relationship between the quarterback and Titletown It was already very worn out, even though we wanted to believe 12 months ago that it had been repaired, and now it’s time for a new start in life. Big Applewhere so far, Rodgers paints everything pink.
Now, we have to win games. The Jets They have an intriguing roster with young talent in key positions, such as running back Breece Hallthe wide receiver Garrett Wilsonthe corner Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. But, the offensive line projects an uninspiring outlook, and in the rest of the squad, the depth is not as desired.
Los Jets They haven’t been to the postseason since 2010, and they reside in a AFC It is with formidable opponents, including the favorites Buffalo Billsagainst those who start their campaign in a party of “Monday Night Football“. If the Jets are out of the postseason again, how long will it take for this friendly, light version of Rodgersto give way to the most complicated edition of the quarterback?
2. The advancement of new stadiums
Los Buffalo Bills They are already working on their new stadium, one that they will build across the street from their current home in Orchard Park. For their part, the Tennessee Titans They have a construction start date scheduled for their new home in 2024. Chicago Bears are still in discussions with Arlington Heights for a future property at that headquarters, to abandon the old Soldier Field.
And who comes next? The logical answer would have to be Washington Commanderswho changed owners during the last offseason, and who have been exploring headquarters to move from FedEx Field for years. Although the new stadium initiative of the previous owner, Dan Snyderwas not well received by officials in various areas around DC, that attitude must change towards the group he leads Josh Harriswhich will foster renewed political will.
In the NFLonly SoFi Stadium y Allegiant Stadium –next house Super Bowl— have debuted in the last five years, and the differences between the most modern properties and some of the oldest (including Soldier Field as the clearest example) are more than what the league wants to see among its franchises.
3. Los rookie quarterbacks
Before the draft, Bryce Young –chosen by the Carolina Panthers— y C.J. Stroud –chosen by the Houston Texans— were considered the two quarterback prospects with the best chances to start right away for their respective teams. In both cases, they will take the field as starters from Week 1.
Besides them, Anthony Richardson received the vote of confidence from the Indianapolis Coltssomewhat surprisingly, given that he was widely considered a prospect with a lot to polish after concluding his college career with just 12 total starts for the Florida Gators.
Will Levisprojected by some to go in the first round, went to the Tennessee Titans in the second, and there he will remain on the bench behind the starter Ryan Tannehill. It’s unclear if he’ll have a chance to play in 2023, which appears to limit the race for best rookie quarterback to just the three mentioned above.
A surprising name that we must take into account is that of Clayton Tune of the Arizona Cardinals, who could be given the confidence to start in Week 1 as a fifth-round pick. The Cards they will not have Kyler Murray well into the regular season, and the head coach Jonathan Gannon has stated that it will not announce a starter between Tune and the veteran Josh Dobbsafter the team got rid of the experienced substitute Colt McCoy.
Tune It won’t start after I return Murraybut the mere fact that he is considered to open the campaign is already a surprise for the rookie.
4. Zero hour for runners
One of the most outstanding plots in the NFL Over the last two or three months, it was the public dispute that the league’s riders waged against some of their teams. Austin Thank you of Los Angeles Chargers, Josh Jacobs of Las Vegas Raiders, Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants y Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts were the most notable names that got into lawsuits with their clubs in search of more onerous contracts, with Jacobs y Barkley achieving a minimal alteration to their qualified offers as franchise players, Thank you also obtaining a contractual restructuring after not finding a team interested in a trade, and Taylor being frozen on the list of those unable to participate due to physical problems, after also unsuccessfully seeking to be transferred.
Their voices were joined by those of many other runners on the NFL as Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers, Najee Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans, Nick Chubb of the Cleveland Brownsand even legends of the past like the member Hall of Fame, Marcus Allendenouncing that the position was being artificially undervalued by the owners.
From the backfield, running backs are and will continue to be one of the pillars of any attack. NFL, no matter how much the ball is thrown, and after the events of this offseason, running backs will be more motivated than ever to prove themselves on the field. It will be a very outstanding season for the position where, despite the owners’ arguments, two prospects were drafted among the first 12 rounds of the last draft.
5. The next big contract
It is no surprise that the next contract to break absolute records of the NFL will be for Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengalswho continues in the line of quarterbacks after Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles, Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens y Justin Herbert of Los Angeles Chargersthey did the same in the recent past.
After Burrowattention will turn to Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars and, to a lesser extent, Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins, if he manages to have an outstanding 2023. To these names we must add that of Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefswho will receive a restructuring in the near future.
Outside of the quarterback position, Chris Jones of the Chiefs He is the man to follow, after stating that he would be willing to not play until Week 8 — and bear all the fines that the team will continue to impose on him until then — in case he does not receive a new contract that places him among the defensive players. best paid of the NFL.
Offensively, you have to see what he does Cincinnati con Tee Higginsfirst and Ja’Marr Chasethen, talking about wide receivers.
6. Coaches under pressure
Ron Rivera of the Washington Commanders y Josh McDaniels of Las Vegas Raiders They must be the head coaches who enter the season with the most pressure. Both come from being left out of the last postseason — with Rivera already holding the position for longer– and both made almost unforgivable lapses last year. TO Rivera happened to him when he admitted he didn’t know a Week 17 loss would eliminate them from the playoff race, while the worst moment of McDaniels It has to be the humiliating defeat against Los Angeles Rams on December 8 when the quarterback Baker Mayfield I literally had just a few hours with the Los Angeles franchise.
After them, we would have to consider Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboysin case the equipment Jerry Jones don’t advance deep into the postseason. Also, credit runs out Kevin Stefanski in front of the Cleveland Browns. Finally, Sean McVay of Los Angeles Rams He is another name to follow, although if he leaves it will most likely be due to retirement, a step that the head coach has already contemplated.
7. Records in sight
The 17-game regular seasons should open the door to breaking several important league records, although none of the main ones have fallen, yet.
The catch record they share Michael Strahan y T.J. Watt (22.5) is one of those that could be threatened this year, thanks to the high quality of the talent scouts that the league has today, a level that is above that of offensive tackles, collectively speaking.
Other records that could be at risk are the yards per pass (5,477) and touchdown passes (55) left by Peyton Manning in the 2013 campaign playing for the Denver Broncoscon Patrick Mahomes getting quite close to both figures in 2022 and 2018, respectively.
However, if I had to bet, I would say that the record for receptions in a season (149) of Michael Thomas of the New Orleans Saintsand the record for receiving yards in a season (1,964) of Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions They are the ones most at risk. In both cases, Cooper Coup He was just a stone’s throw away in 2021. He lacked just four catches that year to equal Thomas and 14 yards to equal Johnson.
8. The race for Defensive Player of the Year
The record contract extension that he just signed hours ago Nick Bosa guarantees the timely return of the Defensive Player of the Year reigning of the NFL in time for Week 1. That’s notable because the star of the San Francisco 49ers He will, once again, be one of the main candidates to win the award for the 2023 campaign. The two candidates who would make up the main third include T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelerswho already obtained it in 2021, and Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys.
Thinking outside the box, don’t be surprised if Matthew Judon of the New England Patriots, Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns y Sauce Gardner of the New York Jets They throw their names into the competition, one that boasts plenty of talent.
9. The Most Valuable Player
For NFL Most Valuable Playerthere is no other option but to start with the name of Patrick Mahomeswho has already won it twice, including last year.
After him, however, the list of viable candidates is long. Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens y Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles they lead it.
What if he wasn’t a quarterback? Never has a wide receiver won this award, one that was even once obtained by a placekicker (Mark Moseley in 1982 for Washington), but if one day it were to happen, Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings He would be an ideal candidate in 2023.
10. A new Super Bowl champion?
There are 12 teams that have never won a Super Bowl in modern history NFL: Los Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikingsy Tennessee Titans.
Of those clubs, the Cardinals, Browns, Lions y Vikings They were champions of the NFL in a time before the merger of the leagues NFL–AFL which led to Super Bowl as the league title, facing the champions of the two conferences. Likewise, before the merger, the Bills, Chargersy Titans (playing as Houston Oilers) were champions in the now defunct AFL.
That leaves the Falcons, Panthers, Bengals, Texans y Jaguars like the teams that have never been champions at any time in the NFL o AFL.
Will we see a new champion of the NFL? Speaking strictly of those who have never won a Super Bowl, Bills y Bengals they appear with better probabilities, with Chargers o Vikings rearing their heads in the role of potential dark horses. However, NFL Analytics and the Sportsbooks have as favorites the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles y San Francisco 49ers.
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