Detroit Lions @ Kansas City Chiefs
The NFL is back as the 2023 Season kicks off in Kansas as the reigning Super Bowl Champions take on the Detroit Lions. The Kansas City Chiefs enter the new season as the defending Super Bowl Champions, and there’s no doubt that they won’t be happy without anything other than another Vince Lombardi Trophy come February next year. As for Detroit, they had a pretty positive 2022 Season, and they’ll be looking to take it one step further this year by making the Playoffs. Overall, I’m going with The Chiefs to win on opening night. I can’t see a team as good as Kansas City losing in the first game of the new season. However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t think Detroit can give it a go.
Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons had an okay 2022 Season, and they’ll be looking to build on it in 2023. As for Carolina, The Panthers were also okay last year, but they will certainly be hoping for more now they have the Number 1 Pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Bryce Young (at Quarterback). Overall, I’m picking Atlanta to get the W in this NFC South matchup. This game could prove to be quite significant come the end of the Regular Season and whilst I do rate Carolina slightly higher, I expect the Atlanta crowd to fire up their team to an opening weekend victory.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns
Both the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns enter the 2023 Season hoping and expecting to at least make the Playoffs. The Cleveland Browns were pretty mediocre last year, but they really shouldn’t be this year. As for Cincinnati, The Bengals are one of the top teams in the entire league, and they were unlucky to lose in the AFC Championship game last season. Overall, I’m going with Cincinnati to win this one. It’s tight, but The Browns are yet to prove themselves whilst The Bengals have done that for the past two years. A win for Cleveland here though, and all of that changes.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts didn’t have a particularly good 2022 Season, but they’ll be hoping for better this year with Rookie Anthony Richardson at Quarterback. As for Jacksonville, they overperformed last year in reaching the Divisional Round of the Playoffs, and there are now more expectations for them to go and do that again. Overall, I expect The Jaguars to win this game. The Jags look like a good team on paper whilst The Colts do not. Sometimes it’s just that simple.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings impressed in the Regular Season last year, finishing with a 13-4 record. However, they then poorly lost at home in the first round of the Playoffs (against the New York Giants) so they enter this season needing to right a very big wrong. As for Tampa Bay, they weren’t very good last year, yet they still managed to make the Playoffs. I believe they’re going to need a lot more this year though to make the Playoffs again. Overall, I have Minnesota winning this one. The Vikings are an average team in my opinion (that could easily change as the season goes on), but they are certainly a better team than The Bucs who weren’t even that good with Tom Brady last year (they now have Baker Mayfield at Quarterback).
Tennessee Titans @ New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints just missed out on winning the NFC South in the 2022 Season and they will definitely be aiming to right that wrong in the 2023 Season. As for Tennessee, they went on a 7-game losing streak last year that saw them go from one of the best teams in the AFC to not even making the Playoffs. The Titans can’t afford to not make the Playoffs for a second straight year, but it’s going to be hard for them. Overall, I fully expect New Orleans to start their season off with a victory. I see The Saints as a stronger team than The Titans and I expect them to have a pretty good year (The Saints that is).
San Francisco 49ers @ Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers did their usual end-of-season march at the end of the 2022 Season, but it still wasn’t enough for them to make the Playoffs. They’ll certainly be aiming to get there this year, but it’s going to be tough given their division. As for San Francisco, it was heartbreak for them in the NFC Championship game (again) last season, and they’ll be hopeful and almost expectant to reach the same stage again come January. Overall, I’m picking The 49ers to beat The Steelers in Week 1. I always feel like Pittsburgh are a decent team, but I expect The Niners to be a very good team. That’s as long as Brock Purdy plays as well as he did last year, though.
Arizona Cardinals @ Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders had a decent 2022 Season, yet they still finished last in the NFC East. Washington will certainly be aiming for more than that this year. As for Arizona, they struggled last year, and the signs heading into the new season seem to forecast that it’s only going to get worse before it gets better for The Cardinals. Overall, I have to go with The Commanders in this one. Given all the terrible things that have been said about the Arizona Cardinals heading into the 2023 NFL Season, I’d be amazed if they managed to pick up a win in this one.
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